bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Incremental, Systemic, and Paradigmatic Reform of Investor-State Arbitration
Authors: Roberts Anthea
Published: August 2018

InImperfect Alternatives: Institutional Choice and the Reform of Investment Law, Sergio Puig and Gregory Shaffer introduce comparative institutional analysis to evaluate alternative processes for resolving investment disputes. The impetus for this article is clear: many states view investor-state arbitration as akin to a horse that has bolted from the barn. Wishing to close the stable door, a wide range of states are considering the merits of various reform proposals. Puig and Shaffer's comprehensive and balanced framework for assessing the tradeoffs involved in making different choices is thus a welcome and timely intervention in these (often highly polarized) debates.
Nosocomial transmission of hepatitis C virus in a liver transplant center in Hong Kong: implication of reusable blood collection tube holder as the vehicle for transmission
Authors: Cheng Vincent C.C. , Wong Shuk-Ching , Wong Sally C.Y. , Sridhar Siddharth , Yip Cyril C.Y. , Chen Jonathan H.K. , Fung James , Chiu Kelvin H.Y. , Ho Pak-Leung , Chen Sirong , Cheng Ben W.C. , Ho Chi-Lai , Lo Chung-Mau , Yuen Kwok-Yung
Published: August 2018

Background

A liver transplant recipient developed hospital-acquired symptomatic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 6a infection 14 months post transplant.

Objective

Standard outbreak investigation.

Methods

Patient chart review, interviews of patients and staff, observational study of patient care practices, environmental surveillance, blood collection simulation experiments, and phylogenetic study of HCV strains using partial envelope gene sequences (E1–E2) of HCV genotype 6a strains from the suspected source patient, the environment, and the index patient were performed.

Results

Investigations and data review revealed no further cases of HCV genotype 6a infection in the transplant unit. However, a suspected source with a high HCV load was identified. HCV genotype 6a was found in a contaminated reusable blood-collection tube holder with barely visible blood and was identified as the only shared item posing risk of transmission to the index case patient. Also, 14 episodes of sequential blood collection from the source patient and the index case patient were noted on the computerized time log of the laboratory barcoding system during their 13 days of cohospitalization in the liver transplant ward. Disinfection of the tube holders was not performed after use between patients. Blood collection simulation experiments showed that HCV and technetium isotope contaminating the tip of the sleeve capping the sleeved-needle can reflux back from the vacuum-specimen tube side to the patient side.

Conclusions

A reusable blood-collection tube holder without disinfection between patients can cause a nosocomial HCV infection. Single-use disposable tube holders should be used according to the recommendations by Occupational Safety and Health Administration and World Health Organization.
Eating with a smaller spoon decreases bite size, eating rate and ad libitum food intake in healthy young males
Authors: James Lewis J. , Maher Tyler , Biddle Jack , Broom David R.
Published: August 2018

There is a paucity of data examining the effect of cutlery size on the microstructure of within-meal eating behaviour or food intake. Therefore, the present studies examined how manipulation of spoon size influenced these eating behaviour measures in lean young men. In study one, subjects ate a semi-solid porridge breakfast ad libitum, until satiation. In study two, subjects ate a standardised amount of porridge, with mean bite size and mean eating rate covertly measured by observation through a one-way mirror. Both studies involved subjects completing a familiarisation visit and two experimental visits, where they ate with a teaspoon (SMALL) or dessert spoon (LARGE), in randomised order. Subjective appetite measures (hunger, fullness, desire to eat and satisfaction) were made before and after meals. In study one, subjects ate 8 % less food when they ate with the SMALL spoon (SMALL 532 (SD 189) g; LARGE 575 (SD 227) g; P=0·006). In study two, mean bite size (SMALL 10·5 (SD 1·3) g; LARGE 13·7 (SD 2·6) g; P<0·001) and eating rate (SMALL 92 (SD 25) g/min; LARGE 108 (SD 29) g/min; P<0·001) were reduced in the SMALL condition. There were no condition or interaction effects for subjective appetite measures. These results suggest that eating with a small spoon decreases ad libitum food intake, possibly via a cascade of effects on within-meal eating microstructure. A small spoon might be a practical strategy for decreasing bite size and eating rate, likely increasing oral processing, and subsequently decreasing food intake, at least in lean young men.
Arlinskii's Iteration and its Applications
Authors: Titkos Tamás
Published: August 2018

