bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Does having an Indigenous Political Party in Government make a Difference to Social Policy? The Māori Party in New Zealand
Authors: HUMPAGE LOUISE
Published: January 2017

Indigenous Māori in New Zealand have had significant opportunities to influence mainstream politics and policy since 2008 when the Māori Party began negotiating supply and confidence agreements with the conservative National Party in return for progress on Māori Party initiatives. This article assesses whether the Māori Party has made a difference in social policy. It argues that the holistic, whole-family-focused Whānau Ora strategy and initiatives aiming to revitalise the Māori language are significant policy innovations that uniquely embed Māori cultural values and governance into mainstream policy frameworks. A Ministerial Committee on Poverty, established as a result of National-Māori Party negotiations, put Māori politicians at the decision-making table and led to some important housing and health initiatives but fewer gains are evident regarding income/employment policies that address the disproportionate material disadvantage of Māori. Ultimately, the Māori Party has provoked policy innovation and there is some evidence of improving Māori outcomes. But political constraints inhibit opportunities for significant and lasting recognition of indigenous rights and radically improved socio-economic outcomes in the social policy arena.
Autonomous multirobot excavation for lunar applications
Authors: Thangavelautham Jekanthan , Law Kenneth , Fu Terence , Abu El Samid Nader , Smith Alexander D. S. , D'Eleuterio Gabriele M. T.
Published: January 2017

In this paper, a control approach called Artificial Neural Tissue (ANT) is applied to multirobot excavation for lunar base preparation tasks including clearing landing pads and burying of habitat modules. We show for the first time, a team of autonomous robots excavating a terrain to match a given three-dimensional (3D) blueprint. Constructing mounds around landing pads will provide physical shielding from debris during launch/landing. Burying a human habitat modules under 0.5 m of lunar regolith is expected to provide both radiation shielding and maintain temperatures of −25 °C. This minimizes base life-support complexity and reduces launch mass. ANT is compelling for a lunar mission because it does not require a team of astronauts for excavation and it requires minimal supervision. The robot teams are shown to autonomously interpret blueprints, excavate and prepare sites for a lunar base. Because little pre-programmed knowledge is provided, the controllers discover creative techniques. ANT evolves techniques such as slot-dozing that would otherwise require excavation experts. This is critical in making an excavation mission feasible when it is prohibitively expensive to send astronauts. The controllers evolve elaborate negotiation behaviors to work in close quarters. These and other techniques such as concurrent evolution of the controller and team size are shown to tackle problem of antagonism, when too many robots interfere reducing the overall efficiency or worse, resulting in gridlock. Although many challenges remain with this technology, our work shows a compelling pathway for field testing this approach.
Crystal structure of Al5O3N3(15R)
Authors: Podwórny Jacek , Pawełek Alicja , Czechowski Jerzy
Published: January 2017

Having synthesised an AlON-bonded ceramic corundum material, Al5O3N3(15R) polytype coexisting withα-Al2O3was identified. The sample was prepared from an alumina-rich mixture of Al2O3and AlN substrates and fired at 1650 °C in a nitrogen atmosphere. Using the X-ray external standard quantitative method, one of the reaction products,α-Al2O3, was quantified. From the remaining substrates the stoichiometric composition of the second phase was calculated. The applied method of crystal structure determination consisted of three stages. In the first stage, the Le Bail method of X-ray pattern decomposition was used for the extraction of Al5O3N3(15R) diffraction lines from a two-phase diffractogram. The space group and unit-cell dimensions from the isostructural SiAl4O2N4SiAlON phase, producing the same X-ray pattern, were used as input data. Next, the direct structure determination in real space was applied for initial structural model derivation, which was followed by Rietveld refinement. The solved crystal structure of Al5O3N3(15R), except the stacking sequence, proved to be closely related to the structure of Al7O3N5(21R) polytype. The Al5O3N3(15R) is trigonal with space groupR-3m, unit-cell dimensionsa0= 3.0128 Å,c0= 41.8544 Å, and volumeV= 329.00 Å3. The model of Al5O3N3(15R) polytype structure has positional disordering in one of three (6c) Al sites, which leads to stacking faults in six tetrahedral layers. Every third tetrahedron from LR3and LR4, LR8and LR9, LR13andLR14layers is rotated by 180°.
Management of complex CHD at the National Cardiothoracic Center of Excellence, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu: the role of foreign cardiac missions in 3.5 years
Authors: Nwafor Ikechukwu A. , Chinawa Josephat M. , Adiele Daberechi K. , Arodiwe Ijeoma O. , Ezemba Ndubueze , Eze John C. , Omeje Ikenna , Arua Onyiye A. , Novick William
Published: January 2017

Background

CHD is defined as structural defect(s) in the heart and proximal blood vessels present at birth. The National Cardiothoracic Center of Excellence, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu, through the aid of visiting Cardiac Missions has managed a significant number of patients within the last 3.5 years.

Aim/Objective

The objective of this study was to review surgical options and outcome of complex CHD among patients attending UNTH, Enugu, Enugu.

Materials and Method

During the period of 3.5 years (March, 2013 to June, 2016), a total of 20 cases of complex CHD were managed by cardiac missions that visited UNTH, Enugu. Their case notes and operating register were retrieved, reviewed, and analysed using SPSS version 19 (Chicago).

Results

There were eight females and 12 males, with a ratio of 2:5. The age range was from 5 months to 34 years with a mean of 1.7. Among all, five patients died giving a mortality rate of 25%. The operative procedures ranged from palliative shunts to complete repair. The outcome was relatively good.

