bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ultimate Costs of the Disaster: Seven Years After the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
Authors: Gyo Lee Yong , Garza‐Gomez Xavier , Lee Rose M.
Published: January 2018

Seven years after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, this study measures the “ultimate” cost of the disaster. This study compiles all the costs to be borne by BP, which include charges and expenses directly related to the spill, the various fines and penalties to be paid, reimbursements and recoveries from other parties, securities‐related charges, and hidden costs. This study documents an ultimate cost to BP of $144.89 billion in the United States, which is more than two times larger than the $62.59 billion BP reported in its income statement. This study provides details on the computation. The sharp increase is due to the inclusion of other categories of costs related to the oil spill, including the $19.33 billion committed by BP in a global settlement in April 2016; the contingent liabilities of $700 million, the settlements of $175 million with the Securities and Exchange Commission; legal fees of $680 million, and the hidden costs of $61.41 billion that was not reportable under the current accounting system. This figure will eventually become higher once we learn about costs related to litigations in Mexico. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Impact of Ownership Patterns and Firm Life‐Cycle Stages on Firm Performance: Evidence From India
Authors: Sridharan Srividhya , Joshi Medha
Published: January 2018

This article reexamines the relationship between ownership patterns and firm financial performance through the prism of firm life‐cycle stages. We use an unbalanced panel data set from the S&P BSE 500 companies in the emerging Indian market over nine years. We adopt multivariate analysis with covariance to explore the relationship between ownership patterns and firm performance across various stages of a firm's life cycle. Empirical results suggest that firm life cycle is a key indicator in the study of relationship between ownership patterns and firm performance. Performance is optimized by different patterns of ownership over different life‐cycle stages. Closely held firms perform better than widely held firms, and those with foreign promoter holdings outperform in most life‐cycle stages. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Rating the quality of a body of evidence on the effectiveness of health and social interventions: A systematic review and mapping of evidence domains
Authors: Movsisyan Ani , Dennis Jane , Rehfuess Eva , Grant Sean , Montgomery Paul
Published: January 2018

Introduction

Rating the quality of a body of evidence is an increasingly common component of research syntheses on intervention effectiveness. This study sought to identify and examine existing systems for rating the quality of a body of evidence on the effectiveness of health and social interventions.

Methods

We used a multicomponent search strategy to search for full‐length reports of systems for rating the quality of a body of evidence on the effectiveness of health and social interventions published in English from 1995 onward. Two independent reviewers extracted data from each eligible system on the evidence domains included, as well as the development and dissemination processes for each system.

Results

Seventeen systems met our eligibility criteria. Across systems, we identified 13 discrete evidence domains: study design, study execution, consistency, measures of precision, directness, publication bias, magnitude of effect, dose‐response, plausible confounding, analogy, robustness, applicability, and coherence. We found little reporting of rigorous procedures in the development and dissemination of evidence rating systems.

Conclusion

We identified 17 systems for rating the quality of a body of evidence on intervention effectiveness across health and social policy. Existing systems vary greatly in the domains they include and how they operationalize domains, and most have important limitations in their development and dissemination. The construct of the quality of the body of evidence was defined in a few systems largely extending the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach. Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation was found to be unique in its comprehensive guidance, rigorous development, and dissemination strategy.
The ScienceDirect accessibility journey: A case study
Authors: Gies Ted
Published: January 2018

Key points

Policy, top–down support, educational working groups, customer data, and a central accessibility team have helped mature web accessibility at Elsevier ScienceDirect.

Collaboration groups are essential for gathering feedback from users with disabilities and experts in the field.

Many of the lessons learned from the first accessibility user study in 2001 are still relevant today.

Alt text for figures is a challenge for publishers, and using authors or machine learning to provide text descriptions may be a solution.

Accessibility is not an achievement to be won and done but a culture paradigm that integrates inclusive design into the very early phases of a product.
Evaluating e‐book platforms: Lessons from the e‐book accessibility audit
Authors: McNaught Alistair , MacMullen Ruth , Smith Sue , Dobson Vicky
Published: January 2018

E‐books are a potential assistive technology, offering significant advantages over print books, and accessible materials are now a financial and legal necessity within UK academia. It is often difficult to find supplier information on accessibility, for example, whether files have been tagged for reading order or whether the interface has been tested with assistive technologies. Equally, library staff may lack confidence in identifying accessibility features, making it hard to promote them to students or demand them from suppliers. This article reports on a crowdsourced e‐book audit of 44 e‐book platforms that was undertaken by 33 UK universities during 2016. The research scored different platforms for a range of accessibility issues, and the resulting open data set is presented in a manner that can be interrogated by libraries looking for specific features. A key finding was that the platform can dramatically affect the accessibility of a publisher's content, making it important for publishers to work with suitable vendors to disseminate their publications.
Why accessibility is hard and how to make it easier: Lessons from publishers
Authors: Kasdorf Bill
Published: January 2018

The requirements for providing publications in an accessible form have recently become much clearer and easier to comply with. They are based on standard web accessibility guidelines that are commonly used globally, and the format for interchange is EPUB, a format many publishers already produce in their normal production process. Nevertheless, accessibility still proves difficult to accomplish for most publishers. This article refers to informal interviews and the author's own experiences to examine the issues that are challenging to publishers and their suppliers, assessing the level of effort required to address them, discussing the factors that make them difficult, and suggesting strategies for reducing the effort required. The article concludes that the best solution is to build accessibility into the publication workflow upfront as this can dramatically reduce the cost and effort required to make publications accessible.
Why do authors publish in predatory journals?
Authors: Kurt Serhat
Published: January 2018

