bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Non-linear dynamics of gear pair with dynamic backlash subjected to combined internal and external periodic excitations
Authors: Li Yinggang , Chen Tianning , Wang Xiaopeng
Published: August 2014

In this paper, we theoretically investigate the nonlinear dynamic characteristics of a gear pair system with dynamic backlash subjected to internal and external periodic excitations. The dynamic model of a viscously damped single degree of freedom gear pair model with periodic time-varying stiffness, dynamic backlash, static transmission error and external periodic excitation is established. The incremental harmonic balance method (IHBM) is applied to analyze the frequency response characteristics as well as the effects of dynamic backlash, time-varying stiffness, excitation force amplitude and damping ratio on the dynamic characteristics of the gear pair system. The analysis results are compared with the numerical integration results to show accuracy and authority of the IHBM. The difference between the constant backlash and the dynamic backlash models is also discussed. The results show that the nonlinear dynamic characteristics such as parametric resonance, multi-valued properties and jump phenomena are strongly attributed to the interaction between time-varying stiffness and backlash. Significantly, under combined internal and external periodic excitations, the multi-valued properties and jump phenomena occur not only in primary resonance frequency but also in super harmonic frequency. The increase of the dynamic backlash and damping ratio could effectively control the nonlinear vibration of gear system; whereas the excitation force amplitude has less influence on the nonlinear dynamic characteristics and the increase of the excitation force amplitude could no longer control the nonlinear vibration of gear system, which is different from the dynamic characteristics under internal periodic excitations.
On the stability of iteration methods for special solution of time-fractional generalized nonlinear ZK-BBM equation
Authors: Atangana Abdon
Published: August 2014

An investigation of a possible description of non-linear wave was performed inside the scope of fractional order derivative. A clear motivation underpinning the extension of this study within the concept of fractional calculus was presented. The special solution of the extended equation was derived using an efficient iteration method called homotopy decomposition method. A theorem underpinning the uniqueness of the special solution was proposed and proved in detail. An investigation for stability of the iteration method for solving the extended equation was presented in detail. Numerical simulations were carried out using the proposed algorithm for different values of alpha and n.
Languages Perform Us
Authors: kumar hari stephen
Published: August 2014

What are the stakes for colonized bodies in an allegedly postcolonial world where institutions still use the term non-native to classify those who speak a “first language” other than English? In this autoethnographic performance, I connect critical cultural theories with embodied linguistic negotiations of identity as a “multilingual” person teaching students at a public university in a predominately White region called “New England” in the United States. By tracing my visceral encounters with the power relations between my five languages (English, Arabic, Tamil, Malayalam, and Hindi), I seek to decolonize ideologies that enforce a stable origin for language itineraries.
Integrating philosophy with anthropology in an approach to morality
Authors: Wong David B
Published: August 2014

Philosophy and anthropology need to integrate their accounts of what a morality is. I identify three desiderata that an account of morality should satisfy: (1) it should recognize significant diversity and variation in the major kinds of value, (2) it should specify a set of criteria for what counts as a morality, and (3) it should indicate the basis for distinguishing between more or less justifiable moralities, or true and false moralities. I will discuss why these three desiderata are hard to satisfy at the same time, and why they are controversial. Anthropologists and philosophers will differ on which ones they are inclined to reject. I argue that all three should be accepted and can be satisfied.
The politicization of entertainment media: A study of the Italian tabloid Chi during the 2013 electoral campaign
Authors: Ciaglia Antonio , Mazzoni Marco
Published: August 2014

The concept of political parallelism identifies the different forms in which the media and politics can interact. However, media partisanship has always been almost exclusively limited to news media. This study shows that the Italian media system is at the center of a significant change, in regard to the way in which mass media political parallelism works and develops. Due to structural reasons, Italy’s political parallelism crosses the threshold of the news media and seems to fully apply to popular media as well. The politicization of popular media has been investigated through a content analysis of the Berlusconi-owned Chi (the most read magazine in Italy with 3.5 million readers on average). By proposing four models of coverage, the authors will show that the coverage strategies put in place by Chi convey the extent to which the covered subjects are politically and personally close to the undisputed leader, Berlusconi.
Double empowerment: The roles of ethnic-based groups in the Korean community in New Zealand – Implications for social work practice
Authors: Kang Wook-Mo , Harington Phil , Park Hong-Jae
Published: August 2014

The current forces of globalisation facilitate the migration of people around the world. The purpose of this article is to explore the roles of ethnic-based groups and organisations in the Korean community in New Zealand. A qualitative approach was employed to collect data from in-depth interviews of Korean adults within the ethnic community. Fourteen participants served as key informants in this study. The data collected were analysed mainly using a concept-mapping technique in a bilingual context.

Findings

There was a range of community groups in the Korean community in New Zealand. Those ethnic-based groups played important roles in not only enabling migrants to meet their needs but also connecting them with local communities. Some groups or organisations often served as ‘transnational’ bridges, promoting a range of interactions and exchanges between the host society and the homeland. The information and resources necessary for their survival were likely to be obtained from both the societies, which made the community becoming ‘double-empowered’ in the transnational context.