Conclusion

Complex CHD are present in our environment. Their surgical management in our centre is being made possible by periodic visits of foreign cardiac missions.
Alberta’s Tomorrow Project: adherence to cancer prevention recommendations pertaining to diet, physical activity and body size
Authors: Whelan Heather K , Xu Jian-Yi , Vaseghi Sanaz , Lo Siou Geraldine , McGregor S Elizabeth , Robson Paula J
Published: January 2017

Objective

To explore cross-sectional adherence to cancer prevention recommendations by adults enrolled in a prospective cohort in Alberta, Canada.

Design

Questionnaire data were used to construct a composite cancer prevention adherence score for each participant, based on selected personal recommendations published by the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (2007). Data were self-reported on health and lifestyle, past-year physical activity and past-year FFQ. The scores accounted for physical activity, dietary supplement use, body size, and intakes of alcohol, fruit, vegetables and red meat. Tobacco exposure was also included. Scores ranged from 0 (least adherent) to 7 (most adherent).

Setting

Alberta’s Tomorrow Project; a research platform based on a prospective cohort.

Subjects

Adult men and women (n24 988) aged 35–69 years recruited by random digit dialling and enrolled in Alberta’s Tomorrow Project between 2001 and 2009.

Results

Of the cohort, 14 % achieved adherence scores ≥5 and 60 % had scores ≤3. Overall adherence scores were higher in women (mean (sd): 3·4 (1·1)) than in men (3·0 (1·2)). The extent of overall adherence was also associated with level of education, employment status, annual household income, personal history of chronic disease, family history of chronic disease and age.

Conclusions

Reported adherence to selected personal recommendations for cancer prevention was low in this cohort of adults. In the short to medium term, these results suggest that more work is required to identify behaviours to target with cancer prevention strategies at a population level. Future work will explore the associations between adherence scores and cancer risk in this cohort.
Exploring the (behavioural) political economy of nudging
Authors: SCHUBERT CHRISTIAN
Published: January 2017

In recent years, a novel, specifically institutional approach to public regulation has become popular, particularly in the Anglo-Saxon world: ‘Libertarian Paternalism’ promises to tackle society's problems in a way that increases welfare without compromising people's freedom and autonomy. The key instrument advanced by this programme isnudges. Although nudges’ ethical quality has been discussed at length, the political economy driving their implementation by self-interested (and possibly boundedly rational) policy makers and bureaucrats has been largely neglected so far. This paper elaborates on how this gap might be filled.
Relocating Civil Society: Theories and Practices of Civil Society between Late Medieval and Modern Society
Authors: Van Dijck Maarten F. , De Munck Bert , Terpstra Nicholas
Published: January 2017

Civil society is widely considered as a crucial element in contemporary society. Academics and policy makers have traditionally associated it with voluntary associations and organizations, assuming that associational life is an ideal intermediary between citizens and government. While members of associations form large social networks, which they can mobilize at critical moments, the conviviality of group sociability fosters the development of a set of common values, such as a democratic political culture and other civic virtues. Its origins are generally situated in the eighteenth century, and are mostly attributed to secularization, Enlightenment thinking, the birth of the “public sphere,” and growing emancipation from oppressive structures such as the church and the state.
Democracy and Civil Society in the Early Modern Period: The Rise of Three Types of Civil Societies in the Spanish Netherlands and the Dutch Republic
Authors: Van Dijck Maarten F.
Published: January 2017

This article proposes to refine the concept civil society by discerning three distinct forms of civil society in the past. This refined conceptual framework counters the criticism that civil society suffers from its growing popularity and its broad definition. The usefulness of these three forms of civil society—which are based on the later work of Jürgen Habermas—are applied in this article on the seventeenth-century Low Countries. The central question is how these forms of civil society acted as schools of democracy in the seventeenth-century Spanish Netherlands and Dutch Republic. The three types of civil society are identified that developed through time and built a cumulative tradition of civil society. These are the medieval craft guilds (liberal civil society), the early modern civic militia (republican civil society), and the modern Enlightenment sociability (deliberative civil society). Data about the associational life in two cities in the Low Countries, Mechelen and Rotterdam, show that different forms of civil societies had different functions according to the societal context. Furthermore, the data show that societies with civil societies characterized by social inclusive boards and high mutation ratios had less political impact when they lacked links with existing political institutions. This implies that civil societies did not as a rule serve as schools of democracy.
Rewinding Civil Society: Conceptual Lessons from the Early Modern Guilds
Authors: De Munck Bert
Published: January 2017

Traditionally it is assumed that “modern” civil society originated in the associations, clubs, and public sphere of the eighteenth century as a result of the “liberation” of the individual from the “shackles” of absolutism, religious intolerance, and the patriarchal family. However, recent research goes further back in time. Scholars such as Robert Putnam (sociologist), Antony Black (political scientist), and Katherine Lynch (historian) associate the origins of civil society with the heyday of confraternities and guilds in the late Middle Ages. This has serious consequences for our understanding of the characteristics and functions of civil society. Given that confraternities were permeated by religious devotion and crafts were inextricably bound to the (often undemocratic) political establishment, fundamental questions arise about the importance of religion in civil society and the role of associations in the political participation of individuals. This article suggests that several long-term trends can be observed when broaching civil society from the perspective of guilds (or brotherhoods). In early modern guilds, the fraternal ideals related to mutual aid and equality appear to have gradually disappeared. Craft guilds stopped being “brotherhoods” and “substitute families” and transformed into formal and bureaucratic juridical institutions, while retreating into a sphere separate from household and family.
Efficacy of Saflufenacil for Control of Glyphosate-Resistant Horseweed (Conyza canadensis) as Affected by Height, Density, and Time of Day
Authors: Budd Christopher M. , Soltani Nader , Robinson Darren E. , Hooker David C. , Miller Robert T. , Sikkema Peter H.
Published: January 2017

