bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
WRITING AN EMPIRE: AN ANALYSIS OF THE MANCHU ORIGIN MYTH AND THE DYNAMICS OF MANCHU IDENTITY
Authors: Sun Lin
Published: December 2016

The first known record of the Manchu origin myth is found in Qing documents dating from 1636. These documents provide an official account of the origin of the Aisin Gioro lineage, including the story of the ancestor Bukūri Yongšon, who is depicted as the Manchu primogenitor, from his birth to his ascension to the throne. This article argues that the Manchu origin myth reflected the dynamics of Manchu identity, which shifted from constructing a Manchu group to securing Manchu rule during the period from the seventeenth to the eighteenth centuries. By tracing the development of this myth from its earliest version in the seventeenth century to four different versions that appeared by the mid-eighteenth century, written in both Manchu and Chinese, this article endeavors to shed new light on how the Manchus saw themselves, their ancestor, and their empire.
Mobility of an axisymmetric particle near an elastic interface
Authors: Daddi-Moussa-Ider Abdallah , Lisicki Maciej , Gekle Stephan
Published: December 2016

Using a fully analytical theory, we compute the leading-order corrections to the translational, rotational and translation–rotation coupling mobilities of an arbitrary axisymmetric particle immersed in a Newtonian fluid moving near an elastic cell membrane that exhibits resistance towards stretching and bending. The frequency-dependent mobility corrections are expressed as general relations involving separately the particle’s shape-dependent bulk mobility and the shape-independent parameters such as the membrane–particle distance, the particle orientation and the characteristic frequencies associated with shearing and bending of the membrane. This makes the equations applicable to an arbitrary-shaped axisymmetric particle provided that its bulk mobilities are known, either analytically or numerically. For a spheroidal particle, these general relations reduce to simple expressions in terms of the particle’s eccentricity. We find that the corrections to the translation–rotation coupling mobility are primarily determined by bending, whereas shearing manifests itself in a more pronounced way in the rotational mobility. We demonstrate the validity of the analytical approximations by a detailed comparison with boundary integral simulations of a truly extended spheroidal particle. They are found to be in a good agreement over the whole range of applied frequencies.
A plot-scale study of firn stratigraphy at Lomonosovfonna, Svalbard, using ice cores, borehole video and GPR surveys in 2012–14
Authors: MARCHENKO SERGEY , POHJOLA VEIJO A. , PETTERSSON RICKARD , VAN PELT WARD J. J. , VEGA CARMEN P. , MACHGUTH HORST , BØGGILD CARL E. , ISAKSSON ELISABETH
Published: December 2016

Spatial heterogeneity of snow and firn properties on glaciers introduces uncertainty in interpretation of point and profile observations and complicates modelling of meltwater percolation and runoff. Here we present a study of the temporal and spatial dynamics of firn density and stratigraphy at the plot-scale (≈10 m × 10 m × 10 m) repeated annually during 2012–14 at the Lomonosovfonna icefield, Svalbard. Results from cores, video inspections in boreholes and radar grid surveys are compared. Ice layers 0.1–50 cm thick comprised ≈8% of the borehole length. Most of them are 1–3 cm thick and could not be traced between boreholes separated by 3 m. Large lateral variability of firn structure affects representativeness of observations in single holes and calls for repeated studies in multiple points to derive a representative stratigraphy signal. Radar reflections are poorly correlated with ice layers in individual boreholes. However, the match between the high amplitude peaks in the grid-averaged radar signal and horizons of preferential ice layer formation revealed by averaging the video surveys over multiple boreholes is higher. These horizons are interpreted as buried firn layers previously exposed to melt-freeze or wind-driven densification and several of them are consistently recovered throughout three field campaigns.
Ontogeny and reproductive functional morphology of the macroalgaWiartonella nodiferan. gen. n. sp. (Dasycladales, Chlorophyta) from the Silurian Eramosa Lagerstätte of Ontario, Canada
Authors: LoDuca Steven T. , Tetreault Denis K.
Published: December 2016

The thallus of a new noncalcified dasycladalean alga,Wiartonella nodiferan. gen. n. sp., from the mid-Silurian Eramosa Lagerstätte of Ontario, Canada, comprises a narrow main axis with laterals in whorls (euspondyl). Laterals branch to the second order and show a distinct expansion (node) at the termination of first-order lateral segments. Morphologic differences between specimens are interpreted as ontogenetic stages similar to those displayed by extant Dasycladales, including late-stage shedding of higher-order lateral segments. Examination of reproductive functional morphology using biophysical modeling indicates that the expanded terminations of the first-order lateral segments probably are not homologous with gametophores, and that reproduction instead was either endospore or cladospore, with details of the ontogenetic sequence pointing to the latter. The distinctive lateral morphology displayed by this species adds to the list of morphological innovation achieved by dasycladalean algae during a significant burst of evolutionary activity that unfolded between the Middle Ordovician and late Silurian.
Posterholt, a Late Pleistocene – Holocene record of the vegetation history in and around the valley of the Vlootbeek, a tributary of the river Meuse (southeastern Netherlands)
Authors: Bakels Corrie
Published: December 2016

