bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vírus Zika e direitos reprodutivos: entre as políticas transnacionais, as nacionais e as ações locais
Authors: Pedreira Carvalho Layla
Published: April 2018

Neste artigo, discutimos como a definição transnacional da epidemia pressiona o formato das políticas adotadas internamente para lidar com os seus efeitos, destacando como fatores socioeconômicos - como raça e classe do maior grupo prejudicado pelo mosquito – têm impacto na forma como as políticas são propostas.  Debatemos quatro questões: a formação de um discurso global em torno da epidemia do vírus da Zika, sobretudo os enquadramentos e discursos apresentados pela Organização Mundial da Saúde; os fatores socioeconômicos, o racismo ambiental que molda os grupos populacionais prejudicados pela epidemia; as políticas propostas durante a epidemia e voltadas para as mães e crianças infectadas pelo Zika durante a gravidez; e as ações realizadas por organizações dos movimentos feministas em Pernambuco.  Quase dois anos após o início do surto, algumas políticas foram anunciadas, mas muito pouco foi feito para transformá-los em direitos para as mulheres e crianças. De mais evidente nesse processo de atribuição preferencial de atendimento às famílias de bebês com microcefalia é que o apelo midiático da epidemia, juntamente com a mobilização internacional em torno dela, o que pode gerar efeitos negativos em futuro próximo, dado que a tendência é de que com a redução do número de casos e a familiarização com a doença, a comoção social em torno deste vírus deixe de existir.
As Orientações Pós-Modernas a partir das Transformações Propostas pelos Estudos Queer
Authors: Selistre Jacks Ricardo
Published: April 2018

O presente artigo investiga as relações entre arte, cultura e identidade na pós-modernidade, relacionando e enfatizando os estudos queer. Problematizam-se as rápidas transformações do mundo pós-moderno e suas influências, cujas consequências são refletidas tanto na cultura como nos sujeitos e nas artes. Ainda, busca-se elucidar questões acerca da não cristalização identitária e cultural decorrente da modernidade líquida, realizando análise da obra The Liberated American Woman of the 70's, de Samuel Fosso e da produção artística de Jorge Federico Klemm.
A Utilização do Corpo Feminino como Suporte de um Discurso Político nas Artes Visuais
Authors: Honório Letícia
Published: April 2018

O presente artigo tem como objetivo a investigação sobre a utilização do corpo feminino como suporte, e/ou disparo de um discurso político no espaço das artes visuais. O artigo traz a importância da arte feminista nas mudanças que envolvem a crescente desconstrução em relação à representação idealizada do feminino como veículo de controle, de heteronormatividade. O presente trabalho abordaartistasque discutem diversas linguagens do campo das artes visuais e possuem um papel fundamental nessa desconstrução da representação do feminino, como: Jenny Saville, Hannah Hoch e Hannah Wilke. Todas trabalham, à sua maneira, com o papel da mulher na sociedade, questionando o espaço que lhes é dado e a utilização desse pelas mesmas.
Revisitando os Estudos de Gênero: Mulheres Negras e o Pensamento Científico
Authors: Reis Nathália Dothling
Published: April 2018

Sabemos que o feminismo foi importante na crítica à suposta objetividade da ciência. Em trabalhos como os de Donna Haraway percebemos que por trás da neutralidade científica esconde-se o Homem. Mas se nos atentamos para as experiências de mulheres negras e críticas de intelectuais negras e descoloniais, vamos ainda mais longe. Através de autoras negras e descoloniais - como Lélia Gonzalez, bell hooks, Maria Lugones, Yuderkis Miñoso - trato de mostrar como o próprio feminismo e a categoria gênero têm apagado as experiências de mulheres “outras”; das mulheres não brancas.
Ações Participativas com Trabalhadoras Domésticas: fomentando debates para visibilizar a profissão desde o passado escravista até a atualidade em Pelotas/RS
Authors: Rodrigues Marta Bonow , Alfonso Louise Prado , Rieth Flávia Maria Silva
Published: April 2018

Este texto visa apresentar alguns resultados do projeto O trabalho doméstico entre o passado e o presente, idealizado e desenvolvido por meio da parceria entre Grupo de Estudos Etnográficos Urbanos/GEEUR, Museu de Arqueologia e Antropologia/MUARAN - ambos da UFPel - e o Sindicato das/os Trabalhadoras/os Domésticas/os de Pelotas. A aproximação entre Sindicato e MUARAN ocorreu para criação deste museu; posteriormente, o GEEUR se responsabilizou pelo projeto, que tem implicado em reflexões importantes sobre esse universo, com resultados efetivos para as trabalhadoras. Discorreremos especialmente sobre os frutos de uma oficina realizada no Sindicato, cujo tema principal foi a apresentação de dados históricos sobre trabalhadoras/es em Pelotas/RS, por meio de uma mostra de anúncios de mão de obra escravizada e/ou livre em jornais do século XIX. As especializações e as características exigidas para o desempenho do trabalho doméstico no passado escravista conduziram o debate para suas permanências na atualidade, e foram propostas ações que possam visibilizar essa profissão, na tentativa de minimizar seus estigmas históricos. Os processos de criação das primeiras ações geradas nessa oficina – uma exposição itinerante e a criação de uma logo para o projeto – aconteceram de maneira participativa, configurando a aproximação entre academia e comunidades que cotidianamente passam por processos de exclusão social.
Feminismo autônomo latino-americano: na Bolívia, as Mujeres Creando reivindicam a descolonização dos corpos
Authors: Lambert Hélène
Published: April 2018

RESUMO: Neste artigo, pretendo compreender o lugar ocupado pelo corpo na práxis e no pensamento do coletivo boliviano anarquista, feminista e anti-imperialista chamado Mujeres Creando. Primero, interesso-me pela leitura das relações de poder feitas pelas mulheres do coletivo, para depois analisar os meios implementados por elas para subverter esse mesmo poder, colocando os seus corpos em jogo. Essas partidárias consideram os seus próprios corpos como territórios ocupados pelo poder, que devem ser descolonizados. Através de suas performances de arte-ação, elas buscam desestruturar as normas, abrindo o caminho para um novo imaginário político em sua sociedade.

PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Feminismo. Bolívia. Corpo. Decolonial. Performance.
Apresentação e Comentários à Entrevista de Ochy Curiel
Authors: Figueiredo Ângela
Published: April 2018

Um diálogo decolonial na colonial cidade de Cachoeira/BA é um título apropriado para a entrevista que Ochy Curiel concedeu a Analba Brasão em julho de 2017. Ochy é uma das feministas mais conhecidas na América Latina. Ela transita/dialoga com/entre as teorias decoloniais, o feminismo negro e o feminismo lésbico e isso faz dela uma pesquisadora e ativista especialmente polêmica, pois, imbuída dessas teorias, ela propõe rupturas, releituras e ações políticas. Ochy esteve na Bahia como professora da primeira edição da Internacional School of Transnational Decolonial Black Feminism, ocorrida na Universidade Federal do Recôncavo da Bahia (UFRB) na cidade de Cacheira-BA.
O Gênero no Direito
Authors: Machado Nélida Reis Caseca , Guimarães Camila Pereira , Alves Thaynara Mata
Published: April 2018

Este artigo aponta os caminhos trilhados e os questionamentos advindos da pesquisa “Do gênero à diversidade”, junto ao Centro Universitário de Formiga - Unifor/FAPEMIG, durante o ano de 2016, iniciando-se em março. De todo o material teórico/bibliográfico analisado verificou-se, através de três perspectivas: as transformações sociais e culturais nas percepções que envolvem a sexualidade (i), o movimento de emancipação feminina (feminismo) (ii) e o Direito (iii), todas elas sendo permeadas pelas conjunturas social e política, que o Direito é pouco eficaz quando a questão é diversidade e haveria a necessidade de que ele se debruçasse sobre o assunto, através de debates, de pesquisas e de mobilização dos alunos, para que possa, como ocorreu antes, se adaptar às novas realidades, em perfeita sintonia com o diverso, não respondendo aos anseios sociais apenas com o direito à diferença, pois esta resposta também pode ser excludente.
A Imigração da Noiva Japonesa ao Brasil, após a Segunda Guerra Mundial: Entrevistas com os homens que acolheram as noivas
Authors: Ikeuti Sayaka Nakanishi
Published: April 2018

Este artigo apresenta parte do resultado de uma pesquisa realizada no Brasil em 2013, o qual reuniu narrativas orais de imigrantes japoneses, homens e mulheres, que experienciaram o fenômeno do casamento arranjado por cartas. Será apresentada a perspectiva dos jovens que imigraram ao Brasil após a Segunda Guerra Mundial para receber as suas noivas. Será descrita a situação dos jovens que desejavam uma noiva de “nacionalidade japonesa” e sobre a escolha das companheiras, onde ambos os imigrantes, pré e pós-guerra, pareciam rejeitar fortemente a “integração” com o Brasil, incluindo até mesmo aqueles, que estavam dispostos a permanecer aqui permanentemente. Poucos optaram por brasileiras nativas, ficando claro esta primazia em relação à etnia japonesa.
“Minha estranha loucura”: representações da virilidade em “Simplesmente Marrom”, de Alcione
Authors: Santos Vieira de Jesus Diego
Published: April 2018

O objetivo é examinar as representações da virilidade nas letras das canções do álbum “Simplesmente Marrom”, que reúne alguns dos principais sucessos da carreira de Alcione até o fim da década de 1980. Buscou-se fazer uma leitura bakhtiniana das letras de faixas que compõem o álbum, levando em consideração a ligação entre esses discursos e o contexto social em que foram proferidos. O argumento central aponta que tais letras estão relacionadas a um contexto social no qual, apesar de discursos que apontavam para os empoderamentos político-social e emocional femininos, reafirmava-se o discurso da virilidade como sinônimo de força, inteligência, esperteza e domínio masculinos sobre os sentimentos e o corpo da mulher, caracterizada como afetiva, passiva, sensível e dependente emocional e sexualmente do homem.
Prevalência de Discriminação na Vida, entre Travestis, Transexuais e Transgêneros
Authors: Sousa Junior Araujo , Rocha Taiane Miyake Alves de Carvalho , Barros Claudia Renata dos Santos
Published: April 2018

O presente trabalho objetivou estimar a prevalência de discriminação sofrida na vida, entre travestis, transexuais, transgêneros. Trata-se de um estudo transversal com abordagem quantitativa, realizada em Redes Sociais, entre fevereiro e abril de 2017, sendo os grupos selecionados por meio de postagem da pesquisa em grupos específicos e na página da pesquisa, tendo uma amostral final de 869 participações.  Os resultados indicam a alta prevalência de discriminação em relação à idade em que se assumiram na faixa etária de 0-11 anos (Crianças) e 12-18 anos (Adolescente), também se destacando nos ambientes de trabalho e escolares e 81,37 % da amostra não é militante LGBT, entre outros resultados. Conclui-se que os processos discriminatórios na vida, entre os grupos se manteve altos em várias situações abordadas, identificando a importância da discussão acadêmica sobre estratégias com finalidade de solucionar os casos em questão.
Tunable Visual Detection of Dew by Bare Artificial Opals
Authors: Gallego‐Gómez Francisco , Morales Miguel , Blanco Alvaro , López Cefe
Published: April 2018

