bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Core–Shell Poly (Ionic Liquid)@Mesoporous Silica Chemiluminescent Nanoprobes for Sensitive Intracellular Hydrogen Peroxide Imaging
Authors: Zhou Kai , Zhang Feng , Xu Jing , He Hui , Wei Weili , Xia Zhining
Published: January 2018

Despite significant developments in spatial distribution imaging of H2O2 as one the most important nonradical reactive oxygen species, novel background‐free, highly sensitive, and selective probes that allow intracellular sensing are still imperative. This is mainly because the fluorescent probes usually suffer some drawbacks such as, fluorescence bleaching and requirement of bulky light sources. In this study, the rational design and fabrication of a nonenzymatic nanoprobe (c‐PIL@mSiO2) with dramatically improved sensitivity for chemiluminescent (CL) imaging of intracellular and in vivo H2O2 at nano molar level is presented. The limit of detection is lower than the endogenous H2O2 concentration, and is significantly better than that of some recently reported fluorescent and CL probes. Structurally, the nanoprobe is composed of a unique amphiphilic poly(ionic liquid) core for preserving H2O2 responsive reagents, and a mesoporous silica shell acts as an “exoskeleton” to provide hydrophilic nature. The multiple alternating hydrophobic and hydrophilic nanodomains of the poly(ionic liquid) core increase mass transfer dynamics, which increase the sensitivity of H2O2 imaging. RAW264.7 macrophages and mice models of inflammations experiment show that the c‐PIL@mSiO2 is capable of imaging H2O2 intracellular and in vivo. This probe for the first time achieves CL detection of endogenous intracellular H2O2 without disruption of cells.
Self‐Assembly of Bidirectional‐Signal Nanoclusters for Two miRNAs Simultaneously Monitoring in Single Cancer Cells
Authors: Jiao Yuting , Zhu Mengting , Wang Xiaomeng , Zhang Zhen , Zhang Shusheng
Published: January 2018

A novel finding is herein reported that the bidirectional‐signal nanoclusters self‐assemble simultaneously on the nanoflowers as a result of four‐way folding (FWF) nanoprobes and DNA rolling circle replication reactions. The functionalized FWF nanoprobe containing the identification region for two targets monitoring and the trigger region for amplification signals is first used to activate the clustered amplification for two cancer‐related microRNAs (miRNAs) assays in single cells. Furthermore, the self‐assembled nanoclusters with two‐way amplification signals can provide more reliable information in situ in individual cell. Importantly, this new method can significantly distinguish cancer cells from normal cells and identify changes in the expression levels of cancer‐related miRNAs for single cells. These findings have exciting potential to provide new opportunities for detection and enhance the accuracy of early disease diagnosis.
The Radiosensitizing Effect of Nanodiamonds (NDs) on HeLa Cells Under X‐Ray Irradiation
Authors: Chen Xin , Wang Hong , Wang Hao , Fu Yang , Liu Jie , Liu Runze
Published: January 2018

In this study, the possible enhancement of radiosensitivity induced by nanodiamonds(NDs) is investigated. In this work, a potentialization of cytotoxicity after a co‐exposure to NDs and irradiation using the human cervical cancer cell line (Hela cells) is shown. The combined exposure of 100 μg ml−1 NDs and 4 Gy radiation decreases the rate of cell viability in Hela cell line as compared to each single exposure. These results show that NDs can enhance the radiosensitivity of tumor cells in vitro. Thus, the NDs could provide a new clinical strategy for radiosensitizing on cancer cells.
SIP‐Based Thermal Detection Platform for the Direct Detection of Bacteria Obtained from a Contaminated Surface
Authors: van Grinsven Bart , Eersels Kasper , Erkens‐Hulshof Sandra , Diliën Hanne , Nurekeyeva Kunya , Cornelis Peter , Klein Dionne , Crijns Francy , Tuijthof Gabrielle , Wagner Patrick , Steen Redeker Erik , Cleij Thomas J.
Published: January 2018

Surface detection of bacteria has been proven difficult and time‐consuming. Different recovery techniques yield varying numbers of bacteria. Subsequently, bacterial culturing, used for identification of these bacteria, will take several hours. In this article, the potential of a newly developed thermal biomimetic sensor for the detection of bacteria on surfaces is described. Previously this thermal biomimetic sensor has proven to be able to detect and quantify different bacteria in various liquid media such as buffer and spiked urine samples. In this article, laboratory surfaces are contaminated with increasing concentrations of Escherichia coli. Bacteria are recovered from the surfaces using commercially available swab rinse kits (SRK). A calibration curve is created by coating chips with surface‐imprinted polymers (SIPs), serving as synthetic bacteria receptors, and exposing them to increasing concentrations of E. coli. Next, concentrations of E. coli in the SRK buffer are measured and quantified. The results show that it is possible to detect E. coli recovered from surfaces. Although quantification has been proven difficult as the dynamic range of the sensor is relatively narrow and the bacterial load obtained by using SRK is low, the sensor is able to give an indication about the concentration present on the surface. The results in this article illustrate that the thermal biomimetic sensor is a fast, low‐cost, and label‐free device useful in surface detection of E. coli, and seems a promising tool for future on‐site bacterial detection.
Asterozoans from the Ludlow Series (upper Silurian) of Leintwardine, Herefordshire, UK
Authors: Gladwell David J.
Published: January 2018

