bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Eocene anchovy from Monte Bolca, Italy: The earliest known record for the family Engraulidae
Authors: MARRAMÀ GIUSEPPE , CARNEVALE GIORGIO
Published: June 2015

Engraulids, also known as anchovies, are a distinctive group of clupeoid fishes characterized by a series of derived morphological features of the snout and infraorbital bones, suspensorium and branchial arches. Although anchovies are very abundant today, they are scarcely represented in the fossil record. A new genus and species of anchovy, †Eoengraulis fasoloigen. et sp. nov., is described from the Eocene (late Ypresian,c. 50 Ma) locality of Monte Bolca, Italy. It is based on a single well-preserved articulated skeleton that exhibits a unique combination of characters that supports its recognition as a new genus of the family Engraulidae, including: nine branchiostegal rays; 40 preural vertebrae and 17 pairs of pleural ribs; pleural ribs – preural vertebrae ratio 0.42; seven supraneurals; dorsal-fin origin at about mid-length of the body; about 16 dorsal-fin rays; anal-fin origin slightly behind the base of the last dorsal-fin ray; 19 anal-fin rays; seven pelvic-fin rays; and small needle-like pre-pelvic scutes. The morphological structure of the single available specimen suggests that †Eoengraulis fasoloiis the sister taxon of all other engrauline taxa. †Eoengraulis fasoloiis the oldest member of the family Engraulidae known to date. This taxon suggests that the earliest phases of diversification of engrauline anchovies probably occurred in the coastal palaeobiotopes of the western Tethys during Eocene time.
TACKLING THE RISE OF CHILD LABOUR IN EUROPE: HOMEWORK FOR THE EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS
Authors: Egan Suzanne
Published: June 2015

The phenomenon of child labour is on the rise in Europe in the wake of the economic crisis. Specific action in tackling this practice faces a range of challenges including the often hidden nature of the work, cultural attitudes and gendered constructions of the role of children especially in domestic settings. This article explores the range of international standards and efforts made by numerous human rights tribunals aimed at combating the practice, with particular emphasis on the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights. It concludes that the Court has drawn erratically on its standard methodologies (including the comparative technique) in interpreting Article 4 of the ECHR, thus providing limited guidance to European States in getting to grips with child labour.
The Power Ballad and the Power of Sentimentality
Authors: METZER DAVID
Published: June 2015

As is evident in their popularity and uses in television and film, power ballads have been prized for their emotional intensity. That intensity results from the ways in which the songs transform aspects of sentimentality developed in nineteenth- and twentieth-century repertoires, particularly parlor songs and torch songs. Power ballads energize sentimental topics and affects with rapturous feelings of uplift. Instead of concentrating on individual emotions like earlier sentimental songs do, power ballads create charged clouds of mixed emotions that produce feelings of euphoria. The emotional adrenaline rushes in power ballads are characteristic of larger experiences in popular culture in which emotions are to be grand, indiscriminate, and immediate.
Anatomical variations of the temporal bone on high-resolution computed tomography imaging: how common are they?
Authors: Visvanathan V , Morrissey M S C
Published: June 2015

Objectives:

This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of normal variations of temporal bone anatomy on high-resolution computed tomography imaging and report their clinical importance.

Methods:

A retrospective review was conducted of high-resolution temporal bone computed tomography imaging performed at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde over an eight-year period. The presence of five variants was determined. These variants were: a high dehiscent jugular bulb, an anteriorly located sigmoid sinus, a deep sinus tympani, an enlarged cochlear aqueduct and a large internal auditory meatus.

Results:

A total of 339 temporal bones were examined. The incidences of a high dehiscent jugular bulb, anteriorly located sigmoid sinus, deep sinus tympani, enlarged cochlear aqueduct and an enlarged internal auditory meatus were 2.76 per cent, 2.94 per cent, 5.01 per cent, 0.58 per cent and 1.76 per cent respectively.

Conclusion:

Anatomical variations of the temporal bone are not uncommon and it is important for the investigating otologist to be aware of such variations prior to undertaking surgery.
A rare case of paediatric stridor caused by achalasia
Authors: Barr J G , Dean H , Morrison G
Published: June 2015

Objective:

This paper reports a case of achalasia in a 12-year-old girl who presented with stridor.

Case report:

An otherwise healthy 12-year-old girl presented to the ENT clinic with an 18-month history of dysphagia and noisy breathing on eating. Flexible fibre-optic examination showed a normal larynx with normal vocal fold movements. Fibre-optic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing was normal initially, but biphasic stridor occurred after several swallows. Microlaryngoscopy, bronchoscopy and upper oesophagoscopy showed a dilated oesophagus with normal mucosa. Bronchoscopy showed tracheomalacia of the distal trachea, which reduced the airway by approximately 75 per cent. This was caused by posterior compression from redundant oesophageal mucosa with dilatation as a result of retained fluids. Videofluoroscopy suggested achalasia, which was confirmed by oesophageal manometry. Her symptoms improved following a Heller's myotomy.