The photonic properties of artificial opals directly depend on the atmosphere (air, usually) filling the voids in the constitutive dielectric material. Here, a novel use of bare artificial silica opals (direct and inverse) is presented for straightforward water dew detection, in which the stop‐band exhibits a drastic change upon soaking of the voids. In particular, the opal reflectance drops to one‐fifth within 100 ms scale, so the fading of the opal structural color upon dew formation is evident for the naked eye. Moreover, the stop‐band redshifts up to 60 nm, leading, by convenient selection of the stop‐band wavelength, to perceptible color change. Due to the porous nature of the opal, the dew formation in the opal voids is shifted to lower saturation pressures compared to an open system. This is experimentally demonstrated by controlled reduction of the pores size, so that the advancement of the dew point temperature is tuned between 2.5° and 6.3°. The outstanding color change together with the easy fabrication (without postprocessing) and selectable size (from miniature to large‐area) make artificial opals cost‐effective and versatile visual dew detectors. The tunable advance of the opal response over the actual dew point is practical to adequately anticipate and prevent dew formation in neighboring surfaces. Furthermore, opals might serve as useful probe systems for the study of fundamental phenomena such as condensation of vapors in porous and particulate media.
Formation of Hierarchical Cu‐Doped CoSe2 Microboxes via Sequential Ion Exchange for High‐Performance Sodium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Fang Yongjin , Yu Xin‐Yao , Lou Xiong Wen (David)
Published: April 2018

Electrode materials based on electrochemical conversion reactions have received considerable interest for high capacity anodes of sodium‐ion batteries. However, their practical application is greatly hindered by the poor rate capability and rapid capacity fading. Tuning the structure at nanoscale and increasing the conductivity of these anode materials are two effective strategies to address these issues. Herein, a two‐step ion‐exchange method is developed to synthesize hierarchical Cu‐doped CoSe2 microboxes assembled by ultrathin nanosheets using Co–Co Prussian blue analogue microcubes as the starting material. Benefitting from the structural and compositional advantages, these Cu‐doped CoSe2 microboxes with improved conductivity exhibit enhanced sodium storage properties in terms of good rate capability and excellent cycling performance.
Asymmetric Brominative Dearomatization of Naphthols Catalyzed by Chiral Copper Complexes
Authors: Wang Yi‐Feng , Shao Juan‐Juan , Wang Biao , Chu Ming‐Ming , Qi Suo‐Suo , Du Xiao‐Hua , Xu Dan‐Qian
Published: April 2018

A fast and highly enantioselective brominative dearomatization of naphthols catalyzed by diphenylamine‐linked bis(oxazoline)‐Cu(OTf)2 complexes has been developed. The corresponding products of chiral naphthalenones bearing a Br‐containing tetrasubstituted stereogenic center could be obtained with good to excellent enantioselectivities (up to 95% ee) in excellent yields (up to 97% yield) within short reaction times.

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Multifunctional Single‐Crystallized Carbonate Hydroxides as Highly Efficient Electrocatalyst for Full Water splitting
Authors: Hui Lan , Xue Yurui , Jia Dianzeng , Yu Huidi , Zhang Chao , Li Yuliang
Published: April 2018

The controllable synthesis of single‐crystallized iron‐cobalt carbonate hydroxide nanosheets array on 3D conductive Ni foam (FCCH/NF) as a monolithic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) bifunctional electrocatalyst for full water splitting is described. The results demonstrate that the incorporation of Fe can effectively tune the morphology, composition, electronic structure, and electrochemical active surface area of the electrocatalysts, thus greatly enhancing the intrinsic electrocatalytic activity. The optimal electrocatalyst (F0.25C1CH/NF) can deliver 10 and 1000 mA cm−2 at very small overpotentials of 77 and 256 mV for HER and 228 and 308 mV for OER in 1.0 m KOH without significant interference from gas evolution. The F0.25C1CH‐based two‐electrode alkaline water electrolyzer only requires cell voltages of 1.45 and 1.52 V to achieve current densities of 10 and 500 mA cm−2. The results demonstrate that such fascinating electrocatalytic activity can be ascribed to the increase in the catalytic active surface area, facilitated electron and mass transport properties, and the synergistic interactions because of the incorporation of Fe.
Preventing discrimination based on psychiatric risk biomarkers
Authors: Brannan Cody , Foulkes Alexandra L. , Lázaro‐Muñoz Gabriel
Published: April 2018