A diverse, upper Silurian asterozoan fauna of 16 species is described from Leintwardine, Herefordshire. The asterozoans, comprising taxa assigned to the Asteroidea and Ophiuroidea are found within the Lower Leintwardine Formation of lower Ludfordian (upper Ludlow) age, predominantly in rocks interpreted as submarine channel deposits. This paper amplifies and revises Spencer's treatment of the fauna within the broader context of British Palaeozoic Asterozoa in the early twentieth century. Owing to the rarity of asterozoan‐bearing deposits in the Palaeozoic and particularly the Silurian, the Leintwardine fauna is significant for understanding the early diversity of the group, and assessing potential diversification trends. The study is based on extensive museum collections and material collected from the Church Hill starfish beds. New observations are made on previously known taxa: the asteroids Hudsonaster? leintwardensis (Salter) (which is reassigned), Coccaster bulbiferus Spencer, Urasterella cf. ruthveni (Forbes) and Palasterina cf. antiqua, the stenurids Rhopalocoma pyrotechnica Salter, Sturtzaster marstoni (Salter), Sturtzaster colvini (Salter), Bdellacoma vermiformis Salter and Antiquaster magrumi Kesling, and the oegophiurid ophiuroids Lapworthura miltoni (Salter) and Furcaster leptosoma (Salter). The asteroids Doliaster sp. and Palasterina sp. are recognized. New species are the stenurids Bdellacoma fortispina sp. nov. and Antiquaster apertisulcus sp. nov., and the oegophiurid Loriolaster fragilicalceus sp. nov., the latter extending the range of the genus to the Ludlovian. Morphological and taxonomic diversity of this fauna is high, compared to the preceding Silurian (with the stenurids comprising a notably diverse component of the fauna), supporting potential asterozoan diversification during the Wenlockian to Ludlovian.
A System Dynamic Model of Drinking Events: Multi‐Level Ecological Approach
Authors: Clapp John D. , Madden Danielle R. , Gonzalez Villasanti Hugo , Giraldo Luis Felipe , Passino Kevin M. , Reed Mark B. , Fernandez Puentes Isabel
Published: January 2018

Drinking events are dynamic. The interactions of individuals, groups, and the environment as they relate to drinking behaviour are overwhelmingly complex. This paper presents an empirically grounded dynamic conceptual model to better understand drinking events. Using a collaborative mixed‐methods approach, we developed an aggregated system dynamic model of drinking events. The process began with identification of system elements and boundaries. Once the first aspects of the model were completed, we constructed a causal loop diagram, an aggregated causal loop diagram, and stock and flow diagrams. Finally, we developed and ran computer simulations of the dynamical models. The model presented here can be used to guide future agent‐based, system dynamics, or differential equation‐based models. Such models can help inform future empirical work and modelling to increase the understanding of drinking events and provide solutions to the problems that happen proximal to these events. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A novel method of decision‐making for power transformer maintenance based on failure‐probability‐analysis
Authors: Yang Hang , Zhang Zhe , Yin Xianggen
Published: January 2018

As the key requirement of the power system, the power transformer's running state of security is directly related to the safety and stability of entire power system. Since condition‐based maintenance for a power transformer cannot directly determine the best maintenance cycle, from a better engineering application perspective, this paper proposes a novel maintenance strategy based on failure probability analysis. First, the power transformer's basic fault probability curve is fitted using the nonlinear least‐squares method. Second, comprehensively considering the long‐term evolution factors and the short‐term sudden factors, the transformer's actual fault probability model is established through amending its basic fault probability model. Third, in accordance with the periodic maintenance experience and the transformer's actual fault probability model, the best maintenance cycle is suggested using the threshold constraint. Finally, the simulation results testify that the proposed maintenance strategy can provide a more accurate maintenance cycle than the existing condition‐based maintenance and can better meet the requirement of engineering applications. © 2018 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Beyond School Breaks: Reinterpreting the Uses of Film in Classrooms
Authors: Domke Lisa M. , Weippert Tracy L. , Apol Laura
Published: January 2018

When using film adaptations of children's literature, teachers often limit learning opportunities to comparisons and contrasts of film and text or use movies as rewards. To develop deeper understandings of film adaptations of literature, students must learn that film adaptations do not merely translate a text but rather reenvision it within a particular cultural and historical moment. To move beyond looking at a film's fidelity to the original book and instead realize that the film is a creative work in its own right, students engage in film analysis in which they attend to a film's images, use of color, music, and camerawork and speculate about the consequences of the filmmakers’ choices. In doing so, students develop critical media literacy skills and meet Common Core State Standards. This article offers a SCREEN Guide created by the authors to facilitate students’ film analysis.
Immunoengineering with biomaterials for enhanced cancer immunotherapy
Authors: Xie Yu‐Qing , Wei Lixia , Tang Li
Published: January 2018

Cancer immunotherapy has recently shown dramatic clinical success inducing durable response in patients of a wide variety of malignancies. Further improvement of the clinical outcome with immune related cancer treatment requests more exquisite manipulation of a patient's immune system with increased immunity against diseases while mitigating the toxicities. To meet this challenge, biomaterials applied to immunoengineering are being developed to achieve tissue‐ and/or cell‐specific immunomodulation and thus could potentially enhance both the efficacy and safety of current cancer immunotherapies. Here, we review the recent advancement in the field of immunoengineering using biomaterials and their applications in promoting different modalities of cancer immunotherapies, with focus on cell‐, antibody‐, immunomodulator‐, and gene‐based immune related treatments and their combinations with conventional therapies. Challenges and opportunities are discussed in applying biomaterials engineering strategies in the development of future cancer immunotherapies.

