bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Domestic and International Limitations on Treaty Withdrawal: Lessons from South Africa's Attempted Departure from the International Criminal Court
Authors: Woolaver Hannah
Published: January 2018

The questions surrounding the legality of states’ withdrawal from international treaties have traditionally received far less attention than those concerning states’ joining of treaties, from both the domestic and international legal perspectives. This neglect is now changing rapidly. In this contribution I focus on South Africa's stalled exit from the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the fundamental questions of constitutional and international law that arise from the episode.
Treaty Exit in the United States: Insights from the United Kingdom or South Africa?
Authors: Bradley Curtis A. , Helfer Laurence R.
Published: January 2018

Courts in the United Kingdom and South Africa have recently issued important rulings that have constrained the executive's authority to withdraw from treaties in those countries. This essay considers whether these rulings might offer insights for treaty exit issues in the United States. We first provide an overview of U.S. law and practice regarding the termination of international agreements. We next summarize the U.K. and South African decisions, which required parliamentary approval for pulling out of treaties establishing the European Union and the International Criminal Court (ICC), respectively. Finally, we consider the relevance of these rulings for treaty withdrawals in the United States. We conclude that they are unlikely to offer much guidance, both because of differences in the three countries' constitutions and because the reasoning of the U.K. and South African courts do not engage with the central arguments made in the United States concerning the President's unilateral authority to withdraw from treaties.
Combining behavioral economics and field experiments to reimagine early childhood education
Authors: LIST JOHN A. , SAMEK ANYA , SUSKIND DANA L.
Published: January 2018

Behavioral economics and field experiments within the social sciences have advanced well beyond academic curiosum. Governments around the globe as well as the most powerful firms in modern economies employ staffs of behavioralists and experimentalists to advance and test best practices. In this study, we combine behavioral economics with field experiments to reimagine a new model of early childhood education. Our approach has three distinct features. First, by focusing public policy dollars on prevention rather than remediation, we call for much earlier educational programs than currently conceived. Second, our approach has parents at the center of the education production function rather than at its periphery. Third, we advocate attacking the macro education problem using a public health methodology, rather than focusing on piecemeal advances.
The Pitfalls of Internationalization: The Experience of American Life Insurers in Australia, 1885–1905
Authors: KENELEY MONICA J.
Published: January 2018

In the latter part of the nineteenth century, the three largest life insurance companies had a presence in more than forty countries. In the 1880s they turned their attention to the Australian colonies, in which life insurance markets were expanding. The venture, however, was met with unexpected market resistance, and the expectations of the Big Three were never fully met. An eclectic paradigm provides an explanatory tool, which is applied to an investigation of the experiences of American companies. These companies were not able to realize the ownership and location, or internalize the advantages, needed to build a sustainable presence in the Australian life insurance market.
COATTAILS AND MIXED ELECTORAL SYSTEMS: EVIDENCE FROM TAIWAN'S 2016 ELECTION
Authors: Rich Timothy S.
Published: January 2018

To what extent do presidential candidates influence voting in mixed member legislative elections? A sizable literature addresses presidential–legislative coattail effects in the American context, with less attention given to this interaction in non-Western democracies. Nor is the role of past voting behavior adequately assessed in the literature. Taiwan's historic 2016 election allows for an analysis of the extent in which the popularity of presidential candidates influences coattail voting in the more complex electoral environment of two-vote mixed legislative systems. Evidence finds that, controlling for partisanship and previous voting behavior, voters who supported a presidential candidate were more likely to also support the party's legislative candidates, although this influence is stronger in regards to Democratic Progressive Party's Tsai Ing-wen.
The effects of within stand disturbance in plantation forests indicate complex and contrasting responses among and within beetle families
Authors: Mladenović S. , Loskotová T. , Boháč J. , Pavlíček J. , Brestovanský J. , Horák J.
Published: January 2018

Plantation forests with timber production as the major function are highly fragmented and disturbed regarding the tree species composition and stand area. Their closed canopies also have different microclimatic conditions compared with better studied conservation areas. We studied three beetle families (click, longhorn, and rove beetles) with different ecological demands in lowland plantation forests dominated by Sessile oak and Norway spruce in the Czech Republic. Our main interest was how their species richness, abundance, diversity, body length, rarity, red-list status, species composition and individual species were driven by the main tree species, stand area and canopy openness. We analyzed 3466 individuals from 198 beetle species and the results revealed complex and contrasting responses of the studied beetle families – click beetles mostly preferred sun-exposure and spruce as the dominant tree species, longhorn beetles mainly preferred large stands, whereas rove beetles were mostly influenced by oak as the dominant tree species and increasing area. We also observed that some species had different preferences in plantation forests than is known from the literature. The main conclusions of our results are that the dominance of non-natural spruce plantations and a large stand area (both originating from artificially replanted large clear-cuts) did not affect the majority of the studied taxa as we expected. On the other hand, our results might have been influenced by other factor, such as the current small total area of the former vegetation, which in the past might have led to extinction debt; or a large area of other conifers in the surroundings that might have promoted conifer-associated fauna.
Herman Bavinck and Thomas Reid on Perception and Knowing God
Authors: Sutanto Nathaniel
Published: January 2018