Recent studies have identified genomic and nongenomic psychiatric risk biomarkers (PRBs; e.g., genomic variants, blood analytes, gray matter volume). PRBs may soon become a powerful tool for improving psychiatric care and prevention. PRB research and its translation to clinical care, however, may prove to be a double‐edged sword. Mental health stigma and discrimination are already widespread, and data caution that biological explanations of psychiatric disorders can exacerbate these stigmatizing attitudes, increasing the desire for social distance and heightening the perceived dangerousness of the patient. As a reaction to the Human Genome Project and historical concerns about eugenics, the international community mobilized to establish legislation to prevent genomic discrimination. But in most countries, these laws are limited to few contexts (e.g., employment, health insurance), and very few countries protect against discrimination based on nongenomic risk biomarkers. Like genomic PRBs, nongenomic PRBs provide information regarding risk for stigmatized psychiatric disorders and have similar—and in some cases greater—predictive value. Numerous large‐scale neuroscience and neurogenomics projects are advancing the identification and translation of PRBs. The prospect of PRB‐based stigma however, threatens to undermine the potential benefits of this research. Unbridaled by nonexistent or limited PRB anti‐discrimination protections, the threat of PRB‐based stigma and discrimination may lead many to forego PRB testing, even if shown to have clinical utility. To maximize the clinical and social benefits of PRB‐based technologies, educational campaigns should address mental health and PRB stigma, and lawmakers should carefully consider expanding legislation that prohibits PRB‐based discrimination.
Electrospinning preparation of NiO/ZnO composite nanofibers for photodegradation of binary mixture of rhodamine B and methylene blue in aqueous solution: Central composite optimization
Authors: Sabzehmeidani Mohammad Mehdi , Karimi Hajir , Ghaedi Mehrorang
Published: April 2018

One‐dimensional nanofiber of p‐type NiO/n‐type ZnO heterojunctions with various molar ratios of Ni to Zn at different calcination temperatures were successfully synthesized using the electrospinning method, and they were fully characterized. The photocatalysts thus obtained were applied in aqueous solutions for rhodamine B (RDB) and methylene blue (MB) degradation. The p–n heterojunctions built among the cubic structure NiO and hexagonal structure ZnO in the composite nanofiber are responsible for generation of electrons and holes and subsequently superoxide and hydroxyl radical production by carriers which lead to degradation of the dyes in solution. The composite nanofibers (ZnNi1) calcined at 550 °C for 3 h showed the highest photocatalytic activity for degradation of the dyes in aqueous solution. The optimum values were found to be 180 min, 7.0, 1 g l−1 and 3.0 and 3.0 mg l−1 for irradiation time, pH, photocatalyst dosage and initial concentration of RDB and MB, respectively. For these optimum conditions, the photocatalytic degradation of RDB and MB was found to be 99.37 and 98.44%, respectively. The maximum photodegradation of RDB and MB using ZnNi1 was 59.41 and 65.43%, respectively. First‐order kinetics based on the Langmuir–Hinshelwood model successfully fitted the experimental data.
Production and characterization of a human lysosomal recombinant iduronate‐2‐sulfatase produced inPichia pastoris
Authors: Pimentel Natalia , Rodríguez‐Lopez Alexander , Díaz Sergio , Losada Juan C. , Díaz‐Rincón Dennis J. , Cardona Carolina , Espejo‐Mojica Ángela J. , Ramírez Aura M. , Ruiz Fredy , Landázuri Patricia , Poutou‐Piñales Raúl A. , Cordoba‐Ruiz Henry A. , Alméciga‐Díaz Carlos J. , Barrera‐Avellaneda Luis A.
Published: April 2018

Hunter syndrome (Mucopolysaccharidosis II, MPS II) is an X‐linked lysosomal storage disease produced by the deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme iduronate‐2‐sulfatase (IDS). Currently, MPS II patients are mainly treated with enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) using recombinant enzymes produced in mammalian cells. As an alternative, several studies have shown the production of active and therapeutic forms of lysosomal proteins in microorganisms. In this paper, we report the production and characterization of a recombinant IDS produced in the yeastPichia pastoris(prIDS). We evaluated the effect of culture conditions and gene sequence optimization on prIDS production. The results showed that the highest production of prIDS was obtained at oxygen‐limited conditions using a codon‐optimized IDS cDNA. The purified enzyme showed a final activity of 12.45 nmol mg−1H−1and an apparent molecular mass of about 90 kDa. The highest stability was achieved at pH 6.0, and prIDS also showed high stability in human serum. Noteworthy, the enzyme was taken up by culture cells in a dose‐dependent manner through mannose receptors, which allowed the delivery of the enzyme to the lysosome. In summary, these results show the potential ofPichia pastorisas a host to produce an IDS intended for a MPS II ERT.
Differential effects of home and preschool learning environments on early language development
Authors: Schmerse Daniel , Anders Yvonne , Flöter Manja , Wieduwilt Nadine , Roßbach Hans‐Günther , Tietze Wolfgang
Published: April 2018

The present study is based on longitudinal data from a German early childhood education and care (ECEC) governmental initiative assessing children's grammatical and vocabulary development between 2;6 and 4;0 years (N = 1,331), quality of the home learning environment and quality of the preschool setting. Results showed that the quality of the home learning environment predicted development in grammatical skills, but not in receptive vocabulary at age 4, while the effects of preschool process quality showed similar relative impacts on both language outcomes. Further analyses revealed effects of accumulated advantages of preschool quality for children from medium‐ and high‐quality home learning environments in their vocabulary development. The results are compared with previous findings from the German ECEC context and discussed with respect to implications for policy efforts to improve ECEC quality and ways in which both learning environments act together on children's development.
Tamarine – die etwas anderen Primaten
Authors: Heymann Eckhard W.
Published: April 2018