The infill of an abandoned branch of the small river Vlootbeek, a tributary of the Meuse, revealed a record of the vegetation history from the Allerød to the Middle Ages, albeit with at least two hiatuses in its upper reach. Striking observations are the continuous presence ofPinusin a period long after this tree was absent elsewhere in the Dutch landscape, and the high percentages ofTiliapollen in the mid-Holocene. The former is explained by the sandy–gravelly subsoil in the valley of the Vlootbeek. The latter is ascribed to the short distance between the coring location and the plateau on whichTiliamust have been the dominant tree. Anthropogenic influence is apparent from the Early Neolithic Linearbandkeramik farmers onwards.
Don’t Know What You Got: A Bayesian Hierarchical Model of Neuroticism and Nonresponse
Authors: Klingler Jonathan D. , Hollibaugh Gary E. , Ramey Adam J.
Published: December 2016

Individuals who are more sensitive to negative outcomes from error are more likely to provide nonresponses in surveys. We argue Neurotics’ sensitivity to negative outcomes leads them to avoid gathering costly information and forming/reporting opinions about stimuli. Using data from the 2014 Cooperative Congressional Election Study, we show Neuroticism is strongly and positively associated with NA/DK responses when placing politicians on a seven-point ideological scale. We then introduce to political science a Bayesian hierarchical model that allows nonresponse to be generated by both a lack of information as well as disincentives for response. Using this model, we show that the NA/DK responses in these data are due to inhibited information collection and indecision from error avoidance by Neurotics.
Supplementation with Brazil nuts and green tea extract regulates targeted biomarkers related to colorectal cancer risk in humans
Authors: Hu Ying , McIntosh Graeme H. , Le Leu Richard K. , Somashekar Roshini , Meng Xing Q. , Gopalsamy Geetha , Bambaca Libby , McKinnon Ross A. , Young Graeme P.
Published: December 2016

Se and green tea have been shown in epidemiological, observational and preclinical studies to be inversely related to the risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC). However, there are limited studies to evaluate their regulatory effects on genes/proteins that relate to CRC oncogenesis in human subjects, such as selenoproteins, WNT signalling pathway, inflammation and methylation. This study examined the effects of supplementation of Se using Brazil nuts and green tea extract (GTE) capsules, alone and in combination, on targeted biomarkers. In total, thirty-two volunteers (>50 years of age) with plasma Se≤1·36 µmol/l were randomised to one of three treatment groups: nine to Se (approximately 48 µg/d) as six Brazil nuts, eleven to four GTE capsules (800 mg (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate) and twelve to a combination of Brazil nuts and GTE. Blood and rectal biopsies were obtained before and after each intervention. Plasma Se levels, rectal selenoprotein P (SePP) and β-catenin mRNA increased significantly in subjects consuming Brazil nuts alone or in combination, whereas rectal DNA methyltransferase (DNMT1) and NF-κB mRNA were reduced significantly in subjects consuming GTE alone or in combination. None of the interventions significantly affected rectal acetylated histone H3 or Ki-67 expression at the protein level or plasma C-reactive protein. Effects of the combination of Brazil nuts and GTE did not differ from what would be expected from either agent alone. In conclusion, supplementation of Brazil nuts and/or GTE regulates targeted biomarkers related to CRC oncogenesis, specifically genes associated with selenoproteins (SePP), WNT signalling (β-catenin), inflammation (NF-κB) and methylation (DNMT1). Their combination does not appear to provide additional effects compared with either agent alone.
On stability criteria for kinetic magnetohydrodynamics
Authors: Ramos J. J.
Published: December 2016

The existence of a potential energy functional in the zero-Larmor-radius collisionless plasma theory of Kruskal & Oberman (Phys. Fluids, vol. 1, 1958 p. 275), Rosenbluth & Rostoker (Phys. Fluids, vol. 2, 1959, p. 23) allows us to derive easily sufficient conditions for linear stability. However, this kinetic magnetohydrodynamics (KMHD) theory does not have a self-adjointness property, making it difficult to derive necessary conditions. In particular, the standard methods to prove that an instability follows if some trial perturbation makes the incremental potential energy negative, which rely on the self-adjointness of the force operator or on the existence of a complete basis of normal modes, are not applicable to KMHD. This paper investigates KMHD linear stability criteria based on the time evolution of initial-value solutions, without recourse to the classic bounds or comparison theorems of Kruskal–Oberman and Rosenbluth–Rostoker for the KMHD potential energy. The adopted approach does not solve the kinetic equations by integration along characteristics and does not require that the particle orbits be periodic or nearly periodic. Most importantly, the investigation of a necessary condition for stability does not require the self-adjointness of the force operator or the existence of a complete basis of normal modes. It is thereby shown that stability in isothermal ideal-MHD is a sufficient condition for stability in KMHD and that, with a proviso on the long-time behaviour of oscillations about stable equilibria, stability in the double-adiabatic fluid theory, including the variation of the parallel fluid displacement, would be a necessary condition for stability in KMHD.
How diverse is the lichenized fungal familyTrypetheliaceae(Ascomycota: Dothideomycetes)? A quantitative prediction of global species richness
Authors: APTROOT André , CÁCERES Marcela E. S. , JOHNSTON Mark K. , LÜCKING Robert
Published: December 2016