Applications

This study highlights the claim that ethnic-based groups have vital functions, providing contact places for migrants and local people, and creating social and transnational influences in the context of modern migration. It is suggested that a community-empowerment approach would help social work practitioners work effectively with migrants and their community groups.
Tomographic imaging of the liquid and vapour fuel distributions in a single-cylinder direct-injection gasoline engine
Authors: Terzija Nataša , Karagiannopoulos Solon , Begg Steven , Wright Paul , Ozanyan Krikor , McCann Hugh
Published: August 2014

This article reports the application of optical tomography and chemical species tomography to the characterisation of the in-cylinder mixture preparation process in a gasoline, direct-injection, single-cylinder, motored research engine. An array of 32 near-infrared beams is transmitted in a horizontal plane across the cylinder bore near the top of the cylinder, through a circular quartz annulus. A novel approach to enable the optical alignment of the transmitting and receiving optics is utilised. The engine is operated at a stoichiometric condition at 1200 r/min, with negative valve overlap timing. Two tomographic measurement schemes (optical attenuation and chemically specific absorption) were used to acquire data on the spatial and temporal distribution of fuel throughout the engine cycle. Optimised data pre-processing methods are described for maximal beam count and data reliability. The presence of fuel during the intake stroke was detected by the optical beam attenuation due to scattering from the liquid gasoline droplets. Optical tomographic reconstruction of the spatial distribution of these droplets was achieved at an imaging rate of 7200 frames per second, revealing rapid intra-cycle spatial variations that were consistent between consecutive cycles. During the compression stroke, chemical species tomography images of fuel vapour were reconstructed from data acquired using chemically selective spectral absorption by the hydrocarbon molecules, at an imaging rate of 2400 frames per second. Later in the compression stroke, the temporal evolution of the fuel vapour distribution in the plane of observation is relatively slow and displays inhomogeneities that are consistent between consecutive cycles. This is the first report of the use of tomography to image, within individual engine cycles, the in-cylinder evolution of both fuel spray droplet distribution and fuel vapour distribution.
Ecuador’s Efforts to Raise Its Research Profile
Authors: Van Hoof Hubert B.
Published: August 2014

Ecuador’s government understands that capable research universities can help in solving the country’s pressing socio-economic problems. However, research capabilities and research productivity in its national universities have historically been low, as professors primarily teach and often do not have the inclination, the ability, or the time to do research. Through several initiatives, which have been both praised and scorned, the government is attempting to instigate a new research culture among its institutions of higher education. This article describes these initiatives and focuses on the “Prometeo–Viejos Sabios” grant program from the perspective of a recent participant. The program was created to attract international scholars to assist Ecuador’s universities in their research and development efforts.
Developing an Index to Measure the Voluntariness of Consent to Research
Authors: Dugosh Karen L. , Festinger David S. , Marlowe Douglas B. , Clements Nicolle T.
Published: August 2014

The goals of the current study were to expand the content domain and further validate the Coercion Assessment Scale (CAS), a measure of perceived coercion for criminally involved substance abusers being recruited into research. Unlike the few existing measures of this construct, the CAS identifies specific external sources of pressure that may influence one’s decision to participate. In Phase 1, we conducted focus groups with criminal justice clients and stakeholders to expand the instrument by identifying additional sources of pressure. In Phase 2, we evaluated the expanded measure (i.e., endorsement rates, reliability, validity) in an ongoing research trial. Results identified new sources of pressure and provided evidence supporting the CAS’s utility and reliability over time as well as convergent and discriminative validity.
Assessing Institutional Ethics Committees in India Using the IRB-RAT
Authors: Chenneville Tiffany , Menezes Lynette , Bylsma Lauren M. , Mann Angela , Kosambiya Jayendrakumar , Baxi Rajendra
Published: August 2014

Institutional ethics committees (IECs) are currently still in their infancy in low- to middle-income countries (LMICs), which may have important implications with regard to the oversight of the protection of human participants. Understanding how these IECs currently function is a critical first step in helping LMICs build infrastructures that support the protection of research participants and improve the scientific quality of health research worldwide. We assessed the functioning of the IECs at two medical colleges in Gujarat, India, by administering the Institutional Review Board Researcher’s Assessment Tool (IRB-RAT) to 42 IEC and faculty members. The IRB-RAT includes eight scales assessing various domains related to how investigators and members perceive their ethics committees. Results from t tests revealed significant differences between ideal ratings and descriptive ratings on each of the IRB-RAT scales with ideal ratings being higher than current descriptive ratings on all of the scales (<.001). These findings suggest areas that can be targeted for improvement and also provide important information about the values of Indian IECs.
Selection of the comparator product in the World Health Organisation Prequalification of Medicines Programme
Authors: Welink Jan , Gordon John D , Stahl Matthias
Published: August 2014