This study examines the reasons why authors publish in ‘predatory’OAjournals. In total, 50 journals were randomly selected from Beall's list of ‘predatory’ journals. Different methods, includingWHOIStracking, were utilized to query basic information about the selected journals, including location and registrant. Then, 300 articles were randomly selected from within selected journals in various scientific fields. Authors of the selected articles were contacted and sent survey questions to complete. A grounded theory qualitative methods approach was used for data collection and analysis. The results demonstrated that most of these journals were located in the developing world, usually Asia or Africa, even when they claimed they were in theUSAorUK. Furthermore, four themes emerged after authors’ survey responses were coded, categorized, and sub‐categorized. The themes were:social identity threat, unawareness, high pressure,andlack of research proficiency. Scholars in the developing world felt that reputable Western journals might be prejudiced against them and sometimes felt more comfortable publishing in journals from the developing world. Other scholars were unaware of the reputation of the journals in which they published and would not have selected them had they known. However, some scholars said they would still have published in the same journals if their institution recognised them. The pressure to ‘publish or perish’ was another factor influencing many scholars’ decisions to publish in these fast‐turnaround journals. In some cases, researchers did not have adequate guidance and felt they lacked the knowledge of research to submit to a more reputable journal. More needs to be done by institutions and reputable journals to make researchers aware of the problem of ‘predatory’ journals.
Beyond the mandates: The far‐reaching benefits of multimedia accessibility
Authors: Iglesias Violaine
Published: January 2018

Key points

Convergence of international standards has made requirements for accessible multimedia content clearer.

Legal and commercial pressure for accessible content is mounting for higher education institutions (HEIs) and publishers as highlighted by recent high‐profile settlements in North America.

Accessibility requirements for multimedia can be met by setting realistic, progressive goals and focusing resources on key content.

Multimedia accessibility benefits range from wider audiences and increased user engagement to greater discoverability and improved search engine optimization.

Vendors are ramping up their offerings for accessible production, and costs are going down.
Synergetic Effects of Prenatal and Postnatal High Sucrose Intake on Glucose Tolerance and Hepatic Insulin Resistance in Rat Offspring
Authors: Zhang Pengjie , Zhu Di , Zhang Yueming , Li Lingjun , Chen Xionghui , Zhang Wenna , Shi Ruixiu , Tao Jianying , Han Bing , Xu Zhice
Published: January 2018

Scope

High sucrose intake during pregnancy is linked to type 2 diabetes mellitus and altered insulin resistance.

Methods and results

This study attempts to ascertain whether prenatal high sucrose intake (20% sucrose) alleviates the detrimental effects of high postnatal sugar consumption in the offspring, and the molecular mechanisms are investigated using a rat model. High prenatal sucrose exposure increases the body weight of the offspring at 1–3 weeks of age. Exposure to both prenatal and postnatal high sucrose increases glucose tolerance in the 4‐month‐old adult offspring compared with offspring receiving other treatments. Postnatal high sucrose exposure suppresses food intake but increases the total daily caloric and fluid intake. Both fasting blood glucose and plasma triglyceride levels are increased, but the fasting insulin level is unaffected. Prenatal high sucrose intake enlarges pancreatic islet area; however, prenatal‐plus‐postnatal high sucrose exposure induces smaller pancreatic islets. IRS‐1(S612) protein phosphorylation is significantly increased, and the GSK‐3β (S9) phosphorylation level is reduced.

Conclusion

Both prenatal and prenatal‐plus‐postnatal high sucrose exposure substantially affect biological functions related to insulin homeostasis. IRS‐1(S612) protein phosphorylation appears to be a part of the molecular mechanism underlying these effects. These results add to the understanding of how high sucrose intake contributes to insulin resistance and diabetes pathogenesis and how postnatal nutrition and lifestyle may mitigate detrimental prenatal exposures.
A Closed‐Loop Control Strategy for Producing Nitrile Rubber of Uniform Chemical Composition in a Semibatch Reactor: A Simulation Study
Authors: Clementi Luis A. , Suvire Romina B. , Rossomando Francisco G. , Vega Jorge R.
Published: January 2018

To improve the quality of industrial nitrile rubbers, the copolymer chemical composition, pA(t), should ideally be kept constant along the reaction. This work proposes a closed‐loop control strategy for the semibatch operation of the reactor with the aim of regulating pA(t) within a reduced range of variability. The proposed strategy is evaluated by simulating a mathematical model of the process. To this effect, a simplified mathematical model of the reaction is first derived and then utilized to obtain a suboptimal control law and a soft‐sensor that estimates the polymerization rates. The suboptimal control law is compensated by adding a term proportional to errors in pA(t). The simulated example considers the production of the low‐composition AJLT grade, with the copolymerization reaction represented by a detailed mathematical model adjusted to an industrial plant. Due to the high performance of the soft‐sensor, the simulation results suggest that the proposed closed‐loop strategy is efficient to adequately regulate pA(t) in spite of structural and parametric uncertainties, while other quality variables remained practically unaffected.
Effect of dys‐1 mutation on gene expression profile in space‐flown Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Xu Dan , Gao Ying , Guo Lin , Lin Chenggang , Sun Yeqing
Published: January 2018