A quantitative prediction of global species richness in the lichenized familyTrypetheliaceaeemploying a grid method previously used in similar approaches for the familyGraphidaceaeand the genusCora(Hygrophoraceae) is provided. 421 currently known taxa were used as a base for the calculation and we predict a total of nearly 800 species, corresponding to an increase of almost 100%. Most of the unrecognized taxa are predicted to occur in the Neotropics, which have the highest known species richness. The Palaeotropics are less diverse. In contrast toGraphidaceae, which are mostly confined to rainforests,Trypetheliaceaeshow substantial species richness in dry forest and savannah ecosystems, and future collection efforts should take well-preserved areas representing such ecosystems into consideration.
Five new species and one new record ofAstrothelium(Trypetheliaceae, Ascomycota) from Thailand
Authors: LUANGSUPHABOOL Theerapat , LUMBSCH H. Thorsten , APTROOT André , PIAPUKIEW Jittra , SANGVICHIEN Ek
Published: December 2016

Five new species and one new record ofAstrothelium(Trypetheliaceae) are reported from Thailand. Phylogenetic analysis of four DNA loci (ITS, nuLSU, mtSSU rDNA andRPB1) demonstrated the placement of the new species withinAstrothelium, as well as their distinction from similar or related taxa. The new species are:A. flavocoronatum, with a yellow pigment surrounding the ostiole, and 3-septate ascospores 22–28×8·0–9·5 µm;A. macrostiolatum, with large whitish ostiolar area, a hamathecium inspersed with small oil droplets, and 9–11-septate ascospores 80–100×17–19 µm;A. neglectum, with lichexanthone on the thallus and pseudostromata, a non-inspersed hamathecium and 3–5-septate ascospores 21–25×7·5–9·5 µm;A. neovariolosum, with inspersed hamathecium and 3-septate ascospores 17–23×6–7 µm; andA. siamense, with inspersed hamathecium and 4–7-septate ascospores 30–50×10·5–12·0 µm.Astrothelium aenascensis reported from Thailand for the first time.
A phylogenetic framework for reassessing generic concepts and species delimitation in the lichenized familyTrypetheliaceae(Ascomycota: Dothideomycetes)
Authors: LÜCKING Robert , NELSEN Matthew P. , APTROOT André , BARILLAS DE KLEE Roselvira , BAWINGAN Paulina A. , BENATTI Michel N. , BINH Nguyen Quoc , BUNGARTZ Frank , CÁCERES Marcela E. S. , CANÊZ Luciana da Silva , CHAVES José-Luis , ERTZ Damien , ESQUIVEL Rhina Esmeralda , FERRARO Lidia Itati , GRIJALVA Alfredo , GUEIDAN Cécile , HERNÁNDEZ M. Jesús E. , KNIGHT Allison , LUMBSCH H. Thorsten , MARCELLI Marcelo P. , MERCADO-DÍAZ Joel A. , MONCADA Bibiana , MORALES Eduardo A. , NAKSUWANKUL Khwanruan , OROZCO Thelma , PARNMEN Sittiporn , RIVAS PLATA Eimy , SALAZAR-ALLEN Noris , SPIELMANN Adriano A. , VENTURA Nohemy
Published: December 2016

We provide an expanded and updated, 2-locus phylogeny (mtSSU, nuLSU) of the lichenized fungal familyTrypetheliaceae, with a total of 196 ingroup OTUs, in order to further refine generic delimitations and species concepts in this family. As a result, the following 15 clades are recognized as separate genera, including five newly established genera:Aptrootia,Architrypethelium,Astrothelium(including the bulk of corticate species with astrothelioid ascospores; synonyms:Campylothelium,Cryptothelium,Laurera),Batheliums. str. (excludingB. degeneransand relatives which fall intoAstrothelium), the reinstatedBogoriella(for tropical, lichenized species previously placed inMycomicrothelia),Constrictoluminagen. nov. (for tropical, lichenized species ofArthopyrenia),Dictyomeridiumgen. nov. (for a subgroup of species with muriform ascospores previously placed inPolymeridium),Julella(provisionally, as the type species remains unsequenced),Marcelaria(Laurera purpurinacomplex),Nigrovotheliumgen. nov. (for theTrypethelium tropicumgroup),Novomicrotheliagen. nov. (for an additional species previously placed inMycomicrothelia),Polymeridiums. str.,Pseudopyrenula,Trypetheliums. str. (T. eluteriaegroup), andViridotheliumgen. nov. (for theTrypethelium virensgroup). All recognized genera are phenotypically characterized and a discussion on the evolution of phenotypic features in the family is given. Based on the obtained phylogeny, species delimitations are revised and the importance of characters such as thallus morphology, hymenial inspersion, and secondary chemistry for taxonomic purposes is discussed, resulting in a refined species concept.
NORMS, EVALUATIONS, AND IDEAL AND NONIDEAL THEORY
Authors: Jubb Robert
Published: December 2016

This essay discusses the relation between ideal theory and two forms of political moralism identified by Bernard Williams, structural and enactment views. It argues that ideal theory, at least in the sense Rawls used that term, only makes sense for structural forms of moralism. These theories see their task as describing the constraints that properly apply to political agents and institutions. As a result, they are primarily concerned with norms that govern action. In contrast, many critiques of ideal theory are structured and motivated by their commitment to an enactment model of political theorizing. This instead sees political agents and institutions as instruments for producing or promoting better states of affairs. Enactment models treat the evaluations that rank different states of affairs as justificatorily basic, rather than norms governing action on which structural models focus. This reveals an important feature of debates about ideal theory. Whether ideal theory is capable of appropriately guiding action will depend on what the criteria for appropriately guiding action are, about which different theorists have importantly different views. For example, some popular strategies for defending ideal theory fail, while it may be much less clear that some alternatives to ideal theory can provide action guidance than their advocates claim.
LIBERALISM BEFORE JUSTICE
Authors: MacGilvray Eric
Published: December 2016