Nicholas Wolterstorff argues that Kant had erected an epistemological boundary between mental representations and external reality that precipitates an anxiety in modern theologians about whether one can properly refer to God. As a way past this boundary, Wolterstorff's Reformed epistemology retrieves Thomas Reid's account of perception as an alternative to Kant, according to which knowledge of external objects is direct and immediate. Further, Wolterstorff points to the Dutch neo-Calvinist Herman Bavinck as one who bears many “reidian” elements in his epistemology, especially in the way in which Bavinck argues that the epistemic accessibility of the external world ought to be taken for granted. The thesis of this present paper, however, is that a closer investigation of Bavinck's account of perception reveals that he, unlike Reid, accepts the gap between mental representations and external objects, such that representations are those through which we know the world. Bavinck affirms that a correspondence between the two can be obtained by an appeal to the resources found in Christian revelation. In effect, what emerges in a close comparison of Bavinck and Reid is that Bavinck's account is an alternative theological response to the kantian boundary—one according to which mental representations correspond with external objects because both participate in an organically connected cosmos shaped by a Triune God.
Judaism, Philosophy, and the Idea of the West
Authors: Brody Samuel Hayim
Published: January 2018

In contemporary social and political discourse, the concept of “the West” plays a role that is both centrally important and difficult to define. It is most frequently used to designate an entire civilization, in a way that does not quite map onto what is suggested by its first dictionary meaning as a cardinal direction. Deciding what exactly is and is not included under the umbrella of the West, or whether the term usefully describes anything at all, is a daunting normative task involving a series of discrete historical and definitional judgments. For example, is the West defined more by medieval Christendom, or by the subsequent intellectual and spiritual movements that attacked it, such as the Renaissance, Reformation, and Enlightenment? Is it possible or coherent to include all these conflicting movements under the same designation? Geographically, how important is the ancient split between the Latin and Orthodox churches, and does the Cold War-era exclusion of Russia from the West still hold today? Champions of the concept see defending it and the values it stands for as the foremost ideological task of our time, while critics suspect it of being little more than a portentous tribal designation for societies whose heritage happens to be both majority-Christian and majority-white.
Shift-work: is time of eating determining metabolic health? Evidence from animal models
Authors: Guerrero-Vargas Natalí N. , Espitia-Bautista Estefania , Buijs Ruud M. , Escobar Carolina
Published: January 2018

The circadian disruption in shift-workers is suggested to be a risk factor to develop overweight and metabolic dysfunction. The conflicting time signals given by shifted activity, shifted food intake and exposure to light at night occurring in the shift-worker are proposed to be the cause for the loss of internal synchrony and the consequent adverse effects on body weight and metabolism. Because food elicited signals have proven to be potent entraining signals for peripheral oscillations, here we review the findings from experimental models of shift-work and verify whether they provide evidence about the causal association between shifted feeding schedules, circadian disruption and altered metabolism. We found mainly four experimental models that mimic the conditions of shift-work: protocols of forced sleep deprivation, of forced activity during the normal rest phase, exposure to light at night and shifted food timing. A big variability in the intensity and duration of the protocols was observed, which led to a diversity of effects. A common result was the disruption of temporal patterns of activity; however, not all studies explored the temporal patterns of food intake. According to studies that evaluate time of food intake as an experimental model of shift-work and studies that evaluate shifted food consumption, time of food intake may be a determining factor for the loss of balance at the circadian and metabolic level.
Adverse Events in Home Care: Identifying and Responding with interRAI Scales and Clinical Assessment Protocols
Authors: Sinn Chi-Ling Joanna , Betini Raquel Souza Dias , Wright Jennifer , Eckler Lorri , Chang Byung Wook , Hogeveen Sophie , Turcotte Luke , Hirdes John P.
Published: January 2018

Les conséquences associées aux événements indésirables dans les soins à domicile sont variées et multifactorielles. La présente étude visait à tester un système d’évaluation joignant deux outils de mesures dans le but d’identifier les bénéficiaires de soins à domicile dont le risque de placement dans un établissement de soins de longue durée ou de décès dans l’année suivante est plus élevé. Les deux outils de mesure sont tirés du Système d’évaluation d’interRAI (Resident Assessment Instrument-Home Care; RAI-HC), un outil d’évaluation standardisé et détaillé. Les personnes présentant des scores élevés à l’algorithme de la Méthode d’attribution des niveaux de priorité (Method for Assigning Priority Levels; MAPLe) et à l’Échelle de mesure des changements de l’état de santé, des maladies en phase terminale, des signes et des symptômes (Changes in Health, End-stage disease, Signs and Symptoms; CHESS) étaient plus à risque de placement ou de décès, et leur risque de subir ces événements plus tôt comparativement aux autres patients était plus que doublé. Le groupe cible était aussi plus susceptible de présenter des problèmes d’humeur et de relations sociales, et leurs aidants risquaient davantage de souffrir de détresse, ce qui indiquerait que ces personnes et leurs aidants pourraient avoir besoin de soins de santé mentale et d’interventions psychosociales, en plus des soins médicaux et des services de soutien personnels. Les agences de soins à domicile pourraient utiliser ce système d’évaluation pour identifier les patients en soins prolongés à la maison chez qui une approche de soins coordonnés plus intensive serait nécessaire pour mieux atténuer et gérer les risques liés à leur condition.
Surveillance of listeriosis in the Tel Aviv District, Israel, 2010–2015
Authors: Salama M. , Amitai Z. , Ezernitchi A. V. , Sheffer R. , Jaffe J. , Rahmani S. , Leshem E. , Valinsky L.
Published: January 2018