Ungewöhnlich für Primaten zeichnen sich Krallenaffen in ihrer sozialen Organisation durch eine höhere Zahl von Männchen als Weibchen pro Gruppe und im sozialen Paarungssystem durch hohe Flexibilität mit einem Überwiegen von Polyandrie aus, insbesondere bei Tamarinen. Sozialer Polyandrie steht jedoch in der Regel eine Monopolisierung von Vaterschaften durch ein Männchen, also genetische Monogamie, gegenüber. Einzigartig unter Primaten (und bei Säugetieren insgesamt sehr selten) ist auch das System der kooperativen Jungenaufzucht, bei dem sich neben Vätern auch andere Gruppenmitglieder, insbesondere adulte Männchen, intensiv am Tragen der Jungtiere, in der Regel Zwillinge, beteiligen. Schließlich zeigen weibliche Tamarine sehr viel höhere Raten des Duftmarkierens und besitzen größere Duftdrüsen als Männchen. Zusammen mit der chemischen Zusammensetzung der Duftmarken kann dies am plausibelsten als „Qualitätsanzeige“ im Sinne der Sexuellen Selektionstheorie interpretiert werden.
„Platzende Bohnen“ – Beginn der Keimung im Zeitraffer
Authors: Högermann Christiane
Published: April 2018

Mit diesem schon für den Sekundarbereich I geeigneten Kurzversuch wird die Samenquellung als erster Schritt der Samenkeimung am Beispiel von (getrockneten) Bohnensamen veranschaulicht.
Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of a Series of Novel Celastrol Derivatives with Amino Acid Chain
Authors: Pang Chaohai , Luo Jinhui , Liu Chunhua , Wu Xuejin , Wang Dingyong
Published: April 2018

The synthesis of celastrol analogues containing amino acid ester at the C(29) position and their evaluation for cytotoxic activities in vitro were reported. The MTT test showed that a set of derivatives with lower IC50 values than that of the positive control group cisplatin and the parent compound celastrol, which exhibited greater antiproliferative activities. The most potent title compounds 2a and 2e exhibited cytotoxic activities in vitro against HeLa and A549 cell lines with IC50 values of 0.371 and 0.237 μm, 0.235 and 0.109 μm, respectively. The apoptosis assay demonstrated that 2a and 2e can induces of A549 cell apoptosis in low concentrations. These results showed that 2a and 2e may be promising for further research as antitumor agents.
Two professors' experience with competency‐based education
Authors: Monat Jamie P. , Gannon Thomas F.
Published: April 2018

In the autumn of 2015, to extend its leadership in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and to reach a wider range of lifelong learners, Worcester Polytechnic Institute embarked upon a pilot program to assess the value of a competency‐based education (CBE) pedagogy. The authors converted two graduate‐level Systems Engineering courses to a CBE format and delivered them to students in late 2016 and 2017. Preliminary results suggest that CBE offers increased flexibility for working professionals and can extend the reach of educational institutions; that the choice of a learning management system is critical in facilitating CBE delivery; that some students adapt to a CBE format very well while others (who do not have good self‐discipline) do not, so that identifying the correct target demographic is important; that working in project teams is difficult in a CBE context; that synchronous activities (such as Discussion Board postings requiring synchronous debate) are challenging; that (in the version of CBE offered) most students did not avail themselves of the substantial flexibility provided in selecting course topics and alternative assessments; and that unless incentivized to move quickly, students tend to procrastinate. Lastly, for CBE to be financially beneficial to both student and university, it is our opinion that careful attention must be paid to the choice of students, the selection of courses, and the choice of business model, all of which are intimately tied together. These preliminary observations must be corroborated or refuted in future pilots, which are currently planned to develop improved versions of CBE at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
In Vitro One‐Pot Enzymatic Synthesis of Hyaluronic Acid from Sucrose and N‐Acetylglucosamine: Optimization of the Enzyme Module System and Nucleotide Sugar Regeneration
Authors: Eisele Anna , Zaun Henning , Kuballa Jürgen , Elling Lothar
Published: April 2018

Enzymatic in vitro synthesis of hyaluronic acid (HA) is the technology of choice for the production of defined HA preparations under controlled conditions. One drawback is the high costs for the substrates uridine diphosphate (UDP)‐GlcA and UDP‐GlcNAc. We developed an economic multi‐enzyme strategy for the in vitro one‐pot synthesis of high‐molecular‐weight (Mw)‐HA from cheap and sustainable substrates sucrose and N‐acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) with in situ regeneration of nucleotide sugars. Multiplexed capillary electrophoresis was used for analysis and optimization of the reaction cascades. We here present novel parameters influencing the polymerization rate and Mw of HA synthesized by Pasteurella multocida hyaluronan synthase (pmHAS1‐703‐His6), including cofactors, kinetics, and substrate ratio. UDP‐GlcA regeneration by sucrose synthase proved to be favorable for kinetic and economic reasons. With optimized reaction conditions, HA with a Mw>2 MDa is synthesized from catalytic UDP concentrations and 10 mm GlcNAc in less than 10 h.
Ir‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation of α‐Alkylidene β‐Lactams and Cyclobutanones
Authors: Xia Jingzhao , Nie Yu , Yang Guoqiang , Liu Yangang , Gridnev Ilya D. , Zhang Wanbin
Published: April 2018