The ideal theory debate rests on two conflicting claims: that justice is “the first virtue of social systems” (justice first), and that a just society is one in which “everyone accepts and knows that the others accept the same principles of justice” (universal consent).Justice firstholds that questions about the meaning of justice — and thus about what an ideally just society would look like — must be settled before we can effectively pursue justice. However,universal consententails a project of justification that can only take place over time. I propose that we avoid this impasse by treating freedom rather than justice as the “first virtue” of a liberal society. Liberal freedom has two distinct and complementary dimensions, which give rise to two distinct and complementary moral aims: on the one hand, to create the social conditions that make responsible agency possible (republican freedom), and on the other hand to carve out a social space within which the demands of responsible agency are relaxed or absent (market freedom). Striking the appropriate balance between these two dimensions of liberal freedom is irreducibly a matter of judgment. A freedom-centered liberalism therefore requires that we treat justice as the endpoint rather than the starting point of political action, thus severing the link between legitimacy and consent.
UTOPOPHOBIA AS A VOCATION: THE PROFESSIONAL ETHICS OF IDEAL AND NONIDEAL POLITICAL THEORY
Authors: Frazer Michael L.
Published: December 2016

The debate between proponents of ideal and nonideal approaches to political philosophy has thus far been framed as a meta-level debate about normative theory. The argument of this essay will be that the ideal/nonideal debate can be helpfully reframed as a ground-level debate within normative theory. Specifically, it can be understood as a debate within the applied normative field of professional ethics, with the profession being examined that of political philosophy itself. If the community of academic political theorists and philosophers cannot help us navigate the problems we face in actual political life, they have not lived up to the moral demands of their vocation. A moderate form of what David Estlund decries as “utopophobia” is therefore an integral element of a proper professional ethic for political philosophers. The moderate utopophobe maintains that while devoting scarce time and resources to constructing utopias may sometimes be justifiable, it is never self-justifying. Utopianism is defensible only insofar as it can reasonably be expected to help inform or improve non-utopian political thinking.
JUSTICE AND RECIPROCITY: THE CASE FOR NONIDEAL THEORY
Authors: Woodward James
Published: December 2016

This essay discusses and criticizes the claim that normative political theory can be (justifiably and fruitfully) divided into two parts—a part having to do with ideal theory which assumes full compliance and abstracts away from issues having to do with implementation and, contrasting with this, a nonideal part having to do with implementation and with rules and institutions appropriate for conditions of partial compliance. On this conception of ideal theory, empirical facts about human behavior and motivation, connected to issues surrounding compliance and implementation, are irrelevant to ideal theory, although such facts can be relevant to the nonideal part of normative theory. I argue against this conception, holding instead that such empirical facts are relevant to most or all of normative political theory, including “fundamental” normative principles.
A REALISTIC POLITICAL IDEAL
Authors: Schmidtz David
Published: December 2016

Over the past decade, political philosophers and political theorists have had a
common purpose: to reflect on the merits of realism and idealism when theorizing
about the human condition and the nature of justice. We have settled that no one
is against being realistic or against being idealistic per se. The contributions
to this volume represent a conversation about what would make one attempt to
articulate ideals better than another.
Optimizing large knowledge networks in spatial computers
Authors: Pacher Dominic , Binna Robert , Specht Günther
Published: December 2016

This paper presents a novel concept of a Spatially Aware Graph Store, which realizes a Graph Store on top of a spatial computer architecture to manage graphs in one, two or three physical dimensions. In this environment, the physical distance between graph nodes strongly affects graph traversal performance. Consequently, a Spatially Aware Graph Store needs to minimize these distances to operate efficiently. We show that this minimization can be achieved in two ways. First, by increasing the dimensionality of the spatial computer and second by applying optimization methods. For the latter, this work introduces a novel Mid Point Optimization method to quickly optimize large real-world knowledge networks by rearranging nodes in a way that distances between linked nodes are reduced. In addition, a Local Optimization method is subsequently applied to refine the result. Finally, the Node Decomposition method is presented that splits nodes with many edges into several smaller nodes to achieve a further reduction of distances between linked nodes.

Our results show that the overall distances between nodes can be reduced by three orders of magnitude for 3D in comparison to one-dimensional (1D) Spatially Aware Graph Stores. The suggested Mid Point Optimization method achieves a reduction by another order of magnitude. In a 3D spatial computer, Local Optimization is capable of reducing distances by another 20%. However, in 1D and 2D spatial computers it becomes a prohibitive time consuming method. Finally, the Node Decomposition enables an additional distance reduction by 40% in Scale Free Graph Data sets.
A tale of two neurotransmitters
Authors: MARSHAK DAVID W.
Published: December 2016