Introduction: Dystrophin‐like dys‐1 gene expression increases in the body wall muscles of Caenorhabditis elegans after spaceflight (SF). Here we used a dys‐1(cx18) mutant to analyze the molecular adaptive responses of C. elegans to SF. Methods: DNA microarrays were performed to identify differentially expressed genes between wild‐type (WT) and dys‐1 mutant worms after SF. We performed Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses, predicted human diseases, and screened out key genes for human muscle diseases with NextBio. Results: Gene expression was less affected by SF in the dys‐1 mutant than in the WT worms. The dys‐1 mutation influenced neuromuscular gene expression (neuropeptide genes, muscle‐related genes, and dystrophin‐related genes) under SF conditions, among which 15 genes were specifically regulated by dys‐1. NextBio analysis predicted that cdka‐1, lev‐11, unc‐27, and unc‐94 genes might play critical roles in muscle atrophy. Discussion: dys‐1 Potentially regulates the neuromuscular system in space. Muscle Nerve 58: 114–122, 2018
Optimal wind farm cable routing: Modeling branches and offshore transformer modules
Authors: Fischetti Martina , Pisinger David
Published: January 2018

Many EU countries aim at reducing fossil fuels in the near future, hence an efficient production of green energy is very important to reach this goal. In this article, we address the optimization of cable connections between turbines in an offshore wind park. Different versions of the problem have been studied in the recent literature. As turbines are becoming still more customized, it is important to be able to evaluate the impact of new technologies with a flexible optimization tool for scenario evaluation. In a previous joint project with Vattenfall BA Wind (a global leader in energy production) we have studied and modeled the main constraints arising in practical cases. Building on that model, in the present article, we address new technological features that have been recently proposed by Vattenfall's experts. We show how some new features can be modeled and solved using a Mixed‐Integer Linear Programming paradigm. We report and discuss computational results on the performance of our new models on a set of real‐world instances provided by Vattenfall.
Contraceptives as possible risk factors for postpartum depression: A retrospective study of the food and drug administration adverse event reporting system, 2004–2015
Authors: Horibe Megumi , Hane Yuuki , Abe Junko , Matsui Toshinobu , Kato Yamato , Ueda Natsumi , Sasaoka Sayaka , Motooka Yumi , Hatahira Haruna , Hasegawa Shiori , Kinosada Yasutomi , Hara Hideaki , Nakamura Mitsuhiro
Published: January 2018

Aim

Postpartum depression is a mood disorder that commonly affects women during the early postpartum period. The objective of this study was to analyse the association of postpartum depression with drugs (including contraceptive devices and implants) with spontaneously reported adverse events reported in the US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System database.

Design

Retrospective study.

Method

Reports of postpartum depression events between 2004–2015 were analysed with a reporting odds ratio (ROR) algorithm. The Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities was used to identify postpartum depression.

Results

The reporting odds ratios (95% confidence intervals, CI) of levonorgestrel (an intrauterine device with progestogen), etonogestrel (a hormonal contraceptive implant), sertraline and drospirenone (an oral contraceptive) were 12.5 (8.7–18.0), 14.0 (8.5–22.8), 12.2 (6.5–23.1) and 5.4 (2.7–10.9) respectively. Among the drugs in the US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System database, the use of contraceptives or an intrauterine device with progestogen might convey risk for postpartum depression.
Organometallic Nucleosides: Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Substituted Dicobalt Hexacarbonyl 2′‐Deoxy‐5‐oxopropynyluridines
Authors: Kaczmarek Renata , Korczyński Dariusz , Królewska‐Golińska Karolina , Wheeler Kraig A. , Chavez Ferman A. , Mikus Agnieszka , Dembinski Roman
Published: January 2018

Reactions of dicobalt octacarbonyl [Co2(CO)8] with 2′‐deoxy‐5‐oxopropynyluridines and related compounds gave dicobalt hexacarbonyl nucleoside complexes (83–31 %). The synthetic outcomes were confirmed by X‐ray structure determination of dicobalt hexacarbonyl 2′‐deoxy‐5‐(4‐hydroxybut‐1‐yn‐1‐yl)uridine, which exhibits intermolecular hydrogen bonding between a modified base and ribose. The electronic structure of this compound was characterized by the DFT calculations. The growth inhibition of HeLa and K562 cancer cell lines by organometallic nucleosides was examined and compared to that by alkynyl nucleoside precursors. Coordination of the dicobalt carbonyl moiety to the 2′‐deoxy‐5‐alkynyluridines led to a significant increase in the cytotoxic potency. The cobalt compounds displayed antiproliferative activities with median inhibitory values (IC50) in the range of 20 to 80 μm for the HeLa cell line and 18 to 30 μm for the K562 cell line. Coordination of an acetyl‐substituted cobalt nucleoside was expanded by using the 1,1‐bis(diphenylphosphino)methane (dppm) ligand, which exhibited cytotoxicity at comparable levels. The formation of reactive oxygen species in the presence of cobalt compounds was determined in K562 cells. The results indicate that the mechanism of action for most antiproliferative cobalt compounds may be related to the induction of oxidative stress.
Synergistic effects of graphene nanoplatelets in thermally conductive synthetic graphite filled polypropylene composite
Authors: Altay Lutfiye , Atagur Metehan , Sever Kutlay , Sen Ibrahim , Uysalman Tugce , Seki Yoldas , Sarikanat Mehmet
Published: January 2018