This study analyses the epidemiologic, clinical and molecular findings of all culture-confirmed cases of listeriosis notified from 2010 to 2015 in the Tel Aviv District, which is known to have high rates of listeriosis. All clinical isolates of Listeria monocytogenes were subtyped using two-enzyme pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. During the studied period, 102 cases of listeriosis were notified, including 23 pregnancy-associated cases (23%). Among 79 non-pregnancy-associated cases, 18 had neuro-invasive disease (21%). There were 26 deaths associated with the disease. Using molecular identification, we found a number of clusters of identical bacterial clones, which pointed to possible sources of infection. The high rates of morbidity and mortality resulting from listeriosis, as well as the diverse ways of infection demonstrated in this study, accentuate the need to boost public health actions, in order to raise awareness and better control high-risk contamination routes.
Pulmonary valve cusp augmentation for pulmonary regurgitation after percutaneous balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty of valvular pulmonary stenosis
Authors: Tasoglu Irfan , Atalay Atakan , Aksoy Omer Nuri , Polat Vural
Published: January 2018

Pulmonary valvular stenosis is a relatively common disorder, accounting for approximately 10% of all CHDs. Pulmonic valvular disease can get clinically detected at different ages of life. The more severe the obstruction, the earlier detected the valvular abnormality. Surgical pulmonary valvotomy has been available as a treatment since 1956. This article is about a case of pulmonary annular and valvular stenosis in a 1-year-old child, and it also explores surgical operation of this condition. Transannular patches are usually used within the 1st year of age in pulmonary annular and valvular stenosis. In recent years, anterior leaflet augmentation has been preferred for annulus enlargements. In our 1-year-old case, we expanded the annulus by the anterior leaflet expansion technique and we also augmented other leaflets by polytetrafluoroethylene patch.
Partial anomalous pulmonary venous drainage repair concomitant with bilateral semilunar valve replacements and pulmonary artery reconstruction for an adult female 20 years after initial truncus arteriosus repair
Authors: Iwaya Toshiyuki , Sughimoto Koichi , Miyaji Kagami
Published: January 2018

We describe the case of a 21-year-old patient who underwent repairs for multiple lesions including aortic and pulmonary valve replacements, right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction, revision of the right pulmonary artery route, and a repair of partial anomalous pulmonary venous drainage, which was diagnosed during this fourth sternotomy. For these patients with adult CHD, it is most important to address all underlying factors as much as possible at the redo surgery.
Perspectives in Particle Physics after the Discovery of the Higgs Boson
Authors: Tonelli Guido
Published: January 2018

Many implications of the discovery of the Higgs boson are discussed, together with a short overview of the new challenges in particle physics. The paper also presents a non-exhaustive review of the current plans in the quest for physics beyond the Standard Model at high-energy accelerators.
Sodium and potassium content of 24 h urinary collections: a comparison between field- and laboratory-based analysers
Authors: Yin Xuejun , Neal Bruce , Tian Maoyi , Li Zhifang , Petersen Kristina , Komatsu Yuichiro , Feng Xiangxian , Wu Yangfeng
Published: January 2018

Objective

Measurement of mean population Na and K intakes typically uses laboratory-based assays, which can add significant logistical burden and costs. A valid field-based measurement method would be a significant advance. In the current study, we used 24 h urine samples to compare estimates of Na, K and Na:K ratio based upon assays done using the field-based Horiba twin meter v. laboratory-based methods.

Design

The performance of the Horiba twin meter was determined by comparing field-based estimates of mean Na and K against those obtained using laboratory-based methods. The reported 95 % limits of agreement of Bland–Altman plots were calculated based on a regression approach for non-uniform differences.

Setting

The 24 h urine samples were collected as part of an ongoing study being done in rural China.

Subjects

One hundred and sixty-six complete 24 h urine samples were qualified for estimating 24 h urinary Na and K excretion.

Results

Mean Na and K excretion were estimated as 170·4 and 37·4 mmol/d, respectively, using the meter-based assays; and 193·4 and 43·8 mmol/d, respectively, using the laboratory-based assays. There was excellent relative reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient) for both Na (0·986) and K (0·986). Bland–Altman plots showed moderate-to-good agreement between the two methods.