Amacrine cells are a diverse set of local circuit neurons of the inner retina, and they all release either GABA or glycine, amino acid neurotransmitters that are generally inhibitory. But some types of amacrine cells have another function besides inhibiting other neurons. One glycinergic amacrine cell, the Aii type, excites a subset of bipolar cells via extensive gap junctions while inhibiting others at chemical synapses. Many types of GABAergic amacrine cells also release monoamines, acetylcholine, or neuropeptides. There is now good evidence that another type of amacrine cell releases glycine at some of its synapses and releases the excitatory amino acid glutamate at others. The glutamatergic synapses are made onto a subset of retinal ganglion cells and amacrine cells and have the asymmetric postsynaptic densities characteristic of central excitatory synapses. The glycinergic synapses are made onto other types of ganglion cells and have the symmetric postsynaptic densities characteristic of central inhibitory synapses. These amacrine cells, which contain vesicular glutamate transporter 3, will be the focus of this brief review.
Diatoms of the United States 1. Taxonomy, Ultrastructure and Descriptions of New Species and Other Rarely Reported Taxa from Lake Sediments in the Western U.S.A. J. P. Kociolek, B. Laslandes, D. Bennett, E. Thomas, M. Brady & C. Graeff (eds).
Authors: Mann David
Published: December 2016

..
Saturated Graphs of Prescribed Minimum Degree
Authors: DAY A. NICHOLAS
Published: December 2016

A graph G is H-saturated if it contains no copy of H as a subgraph but the addition of any new edge to G creates a copy of H. In this paper we are interested in the function satt(n,p), defined to be the minimum number of edges that a Kp-saturated graph on n vertices can have if it has minimum degree at least t. We prove that satt(n,p) = tn − O(1), where the limit is taken as n tends to infinity. This confirms a conjecture of Bollobás when p = 3. We also present constructions for graphs that give new upper bounds for satt(n,p).
A preliminary study of the effects of organic farming on oocyte quality in ewe lambs
Authors: Casao A. , María G. A. , Abecia J.A.
Published: December 2016

This study tested whether feeding Rasa Aragonesa ewes certified organic feed, from 15 days before mating until lamb weaning, improved oocyte quality and in vitro maturation (IVM) and fertilization (IVF) performances of the offspring. In a second experiment, ovaries from ewe lambs that were bred on an organic farm and were of the same breed were compared with those from conventionally bred animals. The number (± standard error of the mean) of healthy oocytes per ewe lamb did not differ significantly between organic (12.2 ± 3.3) and conventionally (13.6 ± 4.0) fed ewes. Ovaries from ewe lambs born on an organic farm had significantly (P < 0.0001) more healthy oocytes per ewe lamb (39.6 ± 5.2) than did those born on a conventional farm (25.0 ± 4.2), and higher IVM (76.5% vs. 53.1%, P < 0.0001) and IVF (97.3 vs. 91%, P < 0.05) rates. In conclusion, this preliminary approach to the study of the effect of organic procedures on the sheep oocyte quality indicates that the total integration in the complete organic system improved the oocyte quality of ewe lambs, although organic feeding alone was insufficient to improve quality.
First Responders and Prehospital Care for Road Traffic Injuries in Malawi
Authors: Chokotho Linda , Mulwafu Wakisa , Singini Isaac , Njalale Yasin , Maliwichi-Senganimalunje Limbika , Jacobsen Kathryn H.
Published: December 2016

Introduction

Road traffic collisions are a common cause of injuries and injury-related deaths in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Basic prehospital care can be the difference between life and death for injured drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.

Problem

This study examined the challenges associated with current first response practices in Malawi.

Methods

In April 2014, focus groups were conducted in two areas of Malawi: Karonga (in the Northern Region) and Blantyre (in the Southern Region; both are along the M1 highway), and a qualitative synthesis approach was used to identify themes. All governmental and nongovernmental first response organizations identified by key informants were contacted, and a checklist was used to identify the services they offer.

Results

Access to professional prehospital care in Malawi is almost nonexistent, aside from a few city fire departments and private ambulance services. Rapid transportation to a hospital is usually the primary goal of roadside care because of limited first aid knowledge and a lack of access to basic safety equipment. The key informants recommended: expanding community-based first aid training; emphasizing umunthu (shared humanity) to inspire bystander involvement in roadside care; empowering local leaders to coordinate on-site responses; improving emergency communication systems; equipping traffic police with road safety gear; and expanding access to ambulance services.

Conclusion

Prehospital care in Malawi would be improved by the creation of a formal network of community leaders, police, commercial drivers, and other lay volunteers who are trained in basic first aid and are equipped to respond to crash sites to provide roadside care to trauma patients and prepare them for safe transport to hospitals.

ChokothoL, MulwafuW, SinginiI, NjalaleY, Maliwichi-SenganimalunjeL, JacobsenKH. First responders and prehospital care for road traffic injuries in Malawi. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2017;32(1):14–19.
Mechanisms of Memory Dysfunction during High Altitude Hypoxia Training in Military Aircrew
Authors: Nation Daniel A. , Bondi Mark W. , Gayles Ellis , Delis Dean C.
Published: December 2016

