bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A giant magnetoimpedance sensor for sensitive detection of streptavidin‐coupled Dynabeads
Authors: Wang Tao , Yang Zhen , Lei Chong , Lei Jian , Zhou Yong
Published: June 2014

An integrated giant magnetoimpedance (GMI) sensor has been used for the detection of Dynabeads® MyOne Streptavidin C1 (DMS). An Au film was sputtered onto magnetic sensing elements for the immobilization of DMS in order to develop an integrated biosensor for potentially biomedical applications. The GMI responses were measured for the detection of DMS from 0.1 µg mL−1 to 100 µg mL−1. We observed that the GMI effect was greatly improved at high frequencies owing to the presence of superparamagnetic beads. It was found that magnetic dipole fields had partly canceled each other out due to the uneven distributions and high‐density clusters of Dynabeads. High‐detection sensitivity was achieved in the detection of low concentrations of DMS. This integrated GMI sensor is well suited for detection of magnetic beads‐labeled biological components.
Effect of thickness of bilayer dielectric on 1,7‐dibromo‐N,N′‐dioctadecyl ‐3,4,9,10‐perylenetetracarboxylic diimide based organic field‐effect transistors
Authors: Subbarao Nimmakayala V. V. , Gedda Murali , Vasimalla Suresh , Iyer Parameswar K. , Goswami Dipak K.
Published: June 2014

1,7‐dibromo‐N,N′‐dioctadecyl‐3,4,9,10‐perylenetetracarboxylic diimide (PTCDI‐Br2‐C18) was synthesized and employed in the fabrication of n‐type organic field‐effect transistors (OFETs). Lower operating voltage was achieved by using a bilayer dielectric containing anodized Al2O3 and poly‐(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) layers. We have studied the effect of individual dielectric layer thickness and the roughness on the threshold voltage (VT) as well as on the field‐effect carrier mobility (μFE) and achieved a threshold voltage of <1 V with a subthreshold swing of <0.2 V/decade. We observed the reduction in VT while the thickness of Al2O3 layer is reduced. This has been attributed to the reduction of charge trap density present at the active channel and at the interface between active channel and the dielectric layer. The trap states density is apparently influenced by the roughness of the Al2O3 layer. In such cases, gate‐field (E) dependent carrier mobility is almost evident. In this work, we have demonstrated gate‐field independent carrier mobility, which are about 0.040 cm2 V−1s−1 in the saturation region and 0.035 cm2 V−1s−1 in the linear region. This indicates the significant reduction of trap states, which are completely full at the voltage below VT. As a result, the carrier mobility is relatively unaffected by trap scattering of the mobile charges.
Drug development: EU paediatric legislation, the European Medicines Agency and its Paediatric Committee—adolescents’ melanoma as a paradigm
Authors: Rose Klaus , Senn Stephen
Published: June 2014

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) website lists all diseases that officially exist in adults only. The class waiver for juvenile melanoma was revoked in 2008 referring to US SEER statistics. This statistical justification is misleading. Melanoma in adolescents is much rarer than claimed by EMA/Paediatric Committee; < 1 ∕ 4 of adolescents with melanoma need systemic treatment; separate efficacy studies are neither medically justified nor feasible. The scarce adolescent patients should be allowed to participate in adult trials. To force companies to investigate them separately turns them into paediatric hostages, to adapt the term therapeutic orphans coined in 1968 by Shirkey. There are now five melanoma Paediatric Investigation Plans (PIPs). Probably none of the PIP‐triggered clinical studies will ever be completed; we propose to call them ghost studies. An oncology research network considering a reasonable trial in melanoma, including adolescents, will compete for recruitment with the PIP‐triggered trials designed by regulatory tunnel vision and sponsored by companies under EMA‐imposed pressure. EMA/Paediatric Committee's territorial enthusiasm (“our patients”) damages oncology research. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On the use of the forced sensitivity method in climate studies
Authors: Rasmijn L. M. , van der Schrier G. , Barkmeijer J. , Sterl A. , Hazeleger W.
Published: June 2014

Developed initially in a weather forecasting framework, in this study the forced sensitivity (FS) technique is applied in a climatological context. This technique makes it possible to provide a dynamically consistent description of weather under a prescribed persistently anomalous large‐scale atmospheric circulation. Optimal model tendency perturbations are computed using the FS technique and applied in the EC‐Earth Global Climate Model. These tendency perturbations are calculated subject to the requirement that the model circulation reproduces the prescribed circulation after an optimization time of the order of a few days. The time‐averaged large‐scale atmospheric circulation is shown to be consistent with the large‐scale circulation pattern of interest, while maintaining variability on the synoptic scale. This is demonstrated by forcing the model to reproduce, on average, a pattern characterized by a more persistent westerly circulation over the North Atlantic sector (positive North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO)). The dipole pattern in surface pressure over the North Atlantic is spatially fairly well reproduced, albeit with a slight shift southwards and a larger amplitude. The net average surface‐temperature field shows the characteristic quadrupole pattern associated with a NAO event, although a slight shift is observed. The amplitude of the net response exceeds the characteristic values associated with a NAO event. On the synoptic scale, the mean sea‐level pressure (MSLP) closely resembles the typical MSLP pattern observed in a NAO+ event.
Assimilation of SSMIS and ASCAT data and the replacement of highly uncertain estimates in the Environment Canada Regional Ice Prediction System
Authors: Buehner M. , Caya A. , Carrieres T. , Pogson L.
Published: June 2014