Conclusion:

This is the first paediatric case in the English literature of achalasia presenting with stridor. The condition was correctable with surgical intervention.
Speed adaptation for self-improvement of skills learned from user demonstrations
Authors: Vuga Rok , Nemec Bojan , Ude Aleš
Published: June 2015

The paper addresses the problem of speed adaptation of movements subject to environmental constraints. Our approach relies on a novel formulation of velocity profiles as an extension of dynamic movement primitives (DMP). The framework allows for compact representation of non-uniformly accelerated motion as well as simple modulation of the movement parameters. In the paper, we evaluate two model free methods by which optimal parameters can be obtained: iterative learning control (ILC) and policy search based reinforcement learning (RL). The applicability of each method is discussed and evaluated on two distinct cases, which are hard to model using standard techniques. The first deals with hard contacts with the environment while the second process involves liquid dynamics. We find ILC to be very efficient in cases where task parameters can be easily described with an error function. On the other hand, RL has stronger convergence properties and can therefore provide a solution in the general case.
Neural mediators of the intergenerational transmission of family aggression
Authors: Saxbe Darby , Del Piero Larissa Borofsky , Immordino-Yang Mary Helen , Kaplan Jonas Todd , Margolin Gayla
Published: June 2015

Youth exposed to family aggression may become more aggressive themselves, but the mechanisms of intergenerational transmission are understudied. In a longitudinal study, we found that adolescents’ reduced neural activation when rating their parents’ emotions, assessed via magnetic resonance imaging, mediated the association between parents’ past aggression and adolescents’ subsequent aggressive behavior toward parents. A subsample of 21 youth, drawn from the larger study, underwent magnetic resonance imaging scanning proximate to the second of two assessments of the family environment. At Time 1 (when youth were on average 15.51 years old) we measured parents’ aggressive marital and parent–child conflict behaviors, and at Time 2 (≈2 years later), we measured youth aggression directed toward parents. Youth from more aggressive families showed relatively less activation to parent stimuli in brain areas associated with salience and socioemotional processing, including the insula and limbic structures. Activation patterns in these same areas were also associated with youths’ subsequent parent-directed aggression. The association between parents’ aggression and youths’ subsequent parent-directed aggression was statistically mediated by signal change coefficients in the insula, right amygdala, thalamus, and putamen. These signal change coefficients were also positively associated with scores on a mentalizing measure. Hypoarousal of the emotional brain to family stimuli may support the intergenerational transmission of family aggression.
Riot in Mexico City: a challenge to the colonial order?
Authors: EXBALIN ARNAUD
Published: June 2015

Obviously the city of Mexico is far away from Europe. Nevertheless, it was the perfect exemplar of city organized along imperial lines. As the capital of ‘New Spain’ and the headquarters of the viceroy and archbishop, it was the showcase of Spain in America. But suddenly and unexpectedly, the Spanish government's colonial policy had to be reconsidered on 8 June 1692 when the most important riot in the history of the city of Mexico broke out. A crowd of thousands of Indians gathered on the Plaza Mayor and kept shouting ‘long live the king, but kill the government’. They lynched the National Guards and burned every sign and symbol related to Spain. Far from being a mere food riot, it was a genuine political movement. The riot of 8 June 1692 was the result of ‘good government police’ that is to say ‘police’ understood in its original sense as good government of the city. This article examines the consequences of the revolt for the city's police and for the Spanish colonial order which was based upon the separation of the Spanish and Indian population.
This is not a mountain!: simulation, imitation, and representation in the Mountain Dwellings project, Copenhagen
Authors: Balık Deniz , Allmer Açalya
Published: June 2015

The Mountain Dwellings project, located in the centre of the Ørestad district of southern Copenhagen, was built in 2008 by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG). Together with BIG’s other housing projects nearby, namely the VM Houses and the 8 House, the building is a part of the urban development carried out under the ‘Ørestad act’, initiated by the Danish Parliament in the 1990s. This promoted the development of a new contemporary urban quarter of dwelling, studying, and working. With an attempt to reinforce the vibrant urban fabric of the district, various buildings of residential units and public spaces have been built, in addition to the improved green areas and rainwater canals.
From paper to digital space: The geometry of construction at Gehry's Weisman Art Museum and Expansion
Authors: Good Robert
Published: June 2015

The article investigates digital technology's influence on the technical description and ultimate construction of geometrically complex buildings. Focusing on the specific constructive example of Frank Gehry’s Weisman Art Museum through the lens of the building expansion’s executive project architect, the goal is to uncover advancements in the operating geometric, documentation, and construction methods used to build sculptural forms.
Architecture and memory in W. G. Sebald’s Austerlitz
Authors: Stead Naomi
Published: June 2015