This article is categorized under:

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies

Implantable Materials and Surgical Technologies > Nanomaterials and Implants
Detection and Quantifiable Evaluation of Copper(II) Ions through Luminescent Sensing between Two Homologous Metal‐organic Frameworks
Authors: Li Jiang , Men Chang‐Peng , Luo Yu‐Qing , Mo Shao‐Jie , Huang Wen‐Huan , Cui Lin
Published: January 2018

Two luminescent metal‐organic frameworks (LMOFs), namely, [Cd2(DDCPB)·(DMF)2·H2O]n (CHD‐1) and [Zn2(DDCPB)·(DMA)2]n·n(DMA) (CHD‐2), were solvothermally constructed, which present structural diversity. Single crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis indicates that they consist of [Cd2(μ2‐O)2(κ‐O)2] building units (for CHD‐1), [Zn2(κ‐O)6] building units (for CHD‐2), which are further linked by multicarboxylate H4DDCPB to construct microporous frameworks. Remarkably, both CHD‐1 and 2 exhibit highly efficient luminescent sensing for environmentally relevant Cu2+ ions through luminescence quenching. Theoretical and experimental calculations indicate that the luminescent quenching can be attributes to the donor‐acceptor electron transfer between the MOFs and analytes. This work indicates that CHD‐1 and 2 could be taken as a potential candidate for developing multifunctional luminescence sensors.
Taxes and Trust
Authors: Berenson Marc P.
Published: January 2018

Taxes and Trust is the first book on taxes to focus on trust and the first work of social science to concentrate on how tax policy actually gets implemented on the ground in Poland, Russia and Ukraine. It highlights the nuances of the transitional Ukraine case and explains precisely how and why that 'borderland' country differs from the more ideal-types of coercive Russia and compliance-oriented Poland. Through nine bespoke taxpayer surveys, an unprecedented bureaucratic survey and more than fifteen years of qualitative research, the book emphasizes the building and accumulation of trust to transition from a coercive tax state to a compliant one. The context of the book will appeal to students and scholars of taxation worldwide and to those who study Russia and Eastern Europe. This title is also available as Open Access.
Alternative Strategies to Manage Weather Risk in Perennial Fruit Crop Production
Authors: Ho Shuay-Tsyr , Ifft Jennifer E. , Rickard Bradley J. , Turvey Calum G.
Published: January 2018

Fruit producers in the Eastern United States face a wide range of weather-related risks that have the capacity to largely impact yields and profitability. This research examines the economic implications associated with responding to these risks for sweet cherry production in three different systems: high tunnels, revenue insurance, and weather insurance. The analysis considers a distribution of revenue flows and costs using detailed price, yield, and weather data between 1984 and 2013. Our results show that the high tunnel system generates the largest net return if significant price premiums exist for earlier and larger fruit.
Dynamic preservation of Texel Inlet, the Netherlands: understanding the interaction of an ebb-tidal delta with its adjacent coast
Authors: Elias Edwin P.L. , van der Spek Ad J.F.
Published: January 2018

Tidal inlets and the associated ebb-tidal deltas can significantly impact the coastal sediment budget due to their ability to store or release large quantities of sand. Nearly 300 million m3(mcm) of sediments were eroded from Texel Inlet's ebb-tidal delta and the adjacent coasts following the closure of the Zuiderzee in 1932. This erosion continues even today as a net loss of 77 mcm was observed between 1986 and 2015. To compensate, over 30 mcm of sand has been placed on the adjacent coastlines since 1990, making maintenance of these beaches the most intensive of the entire Dutch coastal system.

Highly frequent and detailed observations of both the hydrodynamics and morphodynamics of Texel Inlet have resulted in a unique dataset of this largest inlet of the Wadden Sea, providing an opportunity to investigate inlet sediment dynamics under the influence of anthropogenic pressure. By linking detailed measurements of bathymetric change to direct observations of processes we were able to unravel the various components that have contributed to the supply of sediment to the basin, and develop a four-stage conceptual model describing the multi-decadal adaptation of the ebb-tidal delta.

Prior to closure of the Zuiderzee a dynamic equilibrium state (stage 1) existed with a stable ebb-tidal delta. The largest morphological changes occurred in roughly the first 40 years since the closure, and were dominated by the rotation and scouring of large tidal channels and landward retreat of the Noorderhaaks ebb shoal (stage 2; adaptation). Between 1975 and 2001 the general layout of main channels and shoals was stable, but large sediment losses continued to occur (stage 3; equilibrium erosional state). Since 2001, the erosion rates have significantly reduced to 2 mcm a−1(stage 4; stabilisation).