Control of glyphosate-resistant (GR) horseweed in soybean with glyphosate (900 g ai ha−1) plus saflufenacil (25 gaiha−1) has been variable. The objective of this research was to determine the effect of GR horseweed height, density, and time of day (TOD) at application on saflufenacil plus glyphosate efficacy in soybean. All experiments were completed six times during a 2 yr period (2014, 2015) in fields previously confirmed with GR horseweed. Applications from 0900 to 2100 hours provided optimal control of GR horseweed 8 WAA. Soybean yield paralleled GR horseweed control with the highest yield of 3000kgha−1at 1500 hours, and the lowest yield of 2400kgha−1at 0600 hours. The height and density of GR horseweed at application had minimal effect on saflufenacil efficacy. Saflufenacil provided>99% control of GR horseweed when applied to small plants and low densities; however, control decreased to 95% when>25 cm tall, and to 96% in densities>800 plants m−2at 6 WAA due to some plant regrowth. TOD of application had a greater influence on GR horseweed control with saflufenacil than height or density. To optimize control of GR horseweed, saflufenacil should be applied during daytime hours to small plants at low densities. Optimizing GR horseweed control minimizes weed seed return and weed interference.
Schlafqualität und deren Beziehung zu attentional-exekutiven Funktionsleistungen bei unipolar depressiven Patienten
Authors: Kundermann Bernd , Fockenberg Stanislava , Cabanel Nicole , Müller Matthias J.
Published: January 2017

Zusammenfassung. Die Beziehung zwischen kognitiven Defiziten und Schlafstörungen depressiver Patienten wurde bisher wenig untersucht. Stationär behandelte depressive Patienten beantworteten Fragebögen zur Depressivität und Schlafqualität (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Inventory, PSQI), gefolgt von neuropsychologischen Untersuchungen zu attentional-exekutiven Funktionsleistungen (Trail Making Test: TMT-A, TMT-B) an Tag 1 (abends) und Tag 2 (morgens). Patienten mit schweren Schlafstörungen (PSQI > 10, n = 8) erbrachten gegenüber Patienten mit maximal moderat ausgeprägten Schlafstörungen (PSQI ≤ 10, n = 8) signifikant geringere Leistungen im Rahmen des TMT-A und TMT-B. Signifikante positive Korrelationen zwischen dem Globalwert des PSQI und der TMT-B-Bearbeitungszeit blieben auch unter statistischer Berücksichtigung von Kovariaten erhalten. Diese Ergebnisse unterstreichen die enge Beziehung zwischen kognitiven Dysfunktionen und Schlafstörungen bei depressiven Patienten. Mögliche therapeutische Implikationen werden diskutiert.
Raus aus der Spirale gegenseitiger Schuldzuschreibung und Akzeptanz der Realität
Authors: Müller Christoph
Published: January 2017

Zusammenfassung. Eine ganz gewöhnliche Abendmahlzeit. Die psychotisch veränderte junge Frau fühlt sich unter Druck gesetzt. Die Eltern, in deren Haushalt sie mit 25 Lebensjahren noch lebt, fragen ständig nach ihrem Befinden. Sie schlagen ihr vor, wie sie etwas an dem Zustand ändern könnte. Nun ist ihr der Kragen geplatzt. Sie hat die Mutter nicht nur mit den Worten beschimpft: „Jetzt halt einfach einmal Deine Schnauze, Du alte Schlampe. Ich kann es nicht mehr hören. Wenn Du nicht langsam einmal aufhörst, werde ich dafür sorgen, dass Du es lässt.“ Auf die Frage der Mutter, ob sie es als Androhung von Schlägen verstehen muss, hat sie geantwortet: „Ja!“ Noch mehr: Sie hat mit aller Kraft auf den Tisch geschlagen, sodass allen am Tisch hockenden der Schrecken durch die Glieder gefahren ist.
[Au]/[Ag]-catalysed expedient synthesis of branched heneicosafuranosyl arabinogalactan motif of Mycobacterium tuberculosis cell wall
Authors: Thadke Shivaji A. , Mishra Bijoyananda , Islam Maidul , Pasari Sandip , Manmode Sujit , Rao Boddu Venkateswara , Neralkar Mahesh , Shinde Ganesh P. , Walke Gulab , Hotha Srinivas
Published: January 2017

Emergence of multidrug-resistant and extreme-drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTb) can cause serious socioeconomic burdens. Arabinogalactan present on the cellular envelope of MTb is unique and is required for its survival; access to arabinogalactan is essential for understanding the biosynthetic machinery that assembles it. Isolation from Nature is a herculean task and, as a result, chemical synthesis is the most sought after technique. Here we report a convergent synthesis of branched heneicosafuranosyl arabinogalactan (HAG) of MTb. Key furanosylations are performed using [Au]/[Ag] catalysts. The synthesis of HAG is achieved by the repetitive use of three reactions namely 1,2-trans furanoside synthesis by propargyl 1,2-orthoester donors, unmasking of silyl ether, and conversion of n-pentenyl furanosides into 1,2-orthoesters. Synthesis of HAG is achieved in 47 steps (with an overall yield of 0.09%) of which 21 are installation of furanosidic linkages in a stereoselective manner.
Deep eutectic-solvothermal synthesis of nanostructured ceria
Authors: Hammond Oliver S. , Edler Karen J. , Bowron Daniel T. , Torrente-Murciano Laura
Published: January 2017