The World Health Organisation’s Prequalification of Medicines Programme (WHO PQP) evaluates generic medicines for the treatment of HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, influenza, and neglected tropical diseases, as well as zinc for the treatment of acute diarrhoea, and generic products related to reproductive health. For in vivo (i.e. bioequivalence studies) or in vitro studies (i.e. Biopharmaceutics Classification System-based biowaivers) used to establish the safety and efficacy of a generic product, selection of an appropriate comparator product is of great importance. Generic products prequalified by the WHO PQP are used in treatment programmes on a worldwide basis and therefore, the comparator products acting as a reference for their safety and efficacy should be of globally accepted quality, safety, and efficacy. Thus, to provide guidance to potential applicants and to discourage submission of bioequivalence studies with a comparator product that is not acceptable for the WHO PQP, comparators have been identified which should be employed in bioequivalence or biowaiver studies undertaken for submission to WHO PQP. The comparator of choice is normally the innovator product for which the quality, safety and efficacy have been established. In addition, to ensure that the comparator product has been adequately controlled from production to use, WHO PQP stipulates that comparator products should be procured from markets with a stringent regulatory authority, i.e. from countries participating in ICH or an ICH-associated country. However there can be many challenges associated with identifying appropriate comparators for WHO PQP. These challenges, ranging from the absence of a clear innovator product to the unavailability of a well-established innovator product to availability limited to non-ICH-associated markets, are discussed and the selections of specific comparator products supported. Furthermore, clear guidance on procuring the WHO PQP comparator are given, establishing further confidence that an appropriate comparator has been selected with proven quality, safety and efficacy.
Music as Collective Invention: A Social Network Analysis of Composers
Authors: McAndrew Siobhan , Everett Martin
Published: August 2014

Composers generally write music alone, and we commonly understand the great figures of classical music as singular geniuses. Even where composers’ social networks and friendships are of contextual interest, it is arguable that their association with other musicians arises because they choose to socialize with similar others. However, it is also possible that creative work, even for artists as solitary as composers, depends significantly on interaction and collaboration. Certain periods and places are considered hotspots of creativity where new musical ideas are shared and movements arise. In this paper we consider the case of British classical composition, both as an example of a music network, and to contribute to debates in music history.
Treatment options in recurrent ovarian cancer: latest evidence and clinical potential
Authors: Luvero Daniela , Milani Andrea , Ledermann Jonathan A.
Published: August 2014

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the fifth most common cause of cancer death in women. Although significant progress has been made in the treatment of OC, the majority of patients experience disease recurrence and receive second-line and sometimes several lines of treatment. Here we review the options available for the treatment of recurrent disease and discuss how different agents are selected, combined and offered in a rationale sequence in the context of multidisciplinary care. We reviewed published work between 1990 and 2013 and meeting abstracts related to the use of chemotherapy and surgery in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer. We discuss treatment regimens, efficacy endpoints and safety profiles of the different therapies. Platinum-based drugs are the most active agents and are selected on the basis of a probability of response to retreatment. Nonplatinum-based chemotherapy regimens are usually given in the ‘platinum-resistant’ setting and have a modest effect on outcome. Molecular targeted therapy of ovarian cancer given alone or integrated with chemotherapy is showing promising results. Many patients are now receiving more than one line of therapy for recurrent disease, usually platinum based until platinum resistance emerges. The sequential use of chemotherapy regimens and the incorporation of molecularly targeted treatments, either alone or in combination with chemotherapy, have over the last decade significantly extended the median survival of patients with ovarian cancer.
Preliminary Evaluation of a New Semi-Closed-Loop Insulin Therapy System Over the Prandial Period in Adult Patients With Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Quemerais Marie Aude , Doron Maeva , Dutrech Florent , Melki Vincent , Franc Sylvia , Antonakios Michel , Charpentier Guillaume , Hanaire Helene , Benhamou Pierre Yves ,   on behalf of the Diabeloop Consortium, Charpentier Guillaume , Franc Sylvia , Penfornis Alfred , Reznik Yves , Benhamou Pierre Yves , Raccah Denis , Renard Eric , Guerci Bruno , Jeandidier Nathalie , Hanaire Helene , Simon Chantal , Doron Maeva , Antonakios Michel , Guillemaud Regis
Published: August 2014

Objective:

There is room for improvement in the algorithms used in closed-loop insulin therapy during the prandial period. This pilot study evaluated the efficacy and safety of the Diabeloop algorithm (model predictive control type) during the postprandial period.

Methods:

This 2-center clinical trial compared interstitial glucose levels over two 5-hour periods (with/without the algorithm) following a calibrated lunch. On the control day, the amount of insulin delivered by the pump was determined according to the patient’s usual parameters. On the test day, 50% or 75% of the theoretical bolus required was delivered, while the algorithm, informed of carbohydrate intake, proposed changes to insulin delivery every 15 minutes using modeling to forecast glucose levels. The primary endpoint was percentage of time spent at near normoglycemia (70-180 mg/dl).