Austerlitz was the German expatriate author W. G. Sebald’s last book before his untimely death in 2001. Greeted with great critical acclaim, the novel is a profound meditation on history, memory, and loss. Sebald’s larger attempt to represent and memorialise the lasting trauma of the Holocaust, in an oblique and understated rather than a literal way, led him to a new kind of literary expression described by Eric Homberger as ‘part hybrid novel, part memoir and part travelogue’. What is most interesting about Austerlitz, for the purposes of this article, is that it makes so much use of architecture. In this, it joins a tradition of literary works that treat architecture as a metaphor for human endeavour and artifice, social structures, and attempts to order and construct the world. But, there is more to the buildings in Austerlitz. The book offers insights into the larger meaning – often, but not always, melancholy – of architecture in culture and society, past and present. This is elucidated at a personal level, in the way that surroundings and spatial atmospheres can affect the emotional life of an individual, and also at a collective level, in the way that buildings bear witness to, and last beyond, the trials and duration of a single human life.
Opportunities and challenges in developing a whole-of-government national food and nutrition policy: lessons from Australia’s National Food Plan
Authors: Carey Rachel , Caraher Martin , Lawrence Mark , Friel Sharon
Published: June 2015

Objective

The present article tracks the development of the Australian National Food Plan as a ‘whole of government’ food policy that aimed to integrate elements of nutrition and sustainability alongside economic objectives.

Design

The article uses policy analysis to explore the processes of consultation and stakeholder involvement in the development of the National Food Plan, focusing on actors from the sectors of industry, civil society and government. Existing documentation and submissions to the Plan were used as data sources. Models of health policy analysis and policy streams were employed to analyse policy development processes.

Setting

Australia.

Subjects

Australian food policy stakeholders.

Results

The development of the Plan was influenced by powerful industry groups and stakeholder engagement by the lead ministry favoured the involvement of actors representing the food and agriculture industries. Public health nutrition and civil society relied on traditional methods of policy influence, and the public health nutrition movement failed to develop a unified cross-sector alliance, while the private sector engaged in different ways and presented a united front. The National Food Plan failed to deliver an integrated food policy for Australia. Nutrition and sustainability were effectively sidelined due to the focus on global food production and positioning Australia as a food ‘superpower’ that could take advantage of the anticipated ‘dining boom’ as incomes rose in the Asia-Pacific region.

Conclusions

New forms of industry influence are emerging in the food policy arena and public health nutrition will need to adopt new approaches to influencing public policy.
Intake of ruminanttrans-fatty acids, assessed by diet history interview, and changes in measured body size, shape and composition
Authors: Hansen Camilla P , Heitmann Berit L , Sørensen Thorkild IA , Overvad Kim , Jakobsen Marianne U
Published: June 2015

Objective

Studies have suggested that total intake oftrans-fatty acids (TFA) is positively associated with changes in body weight and waist circumference, whereas intake of TFA from ruminant dairy and meat products (R-TFA) has not been associated with weight gain. However, these previous studies are limited by self-reported measures of body weight and waist circumference or by a cross-sectional design. The objective of the present study was to investigate if R-TFA intake was associated with subsequent changes in anthropometry (body weight, waist and hip circumference) measured by technicians and body composition (body fat percentage).

Design

A 6-year follow-up study. Information on dietary intake was collected through diet history interviews, and anthropometric and bioelectrical impedance measurements were obtained by trained technicians at baseline (1987–1988) and at follow-up (1993–1994). Multiple regression with cubic spline modelling was used to analyse the data.

Setting

Copenhagen County, Denmark.

Subjects

Two hundred and sixty-seven men and women aged 35–65 years from the Danish MONICA (MONItoring of trends and determinants in CArdiovascular diseases) cohort.

Results

The median R-TFA intake was 1·3 g/d (5th, 95th percentile: 0·4, 2·7 g/d) or 0·6 % of the total energy intake (5th, 95th percentile: 0·2, 1·1 %). No significant associations were observed between R-TFA intake and changes in body weight, waist and hip circumference or body fat percentage.

Conclusions

R-TFA intake within the range present in the Danish population was not significantly associated with subsequent changes in body size, shape or composition and the 95 % confidence intervals indicate that any relevant associations are unlikely to have produced these observations.
Working with primary care clinicians and patients to introduce strategies for increasing referrals for pulmonary rehabilitation
Authors: Foster Faye , Piggott Rosie , Riley Lucy , Beech Roger
Published: June 2015

Background

Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR), a programme of exercise, education and psycho-social support, is recommended for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease but referral rates are relatively low compared with need.

Aim

Working with primary care clinicians (GPs and practice nurses) from eight practices, this project developed strategies for influencing clinician and patient behaviours as a means of increasing referral rates for PR.

Methods

A participatory action research design was employed. Semi-structured questionnaires captured clinicians’ baseline knowledge of PR and their ideas for increasing referrals. Actionable changes were then recommended. Audits (at baseline, mid-point and end of project) were used to assess and initiate improvements in the quality of practice data about PR referrals. The impacts of these changes were explored via further clinician surveys (free text questionnaire). Semi-structured questionnaires, posted to patients eligible for PR, assessed their characteristics, and, where applicable, their views on PR referral processes and reasons for not wanting PR.

Findings

The baseline survey of clinicians (n=22) revealed inadequate knowledge about PR, particularly among GPs. Actionable changes recommended included in-house education sessions, changes to practice protocols, and ‘pop-ups’ and memory aids (mugs and coasters) to prompt clinician/patient discussions about PR. Audit findings resulted in changes to improve the quality and availability of coded information about patients eligible for PR. These changes, supported by clinicians (n=9) in the follow-up survey, aimed to facilitate and increase the quality of patient/clinician discussions about PR. Findings from the patient survey (n=126, response rate 25.7%) indicate that such changes will increase the uptake of PR as patients who accepted a referral for PR provided more positive feedback about their discussions with clinicians.