Ceria is a technologically important material with applications in catalysis, emissions control and solid-oxide fuel cells. Nanostructured ceria becomes profoundly more active due to its enhanced surface area to volume ratio, reactive surface oxygen vacancy concentration and superior oxygen storage capacity. Here we report the synthesis of nanostructured ceria using the green Deep Eutectic Solvent reline, which allows morphology and porosity control in one of the less energy-intensive routes reported to date. Using wide Q-range liquid-phase neutron diffraction, we elucidate the mechanism of reaction at a molecular scale at considerably milder conditions than the conventional hydrothermal synthetic routes. The reline solvent plays the role of a latent supramolecular catalyst where the increase in reaction rate from solvent-driven pre-organization of the reactants is most significant. This fundamental understanding of deep eutectic-solvothermal methodology will enable future developments in low-temperature synthesis of nanostructured ceria, facilitating its large-scale manufacturing using green, economic, non-toxic solvents.
A polychromatic ‘greenbeard’ locus determines patterns of cooperation in a social amoeba
Authors: Gruenheit Nicole , Parkinson Katie , Stewart Balint , Howie Jennifer A. , Wolf Jason B. , Thompson Christopher R. L.
Published: January 2017

Cheaters disrupt cooperation by reaping the benefits without paying their fair share of associated costs. Cheater impact can be diminished if cooperators display a tag (‘greenbeard’) and recognise and preferentially direct cooperation towards other tag carriers. Despite its popular appeal, the feasibility of such greenbeards has been questioned because the complex patterns of partner-specific cooperative behaviours seen in nature require greenbeards to come in different colours. Here we show that a locus (‘Tgr’) of a social amoeba represents a polychromatic greenbeard. Patterns of natural Tgr locus sequence polymorphisms predict partner-specific patterns of cooperation by underlying variation in partner-specific protein–protein binding strength and recognition specificity. Finally, Tgr locus polymorphisms increase fitness because they help avoid potential costs of cooperating with incompatible partners. These results suggest that a polychromatic greenbeard can provide a key mechanism for the evolutionary maintenance of cooperation.
Identical folds used for distinct mechanical functions of the bacterial flagellar rod and hook
Authors: Fujii Takashi , Kato Takayuki , Hiraoka Koichi D. , Miyata Tomoko , Minamino Tohru , Chevance Fabienne F. V. , Hughes Kelly T. , Namba Keiichi
Published: January 2017

The bacterial flagellum is a motile organelle driven by a rotary motor, and its axial portions function as a drive shaft (rod), a universal joint (hook) and a helical propeller (filament). The rod and hook are directly connected to each other, with their subunit proteins FlgG and FlgE having 39% sequence identity, but show distinct mechanical properties; the rod is straight and rigid as a drive shaft whereas the hook is flexible in bending as a universal joint. Here we report the structure of the rod and comparison with that of the hook. While these two structures have the same helical symmetry and repeat distance and nearly identical folds of corresponding domains, the domain orientations differ by ∼7°, resulting in tight and loose axial subunit packing in the rod and hook, respectively, conferring the rigidity on the rod and flexibility on the hook. This provides a good example of versatile use of a protein structure in biological organisms.
Tricolor R/G/B Laser Diode Based Eye-Safe White Lighting Communication Beyond 8 Gbit/s
Authors: Wu Tsai-Chen , Chi Yu-Chieh , Wang Huai-Yung , Tsai Cheng-Ting , Huang Yu-Fang , Lin Gong-Ru
Published: January 2017

White light generation by mixing red, green, and blue laser diodes (RGB LDs) was demonstrated with Commission International de l’Eclairage coordinates of (0.2928, 0.2981), a correlated color temperature of 8382 K, and a color rendering index of 54.4 to provide a maximal illuminance of 7540 lux. All the white lights generated using RGB LDs were set within the risk group-1 criterion to avoid the blue-light hazard to human eyes. In addition, the RGB-LD mixed white light was diffused using a frosted glass to avoid optical aberration and to improve the performance of the lighting source. In addition, visible light communication (VLC) by using RGB-LD mixed white-light carriers and a point-to-point scheme over 1 m was performed in the directly modulated 16-QAM OFDM data format. In back-to-back transmission, the maximal allowable data rate at 10.8, 10.4, and 8 Gbps was determined for R, G, and B LDs, respectively. Moreover, the RGB-LD mixed white light-based indoor wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM)-VLC system yielded a total allowable transmission data rate of 8.8 Gbps over 0.5 m in free space. Such a high-speed RGB-LD mixed WDM-VLC system without any channel interference can be used to simultaneously provide data transmission and white lighting in an indoor environment.
Soft Nanocomposite Based Multi-point, Multi-directional Strain Mapping Sensor Using Anisotropic Electrical Impedance Tomography
Authors: Lee Hyosang , Kwon Donguk , Cho Haedo , Park Inkyu , Kim Jung
Published: January 2017