Conclusions

Na and K intake estimations were moderately underestimated using assays based upon the Horiba twin meter. Compared with standard laboratory-based methods, the portable device was more practical and convenient.
Radiation therapists’ compliance to a palliative imaging protocol: a case report
Authors: Cvetkova J. , O’Donovan T. , Craig A. , Mullaney L.
Published: January 2018

Background

Imaging protocols are implemented to identify and minimise set-up errors. A crucial component to the success of these protocols is staff compliance.

Materials and methods

This is case report describing a retrospective review of radiation therapists’ compliance to a palliative imaging protocol in a single large institution in one calendar year.

Results

The review showed a non-compliance to protocol for 8% of treatments. The most frequent protocol deviation was a failure to calculate the mean set-up displacement after 2/3 days of consecutive imaging.

Conclusion

Despite the presence of institutional evidence-based palliative imaging protocol unwanted deviations in practice can occur.
Primary care provider approaches to preventive health delivery: a qualitative study
Authors: Murugan Hemalatha , Spigner Clarence , McKinney Christy M. , Wong Christopher J.
Published: January 2018

Aim

The objective of this study was to seek decision-making insights on the provider level to gain understanding of the values that shape how providers deliver preventive health in the primary care setting.

Background

The primary care clinic is a core site for preventive health delivery. While many studies have identified barriers to preventive health, less is known regarding how primary care providers (PCPs) make preventive health decisions such as what services to provide, under what circumstances, and why they might choose one over another.

Methods

Qualitative methods were chosen to deeply explore these issues. We conducted semi-structured, one-on-one interviews with 21 PCPs at clinics affiliated with an academic medical center. Interviews with providers were recorded and transcribed. We conducted a qualitative analysis to identify themes and develop a theoretical framework using Grounded Theory methods.

Findings

The following themes were revealed: longitudinal care with an established PCP–patient relationship is perceived as integral to preventive health; conflict and doubt accompany non-preventive visits; PCPs defer preventive health for pragmatic reasons; when preventive health is addressed, providers use multiple contextual factors to decide which interventions are discussed; and PCPs desired team-based preventive health delivery, but wish to maintain their role when shared decision-making is required. We present a conceptual framework called Pragmatic Deferral.
MATHEMATICAL INFERENCE AND LOGICAL INFERENCE
Authors: HAMAMI YACIN
Published: January 2018

The deviation ofmathematical proof—proof in mathematical practice—from the ideal offormal proof—proof in formal logic—has led many philosophers of mathematics to reconsider the commonly accepted view according to which the notion of formal proof provides an accurate descriptive account of mathematical proof. This, in turn, has motivated a search for alternative accounts of mathematical proof purporting to be more faithful to the reality of mathematical practice. Yet, in order to develop and evaluate such alternative accounts, it appears as a necessary prerequisite to first possess a clear picture of what the deviation of mathematical proof from formal proof consists in. The present work aims to contribute building such a picture by investigating the relation between the elementary steps of deduction constituting the two types of proofs—mathematical inferenceandlogical inference. Many claims have been made in the literature regarding the relation between mathematical inference and logical inference, most of them stating that the former is lacking properties that are constitutive of the latter. Suchdifferentiating claimsare, however, usually put forward without a clear conception of the properties occurring in them, and are generally considered to be immediately justified by our direct acquaintance, or phenomenological experience, with the two types of inferences. The present study purports to advance our understanding of the relation between mathematical inference and logical inference by developing a detailed philosophical analysis of the differentiating claims, that is, an analysis of themeaningof the differentiating claims—through the properties that occur in them—as well as thereasonsthat support them. To this end, we provide at the outset a representative list of the different properties of logical inference that have occurred in the differentiating claims, and we notice that they all boil down to the three properties offormality,generality, andmechanicality. For each one of these properties, our analysis proceeds in two steps: we first provide precise conceptual characterizations of the different ways logical inference has been said to be formal, general, and mechanical, in the philosophical and logical literature on formal proof; we then examine why mathematical inference does not appear to be formal, general, and mechanical, for the different variations of these notions identified. Our study results in a precise conceptual apparatus for expressing and discussing the properties differentiating mathematical inference from logical inference, and provides a first inventory of the various reasons supporting the observations of those differences. The differentiating claims constitute thus a set of data that any philosophical account of mathematical inference and proof purporting to be more faithful to mathematical practice ought to be able to accommodate and explain.
New material of Sigmaboilus (Insecta, Orthoptera, Prophalangopsidae) from the Jurassic Daohugou Beds, Inner Mongolia, China
Authors: Wang He , Fang Yan , Zhang Qingqing , Lei Xiaojie , Wang Bo , Jarzembowski Edmund A. , Zhang Haichun
Published: January 2018

Five orthopteran specimens from the uppermost Middle–lowermost Upper Jurassic of Daohugou, Inner Mongolia, China are described and attributed to the genus Sigmaboilus Fang, Zhang & Wang, 2007 (Prophalangopsidae); and a new species, S. calophlebius sp. nov., is established herein. The diagnostic characters for Sigmaboilus are revised and a key to species of Sigmaboilus, based on male forewings, is provided. Intraspecific variation in forewings of this genus is also discussed.
Corruption and satisfaction with democracy: the conditional role of electoral disproportionality and ballot control
Authors: Pellegata Alessandro , Memoli Vincenzo
Published: January 2018