Chiral β‐lactams and cyclobutanones are present in numerous natural and pharmaceutical products. The stereoselective construction of chiral four‐membered cyclic compounds is an ongoing challenge for the chemical community. Herein, we report a highly stereocontrolled construction of four‐membered ring (mini‐sized) β‐lactams and cyclobutanones via an Ir/In‐BiphPHOX‐catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation, providing the corresponding optically active four‐membered ring carbonyl products bearing an α‐chiral carbon center with excellent yields (up to 99%) and enantioselectivities (up to 98%) under mild reaction conditions (1.0—2.5 bar H2 for 1.0—10 h). The reaction presents wide substrate scope. Diverse transformations of the catalyzed products were also conducted to show the potential utility of this protocol.
Investigation on Relations of Twins and Inclusions Distribution with Growth Solid‐Liquid Interface in Cd0.96Zn0.04Te Crystal
Authors: Xu Chao , Zhou Changhe , Sun Shiwen , Yu Huixian , Yang Jianrong
Published: April 2018

Twins and inclusions remain major problems affecting the availability and cost of Cd1‐xZnxTe (CZT) substrates. In this paper, twins and inclusions distribution are investigated by visible light photograph, field emission scanning electron microscopy and infrared transmission microscopy. Moreover, the growth solid‐liquid interface of the CZT crystal is characterized by a zinc concentration distribution scanner designed by our laboratory. It is found that twins in the CZT crystals are much related with the unstable solid‐liquid interface, and the distributions of inclusions are also affected by the solid‐liquid interface shape. Based on these experimental results, some factors affecting the formation of twins and inclusions are discussed.
Wildfire‐mediated vegetation change in boreal forests of Alberta, Canada
Authors: Stralberg Diana , Wang Xianli , Parisien Marc‐André , Robinne François‐Nicolas , Sólymos Péter , Mahon C. Lisa , Nielsen Scott E. , Bayne Erin M.
Published: April 2018

Climate‐induced vegetation change may be delayed in the absence of disturbance catalysts. However, increases in wildfire activity may accelerate these transitions in many areas, including the western boreal region of Canada. To better understand factors influencing decadal‐scale changes in upland boreal forest vegetation, we developed a hybrid modeling approach that constrains projections of climate‐driven vegetation change based on topo‐edaphic conditions coupled with weather‐ and fuel‐based simulations of future wildfires using Burn‐P3, a spatial fire simulation model. We evaluated eighteen scenarios based on all possible combinations of three fuel assumptions (static, fire‐mediated, and climate‐driven), two fire‐regime assumptions (constrained and unconstrained), and three global climate models. We simulated scenarios of fire‐mediated change in forest composition over the next century, concluding that, even under conservative assumptions about future fire regimes, wildfire activity could hasten the conversion of approximately half of Alberta's upland mixedwood and conifer forest to more climatically suited deciduous woodland and grassland by 2100. When fire‐regime parameter inputs (number of fire ignitions and duration of burning) were modified based on future fire weather projections, the simulated area burned was almost enough to facilitate a complete transition to climate‐predicted vegetation types. However, when fire‐regime parameters were held constant at their current values, the rate of increase in fire probability diminished, suggesting a negative feedback by which a short‐term increase in less‐flammable deciduous forest leads to a long‐term reduction in area burned. Our spatially explicit simulations of fire‐mediated vegetation change provide managers with scenarios that can be used to plan for a range of alternative landscape conditions.
Wildfires managed for restoration enhance ecological resilience
Authors: Barros Ana M. G. , Ager Alan A. , Day Michelle A. , Krawchuk Meg A. , Spies Thomas A.
Published: April 2018

Expanding the footprint of natural fire has been proposed as one potential solution to increase the pace of forest restoration programs in fire‐adapted landscapes of the western USA. However, studies that examine the long‐term socio‐ecological trade‐offs of expanding natural fire to reduce wildfire risk and create fire resilient landscapes are lacking. We used the model Envision to examine the outcomes that might result from increased area burned by what we call “restoration” wildfire in a landscape where the ecological benefits of wildfire are known, but the need to suppress high‐risk fires that threaten human values is also evident. Our study area, in the eastern Cascades of Oregon, USA, includes the Deschutes National Forest where large tracts of mixed conifer forest structure are outside the historical range of variation and characterized by multi‐layer, closed‐canopy stands. We found that simulation of one restoration wildfire per year in addition to high‐risk wildfires in the regular fire season and over the course of 50 yr resulted in a 23% increase in total area burned, but the same probability of fire‐on‐fire interactions. This translated into 0.3% of the national forest burned by restoration wildfire per year and had a small impact in area burned by high‐risk fires albeit more likely in extreme fire years. Smoke production doubled in the restoration scenario relative to the scenario without restoration wildfire, but still resulted in minimal smoke production in most years. Restoration fires burned with low‐ to mixed‐severity and led to a steady reduction in canopy cover and increase in resilient forest structure in dry‐forest types. Habitat for the federally protected northern spotted owl declined with the inclusion of restoration fire, while habitat for species that use recently burned forest stands (e.g., black‐backed woodpecker) increased. Our results suggest that restoration wildfire can improve forest resilience and contribute to restoration efforts in fire‐adapted forests, but there are trade‐offs (wildlife habitat, smoke, area burned in fire‐sensitive forest types), and the level of restoration fire use we simulated is unlikely to have a significant impact on the occurrence of high‐severity wildfires.
Concordant community similarity patterns across functional groups in subarctic plant assemblages
Authors: Stehn Sarah E. , Roland Carl A.
Published: April 2018