This study describes the impact from three major modifications to an existing ice‐analysis system developed at Environment Canada. The analysis component of the Regional Ice Prediction System currently provides near real‐time gridded estimates of ice concentration for all ice‐affected areas around North America and Greenland, and is primarily aimed to satisfy the operational requirements of the Canadian Ice Service. The first modification is the assimilation of Special Sensor Microwave Imager/Sounder data from three satellite platforms to complement the already assimilated Special Sensor Microwave Imager data from one platform. The second change is the assimilation of ice‐concentration information derived from Advanced Scatterometer data. The third modification is to replace the ice concentration in the analysis with spatially interpolated values for all grid points where an estimated measure of uncertainty is above a specified threshold. Objective verification scores were computed from 1 year experiments spanning all of 2010 using independent verification data to evaluate the accuracy of the analyses. The incremental impact of adding each of the three modifications is examined along with the combined impact from the three modifications. It is demonstrated that the new version of the system produces consistently more accurate ice‐concentration analyses than the previous version, especially during the summer period and when the ice is refreezing.
Does local disorder influence secondary ion formation?
Authors: Weidtmann Boris , Duvenbeck Andreas , Wucher Andreas
Published: June 2014

The ionization probabilities of particles sputtered from a clean metallic single crystal surface bombarded under self‐sputtering conditions (i.e. with projectiles of the same atomic species as the target material) are calculated using a hybrid computer simulation model based on a combination of molecular dynamics and excitation dynamics. The simulations reveal an apparent correlation between the ionization probability of a sputtered particle and the local lattice disorder at the point in space and time when it is being emitted from the surface. By examining cross correlations between emission time, local order and the local surface electron temperature, however, we find that particles exhibiting the highest ionization probability are being emitted in an early stage of the collision cascade, where the surface is still practically intact. Atoms emitted at later stages of the cascade can in principle benefit from an effective excitation energy confinement induced by the local disorder; the resulting ionization probability, however, is too low to significantly contribute to secondary ion formation. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis and performance of electroless Ni–P–TiCN composite coatings on Al substrate
Authors: Hassan H. B. , Abdel Hamid Z. , Hassan Mona
Published: June 2014

Electroless Ni–P and Ni–P–TiCN composite coatings have been deposited successfully on Al substrates. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X‐ray (EDX) techniques were applied to study the surface morphology and the chemical composition of the deposited films. Moreover, X‐ray diffraction (XRD) proved that Ni–P and Ni–P–TiCN deposits have amorphous structures. The properties of Ni–P–TiCN/Al composite films such as hardness, corrosion resistance and electrocatalytic activity were examined and compared with that of Ni–P/Al film. The results of hardness measurements reveal that the presence of TiCN particles with Ni–P matrix improves its hardness. Additionally, the performance against corrosion was examined using Tafel lines and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy techniques in both of 0.6 M NaCl and a mixture of 0.5 M H2SO4 with 2 ppm HF solutions. The results indicate that the incorporation of high dispersed TiCN particles into Ni–P matrix led to a positive shift of the corrosion potential and an increase in the corrosion resistance for all aluminum substrates after their coating with Ni–P–TiCN. In addition, Ni–P–TiCN/Al electrodes showed a higher electrochemical catalytic activity and stability toward methanol oxidation in 0.5 M NaOH solution compared with that of Ni–P/Al. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Surface characterization of growth process for cerium conversion coating on magnesium alloy and its anticorrosion mechanism
Authors: Lei Li , Wang Xin , Tang Qunwei , Chen Shougang , Zhu Zhibin , Xu Luomin
Published: June 2014

Cerium conversion coating is successfully deposited on magnesium alloy AZ31 for corrosion protection. Deposition time on the influence of cerium conversion coating morphology, composition, and electrochemical properties has been investigated in detail. Morphological observation reveals that the cerium conversion coating is a porous agglomerate nanostructure. XPS indicates that the coating exhibits a time‐dependent ingredient. Moreover, the coating is considered as a combination of magnesium oxide/hydroxide and cerium (III) and (IV) oxides/hydroxides. The results of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy indicate that the anticorrosion coating exhibits the best properties during deposition of 5 min. In view of the analysis, the anticorrosion mechanism is pioneered proposed because of the formation of H‐bonding layer, which forms a reasonable barrier to Cl− ions. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Epitope profiling via mixture modeling of ranked data
Authors: Mollica Cristina , Tardella Luca
Published: June 2014