Several Lebesgue-type decomposition theorems in analysis have a strong relation to the operation called theparallel sum. The aim of this paper is to investigate this relation from a new point of view. Namely, using a natural generalization of Arlinskii's approach (which identifies the singular part as a fixed point of a single-variable map) we prove the existence of a Lebesgue-type decomposition for non-negative sesquilinear forms. As applications, we also show how this approach can be used to derive analogous results for representable functionals, non-negative finitely additive measures, and positive definite operator functions. The focus is on the fact that each theorem can be proved with the same completely elementary method.
Nutritional depletion of total mixed rations by red-winged blackbirds and projected impacts on dairy cow performance
Authors: Carlson James C. , Stahl Randal S. , Wagner John J. , Engle Terry E. , DeLiberto Shelagh T. , Reid Dustin A. , Werner Scott J.
Published: August 2018

This Research Communication describes an investigation of the nutritional depletion of total mixed rations (TMR) by pest birds. We hypothesized that species-specific bird depredation of TMR can alter the nutritional composition of the ration and that these changes can negatively impact the performance of dairy cows. Blackbirds selected the high energy fraction of the TMR (i.e., flaked corn) and reduced starch, crude fat and total digestible nutrients during controlled feeding experiments. For Holsteins producing 37·1 kg of milk/d, dairy production modeling illustrated that total required net energy intake (NEI) was 35·8 Mcal/d. For the reference TMR unexposed to blackbirds and the blackbird-consumed TMR, NEIsupplied was 41·2 and 37·8 Mcal/d, and the resulting energy balance was 5·4 and 2·0 Mcal/d, respectively. Thus, Holsteins fed the reference and blackbird-consumed TMR were estimated to gain one body condition score in 96 and 254 d, and experience daily weight change due to reserves of 1·1 and 0·4 kg/d, respectively. We discuss these results in context of an integrated pest management program for mitigating the depredation caused by pest birds at commercial dairies.
Dynamic feedforward control of spatial cable-driven hyper-redundant manipulators for on-orbit servicing
Authors: Mu Zonggao , Liu Tianliang , Xu Wenfu , Lou Yunjiang , Liang Bin
Published: August 2018

The hyper-redundant manipulators are suitable for working in the constrained on-orbit servicing environment due to the extreme flexibility. However, its modelling and control are very challenging due to the characteristics of non-linearity and strong coupling. In this paper, considering the multi-level mapping among the motors, cables, joints, and end-effector, a proportional derivative (PD) with dynamic feedforward compensation control system is designed. The corresponding control system is divided into five parts: controller, planner, actuator, manipulator, and sensor. The actual control torque consisting of the desired feedforward torque and the feedback torque is generated by the controller. In order to improve the tracking accuracy and maintain rapid response, the torque, which is calculated by the dynamics model of the traditional joint-driven manipulator, is regarded as the desired feedforward torque. The parameters of interest are the angle and velocity of the universal joint and motors. The planner plans and converts the desired parameters of the universal joint to corresponding motors. Combining with the feedback angles and velocities signals of the corresponding motors, the feedback torque can be calculated by the PD control module. Finally, typical cases of six universal joints (12DOFs) manipulators are simulated and experimented. The results demonstrate that the method is very efficient for controlling spatial cable-driven hyper-redundant manipulators.
The Case for Foreign Electoral Subversion
Authors: Fabre Cécile
Published: August 2018

It is widely alleged that President Putin's regime attempted to exercise influence on the 2016 U.S. presidential election. It is known that its Soviet predecessors funded Western communist parties for decades as a means to undermine noncommunist regimes. Similarly, the United States has a long history of interfering in the institutions and elections of its Latin American neighbors, as well as (at the height of the Cold War) its European allies. More recently, many believe that, absent U.S.-driven assistance, the Democratic Opposition of Serbia would have lost the 2000 Yugoslavian presidential election to Slobodan Milošević. As those examples suggest, attempting to subvert the democratic elections of a putatively sovereign country is a time-honored way of bending the latter's domestic and foreign policy to one's will. In this paper, I focus on the state-sponsored, nonviolent, nonkinetic subversion of nationwide elections (for short, subversion) through campaign and party financing, tampering with electoral registers, and conducting disinformation campaigns about candidates. I argue that, under certain conditions and subject to certain constraints, subversion is pro tanto justified as a means to prevent or end large-scale human rights violations.
The Moral Limits of Territorial Claims in Antarctica
Authors: Mancilla Alejandra
Published: August 2018

By virtue of the Antarctic Treaty, signed in 1959, the territorial claims to Antarctica of seven of the original signatories were held in abeyance or “frozen.” Considered by many as an exemplar of international law, the Antarctic Treaty System has come to be increasingly questioned, however, in a very much changed global scenario that presents new challenges to the governance of the White Continent. In this context, it is necessary to gain a clearer understanding of the moral weight of those initial claims, which stand (despite being frozen) as a cornerstone of the treaty. The aim of this article is to offer an appraisal of such claims, which may be divided into two main kinds: those grounded on some relevant link to the territory, and those grounded on official documents and geographical doctrines. After pointing to the limitations and challenges that they face, I conclude with some remarks about how this assessment ought to serve as a starting point to rethink the territorial status of Antarctica.
Hospital Surge Capacity during Expo 2015 in Milano, Italy
Authors: Faccincani Roberto , Della Corte Francesco , Sesana Giovanni , Stucchi Riccardo , Weinstein Eric , Ashkenazi Itamar , Ingrassia Pierluigi
Published: August 2018