Polypropylene (PP) was filled with synthetic graphite (SG) and graphene nanoplatelets (G) at different weight fractions. Composites were prepared by the melt mixing process by using a co‐rotating twin screw extruder. Mechanical tests were carried out to determine tensile and flexural properties of composites. Dynamic Mechanical Analysis of composites was performed to determine their thermo‐mechanical properties, such as storage modulus and loss modulus. Scanning Electron Microscopy was used to observe the fracture surfaces of the composites after tensile tests. The effect of SG and G on thermal properties such as melting and crystallization temperature, thermal conductivity, thermal stability, and coefficient of thermal expansion of PP was investigated. Tensile strength and flexural strength of PP increased with the addition of 10 wt% SG. The highest thermal conductivity achieved in this study at 50 wt% SG and 3 wt% G loading was 4.6 W/mK. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:277–287, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers
Role of AP‐endonuclease (Ape1) active site residues in stabilization of the reactant enzyme‐DNA complex
Authors: Batebi Hossein , Dragelj Jovan , Imhof Petra
Published: January 2018

Apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (Ape1) is an important metal‐dependent enzyme in the base excision repair mechanism, responsible for the backbone cleavage of abasic DNA through a phosphate hydrolysis reaction. Molecular dynamics simulations of Ape1 complexed to its substrate DNA performed for models containing 1 or 2 Mg2+‐ions as cofactor located at different positions show a complex with 1 metal ion bound on the leaving group site of the scissile phosphate to be the most likely reaction‐competent conformation. Active‐site residue His309 is found to be protonated based on pKa calculations and the higher conformational stability of the Ape1‐DNA substrate complex compared to scenarios with neutral His309. Simulations of the D210N mutant further support the prevalence of protonated His309 and strongly suggest Asp210 as the general base for proton acceptance by a nucleophilic water molecule.
Unusual [3+2] Spiroannulation and Creation of Stereogenic Quaternary Center at C‐3 of Oxindole via Addition of (Het)arynes to Isomerized Morita‐Baylis‐Hillman Adduct of Isatin
Authors: Meerakrishna Ramakrishnan Suseela , Athira Mohanakumaran , Shanmugam Ponnusamy
Published: January 2018

A one‐pot synthesis of 1′‐methyl‐2′‐oxospiro [indene‐1, 3′‐indoline] and 3,3‐disubstituted 2‐oxindole derivatives in excellent combined yield by the reaction of methoxy isomerized MBH adducts of isatin with arynes and heteroarynes has been achieved. A plausible mechanism invoking a [3+2]‐spiro‐ annulation reaction and quenching the intermediate with proton is explained. Formation of regioselective products from unsymmetrical arynes is explained based on reactivity profiles of arynes/heteroarynes. Synthetic utility of synthesized compounds have been demonstrated.
Ready Access to 3‐Substituted Quinoxalin‐2‐ones under Superparamagnetic Nanoparticle Catalysis
Authors: Nguyen Oanh T. K. , Phan Anh L. T. , Phan Phuong T. , Nguyen Viet D. , Truong Thanh , Le Nhan T. H. , Le Dung T. , Phan Nam T. S.
Published: January 2018

Fe2O3 superparamagnetic nanoparticles emerged as a productive recyclable heterogeneous catalyst for the cyclization reaction between α‐keto acids and benzene‐1,2‐diamines to produce quinoxalinones as major products and benzimidazoles as minor products. The Fe2O3 nanoparticles displayed higher activity in the synthesis of quinoxalinones than a series of nano catalysts as well as iron‐, copper‐, nickel‐, and cobalt‐based homogeneous catalysts. Moreover, the Fe2O3 nanoparticles was easily recovered by magnetic decantation, and was reutilized without a remarkable deterioration in catalytic activity and selectivity towards quinoxalinones. To our best knowledge, this transformation was not previously conducted under heterogeneous catalysis conditions.
Cognitive flexibility and adaptive decision‐making: Evidence from a laboratory study of expert decision makers
Authors: Laureiro‐Martínez Daniella , Brusoni Stefano
Published: January 2018

Research Summary: How can strategic decision makers overcome inertia when dealing with change? In this article we argue that cognitive flexibility (i.e., the ability to match the type of cognitive processing with the type of problem at hand) enables decision makers to achieve significantly higher decision‐making performance. We show that superior decision‐making performance is associated with using semiautomatic Type 1 cognitive processes when faced with well‐structured problems, and more deliberative Type 2 processes when faced with ill‐structured problems. Our findings shed light on the individual‐level mechanism behind organizational adaptation and complement recent work on strategic inertia. In addition, our findings extend management studies that have stressed the relevance of cognitive flexibility for responding to the demands of increasingly open, flexible, and rapidly changing organizations.

Managerial Summary: Humans are creatures of habits. We tend to prefer known courses of action over new ones. In many cases, habits are good. However, when things change in unpredictable ways, the past may not be good guidance for the future. We argue that “cognitive flexibility”—the ability of understanding when to rely on habits vs. when to explore new courses of action—enables managers to switch from a “fast” decision mode, based on habits, to a “slow,” more deliberate decision mode that facilitates the exploration of new courses of action. Managers high in cognitive flexibility reflect on the situation at hand, recognize and value diversity in viewpoints, and integrate such diversity in their own decision processes. By valuing diversity, they are more likely to overcome inertia.
Quasi‐Solid‐State Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells Containing a Charged Thermoplastic Elastomeric Gel Electrolyte and Hydrophilic/phobic Photosensitizers
Authors: Al‐Mohsin Heba A. , Mineart Kenneth P. , Armstrong Daniel P. , El‐Shafei Ahmed , Spontak Richard J.
Published: January 2018