We propose the use of probability models for ranked data as a useful alternative to a quantitative data analysis to investigate the outcome of bioassay experiments when the preliminary choice of an appropriate normalization method for the raw numerical responses is difficult or subject to criticism. We review standard distance‐based and multistage ranking models and propose an original generalization of thePlackett–Luce modelto account for the order of the ranking elicitation process. The usefulness of the novel model is illustrated with its maximum likelihood estimation for a real data set. Specifically, we address the heterogeneous nature of the experimental units via model‐based clustering and detail the necessary steps for a successful likelihood maximization through a hybrid version of the expectation–maximization algorithm. The performance of the mixture model using the new distribution as mixture components is then compared with alternative mixture models for random rankings. A discussion on the interpretation of the identified clusters and a comparison with more standard quantitative approaches are finally provided. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Brief Report: Reduced Expression of CD18 Leads to the In Vivo Expansion of Hematopoietic Stem Cells in Mouse Bone Marrow
Authors: Leon-Rico Diego , Aldea Montserrat , Sanchez Rebeca , Segovia José C. , Weiss Linnea A. , Hidalgo Andrés , Bueren Juan A. , Almarza Elena
Published: June 2014

Leukocyte adhesion deficiency type-I is a primary immunodeficiency caused by mutations in the ITGB2 gene (CD18 leukocyte integrin) which lead to defects in leukocyte extravasation. To investigate the role of CD18 in hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) biology, we have thoroughly characterized the HSCs of CD18 Itgb2tm1bay hypomorphic mice (CD18HYP) both by flow cytometry and using in vitro and in vivo transplantation assays. Flow cytometry analyses and cultures in methyl cellulose revealed that bone marrow (BM) from CD18HYP mice was enriched in hematopoietic precursors, mainly early quiescent short-term and long-term Hematopoietic progenitors cells. Strikingly, BM competition assays showed a progressive expansion of CD18HYP-derived hematopoiesis in recipient mice. Additionally, we provide evidence that this HSC expansion was not caused by an increased homing capacity of CD18HYP HSCs or by alterations in the hematopoietic environment of CD18HYP mice due to defects in neutrophils clearance. On the contrary, our data demonstrated that the reduced expression of CD18 causes a cell-autonomous expansion in the HSC compartment, thus revealing unexpected regulatory functions for CD18 in mouse HSCs. Stem Cells  2014;32:2794–2798
The simulation error caused by input loading variability in offshore wind turbine structural analysis
Authors: Zwick Daniel , Muskulus Michael
Published: June 2014

Stochastic representations of turbulent wind and irregular waves are used in time domain simulations of offshore wind turbines. The variability due to finite sampling of this input loading is an important source of simulation error. For the OC4 reference jacket structure with a 5 MW wind turbine, an error of 12–34% for ultimate loads and 6–12% for fatigue loads can occur with a probability of 1%, for simulations with a total simulation length of 60 min and various load cases. In terms of fatigue life, in the worst case, the lifetime of a joint was thereby overestimated by 29%. The size of this error can be critical, i.e., ultimate or fatigue limits can be exceeded, with probability depending on the choice of number of random seeds and simulation length. The analysis is based on a large simulation study with about 30,000 time domain simulations. Probability density functions of response variables are estimated and analyzed in terms of confidence intervals; i.e., how probable it is to obtain results significantly different from the expected value when using a finite number of simulations. This simulation error can be reduced to the same extent, either using several short simulations with different stochastic representations of the wind field or one long simulation with corresponding total length of the wind field. When using several short‐term simulations, it is important that ultimate and fatigue loads are calculated based on the complete, properly combined set of results, in order to prevent a systematic bias in the estimated loads. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hybrid ensemble of classifiers for logo and trademark symbols recognition
Authors: Cyganek Bogusław
Published: June 2014

The paper presents a hybrid ensemble of diverse classifiers for logo and trademark symbols recognition. The proposed ensemble is composed of four types of different member classifiers. The first one compares color distribution of the logo patterns and is responsible for sifting out images of different color distribution. The second of the classifiers is based on the structural tensor recognition of local phase histograms. A proposed modification in this module consists of tensor computation in the space of the morphological scale-space. Thanks to this, more discriminative histograms describing global shapes are obtained. Next in the chain, is a novel member classifier that joins the Hausdorff distance with the correspondence measure of the log-polar patches computed around the corner points. This sparse classifier allows reliable comparison of even highly deformed patterns. The last member classifier relies on the statistical affine moment invariants which describe global shapes. However, a real advantage is obtained by joining the aforementioned base classifiers into a hybrid ensemble of classifiers, as proposed in this paper. Thanks to this a more accurate response and generalizing properties are obtained at reasonable computational requirements. Experimental results show good recognition accuracy even for the highly deformed logo patterns, as well as fair generalization properties which support human search and logo assessment tasks.
Variation in leaf nitrogen and phosphorus stoichiometry in the nitrogen‐fixing Chinese sea‐buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L. subsp. sinensis Rousi) across northern China
Authors: Li Xiaowei , Sun Kun , Li Frank Yonghong
Published: June 2014

Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations and N:P ratios in terrestrial plants and their patterns of change along environmental gradients are important traits for plant adaptation to changes. We determined the leaf N and P concentrations of Chinese sea‐buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L. subsp. sinensis Rousi), a non‐legume species with symbiotic N fixation (SNF), at 37 sites across northern China and explored their geographical patterns in relation to climate and soil factors. (1) The mean leaf N, P, and N:P ratio were 36.5, 2.1 mg g−1, and 17.6, respectively, higher than the mean values of most shrub species in the region. (2) Leaf N was correlated with soil mineral N in cool areas (mean annual temperature MAT <3 °C) but with temperature in warm areas (MAT >3 °C). The high leaf N and divergent leaf N–soil N relationship suggested the importance of SNF in plant N uptake; SNF increases with temperature and is probably the major N source in warm areas. (3) Leaf P was positively related to mean annual precipitation. Leaf N:P ratio was primarily driven by changes in leaf P. The high leaf P reflected the greater requirements of the N‐fixing species for P. Our results represent a major advance in understanding the elemental stoichiometry of non‐legume N‐fixing plants, indicating high P and N requirements and a shift in N source from SNF to soil as temperature declines. This knowledge will help in assessing the habitat suitability for the species and predicting the species dynamics under environmental changes.
Research and Application of Recyclable Nitrogen Foam Horizontal Well Drilling Technology in the Daniudi Gas Field
Authors: Tang Ming , He Shiming , Xiong Jiyou , Zheng Fenghui
Published: June 2014

The Daniudi gas field is typically rich in ultra‐low permeability gas reservoirs in China, but its development is difficult. In this paper, pilot implementation of underbalanced horizontal well drilling technology was used in the H1 gas reservoir to develop the proved reserves effectively. Owing to the limitations of drilling technology and environmental protection, the recyclable nitrogen‐foam was ultimately chosen as a circulating medium. Through theoretical analysis and extensive laboratory tests, the optimal foaming agent composed of α‐olefin sulfonate and coco amine oxide was selected among six anionic surfactants/zwitterionic surfactants systems. The developed recyclable nitrogen‐foam has high salt resistance, temperature resistance and cycle performance, but weaker oil resistance. After the recyclable nitrogen‐foam horizontal well drilling technology was used in the H1 gas reservoir, the average rate of penetration of horizontal section increased by 118 %, ignition could be achieved during drilling and natural gas was of great potential for production. It was the first time to increase natural gas production capacity in the H1 gas reservoir using recyclable nitrogen‐foam horizontal well drilling technology. Successful application of this technology provides technical reserves for the effective development of the H1 gas reservoir.
Synthesis and Characterization of Some Nonionic Bolaamphiphiles
Authors: Khalfallah Ali , Ayari Abdelhamid , Kriaa Abdelkader , Hedhli Ahmed
Published: June 2014

A series of nonionic bolaamphiphiles were synthesized from the reaction of fluoroalkylene (dimercaptoacetates) with maleate crown ethers. Surface activity of the new surfactants was evaluated on the basis of surface tension measurements. The new fluorinated bolamphiphiles exhibit a remarkable lowering of surface tension in comparison with nonfluorinated analogues.
Mental Health Problems are Associated with Low-Frequency Fluctuations in Reaction Time in A Large General Population Sample. The TRAILS Study
Authors: Bastiaansen J.A. , van Roon A.M. , Buitelaar J.K. , Oldehinkel A.J.
Published: June 2014

Background:

Increased intra-subject reaction time variability (RT-ISV) as coarsely measured by the standard deviation (RT-SD) has been associated with many forms of psychopathology. Low-frequency RT fluctuations, which have been associated with intrinsic brain rhythms occurring approximately every 15–40 s, have been shown to add unique information for ADHD. In this study, we investigated whether these fluctuations also relate to attentional problems in the general population, and contribute to the two major domains of psychopathology: externalizing and internalizing problems.

Methods:

RT was monitored throughout a self-paced sustained attention task (duration: 9.1 ± 1.2 min) in a Dutch population cohort of young adults (n = 1455, mean age: 19.0 ± 0.6 years, 55.1% girls). To characterize temporal fluctuations in RT, we performed direct Fourier Transform on externally validated frequency bands based on frequency ranges of neuronal oscillations: Slow-5 (0.010–0.027 Hz), Slow-4 (0.027–0.073 Hz), and three additional higher frequency bands. Relative magnitude of Slow-4 fluctuations was the primary predictor in regression models for attentional, internalizing and externalizing problems (measured by the Adult Self-Report questionnaire). Additionally, stepwise regression models were created to investigate (a) whether Slow-4 significantly improved the prediction of problem behaviors beyond the RT-SD and (b) whether the other frequency bands provided important additional information.