Objectives: Cognitive dysfunction from high altitude exposure is a major cause of civilian and military air disasters. Pilot training improves recognition of the early symptoms of altitude exposure so that countermeasures may be taken before loss of consciousness. Little is known regarding the nature of cognitive impairments manifesting within this critical window when life-saving measures may still be taken. Prior studies evaluating cognition during high altitude simulation have predominantly focused on measures of reaction time and other basic attention or motor processes. Memory encoding, retention, and retrieval represent critical cognitive functions that may be vulnerable to acute hypoxic/ischemic events and could play a major role in survival of air emergencies, yet these processes have not been studied in the context of high altitude simulation training. Methods: In a series of experiments, military aircrew underwent neuropsychological testing before, during, and after brief (15 min) exposure to high altitude simulation (20,000 ft) in a pressure-controlled chamber. Results: Acute exposure to high altitude simulation caused rapid impairment in learning and memory with relative preservation of basic visual and auditory attention. Memory dysfunction was predominantly characterized by deficiencies in memory encoding, as memory for information learned during high altitude exposure did not improve after washout at sea level. Retrieval and retention of memories learned shortly before altitude exposure were also impaired, suggesting further impairment in memory retention. Conclusions: Deficits in memory encoding and retention are rapidly induced upon exposure to high altitude, an effect that could impact life-saving situational awareness and response. (JINS, 2017, 23, 1–10)
Taotie neurons regulate appetite in Drosophila
Authors: Zhan Yin Peng , Liu Li , Zhu Yan
Published: December 2016

The brain has an essential role in maintaining a balance between energy intake and expenditure of the body. Deciphering the processes underlying the decision-making for timely feeding of appropriate amounts may improve our understanding of physiological and psychological disorders related to feeding control. Here, we identify a group of appetite-enhancing neurons in a behavioural screen for flies with increased appetite. Manipulating the activity of these neurons, which we name Taotie neurons, induces bidirectional changes in feeding motivation. Long-term stimulation of Taotie neurons results in flies with highly obese phenotypes. Furthermore, we show that the in vivo activity of Taotie neurons in the neuroendocrine region reflects the hunger/satiety states of un-manipulated animals, and that appetitive-enhancing Taotie neurons control the secretion of insulin, a known regulator of feeding behaviour. Thus, our study reveals a new set of neurons regulating feeding behaviour in the high brain regions that represents physiological hunger states and control feeding behaviour in Drosophila.
ASIC1a regulates insular long-term depression and is required for the extinction of conditioned taste aversion
Authors: Li Wei-Guang , Liu Ming-Gang , Deng Shining , Liu Yan-Mei , Shang Lin , Ding Jing , Hsu Tsan-Ting , Jiang Qin , Li Ying , Li Fei , Zhu Michael Xi , Xu Tian-Le
Published: December 2016

Acid-sensing ion channel 1a (ASIC1a) has been shown to play important roles in synaptic plasticity, learning and memory. Here we identify a crucial role for ASIC1a in long-term depression (LTD) at mouse insular synapses. Genetic ablation and pharmacological inhibition of ASIC1a reduced the induction probability of LTD without affecting that of long-term potentiation in the insular cortex. The disruption of ASIC1a also attenuated the extinction of established taste aversion memory without altering the initial associative taste learning or its long-term retention. Extinction of taste aversive memory led to the reduced insular synaptic efficacy, which precluded further LTD induction. The impaired LTD and extinction learning in ASIC1a null mice were restored by virus-mediated expression of wild-type ASIC1a, but not its ion-impermeable mutant, in the insular cortices. Our data demonstrate the involvement of an ASIC1a-mediated insular synaptic depression mechanism in extinction learning, which raises the possibility of targeting ASIC1a to manage adaptive behaviours.
Transcriptional bursting is intrinsically caused by interplay between RNA polymerases on DNA
Authors: Fujita Keisuke , Iwaki Mitsuhiro , Yanagida Toshio
Published: December 2016

Cell-to-cell variability plays a critical role in cellular responses and decision-making in a population, and transcriptional bursting has been broadly studied by experimental and theoretical approaches as the potential source of cell-to-cell variability. Although molecular mechanisms of transcriptional bursting have been proposed, there is little consensus. An unsolved key question is whether transcriptional bursting is intertwined with many transcriptional regulatory factors or is an intrinsic characteristic of RNA polymerase on DNA. Here we design an in vitro single-molecule measurement system to analyse the kinetics of transcriptional bursting. The results indicate that transcriptional bursting is caused by interplay between RNA polymerases on DNA. The kinetics of in vitro transcriptional bursting is quantitatively consistent with the gene-nonspecific kinetics previously observed in noisy gene expression in vivo. Our kinetic analysis based on a cellular automaton model confirms that arrest and rescue by trailing RNA polymerase intrinsically causes transcriptional bursting.
A general strategy for the ultrafast surface modification of metals
Authors: Shen Mingli , Zhu Shenglong , Wang Fuhui
Published: December 2016

Surface modification is an essential step in engineering materials that can withstand the increasingly aggressive environments encountered in various modern energy-conversion systems and chemical processing industries. However, most traditional technologies exhibit disadvantages such as slow diffusion kinetics, processing difficulties or compatibility issues. Here, we present a general strategy for the ultrafast surface modification of metals inspired by electromigration, using aluminizing austenitic stainless steel as an example. Our strategy facilitates the rapid formation of a favourable ductile surface layer composed of FeCrAl or β-FeAl within only 10 min compared with several hours in conventional processes. This result indicates that electromigration can be used to achieve the ultrafast surface modification of metals and can overcome the limitations of traditional technologies. This strategy could be used to aluminize ultra-supercritical steam tubing to withstand aggressive oxidizing environments.
A novel role for SALL4 during scar-free wound healing in axolotl
Authors: Erickson Jami R , Gearhart Micah D , Honson Drew D , Reid Taylor A , Gardner Melissa K , Moriarity Branden S , Echeverri Karen
Published: December 2016