Twenty-five years of data on ‘Dynamic Preservation’ prove that sand nourishments are well capable of keeping the coastlines adjacent to the Texel Inlet in place. Moreover, the abundant supply of sediment may also have compensated for the sediment losses on the larger scale of the southern part of the ebb-tidal delta, resulting in a recent stabilisation of its volume. This response illustrates the potential benefits of Dynamic Preservation not only for coastline resilience but also on the larger scale of the inlet system. Such knowledge is essential for future preservation, management and maintenance of inlet systems in the scope of climate change and accelerated sea-level rise.
Malleus Maleficarum: Scrutinizing Sorcery in Cameroon
Authors: Ada Tchoukou Julie Ynes
Published: January 2018

Drawing on ethnographic research, this article reflects critically on the current involvement of the Cameroonian state in witchcraft accusations. Unlike other African states where witchcraft is connected to religion and culture and as such is far detached from economics and politics, post-colonial Cameroon associates witchcraft and other occult practices with being a major factor in its slow economic development. The state resorted to criminal law in its attempts to eradicate the practice. Its penal code subjects persons accused of witchcraft to imprisonment for up to ten years. This provision has been subject to great criticism, as its application has led to a high conviction rate of indigenous Cameroonians. The aim of this article is not to determine the appropriateness of this approach, but to raise questions and shed light on the various inconsistencies with criminalizing a practice that arguably constitutes an underlying basis of indigenous Cameroonian cultural heritage.
Sowing War, Reaping Peace: United Nations Resource Development Programs in the Republic of Korea, 1950–1953
Authors: Brady Lisa M.
Published: January 2018

Between 1950 and 1953, the United Nations (UN) undertook two related tasks in Korea: the first was to assist the Republic of Korea in achieving military victory in its conflict with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea; the second was to support postcolonial economic and political reconstruction on the peninsula. In both, the UN promoted the implementation of modern agricultural and resource management practices, directly tying increased domestic farm and forestry productivity to military success. Through the lens of UN development projects, the Korean War, often characterized as a point of rupture, represented less a moment of disjuncture than it did a period of accelerated continuity. This article interweaves environmental, military, and development history to analyze several UN programs in the Republic of Korea between 1950 and 1953, demonstrating that the UN viewed resource development as among the most effective ways to wage and win a war.
‘Long Live Ratthathammanūn!’: Constitution worship in revolutionary Siam
Authors: FUWONGCHAROEN PULI
Published: January 2018

Siam managed to replace royal absolutism with limited monarchy in June 1932 without any chaos or bloodshed. But the transition quickly proved to be far from complete. The country was to undergo a major upheaval before suffering a semi-civil war only about a year after the princely rule was toppled. The new regime, accordingly, began to consider its constitution as a symbol behind which the people could be mobilized. A massive campaign for the document was then launched in late 1933 and it soon culminated in what can be regarded as the practice of constitution worship. This article will look at the campaign in detail, especially with respect to its underlying logics; the aim is to reveal and analyse the attempt by the revolutionary regime to transform the first permanent constitution into a sacred entity. Meanwhile, in pursuing such an aim, this article will shed light on the formation of a constitutional culture in Siam. Given that a basic law had never existed in the country, the article will discuss not only how the state promoted the permanent constitution, but also how the Siamese society encountered and experienced constitutional rule for the first time.
Gene–environment interplay in the etiology of psychosis
Authors: Zwicker Alyson , Denovan-Wright Eileen M. , Uher Rudolf
Published: January 2018

Schizophrenia and other types of psychosis incur suffering, high health care costs and loss of human potential, due to the combination of early onset and poor response to treatment. Our ability to prevent or cure psychosis depends on knowledge of causal mechanisms. Molecular genetic studies show that thousands of common and rare variants contribute to the genetic risk for psychosis. Epidemiological studies have identified many environmental factors associated with increased risk of psychosis. However, no single genetic or environmental factor is sufficient to cause psychosis on its own. The risk of developing psychosis increases with the accumulation of many genetic risk variants and exposures to multiple adverse environmental factors. Additionally, the impact of environmental exposures likely depends on genetic factors, through gene–environment interactions. Only a few specific gene–environment combinations that lead to increased risk of psychosis have been identified to date. An example of replicable gene–environment interaction is a common polymorphism in theAKT1gene that makes its carriers sensitive to developing psychosis with regular cannabis use. A synthesis of results from twin studies, molecular genetics, and epidemiological research outlines the many genetic and environmental factors contributing to psychosis. The interplay between these factors needs to be considered to draw a complete picture of etiology. To reach a more complete explanation of psychosis that can inform preventive strategies, future research should focus on longitudinal assessments of multiple environmental exposures within large, genotyped cohorts beginning early in life.
Whitney equisingularity of families of surfaces in ℂ3
Authors: RUAS M.A.S. , SILVA O.N.
Published: January 2018