Results:

The magnitude of Slow-4 fluctuations significantly predicted attentional and externalizing problems and even improved model fit after modeling RT-SD first (R2 change = 0.6%, P < .01). Subsequently, adding Slow-5 explained additional variance for externalizing problems (R2 change = 0.4%, P < .05). For internalizing problems, only RT-SD made a significant contribution to the regression model (R2 = 0.5%, P < .01), that is, none of the frequency bands provided additional information.

Conclusions:

Low-frequency RT fluctuations have added predictive value for attentional and externalizing, but not internalizing problems beyond global differences in variability. This study extends previous findings in clinical samples of children with ADHD to adolescents from the general population and demonstrates that deconstructing RT-ISV into temporal components can provide more distinctive information for different domains of psychopathology.
Exploring the anti‐apoptotic role of HAX‐1 versus BCL‐XL in cytokine‐dependent bone marrow‐derived cells from mice
Authors: Trebinska Alicja , Högstrand Kari , Grandien Alf , Grzybowska Ewa A. , Fadeel Bengt
Published: June 2014

HS‐1‐associated protein X‐1 (HAX‐1) is a multi‐functional protein that has been implicated in the regulation of apoptosis, cell motility and calcium homeostasis. In the present study, we set out to assess the postulated functional resemblance of HAX‐1 to the BCL‐2 family of anti‐apoptotic proteins using non‐transformed, cytokine‐dependent murine bone marrow cells as a model system. BCL‐XL, but not HAX‐1 protected against cytokine withdrawal‐induced apoptosis while HAX‐1 and BCL‐XL significantly reduced thapsigargin‐triggered (calcium‐dependent) apoptosis. The data argue in favor of cell type‐ and stimulus‐specific roles of HAX‐1 in regulation of cell survival.
Membrane microdomains in immunoreceptor signaling
Authors: Horejsi Vaclav , Hrdinka Matous
Published: June 2014

Membrane microdomains denoted commonly as lipid rafts (or membrane rafts) have been implicated in T‐cell receptor (TCR), and more generally immunoreceptor, signaling for over 25 years. However, this area of research has been complicated by doubts about the real nature (and even existence) of these membrane entities, especially because of methodological problems connected with possible detergent artefacts. Recent progress in biophysical approaches and functional studies of raft resident proteins apparently clarified many controversial aspects in this area. At present, the prevailing view is that these membrane microdomains are indeed involved in many aspects of cell biology, including immunoreceptor signaling. Moreover, several other types of raft‐like microdomains (perhaps better termed nanodomains) have been described, which apparently also play important biological roles.
Expression of recombinant full‐length plant phytochromes assembled with phytochromobilin in Pichia pastoris
Authors: Shin Ah-Young , Han Yun-Jeong , Song Pill-Soon , Kim Jeong-Il
Published: June 2014

We have successfully developed a system to produce full‐length plant phytochrome assembled with phytochromobilin in Pichia pastoris by co‐expressing apophytochromes and chromophore biosynthetic genes, heme oxygenase (HY1) and phytochromobilin synthase (HY2) from Arabidopsis. Affinity‐purified phytochrome proteins from Pichia cells displayed zinc fluorescence indicating chromophore attachment. Spectroscopic analyses showed absorbance maximum peaks identical to in vitro reconstituted phytochromobilin‐assembled phytochromes, suggesting that the co‐expression system is effective to generate holo‐phytochromes. Moreover, mitochondria localization of the phytochromobilin biosynthetic genes increased the efficiency of holophytochrome biosynthesis. Therefore, this system provides an excellent source of holophytochromes, including oat phytochrome A and Arabidopsis phytochrome B.
A trip in the “New Microbiology” with the bacterial pathogen Listeria monocytogenes
Authors: Cossart Pascale , Lebreton Alice
Published: June 2014

Listeria monocytogenes is a food‐borne pathogen causing an opportunistic disease called listeriosis. This bacterium invades and replicates in most cell types, due to its multiple strategies to exploit host molecular mechanisms. Research aiming at unravelling Listeria invasion and intracellular lifestyle has led to a number of key discoveries in infection biology, cell biology and also microbiology. In this review, we report on our most recent advances in understanding the intimate crosstalk between the bacterium and its host, resulting from in‐depth studies performed over the past five years. We specifically highlight new concepts in RNA‐based regulation in bacteria and discuss important findings in cell biology, including a new role for clathrin and an atypical mitochondrial fragmentation mechanism. We also illustrate the notion that bacterial infection regulates host gene expression at the chromatin level, contributing to an emerging field called patho‐epigenetics. This review corresponds to the lecture given by one of us (P.C.) on the occasion of the 2014 FEBS|EMBO Woman in Science Award.
Functional diversity along the transverse axis of hippocampal area CA1
Authors: Igarashi Kei M. , Ito Hiroshi T. , Moser Edvard I. , Moser May-Britt
Published: June 2014