Results:

Twelve patients with type 1 diabetes (9 men, age 35.6 ± 12.7 years, HbA1c 7.3 ± 0.8%) were included. The percentage of time spent in the target range was 84.5 ± 20.8 (test day) versus 69.2 ± 33.9% (control day, P = .11). The percentage of time spent in hypoglycemia < 70 mg/dl was 0.2 ± 0.8 (test) versus 4.4 ± 8.2% (control, P = .18). Interstitial glucose at the end of the test (5 hours) was 127.5 ± 40.1 (test) versus 146 ± 53.5 mg/dl (control, P = .25). The insulin doses did not differ, and no differences were observed between the 50% and 75% boluses.

Conclusion:

In a semi-closed-loop configuration with manual priming boluses (25% or 50% reduction), the Diabeloop v1 algorithm was as successful as the manual method in determining the prandial bolus, without any exposure to excessive hypoglycemic risk.
The Music of Power
Authors: Hsu Dennis Y. , Huang Li , Nordgren Loran F. , Rucker Derek D. , Galinsky Adam D.
Published: August 2014

Music has long been suggested to be a way to make people feel powerful. The current research investigated whether music can evoke a sense of power and produce power-related cognition and behavior. Initial pretests identified musical selections that generated subjective feelings of power. Experiment 1 found that music pretested to be powerful implicitly activated the construct of power in listeners. Experiments 2–4 demonstrated that power-inducing music produced three known important downstream consequences of power: abstract thinking, illusory control, and moving first. Experiments 5a and 5b held all features of music constant except for the level of bass and found that music with more bass increased participants’ sense of power. This research expands our understanding of music’s influence on cognition and behavior and uncovers a novel antecedent of the sense of power.
Percutaneous transhepatic sclerotherapy with embolization of the drainage vein for a gastric varix
Authors: Yoshimatsu Rika , Yamagami Takuji , Miura Hiroshi , Okuda Kotaro
Published: August 2014

We experienced a case with a gastric varix that did not have a catheterizable main drainage vein and had multiple afferent veins. For this case we successfully performed percutaneous transhepatic sclerotherapy using the following procedure. After the drainage vein was embolized by metallic coils and n-butyl cyanoacrylate from a microcatheter that was advanced through the gastric varix, 5% ethanolamine oleate-iopamidol was infused into the gastric varix from one main afferent vein under balloon occlusion.
Three maps and three misunderstandings: A digital mapping of climate diplomacy
Authors: Venturini Tommaso , Baya Laffite Nicolas , Cointet Jean-Philippe , Gray Ian , Zabban Vinciane , De Pryck Kari
Published: August 2014

This article proposes an original analysis of the international debate on climate change through the use of digital methods. Its originality is twofold. First, it examines a corpus of reports covering 18 years of international climate negotiations, a dataset never explored before through digital techniques. This corpus is particularly interesting because it provides the most consistent and detailed reporting of the negotiations of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Second, in this paper we test an original approach to text analysis that combines automatic extractions and manual selection of the key issue-terms. Through this mixed approach, we tried to obtain relevant findings without imposing them on our corpus. The originality of our corpus and of our approach encouraged us to question some of the habits of digital research and confront three common misunderstandings about digital methods that we discuss in the first part of the article (section ‘Three misunderstandings on digital methods in social sciences’). In addition to reflecting on methodology, however, we also wanted to offer some substantial contribution to the understanding of UN-framed climate diplomacy. In the second part of the article (section ‘Three maps on climate negotiations’) we will therefore introduce some of the preliminary results of our analysis. By discussing three visualizations, we will analyze the thematic articulation of the climatic negotiations, the rise and fall of these themes over time and the visibility of different countries in the debate.
Upgrading electronic monitoring, downgrading probation: Reconfiguring ‘offender management’ in England and Wales
Authors: Nellis Mike
Published: August 2014

England and Wales is currently privatizing most of its Probation Service and simultaneously planning to create the largest and most advanced electronic monitoring (EM) scheme in the world, using combined GPS tracking and radio frequency technology. Downgrading one, upgrading the other. Using a mix of published and unpublished sources, discussions with some key players in these developments, (and a ‘critical policy analysis’ perspective), this article begins by documenting the post-2010 development of GPS tracking, and the emergence of strong police support for its large-scale use. It notes the role of a right-wing think tank, Policy Exchange, in promoting the view that the GPS-based tracking of offenders’ movements is an intrinsically superior form of ‘electronic monitoring’ that should fully replace the discredited but still prevailing radio frequency EM, which can only restrict people to a single location. In the course of devising a third contract with commercial organizations to deliver EM, it transpired that the incumbent providers had been systematically overcharging the government for their services. Although a public scandal, and a series of official enquires – summarized here – resulted from this, the general momentum behind the outsourcing of penal interventions has not been slowed: the Conservative-led Coalition government is pursuing a relentlessly neoliberal agenda, driven far more by financial imperatives and technological preferences than anything that makes proper penal sense. The creation of a large, advanced GPS-based EM programme may not in fact work out in practice, but the government’s readiness to envision it shows where untrammelled neoliberalism points in respect of ‘offender management’ techniques. Although England and Wales have always been anomalous in their fully privatized delivery of EM, its preparedness to invest massively in GPS tracking and to simultaneously sacrifice the state-based Probation Service should serve to warn other European services of the penal challenges that neoliberalism may present them with.
The quality of probation supervision: Comparing practitioner accounts in England and Scotland
Authors: Grant Scott , McNeill Fergus
Published: August 2014