Conclusions

The strategies introduced were relatively easy to implement and the anticipated advantage is more patients accessing the health and quality of life benefits that PR offers.
Carers, Choice and Personalisation: What Do We Know?
Authors: Larkin Mary , Mitchell Wendy
Published: June 2015

Despite the long-term strategic shift to personalisation, with its emphasis on choice and control for those who use public services, there has been relatively little policy consideration of family carers’ choice within personalisation. The relationship between carers and personalisation also remains under-researched. This article is based on a review of existing knowledge around personalisation. It shows that carer choice is highly complex, not least because of the multifaceted and paradoxical nature of the concept of choice itself. The review demonstrates that choice for carers within personalisation is no less complex and is subject to new and overlapping variables which do not necessarily lead to improved choice for carers. In light of the limited empirical evidence about carers, choice and personalisation, the introduction of the Care Act 2014, and the importance of frontline practice in securing choice for carers, recommendations are made for future research and social work policy and practice.
Utilization of palliative care principles in nursing home care: Educational interventions
Authors: Cronfalk Berit Seiger , Ternestedt Britt-Marie , Larsson Lise-Lotte Franklin , Henriksen Eva , Norberg Astrid , Österlind Jane
Published: June 2015

Objective:

This study is part of the overarching PVIS (Palliative Care in Nursing Homes) project aimed at building competence in palliative care for nursing home staff. Our objective was to describe nursing home staff's attitudes to competence-building programs in palliative care.

Method:

Three different programs were developed by specialist staff from three local palliative care teams. In all, 852 staff at 37 nursing homes in the greater Stockholm area participated. Staff from 7 nursing homes participated in 11 focus-group discussions. Variation in size between the seven nursing homes initiated purposeful selection of staff to take part in the discussions, and descriptive content analysis was used.

Results:

The results suggest that staff reported positive experiences as they gained new knowledge and insight into palliative care. The experiences seemed to be similar independent of the educational program design. Our results also show that staff experienced difficulties in talking about death. Enrolled nurses and care assistants felt that they carried out advanced care without the necessary theoretical and practical knowledge. Further, the results also suggest that lack of support from ward managers and insufficient collaboration and of a common language between different professions caused tension in situations involved in caring for dying people.

Significance of results:

Nursing home staff experienced competence-building programs in palliative care as useful. Even so, further competence is needed, as is long-term implementation strategies and development of broader communication skills among all professions working in nursing homes.
Indigenous people's experiences at the end of life
Authors: Duggleby Wendy , Kuchera Samantha , MacLeod Rod , Holyoke Paul , Scott Tracy , Holtslander Lorraine , Letendre Angeline , Moeke-Maxwell Tess , Burhansstipanov Linda , Chambers Thane
Published: June 2015

Objective:

The primary purpose of this metasynthesis study was to explore the end-of-life experiences of Indigenous peoples by synthesizing the findings of qualitative research.

Method:

Sandelowski and Barroso's methodology for synthesizing qualitative research was used and included (a) a comprehensive search, (b) appraising reports of qualitative studies, (c) classification of studies, and (d) synthesis of the findings. Research team members guided this process. This team was multidisciplinary and included Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. Following a comprehensive search, 2255 studies were reviewed and assessed against five inclusion criteria: (a) studies on the experiences of Indigenous populations (all genders, 18 + years of age) at the end of life, (b) studies published in English from any country, (c) studies using qualitative and mixed-methods designs, and (d) studies published between 1993 and 2013.

Results:

Some 18 studies met the inclusion criteria, and their findings were synthesized. “Preparing the spirit” for transition to the next life was the overarching theme. “Preparing the spirit” occurred within the context of “where we come from.” Processes involved in “preparing the spirit” were healing, connecting, and protecting; through these processes, “what I want at the end of life” was realized. Although not the focus of the metasynthesis, a significant finding was that the studies reviewed identified very clear barriers within healthcare systems and current healthcare provider practices to “preparing the spirit.”

Significance of results:

The findings provide a beginning understanding of the end-of-life experiences of Indigenous peoples and a foundation for future research. More interpretive qualitative research is critical if palliative care services, the healthcare system, and healthcare providers are to reduce current barriers to “preparing the spirit” for the journey at the end of life.
GLOSSING ACHILLES: HORACE,EPODE13
Authors: Phillips Tom
Published: June 2015

This paper argues that the final couplet of Horace,Epode13 alludes both to the description of Achilles playing the lyre inIliad9 and to ancient scholarly debate about the Homeric passage. Horace's reworking of theIliadunderlines his transfer of epic material to a sympotic setting, and the scholarly allusion reinforces Horace's presentation of himself as a symposiastic speaker by drawing on the tradition of symposia as sites of learned conversation. This dual engagement with Homer encourages readers to see their own responses to Horace's poem as part of a continuum of literary debate.
An ultra flat phased array Ku-band antenna with integrated receivers in SiGe BiCMOS
Authors: Klatser Paul , Van Der Vossen Marc , Voshaar Gerard , Boot Rinus , Hulzinga Adriaan , Iven Maikel , Roeloffzen Chris
Published: June 2015