Decades of neuroscience research have shed light on the hippocampus as a key structure for the formation of episodic memory. The hippocampus is divided into distinct subfields – CA1, CA2 and CA3. While accumulating evidence points to cellular and synaptic heterogeneity within each subfield, this heterogeneity has not received much attention in computational and behavioural studies and subfields have until recently been considered functionally uniform. However, a couple of recent studies have demonstrated prominent functional differences along the proximodistal axis of the CA1 subfield. Here, we review anatomical and physiological differences that might give rise to heterogeneity along the proximodistal axis of CA1 as well as the functional implications of such heterogeneity. We suggest that such heterogeneity in CA1 operates dynamically in the sense that the CA1 network alternates, on a subsecond scale, between a state where the network is primarily responsive to functionally segregated direct inputs from entorhinal cortex and a state where cells predominantly are controlled by more integrated inputs from CA3.
Molecular mechanisms of the circadian clockwork in mammals
Authors: Robinson I. , Reddy A.B.
Published: June 2014

Circadian rhythms enable organisms to co‐ordinate biological processes with the predictable 24 h cycle of day and night. Given that molecular clocks that coordinate such biological timing have evolved in almost all organisms, it is clear that being synchronous with the external environment confers competitive advantage. Conversely, it is apparent that being out of phase is detrimental, resulting in a number of clinical conditions, many of which are linked to metabolic dysfunction. The canonical clockwork involves a core set of genes that negatively regulate themselves through a so‐called transcription translation feedback loop. However, recent studies describing evolutionarily conserved oscillations in redox reactions link circadian rhythms to metabolic processes, and in particular, redox pathways. In this review we describe the evidence for the interaction between transcriptional loops, redox and metabolism in mammals and suggest the clock may be potential target for the treatment of disease.
Discovery of novel interacting partners of PSMD9, a proteasomal chaperone: Role of an Atypical and versatile PDZ‐domain motif interaction and identification of putative functional modules
Authors: Sangith Nikhil , Srinivasaraghavan Kannan , Sahu Indrajit , Desai Ankita , Medipally Spandana , Somavarappu Arun Kumar , Verma Chandra , Venkatraman Prasanna
Published: June 2014

PSMD9 (Proteasome Macropain non‐ATPase subunit 9), a proteasomal assembly chaperone, harbors an uncharacterized PDZ‐like domain. Here we report the identification of five novel interacting partners of PSMD9 and provide the first glimpse at the structure of the PDZ‐domain, including the molecular details of the interaction. We based our strategy on two propositions: (a) proteins with conserved C‐termini may share common functions and (b) PDZ domains interact with C‐terminal residues of proteins. Screening of C‐terminal peptides followed by interactions using full‐length recombinant proteins, we discovered hnRNPA1 (an RNA binding protein), S14 (a ribosomal protein), CSH1 (a growth hormone), E12 (a transcription factor) and IL6 receptor as novel PSMD9‐interacting partners. Through multiple techniques and structural insights, we clearly demonstrate for the first time that human PDZ domain interacts with the predicted Short Linear Sequence Motif (SLIM) at the C‐termini of the client proteins. These interactions are also recapitulated in mammalian cells. Together, these results are suggestive of the role of PSMD9 in transcriptional regulation, mRNA processing and editing, hormone and receptor activity and protein translation. Our proof‐of‐principle experiments endorse a novel and quick method for the identification of putative interacting partners of similar PDZ‐domain proteins from the proteome and for discovering novel functions.
Systematic analysis of transcription‐level effects of neurodegenerative diseases on human brain metabolism by a newly reconstructed brain‐specific metabolic network
Authors: Sertbaş Mustafa , Ülgen Kutlu , Çakır Tunahan
Published: June 2014

Network‐oriented analysis is essential to identify those parts of a cell affected by a given perturbation. The effect of neurodegenerative perturbations in the form of diseases of brain metabolism was investigated by using a newly reconstructed brain‐specific metabolic network. The developed stoichiometric model correctly represents healthy brain metabolism, and includes 630 metabolic reactions in and between astrocytes and neurons, which are controlled by 570 genes. The integration of transcriptome data of six neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, schizophrenia) with the model was performed to identify reporter features specific and common for these diseases, which revealed metabolites and pathways around which the most significant changes occur. The identified metabolites are potential biomarkers for the pathology of the related diseases. Our model indicated perturbations in oxidative stress, energy metabolism including TCA cycle and lipid metabolism as well as several amino acid related pathways, in agreement with the role of these pathways in the studied diseases. The computational prediction of transcription factors that commonly regulate the reporter metabolites was achieved through binding‐site analysis. Literature support for the identified transcription factors such as USF1, SP1 and those from FOX families are known from the literature to have regulatory roles in the identified reporter metabolic pathways as well as in the neurodegenerative diseases. In essence, the reconstructed brain model enables the elucidation of effects of a perturbation on brain metabolism and the illumination of possible machineries in which a specific metabolite or pathway acts as a regulatory spot for cellular reorganization.
Often Forgetting to do Things: What, Why and How not to?
Authors: Shum David
Published: June 2014