In this paper, we study families of singular surfaces in ℂ3 parametrised by $\mathcal {A}$-finitely determined map germs. We consider the topological triviality and Whitney equisingularity of an unfolding F of a finitely determined map germ f : (ℂ2, 0) → (ℂ3, 0). We investigate the following question: topological triviality implies Whitney equisingularity of the unfolding F? We provide a complete answer to this question, by giving counterexamples showing how the conjecture can be false.
Clinical characteristics of non-tuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary infections in Bamako, Mali
Authors: Kone B. , Sarro Y. S. , Maiga M. , Sanogo M. , Somboro A. M. , Diarra B. , Togo A. C. G. , Coulibaly N. , Dembele B. P. P. , Goita D. , Baya B. , Kone A. , Diabaté S. , Polis M. A. , Belson M. , Dao S. , Orsega S. , Achenbach C. J. , Murphy R. L. , Diallo S. , Siddiqui S.
Published: January 2018

The global spread of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) may be due to HIV/AIDS and other environmental factors. The symptoms of NTM and tuberculosis (TB) disease are indistinguishable, but their treatments are different. Lack of research on the epidemiology of NTM infections has led to underestimation of its prevalence within TB endemic countries. This study was designed to determine the prevalence and clinical characteristics of pulmonary NTM in Bamako. A cross-sectional study which include 439 suspected cases of pulmonary TB. From 2006 to 2013 a total of 332 (76%) were confirmed to have sputum culture positive for mycobacteria. The prevalence of NTM infection was 9.3% of our study population and 12.3% of culture positive patients. The seroprevalence of HIV in NTM group was 17.1%. Patients who weighed <55 kg and had TB symptoms other than cough were also significantly more likely to have disease due to NTM as compared to those with TB disease who were significantly more likely to have cough and weigh more than 55 kg (OR 0.05 (CI 0.02–0.13) and OR 0.32 (CI 0.11–0.93) respectively). NTM disease burden in Bamako was substantial and diagnostic algorithms for pulmonary disease in TB endemic countries should consider the impact of NTM.
Short-term storage of the oocytes affects the ploidy status in the yellowtail tetra Astyanax altiparanae
Authors: dos Santos Matheus Pereira , do Nascimento Nivaldo Ferreira , Yasui George Shigueki , Pereira Nycolas Levy , Fujimoto Takafumi , Senhorini José Augusto , Nakaghi Laura Satiko Okada
Published: January 2018

In fish, many factors can affect reproduction during in vitro fertilization, therefore determination of the factors that affect affecting gamete quality is needed. However, few studies have focused on gamete quality and the ploidy status. This study was conducted to elucidate whether oocyte storage can affect ploidy status, survival, and embryo viability in the characid species Astyanax altiparanae. Oocytes were stored in Dulbecco's phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) at 26°C, then aliquots were fertilized immediately after extrusion (control) and also after 60, 120, 180, and 240 min of storage. Fertilization and hatching rates were measured, and the developmental stages were analyzed at each stage before describing the main abnormalities. Ploidy status was analyzed by flow cytometry and blood smear. In the control group, 100% of the samples were diploid. After treatment for 60 min, 95.56 ± 4.44% samples were diploid and 4.44 ± 4.44% were triploid. After 120 min, 94.44 ± 9.62% of the samples was diploid and 5.56 ± 5.56% were triploid; 100% of the samples were diploid after 180 min and, after 240 min, there was no survival. In other treatments, the highest percentage of hatching was after 60 min (88.93 ± 5.15%; P = 0.015), and treatment with 180 min storage resulted in the highest percentage of abnormal larvae (95.76 ± 12.67%; P = 0.012). These results show that oocyte storage can affect ploidy status and may be an interesting parameter for analysis in studies on chromosome set manipulation and micromanipulation.
A framework for enriching lexical semantic resources with distributional semantics
Authors: BIEMANN CHRIS , FARALLI STEFANO , PANCHENKO ALEXANDER , PONZETTO SIMONE PAOLO
Published: January 2018

We present an approach to combining distributional semantic representations induced from text corpora with manually constructed lexical semantic networks. While both kinds of semantic resources are available with high lexical coverage, our aligned resource combines the domain specificity and availability of contextual information from distributional models with the conciseness and high quality of manually crafted lexical networks. We start with a distributional representation of induced senses of vocabulary terms, which are accompanied with rich context information given by related lexical items. We then automatically disambiguate such representations to obtain a full-fledged proto-conceptualization, i.e. a typed graph of induced word senses. In a final step, this proto-conceptualization is aligned to a lexical ontology, resulting in a hybrid aligned resource. Moreover, unmapped induced senses are associated with a semantic type in order to connect them to the core resource. Manual evaluations against ground-truth judgments for different stages of our method as well as an extrinsic evaluation on a knowledge-based Word Sense Disambiguation benchmark all indicate the high quality of the new hybrid resource. Additionally, we show the benefits of enriching top-down lexical knowledge resources with bottom-up distributional information from text for addressing high-end knowledge acquisition tasks such as cleaning hypernym graphs and learning taxonomies from scratch.
Knowledge Management: a Systems Case Study from Shearman & Sterling LLP
Authors: Beaumont Jon
Published: January 2018