A highly integrated Ku-band (10.7–12.75 GHz) planar phased array receiver of 64 antenna elements is presented. It features instantaneous reception of the full Ku-band (2.05 GHz wide) in two orthogonal polarizations with wide scan angles by using time delay instead of phase shift. The receiver is part of a system for satellite broadcast TV reception on board of moving vehicles. Two SiGe radio frequency integrated circuits (RFICs) were developed, packaged in ceramic BGAs and assembled onto a 15-layer printed circuit board (PCB) which integrates the antenna elements. An outline of the system is given along with a detailed description. It sets a new standard in integration density. The receiver has extensive analog signal processing at intermediate frequency (IF)-level. A novel bipolar implementation for true time delay is proposed, with a continuous programmable delay range of 0…80 ps with less than 2.5 ps group-delay variation in 2 GHz bandwidth (BW). The wide BW calls for a constant group-delay implementation in the IF chain. The receiver (RFIC) consumes only 132 mW per channel. Each channel has 40 dB gain.
Time-course of PTSD symptoms in the Australian Defence Force: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Waller M. , Charlson F. J. , Ireland R. E. E. , Whiteford H. A. , Dobson A. J.
Published: June 2015

Aims.

Understanding the time-course of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the underlying events, may help to identify those most at risk, and anticipate the number of individuals likely to be diagnosed after exposure to traumatic events.

Method.

Data from two health surveys were combined to create a cohort of 1119 Australian military personnel who deployed to the Middle East between 2000 and 2009. Changes in PTSD Checklist Civilian Version (PCL-C) scores and the reporting of stressful events between the two self-reported surveys were assessed. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between the number of stressful events reported and PTSD symptoms, and assess whether those who reported new stressful events between the two surveys, were also more likely to report older events. We also assessed, using linear regression, whether higher scores on the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale or the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test were associated with subsequent increases in the PCL-C in those who had experienced a stressful event, but who initially had few PTSD symptoms.

Results.

Overall, the mean PCL-C scores in the two surveys were similar, and 78% of responders stayed in the same PCL-C category. Only a small percentage moved from having few symptoms of PTSD (PCL-C < 30) in Survey 1 to meeting the criteria for PTSD (PCL-C ≥ 50) at Survey 2 (1% of all responders, 16% of those with PCL-C ≥ 50 at Survey 2). Personnel who reported more stressful lifetime events were more likely to score higher on the PCL-C. Only 51% reported the same stressful event on both surveys. People who reported events occurring between the two surveys were more likely to record events from before the first survey which they had not previously mentioned (OR 1.48, 95% CI (1.17, 1.88),p< 0.001), than those who did not. In people who initially had few PTSD symptoms, a higher level of psychological distress, was significantly associated with higher PCL-C scores a few years later.

Conclusions.

The reporting of stressful events varied over time indicating that while the impact of some stressors endure, others may increase or decline in importance. When screening for PTSD, it is important to consider both traumatic experiences on deployment and other stressful life events, as well as other mental health problems among military personnel, even if individuals do not exhibit symptoms of PTSD on an initial assessment.
Age-Appropriate Augmented Cognitive Behavior Therapy to Enhance Treatment Outcome for Late-Life Depression and Anxiety Disorders
Authors: Laidlaw Ken , Kishita Naoko
Published: June 2015

We present an explanation of the benefits of using gerontological theory to augment treatment outcome in cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). Traditional formulations/conceptualizations of CBT may not always be the most optimal fit when working with older people, who may be experiencing different developmental life stages compared to adults of working age. In addressing how CBT may be different with older people, it is proposed that one may augment CBT outcome by applying gerontological theory as “vehicles for change.” This evidence-based scientist approach is consistent with standard practice in CBT. This paper outlines some examples of how gerontological theory can be useful to bring about an enhanced treatment outcome.
Direct wavefront sensing for high-resolution in vivo imaging in scattering tissue
Authors: Wang Kai , Sun Wenzhi , Richie Christopher T. , Harvey Brandon K. , Betzig Eric , Ji Na
Published: June 2015

Adaptive optics by direct imaging of the wavefront distortions of a laser-induced guide star has long been used in astronomy, and more recently in microscopy to compensate for aberrations in transparent specimens. Here we extend this approach to tissues that strongly scatter visible light by exploiting the reduced scattering of near-infrared guide stars. The method enablesin vivotwo-photon morphological and functional imaging down to 700 μm inside the mouse brain.
Ambient solid-state mechano-chemical reactions between functionalized carbon nanotubes
Authors: Kabbani Mohamad A. , Tiwary Chandra Sekhar , Autreto Pedro A.S. , Brunetto Gustavo , Som Anirban , Krishnadas K.R. , Ozden Sehmus , Hackenberg Ken P. , Gong Yongi , Galvao Douglas S. , Vajtai Robert , Kabbani Ahmad T. , Pradeep Thalappil , Ajayan Pulickel M.
Published: June 2015