As the threat of global climate change due to combustion emissions becomes increasingly alarming, the search for clean and sustainable alternative energy is of paramount importance. With this objective in mind, harnessing solar energy is particularly attractive due to ongoing improvements in silicon‐, perovskite‐, and organic‐based solar cells. Of these, dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) constitute a promising technology due to their relatively low cost, moderate conversion efficiency, and robust mechanical properties. An important breakthrough in the development of DSSCs is the use of polymer gel electrolytes. In this work, we employ amphi­philic thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) in the form of sulfonated block ionomer (SBI) homologs for this purpose. Since the midblock of each charged copolymer is hydrophilic, the resultant microphase‐separated nanostructures consist of continuous ionic channels that facilitate electron diffusion. A unique characteristic of the SBI archetype studied here is that the morphology can be solvent‐templated. We exploit this feature by introducing either hydrophilic or hydrophobic photosensitizers into the DSSCs. When the SBI exhibits a primarily lamellar morphology, a hydrophilic dye yields the highest efficiency (7.0%), whereas the opposite is observed when the nanostructure consists of a solvent‐templated nonpolar matrix. Photosensi­tizer tunability is augmented by the intrinsic mechanical and adhesive properties of a TPE.
The Role of Corporate Taxation in a Large Welfare State
Authors: Keuschnigg Christian
Published: January 2018

In comparing the impact of corporate taxation and social insurance on foreign direct investment (FDI) and unemployment, the paper derives four main results: (i) the optimal size of the welfare state depends on the degree of risk-aversion, the unemployment rate and the excess burden of labor taxes. Unemployment partly reflects the country’s exposure to globalization; (ii) corporate taxation and social insurance can have equivalent effects on unemployment and outbound FDI; (iii) while an increase in the corporate tax raises corporate tax revenue, it is likely to worsen total fiscal stance; (iv) a corporate tax should be used to contribute to welfare state financing only in exceptional cases.
Migration and trade union rights
Authors: Baudassé Thierry , Bazillier Rémi
Published: January 2018

We study in this paper both theoretically and empirically the influence of trade union rights in origin countries on bilateral migration flows. Theoretically, trade union rights are supposed to increase the bargaining power of workers. Alternatively, it may benefit only to formal workers if these rights are not applied in the informal sector. We then propose different alternative indexes measuring trade union rights. We find that, all things being equal, more trade union rights tend to be associated with less migration of low-skill and high-skilled workers. Effects are not significant for intermediate skill level. Lastly, we show that social tensions may have the opposite effect. If trade union rights are associated with more social instability, it may increase the level of migration. It emphasizes the importance of social dialogue.
Skilled migration and economic performances: Evidence from OECD countries
Authors: Orefice Gianluca
Published: January 2018

This paper investigates the effects of immigration flows and their human capital content on per capita GDP variation in 24 OECD host countries. Theoretical models concludes that the effect of immigrants in host country’s income depends on the human capital content of migrants (Benhabib, 1996); empirically the question is still open and this paper contributes to make light on this. So we propose an empirical estimation on the effects of immigrants and their human capital content on per capita GDP variation. Using a IV model to solve the endogeneity problem we found that high human capital content by immigrants has a positive effect on per capita GDP variation, but it is not enough to fully compensate the overall negative effects of migration on changes in per capita output.
Overall Survival of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Patients: A Single‐Institution Long‐Term Follow‐Up of 5897 Patients
Authors: Ito Yasuhiro , Miyauchi Akira , Kihara Minoru , Fukushima Mitsuhiro , Higashiyama Takuya , Miya Akihiro
Published: January 2018

Introduction

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) generally shows an excellent prognosis except in cases with aggressive backgrounds or clinicopathological features. Although the cause‐specific survival (CSS) of PTC patients has been extensively investigated, the overall survival (OS) of these patients is unclear. We herein investigated both the OS and CSS of a large PTC patient series.

Materials and methods

We enrolled 5897 PTC patients who underwent initial surgery between 1987 and 2005 (658 males and 5339 females; median age 51 years). Their median postoperative follow‐up period was 177 months. Univariate and multivariate analyses for OS and CSS assessed the effects of gender, older age (≥55 years), distant metastasis at diagnosis (M1), significant extrathyroid extension, tumor size (cutoffs 2 and 4 cm), large node metastasis (N ≥ 3 cm), and extranodal tumor extension.

Results

To date, 387 patients (7%) in this series have died from various causes, including 117 (2%) due to PTC. The 10‐, 15‐, and 20‐year OS rates are 97, 95, and 90%, respectively. Older age and M1 were important prognostic factors for OS and CSS. Older age was a more significant factor than M1 for OS and vice versa for CSS. In the older patients, M1 was a prominent prognostic factor for both OS and CSS. In the young patients, M1 had less prognostic impact than in the older patients, and the prognostic values of M1 and N ≥ 3 cm for OS and CSS were identical and similar, respectively.

Conclusions

The most important prognostic value for OS was patient age, indicating that PTC is generally indolent. However, the control of distant metastasis in older patients remains a future challenge in order to further improve their OS and CSS. PTC of ≥3 cm in young patients should be carefully followed, even in the absence of metastases, and these patients should undergo aggressive therapies for recurrent lesions and metastases.
Risk of progression from subjective cognitive decline to mild cognitive impairment: The role of study setting
Authors: Snitz Beth E. , Wang Tianxiu , Cloonan Yona Keich , Jacobsen Erin , Chang Chung‐Chou H. , Hughes Tiffany F. , Kamboh M. Ilyas , Ganguli Mary
Published: January 2018

Introduction

We compared risk of progression from subjective cognitive decline (SCD) to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in an academic memory clinic versus a population‐based study.