In light of increasing threats to global biodiversity, identifying the patterns in and drivers of variation in species composition along the environmental gradients in understudied regions is crucial for understanding ecosystem vulnerability and resilience. Terrestrial plant communities of interior Alaska are dominated by three major groups of primary producers—vascular plants, mosses, and macrolichens. Recent work has demonstrated broad‐scale positive correlations in species richness patterns among these three functional groups across scales in this region. However, the conspicuous and fundamental differences in reproductive strategies, dispersal ability, and physiological adaptations among these functional groups prompted us to investigate how community composition and species turnover vary across environmental gradients among these disparate groups. We hypothesized that species turnover would be greater in vascular plants than for spore‐producing cryptogam functional groups across gradients of elevation, vegetation type, and distance due to underlying differences in dispersal abilities and the temporal and spatial resolution of habitat preferences among these disparate groups. To address these issues, we compiled a uniquely comprehensive species composition dataset in interior Alaska utilizing a multi‐stage systematic design. We analyzed community similarity using Morisita‐Horn index of multi‐community similarity among all pairs of vegetation types and elevation bands for each functional group and used regression analysis to quantify the rate at which compositional similarity decayed with geographical distance among groups. Our study reveals consistently higher compositional variation (lower similarity) among vascular plants as compared to mosses and macrolichens across landscape gradients and spatial scales in interior Alaska. We also found that the decay of similarity with distance was less for both of the cryptogam groups than for vascular plants. Taken together, our results suggest that differences in functional group dispersal abilities, in combination with varying abilities to utilize fine‐scale temporal and spatial habitat variation, result in reduced turnover among mosses and macrolichens as compared to vascular plants both along landscape gradients and across distance in interior Alaska.
Avoiding or enduring painful sex? A prospective study of coping and psychosexual function in vulvovaginal pain
Authors: Engman L. , Flink I.K. , Ekdahl J. , Boersma K. , Linton S.J.
Published: April 2018

Background

Recurring vulvovaginal pain is common, with evident effects on affected women's lives. Little is known about how affected women cope with painful sexual activities and how coping relates to pain intensity and psychosexual functioning over time. This prospective study explored the impact of avoidance and endurance on sexual function over time. Additionally, patterns of coping were studied on an individual level to increase knowledge about coping and its relation to psychosexual functioning.

Methods

One hundred and seventeen women, 18–35 years old, with recurring vulvovaginal pain answered questionnaires at two measurement points, five months apart, assessing avoidance and endurance coping, pain intensity and psychosexual functioning. A multiple regression model explored the predictive value of avoidance and endurance on sexual function over time. Cluster analyses investigated patterns of coping and stability within the clusters. These subgroups were compared on psychosexual outcomes.

Results

Avoidance at baseline was the only significant predictor of sexual function five months later. Distinct and stable subgroups with different patterns of coping were identified, where avoidance and endurance coping were used both separately and combined. Women who both avoided and endured had the most unfavourable outcomes in terms of psychosexual functioning.

Conclusions

Avoidance of sexual activities was related to reduced sexual function over time, which calls for attention and clinical interventions targeting avoidance. Additionally, women who both avoid and endure sexual activities despite pain possibly need tailored interventions, as women with this coping pattern reported the lowest levels of psychosexual functioning.

Significance

In this prospective study, avoidance of sexual activities predicted sexual function over time, when controlling for pain intensity. Subgroups of women using distinct patterns of coping were identified. Those who both avoided and endured had the lowest levels of psychosexual functioning.
Nanomaterials in the environment: Behavior, fate, bioavailability, and effects—An updated review
Authors: Lead Jamie R. , Batley Graeme E. , Alvarez Pedro J. J. , Croteau Marie-Noële , Handy Richard D. , McLaughlin Michael J. , Judy Jonathan D. , Schirmer Kristin
Published: April 2018

The present review covers developments in studies of nanomaterials (NMs) in the environment since our much cited review in 2008. We discuss novel insights into fate and behavior, metrology, transformations, bioavailability, toxicity mechanisms, and environmental impacts, with a focus on terrestrial and aquatic systems. Overall, the findings were that: 1) despite substantial developments, critical gaps remain, in large part due to the lack of analytical, modeling, and field capabilities, and also due to the breadth and complexity of the area; 2) a key knowledge gap is the lack of data on environmental concentrations and dosimetry generally; 3) substantial evidence shows that there are nanospecific effects (different from the effects of both ions and larger particles) on the environment in terms of fate, bioavailability, and toxicity, but this is not consistent for all NMs, species, and relevant processes; 4) a paradigm is emerging that NMs are less toxic than equivalent dissolved materials but more toxic than the corresponding bulk materials; and 5) translation of incompletely understood science into regulation and policy continues to be challenging. There is a developing consensus that NMs may pose a relatively low environmental risk, but because of uncertainty and lack of data in many areas, definitive conclusions cannot be drawn. In addition, this emerging consensus will likely change rapidly with qualitative changes in the technology and increased future discharges. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:2029–2063. © 2018 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of SETAC.
12 Weeks of a Ribavirin‐Free Sofosbuvir and Nonstructural Protein 5A Inhibitor Regimen Is Enough to Treat Recurrence of Hepatitis C After Liver Transplantation
Authors: Houssel‐Debry Pauline , Coilly Audrey , Fougerou‐Leurent Claire , Jezequel Caroline , Duvoux Christophe , De Ledinghen Victor , Radenne Sylvie , Kamar Nassim , Leroy Vincent , Martino Vincent Di , D'Alteroche Louis , Canva Valérie , Conti Filomena , Dumortier Jerome , Montialoux Hélène , Lebray Pascal , Botta‐Fridlund Danielle , Tran Albert , Moreno Christophe , Silvain Christine , Besch Camille , Perre Philippe , Francoz Claire , Abergel Armando , Habersetzer François , Debette‐Gratien Maryline , Cagnot Carole , Diallo Alpha , Chevaliez Stéphane , Rossignol Emilie , Veislinger Aurélie , Duclos‐Vallee Jean‐Charles , Pageaux Georges‐Philippe ,   and the ANRS CO23 CUPILT study group
Published: April 2018