The practical utilization of soft nanocomposites as a strain mapping sensor in tactile sensors and artificial skins requires robustness for various contact conditions as well as low-cost fabrication process for large three dimensional surfaces. In this work, we propose a multi-point and multi-directional strain mapping sensor based on multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-silicone elastomer nanocomposites and anisotropic electrical impedance tomography (aEIT). Based on the anisotropic resistivity of the sensor, aEIT technique can reconstruct anisotropic resistivity distributions using electrodes around the sensor boundary. This strain mapping sensor successfully estimated stretch displacements (error of 0.54 ± 0.53 mm), surface normal forces (error of 0.61 ± 0.62 N), and multi-point contact locations (error of 1.88 ± 0.95 mm in 30 mm × 30 mm area for a planar shaped sensor and error of 4.80 ± 3.05 mm in 40 mm × 110 mm area for a three dimensional contoured sensor). In addition, the direction of lateral stretch was also identified by reconstructing anisotropic distributions of electrical resistivity. Finally, a soft human-machine interface device was demonstrated as a practical application of the developed sensor.
Correction: Corrigendum: Design and mechanistic insight into ultrafast calcium indicators for monitoring intracellular calcium dynamics
Authors: Helassa Nordine , Podor Borbala , Fine Alan , Török Katalin
Published: January 2017

Scientific Reports 6: Article number: 38276; published online: 06 December 2016; updated: 25 January 2017 This Article contains a typographical error. In the Results section, ‘With measured molar extinction coefficients ε o(497 nm) of 50294 ± 259 M−1 cm−1 for Ca2+-saturated GCaMP6f and 1564 ± 1140 M−1 cm−1 for Ca2+-saturated GCaMP6f u , brightness values of 29673 and 7197 M−1 cm−1 were obtained for GCaMP6f and GCaMP6f u , respectively.
High Quality Bioreplication of Intricate Nanostructures from a Fragile Gecko Skin Surface with Bactericidal Properties
Authors: Green David William , Lee Kenneth Ka-Ho , Watson Jolanta Anna , Kim Hyun-Yi , Yoon Kyung-Sik , Kim Eun-Jung , Lee Jong-Min , Watson Gregory Shaun , Jung Han-Sung
Published: January 2017

The external epithelial surfaces of plants and animals are frequently carpeted with small micro- and nanostructures, which broadens their adaptive capabilities in challenging physical habitats. Hairs and other shaped protuberances manage with excessive water, light contaminants, predators or parasites in innovative ways. We are interested in transferring these intricate architectures onto biomedical devices and daily-life surfaces. Such a project requires a very rapid and accurate small-scale fabrication process not involving lithography. In this study, we describe a simple benchtop biotemplating method using shed gecko lizard skin that generates duplicates that closely replicate the small nanotipped hairs (spinules) that cover the original skin. Synthetic replication of the spinule arrays in popular biomaterials closely matched the natural spinules in length. More significantly, the shape, curvature and nanotips of the synthetic arrays are virtually identical to the natural ones. Despite some small differences, the synthetic gecko skin surface resisted wetting and bacterial contamination at the same level as natural shed skin templates. Such synthetic gecko skin surfaces are excellent platforms to test for bacterial control in clinical settings. We envision testing the biocidal properties of the well-matched templates for fungal spores and viral resistance in biomedicine as well as co/multi-cultures.
New determinants of olfactory habituation
Authors: Sinding Charlotte , Valadier François , Al-Hassani Viviana , Feron Gilles , Tromelin Anne , Kontaris Ioannis , Hummel Thomas
Published: January 2017

Habituation is a filter that optimizes the processing of information by our brain in all sensory modalities. It results in an unconscious reduced responsiveness to continuous or repetitive stimulation. In olfaction, the main question is whether habituation works the same way for any odorant or whether we habituate differently to each odorant? In particular, whether chemical, physical or perceptual cues can limit or increase habituation. To test this, the odour intensity of 32 odorants differing in physicochemical characteristics was rated by 58 participants continuously during 120s. Each odorant was delivered at a constant concentration. Results showed odorants differed significantly in habituation, highlighting the multifactoriality of habituation. Additionally habituation was predicted from 15 physico-chemical and perceptual characteristics of the odorants. The analysis highlighted the importance of trigeminality which is highly correlated to intensity and pleasantness. The vapour pressure, the molecular weight, the Odor Activity Value (OAV) and the number of double bonds mostly contributed to the modulation of habituation. Moreover, length of the carbon chain, number of conformers and hydrophobicity contributed to a lesser extent to the modulation of habituation. These results highlight new principles involved in the fundamental process of habituation, notably trigeminality and the physicochemical characteristics associated.
IL-1β induces apoptosis and autophagy via mitochondria pathway in human degenerative nucleus pulposus cells
Authors: Shen Jieliang , Xu Shengxi , Zhou Hao , Liu Huzhe , Jiang Wei , Hao Jie , Hu Zhenming
Published: January 2017

IL-1β has been reported highly expressed in degenerative intervertebral disc, and our previous study indicated IL-1β facilitates apoptosis of human degenerative nucleus pulposus (NP) cell. However, the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. We here demonstrate that IL-1β played a significantly pro-apoptotic effect under serum deprivation. IL-1β decreased Bcl-2/Bax ratio and enhanced cytochrome C released from mitochondria to cytosol, which proved mitochondria-meidated apoptosis was induced. Subsequently, mitochondria damage was detected under IL-1β stimualtion. In addition, IL-1β-mediated injuried mitochondria contributes to activate autophagy. However, pretreatment with the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine showed the potential in further elevating the apoptosis rate induced by IL-1β in NP cells. Our results indicated that the mitochondrial pathway was involved in IL-1β-induced apoptosis of NP cells. Meanwhile, the damaged mitochondria-induced autophagy played a protective role against apoptosis, suggesting a postive feedback mechanism under inflammatory stress.
Kernel-based Joint Feature Selection and Max-Margin Classification for Early Diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Adeli Ehsan , Wu Guorong , Saghafi Behrouz , An Le , Shi Feng , Shen Dinggang
Published: January 2017