Carbon nanotubes can be chemically modified by attaching various functionalities to their surfaces, although harsh chemical treatments can lead to their break-up into graphene nanostructures. On the other hand, direct coupling between functionalities bound on individual nanotubes could lead to, as yet unexplored, spontaneous chemical reactions. Here we report an ambient mechano-chemical reaction between two varieties of nanotubes, carrying predominantly carboxyl and hydroxyl functionalities, respectively, facilitated by simple mechanical grinding of the reactants. The purely solid-state reaction between the chemically differentiated nanotube species produces condensation products and unzipping of nanotubes due to local energy release, as confirmed by spectroscopic measurements, thermal analysis and molecular dynamic simulations.
Physical principles of membrane remodelling during cell mechanoadaptation
Authors: Kosmalska Anita Joanna , Casares Laura , Elosegui-Artola Alberto , Thottacherry Joseph Jose , Moreno-Vicente Roberto , González-Tarragó Víctor , del Pozo Miguel Ángel , Mayor Satyajit , Arroyo Marino , Navajas Daniel , Trepat Xavier , Gauthier Nils C. , Roca-Cusachs Pere
Published: June 2015

Biological processes in any physiological environment involve changes in cell shape, which must be accommodated by their physical envelope—the bilayer membrane. However, the fundamental biophysical principles by which the cell membrane allows for and responds to shape changes remain unclear. Here we show that the 3D remodelling of the membrane in response to a broad diversity of physiological perturbations can be explained by a purely mechanical process. This process is passive, local, almost instantaneous, before any active remodelling and generates different types of membrane invaginations that can repeatedly store and release large fractions of the cell membrane. We further demonstrate that the shape of those invaginations is determined by the minimum elastic and adhesive energy required to store both membrane area and liquid volume at the cell–substrate interface. Once formed, cells reabsorb the invaginations through an active process with duration of the order of minutes.
1,3,2,5-Diazadiborinine featuring nucleophilic and electrophilic boron centres
Authors: Wu Di , Kong Lingbing , Li Yongxin , Ganguly Rakesh , Kinjo Rei
Published: June 2015

The seminal discovery in 1865 by Kekulé that benzene nucleus exists with cyclic skeleton is considered to be the beginning of aromatic chemistry. Since then, a myriad of cyclic molecules displaying aromatic property have been synthesized. Meanwhile, borazine (B3N3H6), despite the isostructural and isoelectronic relationships with benzene, exhibits little aromaticity. Herein, we report the synthesis of a 1,3,2,5-diazadiborinine (B2C2N2R6) derivative, a hybrid inorganic/organic benzene, and we present experimental and computational evidence for its aromaticity. In marked contrast to the reactivity of benzene, borazine, and even azaborinines previously reported, 1,3,2,5-diazadiborinine readily forms the adducts with methyl trifluoromethanesulfonate and phenylacetylene without any catalysts. Moreover, 1,3,2,5-diazadiborine activates carbon dioxide giving rise to a bicycle[2,2,2] product, and the binding process was found to be reversible. These results, thus, demonstrate that 1,3,2,5-diazadiborinine features both nucleophilic and electrophilic boron centres, with a formal B(+I)/B(+III) mixed valence system, in the aromatic six-membered B2C2N2 ring.
Short-term weight-centric effects of tea or tea extract in patients with metabolic syndrome: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Zhong X , Zhang T , Liu Y , Wei X , Zhang X , Qin Y , Jin Z , Chen Q , Ma X , Wang R , He J
Published: June 2015

To evaluate the weight-centric effect of tea or tea extract in participants with metabolic syndrome (MetS), we performed electronic searches in PubMed, EmBase and the Cochrane Library to identify eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing tea or tea extract vs a control group. A direct meta-analysis using random-effects model was conducted to pool the standardized mean difference regarding body mass index (BMI), body weight and waist circumference. Study quality was assessed by using the Jadad scale. Pre-specified subgroup and sensitivity analyses were conducted to explore potential heterogeneity. A total of five RCTs involving 338 adult individuals were included. Given the high heterogeneity observed in the overall pooled analysis, we separated the included subjects into two subgroups. Ingestion of tea or tea extract significantly reduced BMI (subgroup 1: −1.60, 95% confidence interval (CI), −2.05 to −1.14; subgroup 2: −0.40, 95% CI, −0.69 to −0.12) and body weight (subgroup 1: −4.14, 95% CI, −4.85 to −3.43; subgroup 2: −0.35, 95% CI, −0.68 to −0.02). This meta-analysis suggests that tea or tea extract has favorable weight-centric effects in MetS patients. Additional large RCTs specifically designed to evaluate the effect on anthropometric measurements are needed to further confirm these findings.
Anti-HMGB1 antibody reduces weight gain in mice fed a high-fat diet
Authors: Montes V N , Subramanian S , Goodspeed L , Wang S A , Omer M , Bobik A , Teshigawara K , Nishibori M , Chait A
Published: June 2015