Sofosbuvir (SOF) combined with nonstructural protein 5A (NS5A) inhibitors has demonstrated its efficacy in treating a recurrence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) after liver transplantation (LT). However, the duration of treatment and need for ribavirin (RBV) remain unclear in this population. Our aim was to determine whether LT recipients could be treated with an SOF + NS5A inhibitor‐based regimen without RBV for 12 weeks post‐LT. Between October 2013 and December 2015, 699 LT recipients experiencing an HCV recurrence were enrolled in the multicenter ANRS CO23 CUPILT cohort. We selected patients receiving SOF and NS5A inhibitor ± RBV and followed for at least 12 weeks after treatment discontinuation. The primary efficacy endpoint was a sustained virological response 12 weeks after the end of treatment (SVR12). Among these 699 patients, 512 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Their main characteristics were: 70.1% genotype 1, 18.2% genotype 3, 21.1% cirrhosis, and 34.4% previously treated patients. We identified four groups of patients according to their treatment and duration: SOF + NS5A without RBV for 12 (156 patients) or 24 (239 patients) weeks; SOF + NS5A + RBV for 12 (47 patients) or 24 (70 patients) weeks. SVR12 values reached 94.9%, 97.9%, 95.7%, and 92.9%, respectively (P = 0.14). Only 20 patients experienced a treatment failure. Under multivariate analysis, factors such as fibrosis stage, previous treatment, HCV genotype, and baseline HCV viral load did not influence SVR12 rates in the four groups (P = 0.21). Hematological adverse events (AEs) were more common in the RBV group: anemia (P < 0.0001) and blood transfusion (P = 0.0001). Conclusion: SOF + NS5A inhibitors without RBV for 12 weeks constituted reliable therapy for recurrent HCV post‐LT with an excellent SVR12 whatever the fibrosis stage, HCV genotype, and previous HCV treatment. (Hepatology 2018; 00:000‐000).
Cost‐effectiveness of antiviral treatment after resection in hepatitis B virus–related hepatocellular carcinoma patients with compensated cirrhosis
Authors: Xie Li , Yin Juan , Xia Ruyi , Zhuang Guihua
Published: April 2018

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) imposes a heavy disease burden on China due to its high morbidity and mortality. China accounts for about 50% of the total new cases and deaths worldwide. Most cases are related to hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and are associated with cirrhosis at diagnosis. Antiviral treatment with nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) after resection in HBV‐related HCC can reduce recurrence and improve survival. Such treatment is in fact recommended by Chinese guidelines. However, cost‐effectiveness studies regarding this treatment are rare. The objective of this study was to estimate the cost‐effectiveness of NA treatment after resection in HBV‐related HCC patients with compensated cirrhosis. A Markov model was constructed to simulate HBV‐related HCC patients with compensated cirrhosis and detectable HBV DNA, with or without NA treatment after resection, followed up over their lifetime. Costs, life expectancy, quality‐adjusted life‐years (QALYs), and incremental cost‐effectiveness ratios (ICER) were calculated for each strategy from the societal perspective. The parameters of the model were derived from published studies, government documents, and our surveys. Sensitivity analyses were used to explore the impact of parameters on the uncertainty of the results. NA treatment produced 4.22 QALYs, costing $39,898, while non‐NA treatment achieved 2.80 QALYs, costing $16,048. The ICER of NA treatment versus non‐NA treatment was $16,848/QALY, which was between 2 and 3 times gross domestic product per capita and was therefore deemed cost‐effective. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis confirmed that NA treatment was cost‐effective, with a probability of 0.852. Conclusion: NA treatment after liver resection was likely cost‐effective in HBV‐related HCC patients with compensated cirrhosis. (Hepatology 2018).
Polarized light microscopy for 3‐dimensional mapping of collagen fiber architecture in ocular tissues
Authors: Yang Bin , Jan Ning‐Jiun , Brazile Bryn , Voorhees Andrew , Lathrop Kira L. , Sigal Ian A
Published: April 2018

Collagen fibers play a central role in normal eye mechanics and pathology. In ocular tissues, collagen fibers exhibit a complex 3‐dimensional (3D) fiber orientation, with both in‐plane (IP) and out‐of‐plane (OP) orientations. Imaging techniques traditionally applied to the study of ocular tissues only quantify IP fiber orientation, providing little information on OP fiber orientation. Accurate description of the complex 3D fiber microstructures of the eye requires quantifying full 3D fiber orientation. Herein, we present 3dPLM, a technique based on polarized light microscopy developed to quantify both IP and OP collagen fiber orientations of ocular tissues. The performance of 3dPLM was examined by simulation and experimental verification and validation. The experiments demonstrated an excellent agreement between extracted and true 3D fiber orientation. Both IP and OP fiber orientations can be extracted from the sclera and the cornea, providing previously unavailable quantitative 3D measures and insight into the tissue microarchitecture. Together, the results demonstrate that 3dPLM is a powerful imaging technique for the analysis of ocular tissues.