Existing literature has analysed the relationship between electoral systems and either corruption or satisfaction with democracy (SWD) focussing on the traditional distinction between majoritarian and proportional systems. This paper, instead, investigates if and how specific aspects of electoral systems moderate the negative effects of corruption perceptions on SWD. We argue that two mechanisms act simultaneously but at different levels. The first mechanism is the relationship between voters and the national government, while the second links single representatives to their constituents. We advance conditional hypotheses that postulate an attenuating effect of disproportionality and a reinforcing impact of personal vote. Empirical results from 35 elections in 33 democracies, using both individual and aggregate-level data, confirm the research hypotheses. More disproportional electoral systems weaken the impact of citizens’ perceived corruption on their democratic satisfaction, while this is strengthened by systems in which the ballot control is mostly in the hand of the voters.
The 16th International Twin Congress: Highlights from Madrid/Twin Research: Twin Study of Partner Aggression; ABO Incompatibility in Dizygotic Twins; Growth Discordance in a Monoamniotic Twin Pair; Quick Note on Twin Implantation/In the Media: Long-Lost Twins Found; NASA Twin Experiment; Twin Brothers and the Las Vegas Attack; Retired Twin Airline Pilots; Twin Film Clips
Authors: Segal Nancy L.
Published: January 2018

Highlights from the 16th International Twin Congress, held in Madrid, Spain from November 16–18, 2017, are presented. The Twin Congress, formerly held every three years, now takes place biennially with a single-day meeting organized during the off years. This meeting is the largest gathering of scientific twin researchers, medical personnel, and representatives of multiple birth organizations in the world. This overview is followed by reviews of recent twin research and commentary concerning partner aggression, ABO incompatibility in dizygotic twins, growth discordance in a monoamniotic twin pair and twin implantation. The article closes with summaries of timely topics in the media, namely a father's finding of his long-lost twin children, early results from the NASA twin experiment, twin brothers at the center of the October 2017 Las Vegas attack, retired twin airline pilots, and clips from recent films with twin-based themes.
Hippocampal metabolic differences implicate distinctions between physical and psychological stress in four rat models of depression
Authors: Liu Lanxiang , Zhou Xinyu , Zhang Yuqing , Pu Juncai , Yang Lining , Yuan Shuai , Zhao Libo , Zhou Chanjun , Zhang Hanping , Xie Peng
Published: January 2018

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a heterogeneous and multi-factorial disorder, and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. However, many studies have indicated that the molecular mechanisms underlying depression in response to different stress may differ. After screening, 28–30 rats were included in each model of depression (chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS); learned helplessness (LH); chronic restraint stress (CRS); or social defeat (SD)). Non-targeted gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to profile the metabolic changes in the hippocampus. As a result, all four models exhibited significant depression-like behavior. A total of 30, 24, 19, and 25 differential metabolites were identified in the CUMS, LH, CRS, and SD models, respectively. Interestingly, the hierarchical clustering results revealed two patterns of metabolic changes that are characteristic of the response to cluster 1 (CUMS, LH) and cluster 2 (CRS, SD) stress, which represent physical and psychological stress, respectively. Bioinformatic analysis suggested that physical stress was mainly associated with lipid metabolism and glutamate metabolism, whereas psychological stress was related to cell signaling, cellular proliferation, and neurodevelopment, suggesting the molecular changes induced by physical and psychological stress were different. Nine shared metabolites were opposite in the directions of change between physical and psychological models, and these metabolites were associated with cellular proliferation and neurodevelopment functions, indicating the response to physical and psychological stress was different in the activation and deactivation of the final common pathway to depression. Our results provide a further understanding of the heterogeneity in the molecular mechanisms of MDD that could facilitate the development of personalized medicine for this disorder.
Corticotropin-releasing factor 1 receptor haplotype and cognitive features of major depression
Authors: Davis Elena Goetz , Keller Jennifer , Hallmayer Joachim , Pankow Heather Ryan , Murphy Greer M. , Gotlib Ian H. , Schatzberg Alan F.
Published: January 2018