The human response to serious cutaneous damage is limited to relatively primitive wound healing, whereby collagenous scar tissue fills the wound bed. Scars assure structural integrity at the expense of functional regeneration. In contrast, axolotls have the remarkable capacity to functionally regenerate full thickness wounds. Here, we identified a novel role for SALL4 in regulating collagen transcription after injury that is essential for perfect skin regeneration in axolotl. Furthermore, we identify miR-219 as a molecular regulator of Sall4 during wound healing. Taken together, our work highlights one molecular mechanism that allows for efficient cutaneous wound healing in the axolotl.
Tracing back ancient oral microbiomes and oral pathogens using dental pulps from ancient teeth
Authors: Rascovan Nicolás , Huynh Hong , Chouin Gérard , Adekola Kolawole , Georges-Zimmermann Patrice , Signoli Michel , Desfosses Yves , Aboudharam Gérard , Drancourt Michel , Desnues Christelle
Published: December 2016

Ancient dental pulps are highly precious samples because they conserve DNA from humans and blood-borne pathogens for ages. However, little is known about the microbial communities present in dental pulps. Here, we analyzed ancient and modern dental pulp samples from different time periods and geographic regions and found that they are colonized by distinct microbial communities, which can be differentiated from other oral cavity samples. We found that despite the presence of environmental bacteria, ancient dental pulps conserve a clear and well-conserved record of oral microbes. We were able to detect several different oral pathogens in ancient and modern dental pulps, which are commonly associated with periodontal diseases. We thus showed that ancient dental pulps are not only valuable sources of DNA from humans and systemic infections, but also an open window for the study of ancient oral microbiomes.
Correction: Corrigendum: Mechanism Underlying Time-dependent Cross-phenomenon between Concentration-response Curves and Concentration Addition Curves: A Case Study of Sulfonamides-Erythromycin mixtures on Escherichia coli
Authors: Sun Haoyu , Ge Hongming , Zheng Min , Lin Zhifen , Liu Ying
Published: December 2016

Scientific Reports 6: Article number: 33718; published online: 20 September 2016; updated: 07 December 2016
Quantum Error Correction Protects Quantum Search Algorithms Against Decoherence
Authors: Botsinis Panagiotis , Babar Zunaira , Alanis Dimitrios , Chandra Daryus , Nguyen Hung , Ng Soon Xin , Hanzo Lajos
Published: December 2016

When quantum computing becomes a wide-spread commercial reality, Quantum Search Algorithms (QSA) and especially Grover’s QSA will inevitably be one of their main applications, constituting their cornerstone. Most of the literature assumes that the quantum circuits are free from decoherence. Practically, decoherence will remain unavoidable as is the Gaussian noise of classic circuits imposed by the Brownian motion of electrons, hence it may have to be mitigated. In this contribution, we investigate the effect of quantum noise on the performance of QSAs, in terms of their success probability as a function of the database size to be searched, when decoherence is modelled by depolarizing channels’ deleterious effects imposed on the quantum gates. Moreover, we employ quantum error correction codes for limiting the effects of quantum noise and for correcting quantum flips. More specifically, we demonstrate that, when we search for a single solution in a database having 4096 entries using Grover’s QSA at an aggressive depolarizing probability of 10−3, the success probability of the search is 0.22 when no quantum coding is used, which is improved to 0.96 when Steane’s quantum error correction code is employed. Finally, apart from Steane’s code, the employment of Quantum Bose-Chaudhuri-Hocquenghem (QBCH) codes is also considered.
Prognostic implications of aspiration pneumonia in patients with community acquired pneumonia: A systematic review with meta-analysis
Authors: Komiya Kosaku , Rubin Bruce K. , Kadota Jun-ichi , Mukae Hiroshi , Akaba Tomohiro , Moro Hiroshi , Aoki Nobumasa , Tsukada Hiroki , Noguchi Shingo , Shime Nobuaki , Takahashi Osamu , Kohno Shigeru
Published: December 2016

Aspiration pneumonia is thought to be associated with a poor outcome in patients with community acquired pneumonia (CAP). However, there has been no systematic review regarding the impact of aspiration pneumonia on the outcomes in patients with CAP. This review was conducted using the MOOSE guidelines: Patients: patients defined CAP. Exposure: aspiration pneumonia defined as pneumonia in patients who have aspiration risk. Comparison: confirmed pneumonia in patients who were not considered to be at high risk for oral aspiration. Outcomes: mortality, hospital readmission or recurrent pneumonia. Three investigators independently identified published cohort studies from PubMed, CENTRAL database, and EMBASE. Nineteen studies were included for this systematic review. Aspiration pneumonia increased in-hospital mortality (relative risk, 3.62; 95% CI, 2.65–4.96; P < 0.001, seven studies) and 30-day mortality (3.57; 2.18–5.86; P < 0.001, five studies). In contrast, aspiration pneumonia was associated with decreased ICU mortality (relative risk, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.26–0.60; P < 0.00001, four studies). Although there are insufficient data to perform a meta-analysis on long-term mortality, recurrent pneumonia, and hospital readmission, the few reported studies suggest that aspiration pneumonia is also associated with these poor outcomes. In conclusion, aspiration pneumonia was associated with both higher in-hospital and 30-day mortality in patients with CAP outside ICU settings.
Platform construction and extraction mechanism study of magnetic mixed hemimicelles solid-phase extraction
Authors: Xiao Deli , Zhang Chan , He Jia , Zeng Rong , Chen Rong , He Hua
Published: December 2016