Methods

Older adults presenting at a memory clinic were classified as SCD (n = 113) or as noncomplainers (n = 82). Participants from a population study were classified as SCD (n = 592) and noncomplainers (n = 589) based on a memory complaint score. Annual follow‐up performed for a mean of 3 years.

Results

The adjusted hazard ratio for SCD was 15.97 (95% confidence interval: 6.08–42.02, P < .001) in the memory clinic versus 1.18 (95% confidence interval: 1.00–1.40, P = .047) in the population study, where reported “worry” about memory further increased SCD‐associated risk for MCI.

Discussion

SCD is more likely to progress to MCI in a memory clinic than the general population; participants' characteristics vary across settings. Study setting should be considered when evaluating SCD as a risk state for MCI and dementia.
Translational inhibition of APP by Posiphen: Efficacy, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacokinetics in the APP/PS1 mouse
Authors: Teich Andrew F. , Sharma Ekta , Barnwell Eliza , Zhang Hong , Staniszewski Agnieszka , Utsuki Tadanobu , Padmaraju Vasudevaraju , Mazell Cheryl , Tzekou Apostolia , Sambamurti Kumar , Arancio Ottavio , Maccecchini Maria L.
Published: January 2018

Introduction

Translational inhibition of amyloid precursor protein (APP) by Posiphen has been shown to reduce APP and its fragments in cell culture, animal models, and mildly cognitively impaired patients, making it a promising drug candidate for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Methods

We used a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (APP/presenilin‐1) to examine Posiphen's efficacy, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacokinetics.

Results

Posiphen treatment normalized impairments in spatial working memory, contextual fear learning, and synaptic function in APP/presenilin‐1 mice, without affecting their visual acuity, motor skills, or motivation and without affecting wild‐type mice. Posiphen had a prolonged effect in reducing APP and all related peptides for at least 9 hours after the last dose. Its concentration was higher in the brain than in plasma, and the most abundant metabolite was N8‐norPosiphen.

Discussion

This is the first study demonstrating the therapeutic efficacy of inhibiting the translation of APP and its fragments in an Alzheimer's disease model.
Rationally almost periodic sequences, polynomial multiple recurrence and symbolic dynamics
Authors: BERGELSON V. , KUŁAGA-PRZYMUS J. , LEMAŃCZYK M. , RICHTER F. K.
Published: January 2018

A set$R\subset \mathbb{N}$is calledrationalif it is well approximable by finite unions of arithmetic progressions, meaning that for every$\unicode[STIX]{x1D716}>0$there exists a set$B=\bigcup _{i=1}^{r}a_{i}\mathbb{N}+b_{i}$, where$a_{1},\ldots ,a_{r},b_{1},\ldots ,b_{r}\in \mathbb{N}$, such that$$\begin{eqnarray}\overline{d}(R\triangle B):=\limsup _{N\rightarrow \infty }\frac{|(R\triangle B)\cap \{1,\ldots ,N\}|}{N}<\unicode[STIX]{x1D716}.\end{eqnarray}$$Examples of rational sets include many classical sets of number-theoretical origin such as the set of squarefree numbers, the set of abundant numbers, or sets of the form$\unicode[STIX]{x1D6F7}_{x}:=\{n\in \mathbb{N}:\boldsymbol{\unicode[STIX]{x1D711}}(n)/n<x\}$, where$x\in [0,1]$and$\boldsymbol{\unicode[STIX]{x1D711}}$is Euler’s totient function. We investigate the combinatorial and dynamical properties of rational sets and obtain new results in ergodic Ramsey theory. Among other things, we show that if$R\subset \mathbb{N}$is a rational set with$\overline{d}(R)>0$, then the following are equivalent:

(a)$R$is divisible, i.e. $\overline{d}(R\cap u\mathbb{N})>0$for all$u\in \mathbb{N}$;

(b)$R$is an averaging set of polynomial single recurrence;

(c)$R$is an averaging set of polynomial multiple recurrence.

As an application, we show that if$R\subset \mathbb{N}$is rational and divisible, then for any set$E\subset \mathbb{N}$with$\overline{d}(E)>0$and any polynomials$p_{i}\in \mathbb{Q}[t]$,$i=1,\ldots ,\ell$, which satisfy$p_{i}(\mathbb{Z})\subset \mathbb{Z}$and$p_{i}(0)=0$for all$i\in \{1,\ldots ,\ell \}$, there exists$\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}>0$such that the set$$\begin{eqnarray}\{n\in R:\overline{d}(E\cap (E-p_{1}(n))\cap \cdots \cap (E-p_{\ell }(n)))>\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}\}\end{eqnarray}$$has positive lower density.