Pre-2013, Shearman & Sterling employed only two full-time knowledge management (KM) professionals across the globe. As Jon Beaumont describes, there was no centralised method of storage or retrieval for knowledge and Attorneys would have to contend with searching the firm's Document Management System (DMS), SharePoint intranet, internal discussion boards or ten disparate knowledge systems for document and matter information. ‘Knowledge Center’ was launched in 2015, following two years of planning, aimed at consolidating firm systems and providing users with a single interface to access any required know-how. This article will touch upon the consolidation and migration of information, but focus predominantly on Knowledge Center itself, examining functionality, search, filtering and browse. Processes for better knowledge identification of both document and matter know-how, all of which have contributed to the success of Knowledge Center, shall also be considered.
POLITICAL PARTIES, IMMIGRATION, AND PANETHNICITY
Authors: Mora G. Cristina
Published: January 2018

Most studies on panethnicity have focused on the United States, leaving researchers with little understanding of how it becomes institutionalized in areas with different racial politics and histories. Drawing on fifty-two in-depth interviews with Latin American immigrant leaders, political party operatives, and bureaucrats, in addition to fourteen weeks of participant observation, I examine the establishment of panethnic Latino coalitions in the Barcelona, Spain, which has witnessed a sharp increase in Latin American migration. I argue that unlike in the United States, in Spain political parties play a critical role in establishing panethnic coalitions. They do so by enabling the development of panethnic civic organizations that they hope will be politically loyal to them. Latin American immigrant leaders respond to these efforts by cooperating with parties while also resisting political pressure. Specifically, immigrant leaders forge networks with one another that cross party lines, use media to promote the nonpartisan aspects of panethnicity, and construct cultural and instrumental narratives about panethnic unity. These strategies help immigrant leaders weather political shifts and make panethnicity seem to have arisen organically. Panethnicity is forged as a strategic, cultural, and experiential form of community identification precisely through this interaction between parties, immigrant leaders, and media. Implications for understanding how panethnicity becomes institutionalized and avenues for further international research on panethnicity are discussed.
A review of preservational variation of fossil inclusions in amber of different chemical groups
Authors: McCoy Victoria E. , Soriano Carmen , Gabbott Sarah E.
Published: January 2018

Fossils in amber are a particularly important and unique palaeobiological resource. Amber is best known for preserving exceptionally life-like fossils, including microscopic anatomical details, but this fidelity of preservation is an end-member of a wide spectrum of preservation quality. Many amber sites only preserve cuticle or hollow moulds, and most amber sites have no fossils at all. The taphonomic processes that control this range in preservation are essentially unknown. Here, we review the relationship between amber groups and fossil preservation, based on published data, to determine whether there is a correlation between resin type and aspects of preservation quality. We found that ambers of different chemistry demonstrated statistically significant differences in the preservational quality and the propensity of a site to contain fossils. This indicates that resin chemistry does influence preservational variation; however, there is also evidence that resin chemistry alone cannot explain all the variation. To effectively assess the impact of this (and other) variables on fossilisation in amber, and therefore biases in the amber fossil record, a more comprehensive sampling of bioinclusions in amber, coupled with rigorous taphonomic experimentation, is required.
An Examination of the “Freshman-15” in Germany
Authors: Meule Adrian , Platte Petra
Published: January 2018

Abstract. The “Freshman-15” refers to an expected average weight gain of 15 pounds during the first year at college in US students. Although an overall weight gain during this period can be observed, most studies found that students gain less than 15 pounds on average. Studies in countries other than the US, however, are scarce. In the current study, 120 female freshmen at a German university were tested at the start of the first semester and again at the start of the second semester (after approximately 6 months). Body mass index (BMI) did not differ between measurements, but participants had 0.2% more body fat at the second measurement. Participants with higher BMI at the first measurement lost weight and participants with higher weight suppression (i.e., the difference between an individual’s highest previous weight and current weight) at the first measurement gained weight. Participants who reported to exercise regularly at the first measurement gained weight, but this effect was driven by those who reduced their amount of physical exercise during the first semester. Dietary habits and eating styles at the first measurement were not associated with weight change. To conclude, no evidence was found for an overall weight gain during the first semester in female, German students. Furthermore, weight change was exclusively predicted by BMI, weight suppression, and regular exercise, while eating behaviors were unrelated to weight change. Thus, it appears that variables influencing energy expenditure are more robust predictors of future weight gain than variables influencing energy intake in female freshmen.
Thalidomide plus prednisone with or without danazol therapy in myelofibrosis: a retrospective analysis of incidence and durability of anemia response
Authors: Luo Xueping , Xu Zefeng , Li Bing , Qin Tiejun , Zhang Peihong , Zhang Hongli , Fang Liwei , Pan Lijuan , Hu Naibo , Qu Shiqiang , Zhang Yue , Huang Gang , Peter Gale Robert , Xiao Zhijian
Published: January 2018