Whilst community sanctions and measures in the UK have enjoyed considerable academic focus on effectiveness and ‘what works’ (see McGuire, 1995; Maguire et al., 2010), until recently analysts have neglected practices and processes associated with the routine supervision of offenders in the community. Two recent studies of quality in the practice of offender supervision in Scotland and England begin to address this gap by exploring practitioners’ understandings of quality in each jurisdiction (Grant and McNeill, 2014; Robinson et al., 2013a, 2013b; Shapland et al., 2012). This article compares results from both studies, exploring convergence and divergence across key themes and offering a deeper understanding of what quality means in two distinct but connected jurisdictions. Despite significant and enduring differences in the formal arrangements for, and policy contexts of, probation services in England and Wales and in Scotland, our findings demonstrate substantial and significant similarity across what practitioners conceive as the important elements of supervisory practice. Our comparative analysis also found a surprising degree of concordance in practitioner resistance to managerialism – revealing a shared consensus on the importance of values and ethical practice within each country; indeed, shared understandings which seem relatively resilient in both jurisdictions.
A ‘back to basics’ approach to offender supervision: Does working alliance contribute towards success of probation?
Authors: Hart Jennifer , Collins Kimberly
Published: August 2014

Working alliance (WA) considers the bond between two people, and their ability to work collaboratively to set goals and tasks. In the present study, WA was applied to probation to assess the relationship between a probation officer and offender. Questionnaires were administered to offenders to examine the impact of offender risk and offence type upon the development of WA, and how WA predicted perceived success of probation. WA did not differ as a result of risk or offence type but was highly predictive of success of probation. Results were discussed in terms of task, bond and goals and how these are a cost-effective method of improving success of probation.
Considerations in development of CCT diagrams for complex ferritic materials
Authors: Siefert J. A. , Leister B. M. , DuPont J. N.
Published: August 2014

A recent literature review of available data for the bainitic creep strength enhanced ferritic steel grade 23 revealed significant variations among available continuous cooling transformation (CCT) diagrams. Substantial differences in these diagrams were noted with respect to the observed transformation products, reported transformation temperatures and the data provided with the CCT diagram. While it is recognised that grade 23 is a complex material exhibiting up to three transformations on-cooling from austenitisation, there does not seem to be a standardised or uniform procedure for the development of CCT diagrams for such metallurgically diverse materials. This paper details development of a CCT diagram for this material through integration of results from thermal analysis, hardness measurements and microstructural observations.
Selective and efficient generation of functional Batf3-dependent CD103+ dendritic cells from mouse bone marrow
Authors: Mayer Christian Thomas , Ghorbani Peyman , Nandan Amrita , Dudek Markus , Arnold-Schrauf Catharina , Hesse Christina , Berod Luciana , Stüve Philipp , Puttur Franz , Merad Miriam , Sparwasser Tim
Published: August 2014

Key Points

A new bone marrow DC culture method with FLT3L and GM-CSF efficiently generates functional Batf3-dependent CD103+ DCs. GM-CSF promotes DC precursor polarization and CD103+ DC proliferation.
Microbial transformation of quinic acid to shikimic acid by Bacillus megaterium
Authors: Ghosh Saptarshi , Pawar Harish , Pai Omkar , Banerjee Uttam Chand
Published: August 2014

Background

Biotransformation of quinic acid to shikimic acid was attempted using whole cells of Bacillus megaterium as a biocatalyst.

Results

Physico-chemical parameters such as temperature (37°C), pH (7.0), agitation (200 rpm), substrate (5 mM) and cell mass concentrations (200 kg/m 3) and reaction time (3 h) were found optimum to enhance the bioconversion. Maximum conversion (89%) of quinic acid to shikimic acid was achieved using the above optimized parameters. Shikimic acid was extracted from the reaction mixture by a pH-dependent method and maximum recovery (76%) was obtained with petroleum ether.

Conclusions

Biotransformation of quinic acid to shikimic acid seems to be a better alternative over its fermentative production.
Pdcd4 modulates markers of macrophage alternative activation and airway remodeling in antigen-induced pulmonary inflammation
Authors: Zhong Bo , Yang Xudong , Sun Qingzhu , Liu Li , Lan Xi , Tian Jia , He Qirui , Hou Wei , Liu Haiyan , Jiang Congshan , Gao Ning , Lu Shemin
Published: August 2014