Ramsey-theoretical applications naturally lead to problems in symbolic dynamics, which involverationally almost periodic sequences(sequences whose level-sets are rational). We prove that if${\mathcal{A}}$is a finite alphabet,$\unicode[STIX]{x1D702}\in {\mathcal{A}}^{\mathbb{N}}$is rationally almost periodic,$S$denotes the left-shift on${\mathcal{A}}^{\mathbb{Z}}$and$$\begin{eqnarray}X:=\{y\in {\mathcal{A}}^{\mathbb{Z}}:\text{each word appearing in}~y~\text{appears in}~\unicode[STIX]{x1D702}\},\end{eqnarray}$$then$\unicode[STIX]{x1D702}$is a generic point for an$S$-invariant probability measure$\unicode[STIX]{x1D708}$on$X$such that the measure-preserving system$(X,\unicode[STIX]{x1D708},S)$is ergodic and has rational discrete spectrum.
Elegant and Militarized: Ceremonial Volunteers and the Making of New Women Citizens in China
Authors: Wu Ka-Ming
Published: January 2018

This article examines how Chinese national values are imparted to and through the recent phenomenon of ceremonial volunteers or etiquette volunteers (liyi zhiyuan). These volunteers are all young college women who serve at major national events by greeting guests, ushering, and holding ceremonial ribbons. They are supposed to embody Confucian ritual values and the practices of propriety that define China as a nation of civilization through their roles as ceremonial hostesses. This feminine symbol of national tradition and cultural virtues is realized through a heavy emphasis on discipline, physical training, compliance to authority, and collectivism expressed through the ways the performances are staged and mass mediated. This article argues that the ceremonial volunteer represents a new state effort to engineer a model woman citizen by combining the Confucian discourse on etiquette, the communist party-state discourse on militarization and strong womanhood, the communist sport tradition of body training, and the latest initiatives on volunteering. The result is the making of gendered national subjects, marking new values of class, femininity, and nationalism. This article contributes to the understanding of emergent values about gender, class, volunteering, and the important roles they play in the process of citizen making in today's China.
Particle acceleration by beating of two intense cross-focused cosh-Gaussian laser beams in plasma
Authors: Gaur Bineet , Rawat Priyanka , Purohit Gunjan
Published: January 2018

The effect of two intense cross-focused cosh-Gaussian laser (CGL) beams on the generation of electron plasma wave (EPW) and particle acceleration in collisionless plasma has been investigated under the relativistic–ponderomotive regime. Due to mutual interaction of two laser beams, cross-focusing takes place in plasma. The EPW is generated by the beating of two cross-focused CGL beams of frequencies ω1 and ω2. An analytical expression for the beamwidth of laser beams and EPW as well as the power of the generated EPW has been evaluated using Wentzel–Kramers–Brillouin and paraxial approximations. The energy of the accelerated electrons by the beat-wave process has also been calculated. Numerical simulations have been carried out to investigate the effect of typical laser plasma parameters on the power of excited EPW and acceleration of electrons. The results are compared with only relativistic nonlinearity and the Gaussian profile of laser beams. It is observed that CGL beams focused earlier than Gaussian beams, which significantly affected the dynamics of plasma wave excitation and particle acceleration. Numerical results indicate that there is a remarkable change in the power of generated EPW and electron acceleration in the relativistic–ponderomotive case in comparison with only relativistic case.
The spatial and metabolic basis of colony size variation
Authors: Chacón Jeremy M , Möbius Wolfram , Harcombe William R
Published: January 2018

Spatial structure impacts microbial growth and interactions, with ecological and evolutionary consequences. It is therefore important to quantitatively understand how spatial proximity affects interactions in different environments. We tested how proximity influences colony size when either Escherichia coli or Salmonella enterica are grown on various carbon sources. The importance of colony location changed with species and carbon source. Spatially explicit, genome-scale metabolic modeling recapitulated observed colony size variation. Competitors that determine territory size, according to Voronoi diagrams, were the most important drivers of variation in colony size. However, the relative importance of different competitors changed through time. Further, the effect of location increased when colonies took up resources quickly relative to the diffusion of limiting resources. These analyses made it apparent that the importance of location was smaller than expected for experiments with S. enterica growing on glucose. The accumulation of toxic byproducts appeared to limit the growth of large colonies and reduced variation in colony size. Our work provides an experimentally and theoretically grounded understanding of how location interacts with metabolism and diffusion to influence microbial interactions.
The histone methyltransferase DOT1L inhibits osteoclastogenesis and protects against osteoporosis
Authors: Gao Yanpan , Ge Wei
Published: January 2018

Osteoclasts are absorptive cells that play a critical role in homeostatic bone remodeling and pathological bone resorption. Emerging evidence suggests an important role of epigenetic regulation in osteoclastogenesis. In this study, we investigated the role of DOT1L, which regulates gene expression epigenetically by histone H3K79 methylation (H3K79me), during osteoclast formation. Using RANKL-induced RAW264.7 macrophage cells as an osteoclast differentiation model, we found that DOT1L and H3K79me2 levels were upregulated during osteoclast differentiation. Small molecule inhibitor- (EPZ5676 or EPZ004777) or short hairpin RNA-mediated reduction in DOT1L expression promoted osteoclast differentiation and resorption. In addition, DOT1L inhibition increased osteoclast surface area and accelerated bone-mass reduction in a mouse ovariectomy (OVX) model of osteoporosis without alter osteoblast differentiation. DOT1L inhibition increase reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and autophagy activity, and cell migration in pre-osteoclasts. Moreover, it strengthened expression of osteoclast fusion and resorption-related protein CD9 and MMP9 in osteoclasts derived from RAW264.7. Our findings support a new mechanism of DOT1L-regulated, H3K79me2-mediated, epigenetic regulation of osteoclast differentiation, implicating DOT1L as a new therapeutic target for osteoclast dysregulation-induced disease.
Phosphorylation of ULK1 by AMPK is essential for mouse embryonic stem cell self-renewal and pluripotency
Authors: Gong Jiaqi , Gu Haifeng , Zhao Lin , Wang Liang , Liu Pinglei , Wang Fuping , Xu Haoyu , Zhao Tongbiao
Published: January 2018