Corticotropin-releasing factor signaling through CRF receptor type 1 (CRF1) has been shown to contribute to learning and memory function. A haplotype of alleles T-A-T in a set of common polymorphisms in the gene encoding for CRF1(CRHR1) has been associated with both depression vulnerability and alterations in cognitive functioning. The present study investigated the relations between the TAT haplotype and specific symptoms of depression, self-reported ruminative behaviors, and neuropsychological performance on a learning and memory task. Participants were adults with major depression with and without psychotic features (N = 406). Associations were examined between TAT haplotype and endorsement of depression symptoms from diagnostic interviews, scores on the rumination response scale (RRS), and verbal memory performance on the California Verbal Learning Test-II (CVLT-II). All analyses included depression subtype, age, and sex as covariates; CVLT-II analyses also included evening cortisol levels. Across the entire sample, carriers of more copies of the TAT haplotype reported greater endorsement of the symptom describing difficulty concentrating and making decisions. In separate subsamples, TAT homozygotes had higher rumination scores on the RRS, both brooding and reflection subscales, and more TAT copies were associated with poorer CVLT-II performance in both total learning and free recall trials. These data demonstrate that theCRHR1TAT haplotype is associated with cognitive features of depression including difficulty with decision-making, higher rumination, and poorer learning and memory. It will be important in future research to identify the specific molecular mechanisms for CRF1signaling that contribute to depression-related cognitive dysfunction.
TUFT1 interacts with RABGAP1 and regulates mTORC1 signaling
Authors: Kawasaki Natsumi , Isogaya Kazunobu , Dan Shingo , Yamori Takao , Takano Hiroshi , Yao Ryoji , Morishita Yasuyuki , Taguchi Luna , Morikawa Masato , Heldin Carl-Henrik , Noda Tetsuo , Ehata Shogo , Miyazono Kohei , Koinuma Daizo
Published: January 2018

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is commonly activated in human cancers. The activity of mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling is supported by the intracellular positioning of cellular compartments and vesicle trafficking, regulated by Rab GTPases. Here we showed that tuftelin 1 (TUFT1) was involved in the activation of mTORC1 through modulating the Rab GTPase-regulated process. TUFT1 promoted tumor growth and metastasis. Consistently, the expression of TUFT1 correlated with poor prognosis in lung, breast and gastric cancers. Mechanistically, TUFT1 physically interacted with RABGAP1, thereby modulating intracellular lysosomal positioning and vesicular trafficking, and promoted mTORC1 signaling. In addition, expression of TUFT1 predicted sensitivity to perifosine, an alkylphospholipid that alters the composition of lipid rafts. Perifosine treatment altered the positioning and trafficking of cellular compartments to inhibit mTORC1. Our observations indicate that TUFT1 is a key regulator of the mTORC1 pathway and suggest that it is a promising therapeutic target or a biomarker for tumor progression.
Publisher Correction: Microbial community-level regulation explains soil carbon responses to long-term litter manipulations
Authors: Georgiou Katerina , Abramoff Rose Z. , Harte John , Riley William J. , Torn Margaret S.
Published: January 2018

The original PDF version of this Article contained an error in Table 1. On the right-hand side of the third row, the third equation was missing a β as an exponent on the first CB. This has now been corrected in the PDF version of the Article. The HTML version was correct from the time of publication.
Structural insights into two distinct binding modules for Lys63-linked polyubiquitin chains in RNF168
Authors: Takahashi Tomio S. , Hirade Yoshihiro , Toma Aya , Sato Yusuke , Yamagata Atsushi , Goto-Ito Sakurako , Tomita Akiko , Nakada Shinichiro , Fukai Shuya
Published: January 2018

The E3 ubiquitin (Ub) ligase RNF168 plays a critical role in the initiation of the DNA damage response to double-strand breaks (DSBs). The recruitment of RNF168 by ubiquitylated targets involves two distinct regions, Ub-dependent DSB recruitment module (UDM) 1 and UDM2. Here we report the crystal structures of the complex between UDM1 and Lys63-linked diUb (K63-Ub2) and that between the C-terminally truncated UDM2 (UDM2ΔC) and K63-Ub2. In both structures, UDM1 and UDM2ΔC fold as a single α-helix. Their simultaneous bindings to the distal and proximal Ub moieties provide specificity for Lys63-linked Ub chains. Structural and biochemical analyses of UDM1 elucidate an Ub-binding mechanism between UDM1 and polyubiquitylated targets. Mutations of Ub-interacting residues in UDM2 prevent the accumulation of RNF168 to DSB sites in U2OS cells, whereas those in UDM1 have little effect, suggesting that the interaction of UDM2 with ubiquitylated and polyubiquitylated targets mainly contributes to the RNF168 recruitment.
Disulfide isomerization reactions in titin immunoglobulin domains enable a mode of protein elasticity
Authors: Giganti David , Yan Kevin , Badilla Carmen L. , Fernandez Julio M. , Alegre-Cebollada Jorge
Published: January 2018

The response of titin to mechanical forces is a major determinant of the function of the heart. When placed under a pulling force, the unstructured regions of titin uncoil while its immunoglobulin (Ig) domains unfold and extend. Using single-molecule atomic force microscopy, we show that disulfide isomerization reactions within Ig domains enable a third mechanism of titin elasticity. Oxidation of Ig domains leads to non-canonical disulfide bonds that stiffen titin while enabling force-triggered isomerization reactions to more extended states of the domains. Using sequence and structural analyses, we show that 21% of titin’s I-band Ig domains contain a conserved cysteine triad that can engage in disulfide isomerization reactions. We propose that imbalance of the redox status of myocytes can have immediate consequences for the mechanical properties of the sarcomere via alterations of the oxidation state of titin domains.
Strong modulation of second-harmonic generation with very large contrast in semiconducting CdS via high-field domain
Authors: Ren Ming-Liang , Berger Jacob S. , Liu Wenjing , Liu Gerui , Agarwal Ritesh
Published: January 2018