Feature selection methods usually select the most compact and relevant set of features based on their contribution to a linear regression model. Thus, these features might not be the best for a non-linear classifier. This is especially crucial for the tasks, in which the performance is heavily dependent on the feature selection techniques, like the diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders, which progresses slowly while affects the quality of life dramatically. In this paper, we use the data acquired from multi-modal neuroimaging data to diagnose PD by investigating the brain regions, known to be affected at the early stages. We propose a joint kernel-based feature selection and classification framework. Unlike conventional feature selection techniques that select features based on their performance in the original input feature space, we select features that best benefit the classification scheme in the kernel space. We further propose kernel functions, specifically designed for our non-negative feature types. We use MRI and SPECT data of 538 subjects from the PPMI database, and obtain a diagnosis accuracy of 97.5%, which outperforms all baseline and state-of-the-art methods.
Mycofactocin-associated mycobacterial dehydrogenases with non-exchangeable NAD cofactors
Authors: Haft Daniel H. , Pierce Phillip G. , Mayclin Stephen J. , Sullivan Amy , Gardberg Anna S. , Abendroth Jan , Begley Darren W. , Phan Isabelle Q. , Staker Bart L. , Myler Peter J. , Marathias Vasilios M. , Lorimer Donald D. , Edwards Thomas E.
Published: January 2017

During human infection, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) survives the normally bacteriocidal phagosome of macrophages. Mtb and related species may be able to combat this harsh acidic environment which contains reactive oxygen species due to the mycobacterial genomes encoding a large number of dehydrogenases. Typically, dehydrogenase cofactor binding sites are open to solvent, which allows NAD/NADH exchange to support multiple turnover. Interestingly, mycobacterial short chain dehydrogenases/reductases (SDRs) within family TIGR03971 contain an insertion at the NAD binding site. Here we present crystal structures of 9 mycobacterial SDRs in which the insertion buries the NAD cofactor except for a small portion of the nicotinamide ring. Line broadening and STD-NMR experiments did not show NAD or NADH exchange on the NMR timescale. STD-NMR demonstrated binding of the potential substrate carveol, the potential product carvone, the inhibitor tricyclazol, and an external redox partner 2,6-dichloroindophenol (DCIP). Therefore, these SDRs appear to contain a non-exchangeable NAD cofactor and may rely on an external redox partner, rather than cofactor exchange, for multiple turnover. Incidentally, these genes always appear in conjunction with the mftA gene, which encodes the short peptide MftA, and with other genes proposed to convert MftA into the external redox partner mycofactocin.
Genome-wide association study identifies four SNPs associated with response to platinum-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy for cervical cancer
Authors: Li Xiong , Huang Kecheng , Zhang Qinghua , Zhou Jin , Sun Haiying , Tang Fangxu , Zhou Hang , Hu Ting , Wang Shaoshuai , Jia Yao , Yang Ru , Chen Yile , Cheng Xiaodong , Lv Weiguo , Wu Li , Xing Hui , Wang Lin , Zhou Shasha , Yao Yuan , Wang Xiaoli , Suolang Quzhen , Shen Jian , Xi Ling , Hu Junbo , Wang Hui , Chen Gang , Gao Qinglei , Xie Xing , Wang Shixuan , Li Shuang , Ma Ding
Published: January 2017

To identify genomic markers associated with the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) in patients with cervical cancer, we performed a three-stage genome-wide association study (GWAS) in the Han Chinese population. A total of 596 patients with stage IA2-IIIB cervical cancer were enrolled in this study. One single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (rs6812281, per allele OR = 2.37, P = 9.0 × 10−9) located at 4q34.3 reached GWAS significance (P < 5.0 × 10−8). Another three SNPs, rs4590782 (10q26.2, P = 1.59 × 10−5, per allele OR = 0.48), rs1742101 (14q32.11, P = 7.11 × 10−6, per allele OR = 0.52), and rs1364121 (16q23.3, P = 3.15 × 10−6, per allele OR = 1.98), exhibited strong evidence of associations with response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Patients with a C allele (CT + CC) of rs4590782 had better 5-year overall survival rates (82.9% vs. 75.8%, P = 0.083) and 5-year disease-free survival rate (80.8% vs. 72.7%, P = 0.021) than those without a C allele. Our findings help to characterize the genetic etiology of the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with cervical cancer.
Physical Activity, TV Watching Time, Sleeping, and Risk of Obesity and Hyperglycemia in the Offspring of Mothers with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Zhang Tao , Wang Peng , Liu Huikun , Wang Leishen , Li Weiqin , Leng Junhong , Li Nan , Zhang Shuang , Qi Lu , Tuomilehto Jaakko , Yu Zhijie , Yang Xilin , Hu Gang
Published: January 2017