Simple, accurate and high-throughput pretreatment method would facilitate large-scale studies of trace analysis in complex samples. Magnetic mixed hemimicelles solid-phase extraction has the power to become a key pretreatment method in biological, environmental and clinical research. However, lacking of experimental predictability and unsharpness of extraction mechanism limit the development of this promising method. Herein, this work tries to establish theoretical-based experimental designs for extraction of trace analytes from complex samples using magnetic mixed hemimicelles solid-phase extraction. We selected three categories and six sub-types of compounds for systematic comparative study of extraction mechanism, and comprehensively illustrated the roles of different force (hydrophobic interaction, π-π stacking interactions, hydrogen-bonding interaction, electrostatic interaction) for the first time. What’s more, the application guidelines for supporting materials, surfactants and sample matrix were also summarized. The extraction mechanism and platform established in the study render its future promising for foreseeable and efficient pretreatment under theoretical based experimental design for trace analytes from environmental, biological and clinical samples.
Impaired receptivity and decidualization in DHEA-induced PCOS mice
Authors: Li Shu-Yun , Song Zhuo , Song Min-Jie , Qin Jia-Wen , Zhao Meng-Long , Yang Zeng-Ming
Published: December 2016

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a complex endocrine disorder, is a leading cause of female infertility. An obvious reason for infertility in PCOS women is anovulation. However, success rate with high quality embryos selected by assisted reproduction techniques in PCOS patients still remain low with a high rate of early clinical pregnancy loss, suggesting a problem in uterine receptivity. Using a dehydroepiandrosterone-induced mouse model of PCOS, some potential causes of decreased fertility in PCOS patients were explored. In our study, ovulation problem also causes sterility in PCOS mice. After blastocysts from normal mice are transferred into uterine lumen of pseudopregnant PCOS mice, the rate of embryo implantation was reduced. In PCOS mouse uteri, the implantation-related genes are also dysregulated. Additionally, artificial decidualization is severely impaired in PCOS mice. The serum estrogen level is significantly higher in PCOS mice than vehicle control. The high level of estrogen and potentially impaired LIF-STAT3 pathway may lead to embryo implantation failure in PCOS mice. Although there are many studies about effects of PCOS on endometrium, both embryo transfer and artificial decidualization are applied to exclude the effects from ovulation and embryos in our study.
Longitudinal study of pesticide residue levels in human milk from Western Australia during 12 months of lactation: Exposure assessment for infants
Authors: Du Jian , Gridneva Zoya , Gay Melvin C. L. , Lai Ching T. , Trengove Robert D. , Hartmann Peter E. , Geddes Donna T.
Published: December 2016

The presence of pesticides in human milk (HM) is of great concern due to the potential health effects for the breastfed infant. To determine the relationships between HM pesticides and infant growth and development, a longitudinal study was conducted. HM samples (n = 99) from 16 mothers were collected at 2, 5, 9 and 12 months of lactation. A validated QuEChERS method and Gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) were used for the analysis of 88 pesticides in HM. Only p,p’-DDE, p,p’-DDT and β-HCH were detected with a mean concentration (±SD) of 52.25 ± 49.88 ng/g fat, 27.67 ± 20.96 ng/g fat and 48.00 ± 22.46 ng/g fat respectively. The concentrations of the detected pesticides decreased significantly throughout the first year of lactation. No significant relationships between HM p,p’-DDE and infant growth outcomes: weight, length, head circumference and percentage fat mass were detected. The actual daily intake (ADI) of total DDTs in this cohort was 14–1000 times lower than the threshold reference and significantly lower than the estimated daily intake (EDI). Further, the ADI decreased significantly throughout the first 12 months of lactation.
rpL3 promotes the apoptosis of p53 mutated lung cancer cells by down-regulating CBS and NFκB upon 5-FU treatment
Authors: Russo Annapina , Saide Assunta , Cagliani Roberta , Cantile Monica , Botti Gerardo , Russo Giulia
Published: December 2016

5-FU is a chemotherapy drug commonly used for the treatment of human cancers; however drug resistance represents a major challenge for its clinical application. In the present study, we reporte that rpL3 induced by 5-FU treatment in Calu-6 cells represses CBS transcription and reduces CBS protein stability leading to a decrease of CBS protein levels. rpL3 also regulates negatively the activation of NFκB by preventing NFκB nuclear translocation through IκB-α up-regulation. Furthermore, we demonstrate that rpL3 significantly enhances the apoptosis of 5-FU treated Calu-6 cells promoting the overexpression of the pro-apoptotic proteins Bax and the inhibition of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. We finally demonstrate that rpL3 potentiates 5-FU efficacy inhibiting cell migration and invasion. Our results suggest that combination of rpL3 and 5-FU is a promising strategy for chemotherapy of lung cancers lacking functional p53 that are resistant to 5-FU.