Dynamic control of nonlinear signals is critical for a wide variety of optoelectronic applications, such as signal processing for optical computing. However, controlling nonlinear optical signals with large modulation strengths and near-perfect contrast remains a challenging problem due to intrinsic second-order nonlinear coefficients via bulk or surface contributions. Here, via electrical control, we turn on and tune second-order nonlinear coefficients in semiconducting CdS nanobelts from zero to up to 151 pm V−1, a value higher than other intrinsic nonlinear coefficients in CdS. We also observe ultrahigh ON/OFF ratio of >104 and modulation strengths ~200% V−1 of the nonlinear signal. The unusual nonlinear behavior, including super-quadratic voltage and power dependence, is ascribed to the high-field domain, which can be further controlled by near-infrared optical excitation and electrical gating. The ability to electrically control nonlinear optical signals in nanostructures can enable optoelectronic devices such as optical transistors and modulators for on-chip integrated photonics.
Picometer polar atomic displacements in strontium titanate determined by resonant X-ray diffraction
Authors: Richter Carsten , Zschornak Matthias , Novikov Dmitri , Mehner Erik , Nentwich Melanie , Hanzig Juliane , Gorfman Semën , Meyer Dirk C.
Published: January 2018

Physical properties of crystalline materials often manifest themselves as atomic displacements either away from symmetry positions or driven by external fields. Especially the origin of multiferroic or magnetoelectric effects may be hard to ascertain as the related displacements can reach the detection limit. Here we present a resonant X-ray crystal structure analysis technique that shows enhanced sensitivity to minute atomic displacements. It is applied to a recently found crystalline modification of strontium titanate that forms in single crystals under electric field due to oxygen vacancy migration. The phase has demonstrated unexpected properties, including piezoelectricity and pyroelectricity, which can only exist in non-centrosymmetric crystals. Apart from that, the atomic structure has remained elusive and could not be obtained by standard methods. Using resonant X-ray diffraction, we determine atomic displacements with sub-picometer precision and show that the modified structure of strontium titanate corresponds to that of well-known ferroelectrics such as lead titanate.
Publisher Correction: Personalized structural image analysis in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy
Authors: Rummel Christian , Slavova Nedelina , Seiler Andrea , Abela Eugenio , Hauf Martinus , Burren Yuliya , Weisstanner Christian , Vulliemoz Serge , Seeck Margitta , Schindler Kaspar , Wiest Roland
Published: January 2018

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML version of this paper. The error has been fixed in the paper.
Calcium sulfate induced versus PMMA-induced membrane in a critical-sized femoral defect in a rat model
Authors: Ma Yun-fei , Jiang Nan , Zhang Xiang , Qin Cheng-he , Wang Lei , Hu Yan-jun , Lin Qing-rong , Yu Bin , Wang Bo-wei
Published: January 2018

Aimed to investigate the characteristics of CS-induced membrane in comparison with the PMMA-induced membrane. Cellular components, histological changes, growth factor expressions of IL-6, VEGF, BMP-2, and TGF-β1 in the two induced membranes were compared at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks, respectively. We also compared the histological changes at the bone defects between CS and PMMA groups. The structural characteristics of induced membrane were similar between CS and PMMA. Endochondral ossification took place in the CS-induced membrane at 8 week. Levels of VEGF, BMP-2 and TGF-β1 in CS-induced membrane were insignificantly higher than those in PMMA-induced membrane at different time points. The expression of IL-6 was significantly higher in PMMA-induced membranes at 2nd week. In addition, osteogenic and neovascular activities of induced membranes increased with time and peaked at 6 weeks. CS promoted endochondral ossification at the broken ends of the bone defect than PMMA did. CS-induced membrane has a better capacity of generating VEGF, BMP-2 and TGF-β1.osteogenic and neovascular activities achieve highest level at 6 week. CS may have the potential to replace PMMA as a novel spacer in Masquelet technique.
Discovery of microRNA-target modules of African rice (Oryza glaberrima) under salinity stress
Authors: Mondal Tapan Kumar , Panda Alok Kumar , Rawal Hukam C. , Sharma Tilak Raj
Published: January 2018