We investigated the association of physical activity, TV watching time, sleeping time with the risks of obesity and hyperglycemia among 1263 offspring aged 1–5 years of mothers with gestational diabetes (GDM) in a cross-sectional study. Logistic regression models were used to obtain the odd ratios (ORs) (95% confidence intervals [CI]) of childhood obesity and hyperglycemia associated with different levels of indoor activity, outdoor activity, TV watching, and sleeping time. The multivariable-adjusted ORs of obesity based on different levels of TV watching time (0, <1.0, and ≥1.0 hour/day) were 1.00, 1.21 (95% CI 0.72–2.05), and 2.20 (95% CI 1.33–3.63) (Ptrend = 0.003), respectively. The multivariable-adjusted ORs of hyperglycemia based on different levels of indoor activity (<5.0, 5.0–6.9, and ≥7.0 hours/day) were 1.00, 0.74 (95% CI 0.45–1.21), and 0.49 (95% CI 0.28–0.84) (Ptrend = 0.034), respectively. The multivariable-adjusted ORs of hyperglycemia associated with different levels of sleeping time (<11.0, 11.0–11.9, and ≥12.0 hours/day) were 1.00, 0.67 (95% CI 0.42–1.05), and 0.39 (95% CI 0.23–0.67) (Ptrend = 0.003), respectively. The present study indicated a positive association of TV watching with the risk of obesity, and an inverse association of either indoor activity or sleeping time with the risk of hyperglycemia among offspring born to GDM mothers in Tianjin, China.
Identification of RAN1 orthologue associated with sex determination through whole genome sequencing analysis in fig (Ficus carica L.)
Authors: Mori Kazuki , Shirasawa Kenta , Nogata Hitoshi , Hirata Chiharu , Tashiro Kosuke , Habu Tsuyoshi , Kim Sangwan , Himeno Shuichi , Kuhara Satoru , Ikegami Hidetoshi
Published: January 2017

With the aim of identifying sex determinants of fig, we generated the first draft genome sequence of fig and conducted the subsequent analyses. Linkage analysis with a high-density genetic map established by a restriction-site associated sequencing technique, and genome-wide association study followed by whole-genome resequencing analysis identified two missense mutations in RESPONSIVE-TO-ANTAGONIST1 (RAN1) orthologue encoding copper-transporting ATPase completely associated with sex phenotypes of investigated figs. This result suggests that RAN1 is a possible sex determinant candidate in the fig genome. The genomic resources and genetic findings obtained in this study can contribute to general understanding of Ficus species and provide an insight into fig’s and plant’s sex determination system.
Parathyroid Hormone-Like Hormone is a Poor Prognosis Marker of Head and Neck Cancer and Promotes Cell Growth via RUNX2 Regulation
Authors: Chang Wei-Min , Lin Yuan-Feng , Su Chia-Yi , Peng Hsuan-Yu , Chang Yu-Chan , Hsiao Jenn-Ren , Chen Chi-Long , Chang Jang-Yang , Shieh Yi-Shing , Hsiao Michael , Shiah Shine-Gwo
Published: January 2017

Parathyroid Hormone-Like Hormone (PTHLH) is an autocrine/paracrine ligand that is up-regulated in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, the cellular function and regulatory mechanism in HNSCC remains obscure. We investigated the clinical significance of PTHLH in HNSCC patients, and verified the role of RUNX2/PTHLH axis, which is stimulated HNSCC cell growth. In patients, PTHLH is a poor prognosis marker. PTHLH expression lead to increasing the cell proliferation potential through an autocrine/paracrine role and elevating blood calcium level in Nod-SCID mice. In public HNSCC microarray cohorts, PTHLH is found to be co-expressed with RUNX2. Physiologically, PTHLH is regulated by RUNX2 and also acting as key calcium regulator. However, elevations of calcium concentration also increased the RUNX2 expression. PTHLH, calcium, and RUNX2 form a positive feedback loop in HNSCC. Furthermore, ectopic RUNX2 expression also increased PTHLH expression and promoted proliferation potential through PTHLH expression. Using cDNA microarray analysis, we found PTHLH also stimulated expression of cell cycle regulators, namely CCNA2, CCNE2, and CDC25A in HNSCC cells, and these genes are also up-regulated in HNSCC patients. In summary, our results reveal that PTHLH expression is a poor prognosis marker in HNSCC patients, and RUNX2-PTHLH axis contributes to HNSCC tumor growth.
Genetic association of rs1344706 in ZNF804A with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia susceptibility in Chinese populations
Authors: Rao Shuquan , Yao Yao , Ryan Joanne , Jin Chunhui , Xu Yong , Huang Xinhe , Guo Jianxiu , Wen Yueqiang , Mao Canquan , Meyre David , Zhang Fuquan
Published: January 2017

Rs1344706 in the the zinc finger protein 804A (ZNF804A) gene has been identified to be associated with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (BD) in Europeans. However, whether rs1344706 is associated with schizophrenia in Chinese populations remains inconclusive; furthermore, the association between rs1344706 and BD in Chinese populations has been rarely explored. To explore the association between rs1344706 and schizophrenia/BD in Chinese populations, we genotyped rs1344706 among 1128 Chinese subjects (537 patients with BD and 591 controls) and found that rs1344706 showed marginal allelic association with BD (P = 0.028) with T-allele being more prevalent in cases than that in controls (OR = 1.19, 95% CI 1.03–1.37). Meta-analysis of rs1344706 by pooling all available data showed that rs1344706 was significantly associated with BD (P = 0.001). Besides, positive association of rs1344706 with schizophrenia was observed in Northern Chinese (P = 0.005). Furthermore, ZNF804A is highly expressed in human and mouse brains, especially in prenatal stage.
Single basal application of thiacloprid for the integrated management of Meloidogyne incognita and Bemisia tabaci in tomato crops
Authors: Dong Sa , Ren Xiaofen , Zhang Dianli , Ji Xiaoxue , Wang Kaiyun , Qiao Kang
Published: January 2017