We rely on prospective memory (PM) to carry out intended actions at an appropriate time in the future. This ability is very important for day-to-day functioning, for example, remembering to take medication, attend appointments and pay bills. The literature covering the topic of PM has increased exponentially in the past 20–30 years. This paper will describe this relatively novel form of memory and discuss the debilitating effect PM deficits have on everyday living. It will also examine the populations who experience significantly more frequent and severe PM impairments and explore the causes and mechanisms of PM impairments by reviewing behavioural, clinical, genetic and neuroimaging studies. The paper will conclude by discussing the latest research into ways of treating PM impairments in clinical populations. Where applicable, examples of research conducted by the author and his colleagues will be used to illustrate these topics.
Balancing a House of Cards: Throughput legitimacy in Canadian Governance Networks
Authors: Doberstein Carey , Millar Heather
Published: June 2014

This article examines the interaction of different modes and levels of legitimacy within network governance institutions over time. Drawing on new theoretical directions in European governance studies and empirical findings from Canada, we contend that whereas input legitimacy can be exchanged, or traded-off, with output legitimacy to reinforce the overall legitimacy of a network governance institution, “throughput legitimacy” functions as a necessary condition that sustains legitimacy over time. Through a comparison of homelessness governance networks in Toronto and Calgary, we find that throughput legitimacy carries an amplification effect that results in either virtuous or vicious cycles. That is, we argue and demonstrate that low throughput legitimacy in network governance institutions can effectively bring down the whole house of cards.
L'immigration : Une menace pour la culture québécoise? Portrait et analyses des perceptions régionales
Authors: Bilodeau Antoine , Turgeon Luc
Published: June 2014

La question de l'immigration a été au cœur des débats politiques québécois au cours des dix dernières années. Les controverses qu'elle a suscitées ont fait en outre ressortir l'insécurité culturelle des Québécois et la perception que l'immigration constituait, pour de nombreux citoyens, une menace à la culture québécoise. Ces débats donnent aussi à penser qu'il existe des clivages régionaux quant à la manière de percevoir l'immigration. Mais qu'en est-il vraiment ? Un sentiment d'insécurité culturelle par rapport à l'immigration est-il vraiment plus fort en région ? Y a-t-il vraiment des variations régionales et, le cas échéant, quelles en seraient les causes ? Cet article examine ces questions à l'aide d'un sondage de près de 30 000 Québécois francophones réalisé au printemps 2011. Les résultats montrent qu'il existe des variations régionales importantes mais suggèrent, par contre, que ce ne sont pas les francophones des régions éloignées qui sont les plus enclins à percevoir l'immigration comme une menace à la culture québécoise. En fait, ce seraient plutôt les francophones de la périphérie de Montréal qui se sentiraient le plus menacés par l'immigration, suggérant ainsi un certain effet « halo ». Les résultats suggèrent aussi que les clivages entre les régions sont plus prononcés au sein des plus jeunes générations.
‘Thou Shall Not Kill’: The Use of Lethal Force in Non-International Armed Conflicts
Authors: Kretzmer David , Ben-Yehuda Aviad , Furth Meirav
Published: June 2014

The assumption of this article is that when a state is involved in an international armed conflict it may employ lethal force against combatants of the enemy unless they arehors de combat. Hence, even when it would be feasible to do so, it has no duty to apprehend enemy combatants rather than use force against them. Does this same norm apply in non-international armed conflicts occurring in the territory of a single state (internal conflicts)? The writers argue that the answer is in the negative. Despite the attempt in recent years to narrow the differences between the norms that apply in non-international armed conflicts (NIACs) and international armed conflicts (IACs), there are still significant differences between the two types of armed conflict, which justify the application of different norms in this context. Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions refers only to humanitarian norms and does not imply that the norms relating to the conduct of hostilities in IACs apply also in NIACs. While customary international law may allow states to use lethal force in a NIAC in the actual conduct of hostilities, there is no basis for assuming that the norm that ostensibly applies in IACs relating to use of such force outside the context of hostilities applies in NIACs too. The jurisprudence of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, which is the main source for the arguments on closing the gap between IACs and NIACs, relates only to humanitarian norms and has never addressed extending the permissive IAC norms of the law of armed conflict (LOAC) to NIACs. Finally, in an internal armed conflict the state has a dual capacity: it must respect and ensure the human rights of all persons subject to its jurisdiction, and it is a party in an armed conflict with some of those persons. In such a situation, the only context in which the state may deviate from regular norms of law enforcement is the actual context of hostilities, in which application of such norms is not feasible. In other contexts, its human rights obligations prevail.
The Role of the International Court of Justice in the Enforcement of the Obligation of States to Investigate and Prosecute Serious Crimes at the National Level
Authors: Ingadottir Thordis
Published: June 2014