Oryza glaberrima is the second edible rice in the genus Oryza. It is grown in the African countries. miRNAs are regulatory molecules that are involved in every domains of gene expression including salinity stress response. Although several miRNAs have been reported from various species of Oryza, yet none of them are from this species. Salt treated (200 mM NaCl for 48 h) and control smallRNA libraries of RAM-100, a salt tolerant genotype, each with 2 replications generated 150 conserve and 348 novel miRNAs. We also used smallRNAseq data of NCBI of O. glaberrima to discover additional 246 known miRNAs. Totally, 29 known and 32 novel miRNAs were differentially regulated under salinity stress. Gene ontology and KEGG analysis indicated several targets were involved in vital biological pathways of salinity stress tolerance. Expression of selected miRNAs as indicated by Illumina data were found to be coherent with real time-PCR analysis. However, target gene expression was inversely correlated with their corresponding miRNAs. Finally based upon present results as well as existing knowledge of literature, we proposed the miRNA-target modules that were induced by salinity stress. Therefore, the present findings provide valuable information about miRNA-target networks in salinity adaption of O. glaberrima.
Polypharmacy through Phage Display: Selection of Glucagon and GLP-1 Receptor Co-agonists from a Phage-Displayed Peptide Library
Authors: Demartis Anna , Lahm Armin , Tomei Licia , Beghetto Elisa , Di Biasio Valentina , Orvieto Federica , Frattolillo Francesco , Carrington Paul E. , Mumick Sheena , Hawes Brian , Bianchi Elisabetta , Palani Anandan , Pessi Antonello
Published: January 2018

A promising emerging area for the treatment of obesity and diabetes is combinatorial hormone therapy, where single-molecule peptides are rationally designed to integrate the complementary actions of multiple endogenous metabolically-related hormones. We describe here a proof-of-concept study on developing unimolecular polypharmacy agents through the use of selection methods based on phage-displayed peptide libraries (PDL). Co-agonists of the glucagon (GCG) and GLP-1 receptors were identified from a PDL sequentially selected on GCGR- and GLP1R-overexpressing cells. After two or three rounds of selection, 7.5% of randomly picked clones were GLP1R/GCGR co-agonists, and a further 1.53% were agonists of a single receptor. The phages were sequenced and 35 corresponding peptides were synthesized. 18 peptides were potent co-agonists, 8 of whom showed EC50 ≤ 30 pM on each receptor, comparable to the best rationally designed co-agonists reported in the literature. Based on literature examples, two sequences were engineered to stabilize against dipeptidyl peptidase IV cleavage and prolong the in vivo half-life: the engineered peptides were comparably potent to the parent peptides on both receptors, highlighting the potential use of phage-derived peptides as therapeutic agents. The strategy described here appears of general value for the discovery of optimized polypharmacology paradigms across several metabolically-related hormones.
High-performance flexible supercapacitors based on electrochemically tailored three-dimensional reduced graphene oxide networks
Authors: Purkait Taniya , Singh Guneet , Kumar Dinesh , Singh Mandeep , Dey Ramendra Sundar
Published: January 2018

A simple approach for growing porous electrochemically reduced graphene oxide (pErGO) networks on copper wire, modified with galvanostatically deposited copper foam is demonstrated. The as-prepared pErGO networks on the copper wire are directly used to fabricate solid-state supercapacitor. The pErGO-based supercapacitor can deliver a specific capacitance (Csp) as high as 81±3 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1 with polyvinyl alcohol/H3PO4 gel electrolyte. The Csp per unit length and area are calculated as 40.5 mF cm−1 and 283.5 mF cm−2, respectively. The shape of the voltammogram retained up to high scan rate of 100 V s−1. The pErGO-based supercapacitor device exhibits noticeably high charge-discharge cycling stability, with 94.5% Csp retained even after 5000 cycles at 5 A g−1. Nominal change in the specific capacitance, as well as the shape of the voltammogram, is observed at different bending angles of the device even after 5000 cycles. The highest energy density of 11.25 W h kg−1 and the highest power density of 5 kW kg−1 are also achieved with this device. The wire-based supercapacitor is scalable and highly flexible, which can be assembled with/without a flexible substrate in different geometries and bending angles for illustrating promising use in smart textile and wearable device.
miR-143-3p inhibits the proliferation, migration and invasion in osteosarcoma by targeting FOSL2
Authors: Sun Xiangran , Dai Guo , Yu Ling , Hu Qingzhu , Chen Jingteng , Guo Weichun
Published: January 2018

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common type of primary malignant bone tumor and mainly occurs in children and adolescent. Because of its early migration and invasion, OS has a poor prognosis. It has been reported that mircoRNAs (miRNAs) play a crucial role in the occurrence and development of multiple tumors. In this study, we identified the aberrant-expression of miR-143-3p in osteosarcoma and examined the role of miR-143-3p in OS development. Further, we searched the miR-143-3p target gene and verified its accuracy by luciferase experiments. Finally, we explored the relationship between miR-143-3p and FOS-Like antigen 2 (FOSL2). Our data indicated that miR-143-3p expression was substantially lower in OS tissues and cell-line compared with normal tissues, and was lower in patients with poor prognosis. In addition miR-143-3p inhibited OS cell proliferation and metastasis while promoting apoptosis. We next showed that FOSL2 was directly targeted by miR-143-3p and could reverse the inhibition caused by miR-143-3p. Finally, we found FOSL2 expression in OS cells was significantly higher compared with normal cells and negatively correlated with miR-143-3p. Thus, miR-143-3p directly and negatively targets FOSL2 to affect OS characteristics. This provides a new target for the treatment of OS and deserves further study.