Low-dose thalidomide and prednisone alone or combined are effective therapies in some persons with primary myelofibrosis (PMF) and anemia with or with RBC transfusion dependence. Danazol is also effective in some persons with PMF and anemia. Responses to these drugs are typically incomplete and not sustained. It is unclear whether adding danazol to thalidomide and prednisone would improve efficacy. We retrospectively compared the outcomes of 88 subjects with PMF and anemia receiving thalidomide and prednisone without (n = 46) or with danazol (n = 42). The primary end point was anemia response, which was 71% (95% confidence interval (CI), 57, 85%) in subjects receiving thalidomide/prednisone/danazol compared with 46% (32, 60%; P = 0.014) in those receiving thalidomide/prednisone. Response rates in subjects who were RBC transfusion dependent was also higher in the danazol cohort (61% (38, 84%)) vs. 25% (6, 44%); P = 0.024). Time to response was rapid (median, 2 months (range, 1–11 months)) and similar between the cohorts. Response duration was longer in the thalidomide/prednisone/danazol cohort (HR 2.18 (1.18–5.42); P = 0.019). Adverse effects were mild and similar between the cohorts. In conclusion, thalidomide/prednisone/danazol seems superior to thalidomide/prednisone in persons with PMF and anemia. Our conclusion requires confirmation in a randomized trial.
Publisher Correction: Pelagic barite precipitation at micromolar ambient sulfate
Authors: Horner Tristan J. , Pryer Helena V. , Nielsen Sune G. , Crockford Peter W. , Gauglitz Julia M. , Wing Boswell A. , Ricketts Richard D.
Published: January 2018

The original version of this Article contained an error in the barite saturation state equation in the fourth paragraph of the Introduction and incorrectly read ‘Ωbarite=({134Ba2+}⋅{SO42−})/Ksp)’. The correct version removes the superscript 134 next to ‘Ba2+’. This error has now been corrected in both the PDF and HTML versions of the Article.
PTRE-seq reveals mechanism and interactions of RNA binding proteins and miRNAs
Authors: Cottrell Kyle A. , Chaudhari Hemangi G. , Cohen Barak A. , Djuranovic Sergej
Published: January 2018

RNA binding proteins (RBP) and microRNAs (miRNAs) often bind sequences in 3′ untranslated regions (UTRs) of mRNAs, and regulate stability and translation efficiency. With the identification of numerous RBPs and miRNAs, there is an urgent need for new technologies to dissect the function of the cis-acting elements of RBPs and miRNAs. We describe post-transcriptional regulatory element sequencing (PTRE-seq), a massively parallel method for assaying the target sequences of miRNAs and RBPs. We use PTRE-seq to dissect sequence preferences and interactions between miRNAs and RBPs. The binding sites for these effector molecules influenced different aspects of the RNA lifecycle: RNA stability, translation efficiency, and translation initiation. In some cases, post-transcriptional control is modular, with different factors acting independently of each other, while in other cases factors show specific epistatic interactions. The throughput, flexibility, and reproducibility of PTRE-seq make it a valuable tool to study post-transcriptional regulation by 3′UTR elements.
A heterogeneous human immunodeficiency virus-like particle (VLP) formulation produced by a novel vector system
Authors: Pankrac Joshua , Klein Katja , McKay Paul F. , King Deborah F. L. , Bain Katie , Knapp Jason , Biru Tsigereda , Wijewardhana Chanuka N. , Pawa Rahul , Canaday David H. , Gao Yong , Fidler Sarah , Shattock Robin J. , Arts Eric J. , Mann Jamie F. S.
Published: January 2018

First identified as the etiological agent behind Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in the early 1980s, HIV-1 has continued to spread into a global pandemic and major public health concern. Despite the success of antiretroviral therapy at reducing HIV-1 viremia and preventing the dramatic CD4+ T-cell collapse, infected individuals remain HIV positive for life. Unfortunately, it is increasingly clear that natural immunity is not, and may never be, protective against this pathogen. Therefore, efficacious vaccine interventions, which can either prevent infection or eradicate the latent viral reservoir and effect cure, are a major medical priority. Here we describe the development of a safe vaccine platform, currently being utilized in on-going prophylactic and therapeutic preclinical studies and consisting of highly heterogeneous virus-like particle formulations that represent the virus diversity within infected individuals. These VLPs contain no 5′LTR, no functional integrase, and have a severely mutated stem loop 1—thereby preventing any potential reverse transcription, integration, and RNA packaging. Furthermore, we demonstrate that these VLPs are morphologically identical to wild-type virus with polyvalent Env in a functional form. Finally, we show that the VLPs are antigenic and capable of generating strong immune recall responses.
Resting state brain networks in the prairie vole
Authors: Ortiz Juan J. , Portillo Wendy , Paredes Raul G. , Young Larry J. , Alcauter Sarael
Published: January 2018

Resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) has shown the hierarchical organization of the human brain into large-scale complex networks, referred as resting state networks. This technique has turned into a promising translational research tool after the finding of similar resting state networks in non-human primates, rodents and other animal models of great value for neuroscience. Here, we demonstrate and characterize the presence of resting states networks in Microtus ochrogaster, the prairie vole, an extraordinary animal model to study complex human-like social behavior, with potential implications for the research of normal social development, addiction and neuropsychiatric disorders. Independent component analysis of rsfMRI data from isoflurane-anestethized prairie voles resulted in cortical and subcortical networks, including primary motor and sensory networks, but also included putative salience and default mode networks. We further discuss how future research could help to close the gap between the properties of the large scale functional organization and the underlying neurobiology of several aspects of social cognition. These results contribute to the evidence of preserved resting state brain networks across species and provide the foundations to explore the use of rsfMRI in the prairie vole for basic and translational research.
HDL nanoparticles targeting sonic hedgehog subtype medulloblastoma
Authors: Bell Jonathan B. , Rink Jonathan S. , Eckerdt Frank , Clymer Jessica , Goldman Stewart , Thaxton C. Shad , Platanias Leonidas C.
Published: January 2018