Autophagy is a catabolic process to degrade both damaged organelles and aggregated proteins in somatic cells. We have recently identified that autophagy is an executor for mitochondrial homeostasis in embryonic stem cell (ESC), and thus contribute to stemness regulation. However, the regulatory and functional mechanisms of autophagy in ESC are still largely unknown. Here we have shown that activation of ULK1 by AMPK is essential for ESC self-renewal and pluripotency. Dysfunction of Ulk1 decreases the autophagic flux in ESC, leading to compromised self-renewal and pluripotency. These defects can be rescued by reacquisition of wild-type ULK1 and ULK1(S757A) mutant, but not ULK1(S317A, S555A and S777A) and kinase dead ULK1(K46I) mutant. These data indicate that phosphorylation of ULK1 by AMPK, but not mTOR, is essential for stemness regulation in ESC. The findings highlight a critical role for AMPK-dependent phosphorylation of ULK1 pathway to maintain ESC self-renewal and pluripotency.
Insulin-like growth factor 2 is a key mitogen driving liver repopulation in mice
Authors: Wang Min-Jun , Chen Fei , Liu Qing-Gui , Liu Chang-Cheng , Yao Hao , Yu Bing , Zhang Hai-Bin , Yan He-Xin , Ye Yibiao , Chen Tao , Wangensteen Kirk J. , Wang Xin , Hu Yi-Ping , He Zhi-Ying
Published: January 2018

Hepatocyte transplantation holds great promise as an alternative to orthotopic organ transplantation in the treatment of liver diseases. However, obtaining clinically meaningful levels of liver repopulation has not been achieved because the mechanisms regulating hepatocyte proliferation in recipient livers have not yet been well characterized. In the mouse model of Hereditary Tyrosinemia Type I, the fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase-deficient (Fah−/−) mouse, we found gradually increasing expression level of insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) in the hepatocytes of host livers. Similarly, high levels of IGF2 were found in the livers of patients with deficient FAH activity. Recombinant IGF2 directly promotes proliferation of primary hepatocytes in vitro. Inhibition on IGF2 expression through the interruption of PI3K/Akt and MAPK pathways significantly reduced the level of liver repopulation in Fah−/− mice. Interestingly, treatment with IGF2 before hepatocyte transplantation generally improved the amount of liver repopulation seen in various mice models of liver injury. Altogether, these findings underscore the underlying mechanisms of therapeutic liver repopulation in Fah−/− mice, and indicate that IGF2 is a potential hepatocyte mitogen for liver cell transplantation therapies.
Parallel derivation of isogenic human primed and naive induced pluripotent stem cells
Authors: Kilens Stéphanie , Meistermann Dimitri , Moreno Diego , Chariau Caroline , Gaignerie Anne , Reignier Arnaud , Lelièvre Yohann , Casanova Miguel , Vallot Céline , Nedellec Steven , Flippe Léa , Firmin Julie , Song Juan , Charpentier Eric , Lammers Jenna , Donnart Audrey , Marec Nadège , Deb Wallid , Bihouée Audrey , Le Caignec Cédric , Pecqueur Claire , Redon Richard , Barrière Paul , Bourdon Jérémie , Pasque Vincent , Soumillon Magali , Mikkelsen Tarjei S. , Rougeulle Claire , Fréour Thomas , David Laurent ,   The Milieu Intérieur Consortium, Abel Laurent , Alcover Andres , Astrom Kalla , Bousso Philippe , Bruhns Pierre , Cumano Ana , Duffy Darragh , Demangel Caroline , Deriano Ludovic , Di Santo James , Dromer Françoise , Eberl Gérard , Enninga Jost , Fellay Jacques , Freitas Antonio , Gelpi Odile , Gomperts-Boneca Ivo , Hercberg Serge , Lantz Olivier , Leclerc Claude , Mouquet Hugo , Patin Etienne , Pellegrini Sandra , Pol Stanislas , Rogge Lars , Sakuntabhai Anavaj , Schwartz Olivier , Schwikowski Benno , Shorte Spencer , Soumelis Vassili , Tangy Frédéric , Tartour Eric , Toubert Antoine , Ungeheuer Marie-Noëlle , Quintana-Murci Lluis , Albert Matthew L.
Published: January 2018

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have considerably impacted human developmental biology and regenerative medicine, notably because they circumvent the use of cells of embryonic origin and offer the potential to generate patient-specific pluripotent stem cells. However, conventional reprogramming protocols produce developmentally advanced, or primed, human iPSCs (hiPSCs), restricting their use to post-implantation human development modeling. Hence, there is a need for hiPSCs resembling preimplantation naive epiblast. Here, we develop a method to generate naive hiPSCs directly from somatic cells, using OKMS overexpression and specific culture conditions, further enabling parallel generation of their isogenic primed counterparts. We benchmark naive hiPSCs against human preimplantation epiblast and reveal remarkable concordance in their transcriptome, dependency on mitochondrial respiration and X-chromosome status. Collectively, our results are essential for the understanding of pluripotency regulation throughout preimplantation development and generate new opportunities for disease modeling and regenerative medicine.