Tomato growers commonly face heavy nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) and whitefly (B-biotypeBemisia tabaci) infestations, and previous studies demonstrated that thiacloprid could be used to controlM. incognitaandB. tabaciin cucumber. However, the efficacy of a single basal application of thiacloprid to control both pests and its effect on yield in tomato remains unknown. In this study, the potential of thiacloprid application to the soil for the integrated control ofM. incognitaandB. tabaciin tomato was evaluated in the laboratory and the field. Laboratory tests showed that thiacloprid was highly toxic to whitefly adults and eggs with an average lethal concentration 50 (LC50) of 14.7 and 62.2 mg ai L−1, respectively, and the LC50of thiacloprid for nematode J2s and eggs averaged 36.2 and 70.4 mg ai L−1, respectively. In field trials, when thiacloprid was applied to the soil at 7.5, 15 and 30 kg ha−1in two consecutive years, whitefly adults decreased by 37.8–75.4% within 60 days of treatment, and the root-galling index was reduced by 31.8–85.2%. Optimum tomato plant growth and maximum yields were observed in the 15 kg ha−1treatment. The results indicated that a single basal application of thiacloprid could controlM. incognitaandB. tabaciand enhance tomato growth and yield.
Mechanistic insights into the impact of Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma on human epithelial cell lines
Authors: Dezest Marlène , Chavatte Laurent , Bourdens Marion , Quinton Damien , Camus Mylène , Garrigues Luc , Descargues Pascal , Arbault Stéphane , Burlet-Schiltz Odile , Casteilla Louis , Clément Franck , Planat Valérie , Bulteau Anne-Laure
Published: January 2017

Compelling evidence suggests that Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma (CAPP) has potential as a new cancer therapy. However, knowledge about cellular signaling events and toxicity subsequent to plasma treatment is still poorly documented. The aim of this study was to focus on the interaction between 3 different types of plasma (He, He-O2, He-N2) and human epithelial cell lines to gain better insight into plasma-cell interaction. We provide evidence that reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) are inducing cell death by apoptosis and that the proteasome, a major intracellular proteolytic system which is important for tumor cell growth and survival, is a target of (He or He-N2) CAPP. However, RONS are not the only actors involved in cell death; electric field and charged particles could play a significant role especially for He-O2 CAPP. By differential label-free quantitative proteomic analysis we found that CAPP triggers antioxidant and cellular defense but is also affecting extracellular matrix in keratinocytes. Moreover, we found that malignant cells are more resistant to CAPP treatment than normal cells. Taken together, our findings provide insight into potential mechanisms of CAPP-induced proteasome inactivation and the cellular consequences of these events.
Targeted metabolomics shows plasticity in the evolution of signaling lipids and uncovers old and new endocannabinoids in the plant kingdom
Authors: Gachet María Salomé , Schubert Alexandra , Calarco Serafina , Boccard Julien , Gertsch Jürg
Published: January 2017

The remarkable absence of arachidonic acid (AA) in seed plants prompted us to systematically study the presence of C20 polyunsaturated fatty acids, stearic acid, oleic acid, jasmonic acid (JA), N-acylethanolamines (NAEs) and endocannabinoids (ECs) in 71 plant species representative of major phylogenetic clades. Given the difficulty of extrapolating information about lipid metabolites from genetic data we employed targeted metabolomics using LC-MS/MS and GC-MS to study these signaling lipids in plant evolution. Intriguingly, the distribution of AA among the clades showed an inverse correlation with JA which was less present in algae, bryophytes and monilophytes. Conversely, ECs co-occurred with AA in algae and in the lower plants (bryophytes and monilophytes), thus prior to the evolution of cannabinoid receptors in Animalia. We identified two novel EC-like molecules derived from the eicosatetraenoic acid juniperonic acid, an omega-3 structural isomer of AA, namely juniperoyl ethanolamide and 2-juniperoyl glycerol in gymnosperms, lycophytes and few monilophytes. Principal component analysis of the targeted metabolic profiles suggested that distinct NAEs may occur in different monophyletic taxa. This is the first report on the molecular phylogenetic distribution of apparently ancient lipids in the plant kingdom, indicating biosynthetic plasticity and potential physiological roles of EC-like lipids in plants.
Clusterin: full-length protein and one of its chains show opposing effects on cellular lipid accumulation
Authors: Matukumalli Suvarsha Rao , Tangirala Ramakrishna , Rao C. M.
Published: January 2017

Proteins, made up of either single or multiple chains, are designed to carry out specific biological functions. We found an interesting example of a two-chain protein where administration of one of its chains leads to a diametrically opposite outcome than that reported for the full-length protein. Clusterin is a highly glycosylated protein consisting of two chains, α- and β-clusterin. We have investigated the conformational features, cellular localization, lipid accumulation, in vivo effects and histological changes upon administration of recombinant individual chains of clusterin. We demonstrate that recombinant α- and β-chains exhibit structural and functional differences and differ in their sub-cellular localization. Full-length clusterin is known to lower lipid levels. In contrast, we find that β-chain-treated cells accumulate 2-fold more lipid than controls. Interestingly, α-chain-treated cells do not show such increase. Rabbits injected with β-chain, but not α-chain, show ~40% increase in weight, with adipocyte hypertrophy, liver and kidney steatosis. Many, sometimes contrasting, roles are ascribed to clusterin in obesity, metabolic syndrome and related conditions. Our findings of differential localization and activities of individual chains of clusterin should help in understanding better the roles of clusterin in metabolism.