Pdcd4 has been known as a tumor-suppressor gene initially and is up-regulated during apoptosis. Surprisingly, we found that Pdcd4 was differentially expressed in the lung from E3 rats with AIPI, an animal model for asthma, but the precise role of Pdcd4 in AIPI still remained to be defined. In the present study, we first evaluated the expression of Pdcd4 in lung from control and AIPI rats with RT-qPCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry. Then, we investigated the effects of intervention of Pdcd4 on markers of macrophage alternative activation and airway remodeling. Upon challenging E3 rats with OVA, Pdcd4 was up-regulated in lung tissue with AIPI. Immunohistochemistry results showed that alveolar macrophages and airway epithelia expressed Pdcd4 protein. Overexpression of Pdcd4 in the rat alveolar macrophage cell line, NR8383 cells, increased the mRNA expression of arginase-1 and TGF-β1, which are markers of macrophage alternative activation. In response to Pdcd4 RNAi in NR8383 cells, the mRNA expression of markers Fizz1, Ym1/2, arginase-1, and TGF-β1 was decreased significantly. In addition, Pdcd4 RNAi in AIPI rats led to a decrease of the mRNA expression of Fizz1, Ym1/2, arginase-1, and TGF-β1 in BALF cells. Finally, knockdown of Pdcd4 suppressed airway eosinophil infiltration, bronchus collagen deposition, and mucus production. Overall, these results suggest that Pdcd4 may be worthy of further investigation as a target for macrophage alternative activation and airway remodeling in allergic pulmonary inflammation.
Circadian clock-mediated control of stem cell division and differentiation: beyond night and day
Authors: Brown Steven A.
Published: August 2014

A biological ‘circadian’ clock conveys diurnal regulation upon nearly all aspects of behavior and physiology to optimize them within the framework of the solar day. From digestion to cardiac function and sleep, both cellular and systemic processes show circadian variations that coincide with diurnal need. However, recent research has shown that this same timekeeping mechanism might have been co-opted to optimize other aspects of development and physiology that have no obvious link to the 24 h day. For example, clocks have been suggested to underlie heterogeneity in stem cell populations, to optimize cycles of cell division during wound healing, and to alter immune progenitor differentiation and migration. Here, I review these circadian mechanisms and propose that they could serve as metronomes for a surprising variety of physiologically and medically important functions that far exceed the daily timekeeping roles for which they probably evolved.
Deadenylase depletion protects inherited mRNAs in primordial germ cells
Authors: Swartz S. Zachary , Reich Adrian M. , Oulhen Nathalie , Raz Tal , Milos Patrice M. , Campanale Joseph P. , Hamdoun Amro , Wessel Gary M.
Published: August 2014

A crucial event in animal development is the specification of primordial germ cells (PGCs), which become the stem cells that create sperm and eggs. How PGCs are created provides a valuable paradigm for understanding stem cells in general. We find that the PGCs of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus exhibit broad transcriptional repression, yet enrichment for a set of inherited mRNAs. Enrichment of several germline determinants in the PGCs requires the RNA-binding protein Nanos to target the transcript that encodes CNOT6, a deadenylase, for degradation in the PGCs, thereby creating a stable environment for RNA. Misexpression of CNOT6 in the PGCs results in their failure to retain Seawi transcripts and Vasa protein. Conversely, broad knockdown of CNOT6 expands the domain of Seawi RNA as well as exogenous reporters. Thus, Nanos-dependent spatially restricted CNOT6 differential expression is used to selectively localize germline RNAs to the PGCs. Our findings support a ‘time capsule’ model of germline determination, whereby the PGCs are insulated from differentiation by retaining the molecular characteristics of the totipotent egg and early embryo.
Mechanosensitive ATP release from hemichannels and Ca2+ influx through TRPC6 accelerate wound closure in keratinocytes
Authors: Takada Hiroya , Furuya Kishio , Sokabe Masahiro
Published: August 2014

Cutaneous wound healing is accelerated by exogenous mechanical forces and is impaired in TRPC6 knockout mice. Therefore, we designed experiments to determine how mechanical force and TRPC6 channels contribute to wound healing using HaCaT keratinocytes. HaCaT cells were pretreated with hyperforin, a major component of a traditional herbal medicine for wound healing and also TRPC6 activator, and cultured in an elastic chamber. At 3 h after scratching on the confluent cells, the ATP release and intracellular Ca2+ increases in response to stretching (20%) were live-imaged. ATP release was observed only from frontier facing the scar. The diffusion of released ATP caused intercellular Ca2+ waves propagating towards the rear cells in a P2Y receptors-dependent way. The Ca2+ response and wound healing were inhibited by ATP diphosphohydrolase apyrase, P2Y antagonist suramin, hemichannel blocker CBX and TRPC6 inhibitor diC8-PIP2. Finally, the hemichannel permeable dye calcein was taken up only by ATP-releasing cells. These results suggest that stretch-accelerated wound closure is due to the ATP release through mechanosensitive hemichannels from the foremost cells and the subsequent Ca2+ waves mediated by P2Y and TRPC6 activation.
Progressive quality control of secretory proteins in the early secretory compartment by ERp44
Authors: Sannino Sara , Anelli Tiziana , Cortini Margherita , Masui Shoji , Degano Massimo , Fagioli Claudio , Inaba Kenji , Sitia Roberto
Published: August 2014