Insulin resistance in obesity is believed to be propagated by adipose tissue and liver inflammation. HMGB1 is a multifunctional protein that is pro-inflammatory when released from cells. It has been previously demonstrated that anti-HMGB1 antibody reduces atherosclerotic lesion pro-inflammatory cells and progression of atherosclerosis in a mouse model. To test the potential beneficial role of blocking HMGB1 in adipose tissue and liver inflammation in mice fed an obesogenic diet, we administered anti-HMGB1 antibody to C57Bl/6 mice fed a high (60%)-fat diet. The mice were treated with weekly injections of an anti-HMGB1 antibody or anti-KLH antibody (isotype control) for 16 weeks. Mice that received the anti-HMGB1 antibody gained less weight than the control-treated animals. Anti-HMGB1 treatment also reduced hepatic expression of TNF-alpha and MCP-1, molecules that promote inflammation. However, adipose tissue inflammation, as measured by gene expression analyses and immunohistochemistry, did not differ between the two groups. There also were no differences in glucose or insulin tolerance between the two groups. When feeding mice a high-fat diet, these data suggest that HMGB1 may have a crucial role in weight gain and liver inflammation.
Exploring genetic markers of adult obesity risk in black adolescent South Africans—the Birth to Twenty Cohort
Authors: Pillay V , Crowther N J , Ramsay M , Smith G D , Norris S A , Lombard Z
Published: June 2015

To date more than 90 loci that show an association with body mass index (BMI) and other obesity-related traits, have been discovered through genome-wide association studies. These findings have been widely replicated, mostly in European and Asian populations, but systematic investigation in African cohorts is still lacking. Therefore, the aim of our study was to replicate the association of six single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) previously linked to BMI, in a South African black adolescent cohort. The SNPs were in or near GNPDA2 (rs10938397), MTCH2 (rs10838738), NEGR1 (rs2568958), SH2B1 (rs7498665), STK33 (rs10769908) and TMEM18 (rs6548238). The SNPs were genotyped in 990 adolescents from the Birth to Twenty study, using an Illumina VeraCode assay, and association with BMI statistically assesed by using PLINK. Three of the SNPs tested were associated with BMI in this African cohort, and showed a consistent (albeit smaller) directional effect to that observed in non-African cohorts. We identified significant association between BMI and rs10938397 (effect allele-G) near GNPDA2 (Padj=0.003), rs7498665 (effect allele-G) in SH2B1 (Padj=0.014) and rs6548238 (effect allele-C) near TMEM18 (Padj=0.030). This data suggests that common genetic variants potentially contributes to obesity risk in diverse population groups.
Specific gut microbiota features and metabolic markers in postmenopausal women with obesity
Authors: Brahe L K , Le Chatelier E , Prifti E , Pons N , Kennedy S , Hansen T , Pedersen O , Astrup A , Ehrlich S D , Larsen L H
Published: June 2015

Background:

Gut microbial gene richness and specific bacterial species are associated with metabolic risk markers in humans, but the impact of host physiology and dietary habits on the link between the gut microbiota and metabolic markers remain unclear. The objective of this study was to identify gut metagenomic markers associated with estimates of insulin resistance, lipid metabolism and inflammation in obesity, and to explore whether the associations between metagenomic and metabolic markers persisted after adjustment for body fat, age and habitual dietary intake.

Methods:

Faecal DNA from 53 women with obesity was analysed through quantitative metagenomic sequencing and analysis, and a systematic search was performed for bacterial genes associated with estimates of insulin resistance, inflammation and lipid metabolism. Subsequently, the correlations between metagenomic species and metabolic markers were tested by linear regression models, with and without covariate adjustment.

Results:

One hundred and fourteen metagenomic species correlated with metabolic markers (P<0.001) including Akkermansia muciniphila, Bilophila wadsworthia, Bifidobacterium longum and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, but also species not previously associated with metabolic markers including Bacteroides faecis and Dorea longicatena. The majority of the identified correlations between bacterial species and metabolic markers persisted after adjustment for differences in body fat, age and dietary macronutrient composition; however, the negative correlation with insulin resistance observed for B. longum and F. prausnitzii appeared to be modified by the intake of dietary fibre and fat, respectively.

Conclusions:

This study shows that several gut bacterial species are linked to metabolic risk markers in obesity, also after adjustment for potential confounders, such as long-term diet composition. The study supports the use of gut metagenomic markers for metabolic disease prediction and warrants further investigation of causality.
An aberrant nuclear localization of E-cadherin is a potent inhibitor of Wnt/β-catenin-elicited promotion of the cancer stem cell phenotype
Authors: Su Y-J , Chang Y-W , Lin W-H , Liang C-L , Lee J-L
Published: June 2015