Medulloblastoma is the most common paediatric malignant brain cancer and there is a need for new targeted therapeutic approaches to more effectively treat these malignant tumours, which can be divided into four molecular subtypes. Here, we focus on targeting sonic hedgehog (SHH) subtype medulloblastoma, which accounts for approximately 25% of all cases. The SHH subtype relies upon cholesterol signalling for tumour growth and maintenance of tumour-initiating cancer stem cells (CSCs). To target cholesterol signalling, we employed biomimetic high-density lipoprotein nanoparticles (HDL NPs) which bind to the HDL receptor, scavenger receptor type B-1 (SCARB1), depriving cells of natural HDL and their cholesterol cargo. We demonstrate uptake of HDL NPs in SCARB1 expressing medulloblastoma cells and depletion of cholesterol levels in cancer cells. HDL NPs potently blocked proliferation of medulloblastoma cells, as well as hedgehog-driven Ewing sarcoma cells. Furthermore, HDL NPs disrupted colony formation in medulloblastoma and depleted CSC populations in medulloblastoma and Ewing sarcoma. Altogether, our findings provide proof of principle for the development of a novel targeted approach for the treatment of medulloblastoma using HDL NPs. These findings present HDL-mimetic nanoparticles as a promising therapy for sonic hedgehog (SHH) subtype medulloblastoma and possibly other hedgehog-driven cancers.
Spatio-temporal characteristics of urban air pollutions and their causal relationships: Evidence from Beijing and its neighboring cities
Authors: Jiang Lei , Bai Ling
Published: January 2018

China has been suffering from serious air pollution for years in response to the rapid industrialization and urbanization. Notably Beijing is one of the most polluted capitals in the world. Hence, the focus of the study area is on Beijing. In the first stage, we analyze spatial and temporal characteristics of air pollution of the 6 cities while in the second stage the Granger causality test is applied to investigate whether air pollution of a city is affected by its neighbors, and vice versa. The findings are the following. Overall, AQI values are high in winter and early spring while low in summer and autumn. Among the 6 cities, Baoding is the major contributor to air pollution in this entire area. Besides, Granger causality test results show that there is a unidirectional relationship running from Baoding to Beijing and a bidirectional relationship between Beijing and Tianjin. In other words, apart from local air pollutants, for example, exhaust gas, air quality of Beijing is affected by air pollution of Tianjin, and vice versa. However, regarding the relationship between Beijing and Baoding, air quality of Beijing is just affected by air pollution of Baoding, since Baoding is much polluted than Beijing.
Magnetic Vortices as Efficient Nano Heaters in Magnetic Nanoparticle Hyperthermia
Authors: Usov N. A. , Nesmeyanov M. S. , Tarasov V. P.
Published: January 2018

Magnetic vortices existing in soft magnetic nanoparticles with sizes larger than the single-domain diameter can be efficient nano-heaters in biomedical applications. Using micromagnetic numerical simulation we prove that in the optimal range of particle diameters the magnetization reversal of the vortices in spherical iron and magnetite nanoparticles is possible for moderate amplitudes of external alternating magnetic field,H0 < 100 Oe. In contrast to the case of superparamagnetic nanoparticles, for the vortex configuration the hysteresis loop area increases as a function of frequency. Therefore, high values of the specific absorption rate, on the order of 1000 W/g, can be obtained at frequenciesf = 0.5–1.0 MHz. Because the diameterDof a non single-domain particle is several times larger than the diameterdof a superparamagnetic particle, the volume of heat generation for the vortex turns out to be (D/d)3times larger. This shows the advantage of vortex configurations for heat generation in alternating magnetic field in biomedical applications.
Biology-Culture Co-evolution in Finite Populations
Authors: de Boer Bart , Thompson Bill
Published: January 2018

Language is the result of two concurrent evolutionary processes: biological and cultural inheritance. An influential evolutionary hypothesis known as the moving target problem implies inherent limitations on the interactions between our two inheritance streams that result from a difference in pace: the speed of cultural evolution is thought to rule out cognitive adaptation to culturally evolving aspects of language. We examine this hypothesis formally by casting it as as a problem of adaptation in time-varying environments. We present a mathematical model of biology-culture co-evolution in finite populations: a generalisation of the Moran process, treating co-evolution as coupled non-independent Markov processes, providing a general formulation of the moving target hypothesis in precise probabilistic terms. Rapidly varying culture decreases the probability of biological adaptation. However, we show that this effect declines with population size and with stronger links between biology and culture: in realistically sized finite populations, stochastic effects can carry cognitive specialisations to fixation in the face of variable culture, especially if the effects of those specialisations are amplified through cultural evolution. These results support the view that language arises from interactions between our two major inheritance streams, rather than from one primary evolutionary process that dominates another.