ERp44 is a pH-regulated chaperone of the secretory pathway. In the acidic milieu of the Golgi, its C-terminal tail changes conformation, simultaneously exposing the substrate-binding site for cargo capture and the RDEL motif for ER retrieval via interactions with cognate receptors. Protonation of cysteine 29 in the active site allows tail movements in vitro and in vivo. Here we show that also conserved histidines in the C-terminal tail regulate ERp44 in vivo. Mutants lacking these histidines are hyperactive in retaining substrates. Surprisingly, they are also O-glycosylated and partially secreted. Co-expression of client proteins prevents secretion of the histidine mutants, forcing tail opening and RDEL accessibility. Client-induced RDEL exposure allows retrieval of proteins from distinct stations along the secretory pathway, as indicated by the changes in O-glycosylation patterns upon over-expression of different partners. The ensuing gradients may help optimising folding and assembly of different cargoes. Endogenous ERp44 is O-glycosylated and secreted by human primary endometrial cells, suggesting possible pathophysiological roles of these processes.
The Sec62/Sec63 translocon facilitates the Cout orientation of membrane proteins
Authors: Jung Sung-jun , Kim Ji Eun Hani , Reithinger Johannes H. , Kim Hyun
Published: August 2014

The Sec62/Sec63 complex mediates post-translational translocation of a subset of primarily secretory proteins into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in yeast. Therefore, it has been thought that membrane proteins which are mainly co-translationally targeted into the ER are not handled by the Sec62/63 translocon. By systematic analysis of single and multi-spanning membrane proteins with broad sequence context (varying hydrophobicity, flanking charged residues and orientation of transmembrane (TM) segments), we show that mutations in the N-terminal cytosolic domain of yeast Sec62 impair interaction with Sec63 and lead to defects in membrane insertion and translocation of the C-terminus of membrane proteins. These results suggest an unappreciated function of the Sec62/Sec63 translocon in regulating topogenesis of membrane proteins in the eukaryotic cell.
Transition-Metal Catalysis with Hollow-Shaped Triethynylphosphine Ligands
Authors: Iwai Tomohiro , Sawamura Masaya
Published: August 2014

Triethynylphosphines with bulky end caps such as triarylsilyl and triarylmethyl groups at alkyne termini have a novel molecular shape presenting a large, deep metal-binding cavity. The hollow-shaped triethynylphosphines functioned as effective ligands in the rhodium-catalyzed hydrosilylation of ketones with triorganosilanes due to the preferential formation of a mono-P-ligated rhodium species. Furthermore, the phosphines displayed remarkable rate enhancement in the gold(I)-catalyzed alkyne cyclization constructing six- to eight-membered ring compounds. It is proposed that the cavity in the ligand forces a nucleophilic center of the acetylenic compounds close to the gold-bound alkyne, making ring-closing anti attack feasible.
Financial Globalization, Inequality, and the Rising Public Debt
Authors: Azzimonti Marina , de Francisco Eva , Quadrini Vincenzo
Published: August 2014

During the last three decades government debt has increased in most developed countries. During the same period we have also observed a significant liberalization of international financial markets. We propose a multicountry model with incomplete markets and show that governments may choose higher levels of debt when financial markets become internationally integrated. We also show that public debt increases with the volatility of uninsurable income (idiosyncratic risk). To the extent that the increase in income inequality observed in some industrialized countries has been associated with higher idiosyncratic risk, the paper suggests another potential mechanism for the rise in public debt. (JEL D31, E62, F65, H63)
The Axiomatic Structure of Empirical Content
Authors: Chambers Christopher P. , Echenique Federico , Shmaya Eran
Published: August 2014

We define the empirical content of an economic theory as the least restrictive observationally equivalent theory. We show that the empirical content of a theory is captured by a certain kind of axiomatization, with axioms that are universal negations of conjunctions of atomic formulae. (JEL B41, D01, D11)
Ambiguous Business Cycles
Authors: Ilut Cosmin L. , Schneider Martin
Published: August 2014

This paper studies a New Keynesian business cycle model with agents who are averse to ambiguity (Knightian uncertainty). Shocks to confidence about future TFP are modeled as changes in ambiguity. To assess the size of those shocks, our estimation uses not only data on standard macro variables, but also incorporates the dispersion of survey forecasts about growth as a measure of confidence. Our main result is that TFP and confidence shocks together can explain roughly two thirds of business cycle frequency movements in the major macro aggregates. Confidence shocks account for about 70 percent of this variation. (JEL D81, D84, E12, E32)
Not Only What but Also When: A Theory of Dynamic Voluntary Disclosure
Authors: Guttman Ilan , Kremer Ilan , Skrzypacz Andrzej
Published: August 2014

We examine a dynamic model of voluntary disclosure of multiple pieces of private information. In our model, a manager of a firm who may learn multiple signals over time interacts with a competitive capital market and maximizes payoffs that increase in both period prices. We show (perhaps surprisingly) that in equilibrium later disclosures are interpreted more favorably even though the time the manager obtains the signals is independent of the value of the firm. We also provide sufficient conditions for the equilibrium to be in threshold strategies. (JEL D21, D82, G32, L25)
Promotional Reviews: An Empirical Investigation of Online Review Manipulation
Authors: Mayzlin Dina , Dover Yaniv , Chevalier Judith
Published: August 2014