Several studies suggest that Wnt signaling contributes to reprogramming and maintenance of cancer stem cell (CSC) states activated by loss of membranous E-cadherin expression. However, E-cadherin’s exact role in Wnt/β-catenin-mediated promotion of the CSC phenotype remains unclear. Recently, a significant positive correlation has been observed between the expression of nuclear (an aberrant nuclear localization) E-cadherin and β-catenin in gastric and colorectal carcinomas. Here we conducted a series of in-vitro and in-vivo studies to show that the β-catenin/TCF4 interaction was abolished by E-cadherin and was correlated with its nuclear localization, and consequently decreased β-catenin/TCF4 transcriptional activity. Nuclear E-cadherin was a negative regulator of Wnt/β-Catenin-elicited promotion of the CSC phenotype. Using immunohistochemistry on lung cancer tissue microarrays, we found that changes in subcellular location of E-cadherin may be described by tumor grade and stage, suggesting cellular redistribution during lung tumorigenesis. Furthermore, nuclear E-cadherin expression was more significantly inversely correlated with CD133 (a lung CSC marker) expression (P<0.005) than total E-cadherin expression (P<0.05), suggesting that lung cancer as defined by nuclear E-cadherinLow/nuclear β-cateninHigh/CD133High biomarkers has superior prognostic value over total E-cadherinLow/nuclear β-cateninHigh/CD133High.
Metformin induces ER stress-dependent apoptosis through miR-708-5p/NNAT pathway in prostate cancer
Authors: Yang J , Wei J , Wu Y , Wang Z , Guo Y , Lee P , Li X
Published: June 2015

Although the antitumor role of metformin has been widely reported, the molecular mechanism of this biguanide agent in the inhibition of tumor progression remains unclear. Here, we identified miR-708-5p as a novel target of metformin in prostate cancer cells. Metformin promotes increased expression of miR-708-5p, leading to suppression of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane protein neuronatin (NNAT) expression and subsequently induces apoptosis of prostate cancer cells through the ER stress pathway. Further, miR-708-5p-induced knockdown of NNAT is associated with downregulated intracellular calcium levels and induced malformation of ER-ribosome structure revealed by electronic microscopy. Meanwhile, the unfolded protein response regulator CHOP, p-eIF2α, calreticulin, GRP78 and ATP2A1, all of which are also considered as ER stress markers, are upregulated by metformin and miR-708-5p. Taken together, our findings clearly demonstrate that metformin stimulates increased expression of miR-708-5p to target the NNAT-mediated response to ER stress and apoptosis. This novel regulatory mechanism of metformin in prostate cancer cells not only advances our knowledge on the molecular mechanism of metformin but also provides a promising therapeutic strategy by targeting miR-708-5p and NNAT for prostate cancer treatment.
Differential signaling mechanism for HIV-1 Nef-mediated production of IL-6 and IL-8 in human astrocytes
Authors: Liu Xun , Kumar Anil
Published: June 2015

Variety of HIV-1 viral proteins including HIV-1 Nef are known to activate astrocytes and microglia in the brain and cause the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which is thought to be one of the mechanisms leading to HIV-1- mediated neurotoxicity. IL-6 and IL-8 have been found in the CSF of patients with HIV-1 associated dementia (HAD), suggesting that they might play important roles in HIV-1 neuropathology. In the present study we examined the effects of HIV-1 Nef on IL-6 and IL-8 induction in astrocytes. The results demonstrate that both IL-6 and IL-8 are significantly induced in HIV-1 Nef-transfected SVGA astrocytes and HIV-1 Nef-treated primary fetal astrocytes. We also determined the molecular mechanisms responsible for the HIV-1 Nef-induced increased IL-6 and IL-8 by using chemical inhibitors and siRNAs against PI3K/Akt/PKC, p38 MAPK, NF-κB, CEBP and AP-1. Our results clearly demonstrate that the PI3K/PKC, p38 MAPK, NF-κB and AP-1 pathways are involved in HIV-1 Nef-induced IL-6 production in astrocytes, while PI3K/PKC and NF-κB pathways are involved in HIV-1 Nef-induced IL-8 production. These results offer new potential targets to develop therapeutic strategy for treatment of HIV-1 associated neurological disorders, prevalent in > 40% of individuals infected with HIV-1.
Novel EPHB4 Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Mutations and Kinomic Pathway Analysis in Lung Cancer
Authors: Ferguson Benjamin D. , Carol Tan Yi-Hung , Kanteti Rajani S. , Liu Ren , Gayed Matthew J. , Vokes Everett E. , Ferguson Mark K. , John Iafrate A. , Gill Parkash S. , Salgia Ravi
Published: June 2015

Lung cancer outcomes remain poor despite the identification of several potential therapeutic targets. The EPHB4 receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) has recently emerged as an oncogenic factor in many cancers, including lung cancer. Mutations of EPHB4 in lung cancers have previously been identified, though their significance remains unknown. Here, we report the identification of novel EPHB4 mutations that lead to putative structural alterations as well as increased cellular proliferation and motility. We also conducted a bioinformatic analysis of these mutations to demonstrate that they are mutually exclusive from other common RTK variants in lung cancer, that they correspond to analogous sites of other RTKs’ variations in cancers and that they are predicted to be oncogenic based on biochemical, evolutionary and domain-function constraints. Finally, we show that EPHB4 mutations can induce broad changes in the kinome signature of lung cancer cells. Taken together, these data illuminate the role of EPHB4 in lung cancer and further identify EPHB4 as a potentially important therapeutic target.