States have undertaken an international obligation to investigate and prosecute individuals for serious human rights violations and grave breaches of international humanitarian law. However, compliance with that obligation is poor and prosecutions at the national level remain few. The mechanism for enforcement of that obligation is also limited. This article explores the way in which the International Court of Justice (ICJ) can play, and has played, a role in this respect. The jurisprudence of the Court is analysed with regard to three matters: (i) the obligation of states to investigate and prosecute serious crimes at the national level; (ii) national criminal jurisdiction with regard to prosecution of serious crimes, as well as immunities from that jurisdiction; and (iii) the obligation of states to cooperate in criminal matters with other jurisdictions. The Court has adjudicated on some key issues relating to national prosecutions. Some of its findings have, without doubt, enhanced the enforcement of prosecution at the national level, while others have undermined it. Recent cases before the ICJ show an increased willingness by states to use the Court as an avenue for enforcement and, at the same time, the Court has proved more willing to utilise its powers.
Oral Fixation and New Testament Studies? ‘Orality’, ‘Performance’ and Reading Texts in Early Christianity
Authors: Hurtado Larry W.
Published: June 2014

In recent decades, emphasising the ‘orality/aurality’ of the Roman world, some scholars have asserted that in early Christian circles texts were ‘performed’, not ‘read’ (and could not have been read), likening this action to descriptions of oratorical delivery of speeches (from memory) or theatrical performance. It has even been suggested that some texts, particularly the Gospel of Mark, were composed in ‘performance’, and not through an author working up a text in written form. These claims seem to be based on numerous oversimplifications (and so distortions) of relevant historical matters, however, and also involve a failure to take account of the full range of relevant data about the use of texts in early Christianity and the wider Roman-era setting. So, at least some of the crucial claims and inferences made are highly dubious. In this essay, I offer corrections to some crucial oversimplifications, and I point to the sorts of data that must be taken into account in drawing a more reliable picture of the place of texts and how they functioned in early Christianity.
Paul, Plutarch and the Problematic Practice of Self-Praise (περιαυτολογία): The Case of Phil 3.2–21
Authors: Smit Peter-Ben
Published: June 2014

Paul's boasting is often considered to be problematic. This paper explores Pauline boasting from the perspective of Plutarch's views on self-praise. Outlining what kinds of self-praise were and were not acceptable to someone like Plutarch, the paper analyses and positions Paul's boasting in Phil 3 in this context, concluding that, however offensive it may be to modern ears, this boasting was probably less so to the ears of his contemporaries.
The research–implementation gap: how practitioners and researchers from developing countries perceive the role of peer-reviewed literature in conservation science
Authors: Gossa Céline , Fisher Martin , Milner-Gulland E. J.
Published: June 2014

Conservation research has a poor record of translating science into action. Previous surveys have investigated the lack of information exchange between researchers and practitioners by focusing on the uptake of peer-reviewed literature by practitioners from developed countries. They largely ignore conservation practitioners and researchers from developing countries, for whom accessing scientific data may be more difficult. This survey investigates how practitioners and researchers from developing countries access the scientific information needed in their work, and the place of peer-reviewed literature in this process. Our results suggest that practitioners access and use peer-reviewed literature; however, both practitioners and researchers mainly obtain information from open-access journals and do not base their choice on a journal's Impact Factor. Furthermore, researchers and practitioners in developing countries appear to be looking for more direct collaboration to ensure research is relevant to their needs, as well as more open-access journals and new ways to disseminate information.
Experimental study of Richtmyer-Meshkov instability in a cylindrical converging shock tube
Authors: Si Ting , Zhai Zhigang , Luo Xisheng
Published: June 2014

The interaction of a cylindrical converging shock wave with an initially perturbed gaseous interface is studied experimentally. The cylindrical converging shock is generated in an ordinary shock tube but with a specially designed test section, in which the incident planar shock wave is directly converted into a cylindrical one. Two kinds of typical initial interfaces involving gas bubble and gas cylinder are employed. A high-speed video camera combined with schlieren or planar Mie scattering photography is utilized to capture the evolution process of flow structures. The distribution of baroclinic vorticity on the interface induced by the cylindrical shock and the reflected shock from the center of convergence results in distinct phenomena. In the gas bubble case, the shock focusing and the jet formation are observed and the turbulent mixing of two fluids is promoted because of the gradually changed shock strength and complex shock structures in the converging part. In the gas cylinder case, a counter-rotating vortex pair is formed after the impact of the converging shock and its rotating direction may be changed when interacting with the reflected shock for a relatively long reflection distance. The variations of the interface displacements and structural dimensions with time are further measured. It is found that these quantities are different from those in the planar counterpart because of the shock curvature, the Mach number effect and the complex shock reflection within the converging shock tube test section. Therefore, the experiments reported here exhibit the great potential of this experimental method in study of the Richtmyer-Meshkov instability induced by converging shock waves.
Solutions of a free boundary problem in a doubly connected domain via a circular-arc polygon
Authors: MARSHALL J. S.
Published: June 2014

This paper addresses a free boundary problem for a steady, uniform patch of vorticity surrounding a single flat plate of zero thickness and finite length. Exact solutions to this problem have previously been found in terms of conformal maps represented by Cauchy-type integrals. Here, however, it is demonstrated how, by considering an associated circular-arc polygon and using ideas from automorphic function theory, these maps can be expressed in a simple non-integral form.