Firms' incentives to manufacture biased user reviews impede review usefulness. We examine the differences in reviews for a given hotel between two sites: Expedia.com (only a customer can post a review) and TripAdvisor.com (anyone can post). We argue that the net gains from promotional reviewing are highest for independent hotels with single-unit owners and lowest for branded chain hotels with multiunit owners. We demonstrate that the hotel neighbors of hotels with a high incentive to fake have more negative reviews on TripAdvisor relative to Expedia; hotels with a high incentive to fake have more positive reviews on TripAdvisor relative to Expedia. (JEL L15, L83, M31)
Isolated Capital Cities, Accountability, and Corruption: Evidence from US States
Authors: Campante Filipe R. , Do Quoc-Anh
Published: August 2014

We show that isolated capital cities are robustly associated with greater levels of corruption across US states, in line with the view that this isolation reduces accountability. We then provide direct evidence that the spatial distribution of population relative to the capital affects different accountability mechanisms: newspapers cover state politics more when readers are closer to the capital, voters who live far from the capital are less knowledgeable and interested in state politics, and they turn out less in state elections. We also find that isolated capitals are associated with more money in state-level campaigns, and worse public good provision. (JEL D72, D73, H41, H83, K42, R23)
Estimates of the Size and Source of Price Declines Due to Nearby Foreclosures
Authors: Anenberg Elliot , Kung Edward
Published: August 2014

Using new data on real estate listings, we provide new evidence that foreclosures have a causal effect on nearby house prices and disentangle the effect into two sources: competition and disamenities. We identify the causal effect by showing that sellers respond to new REO listings in the exact week of listing, not a week before and not a week after. We disentangle competition and disamenity effects by examining the spillover effect across various stages of the foreclosure process. We find that competition effects are important in all areas, but only find evidence for disamenity effects in high density, low price neighborhoods. (JEL R31)
A Community College Instructor Like Me: Race and Ethnicity Interactions in the Classroom
Authors: Fairlie Robert W. , Hoffmann Florian , Oreopoulos Philip
Published: August 2014

Administrative data from a large and diverse community college are used to examine if underrepresented minority students benefit from taking courses with underrepresented minority instructors. To identify racial interactions, we estimate models that include both student and classroom fixed effects and focus on students with limited choice in courses. We find that the performance gap in terms of class dropout rates and grade performance between white and underrepresented minority students falls by 20 to 50 percent when taught by an underrepresented minority instructor. We also find these interactions affect longer-term outcomes such as subsequent course selection, retention, and degree completion. (JEL I23, J15, J44)
FALCON: a software package for analysis of nestedness in bipartite networks
Authors: Beckett Stephen J. , Boulton Chris A. , Williams Hywel T. P.
Published: August 2014

Nestedness is a statistical measure used to interpret bipartite interaction data in several ecological and evolutionary contexts, e.g. biogeography (species-site relationships) and species interactions (plant-pollinator and host-parasite networks). Multiple methods have been used to evaluate nestedness, which differ in how the metrics for nestedness are determined. Furthermore, several different null models have been used to calculate statistical significance of nestedness scores. The profusion of measures and null models, many of which give conflicting results, is problematic for comparison of nestedness across different studies.

We developed the FALCON software package to allow easy and efficient comparison of nestedness scores and statistical significances for a given input network, using a selection of the more popular measures and null models from the current literature. FALCON currently includes six measures and five null models for nestedness in binary networks, and two measures and four null models for nestedness in weighted networks. The FALCON software is designed to be efficient and easy to use. FALCON code is offered in three languages (R, MATLAB, Octave) and is designed to be modular and extensible, enabling users to easily expand its functionality by adding further measures and null models. FALCON provides a robust methodology for comparing the strength and significance of nestedness in a given bipartite network using multiple measures and null models. It includes an “adaptive ensemble” method to reduce undersampling of the null distribution when calculating statistical significance. It can work with binary or weighted input networks. FALCON is a response to the proliferation of different nestedness measures and associated null models in the literature. It allows easy and efficient calculation of nestedness scores and statistical significances using different methods, enabling comparison of results from different studies and thereby supporting theoretical study of the causes and implications of nestedness in different biological contexts.
The role of the midwife in breastfeeding: Dichotomies and dissonance
Authors: Battersby Susan
Published: August 2014

Promoting and supporting breastfeeding is an integral part of the role of the midwife. These aspects of the role, however, can cause dilemmas and conflict for midwives. Conflicts arise from how midwives acquire their knowledge of breastfeeding, which if used inappropriately can disempower breastfeeding women. Promotion of breastfeeding can cause dissonance between providing informed choice and what midwives see as coercion. The issue of time can greatly undermine midwives support for breastfeeding mothers and the dichotomies between evidence-based practice and experiential/personal experiences can result in inappropriate care being provided for breastfeeding mothers. Midwives can overcome some of the conflicts within their role by gaining more knowledge of breastfeeding, learning the art of good communication and by reflecting personal experiences.