Introduction

Hospital Acute Care Surge Capacity (HACSC), Hospital Acute Care Surge Threshold (HACST), and Total Hospital Capacity (THC) are scales that were developed to quantify surge capacity in the event of a multiple-casualty incident (MCI). These scales take into consideration the need for adequate care for both critical (T1) and moderate (T2) trauma patients. The objective of this study was to verify the validity of these scales in nine hospitals of the Milano (Italy) metropolitan area that prepared for a possible MCI during EXPO 2015.

Methods

Both HACSC and HACST were computed for individual hospitals. These were compared to surge capacities declared by individual hospitals during EXPO 2015, and also to surge capacity evaluated during a simulation organized on August 23, 2016.

Results

Both HACSC and HACST were smaller compared to capacities measured and reported by the hospitals, as well as those found during the simulation. This resulted in significant differences in THC when this was computed from the different methods of calculation.

Conclusions:

Surge capacity is dependent on the method of measurement. Each method has its inherent deficiencies. Until more reliable methodologies are developed, there is a benefit to analyze surge capacity using several methods rather than just one. Emergency committee members should be aware of the importance of critical resources when looking to the hospital capacity to respond to an MCI, and to the possibility to effectively increase it with a good preparedness plan. Since hospital capacity during real events is not static but dynamic, largely depending on occupation of the available resources, it is important that the regional command center and the hospitals receiving casualties constantly communicate on specific agreed upon critical resources, in order for the regional command center to timely evaluate the overall regional capacity and guarantee the appropriate distribution of the patients.

FaccincaniR,Della CorteF,SesanaG,StucchiR,WeinsteinE,AshkenaziI,IngrassiaP.Hospital surge capacity during Expo 2015 in Milano, Italy.Prehosp Disaster Med.2018;33(5):459–465.
Prepartum and Postpartum Mothers’ and Fathers’ Unwanted, Intrusive Thoughts in Response to Infant Crying
Authors: Fairbrother Nichole , Barr Ronald G. , Chen Mandy , Riar Shivraj , Miller Erica , Brant Rollin , Ma Annie
Published: August 2018

Background: Unwanted intrusive thoughts of intentionally harming one's infant (intrusive harm thoughts) are common distressing experiences among postpartum mothers and fathers. Aim: To understand infant crying as a stimulus for intrusive harm thoughts and associated emotional responses in prepartum and postpartum mothers and fathers in response to infant cry. Method: Following completion of self-report measures of negative mood and anger, prepartum (n = 48) and postpartum (n = 44) samples of mother and father pairs completed 10 minutes of listening to audio-recorded infant crying. Post-test questionnaires assessed harm thoughts, negative emotions, urges to comfort and flee, and thoughts of shaking as a soothing or coping strategy. Results: One quarter of prepartum and 44% of postpartum parents reported intrusive infant-related harm thoughts following crying. Mothers and fathers did not differ in the likelihood of reporting harm thoughts, nor in the number of thoughts reported. Women reported more internalizing emotions compared with men. Hostile emotions were stronger among postpartum parents, and parents reporting harm thoughts. All parents reported strong urges to comfort the infant. Urges to flee were stronger among parents who reported harm thoughts. The likelihood of using infant shaking as a soothing or coping strategy was minimally endorsed, albeit more strongly by fathers and parents who also reported harm thoughts. Conclusions: In response to crying, harm thoughts are common and are associated with hostile emotions, urges to flee, and increased thoughts of using infant shaking. Reassuringly, the number of participants considering infant shaking as a strategy for soothing or for coping with a crying infant was low.
Thai tax reforms from 1992 to 2013: the problems of tax systems in developing countries
Authors: Matsumoto Tomoko
Published: August 2018

Taxation is considered an important reason for the persistent inequality in developing countries. Developing countries tend to rely heavily on revenue from regressive taxation on consumption, such as the value-added tax, and fail to use progressive income taxes for revenue. Thailand is a typical case of those developing countries. Scholars argue that the median voter model does not apply to the developing countries because their ineffective income taxation results from the weak representation of the poor. A close examination of tax politics in Thailand, however, demonstrates that the low revenue from income taxation in Thailand is attributed to the strong representation of the poor rather than the weak one. This study details the process of Thai tax reform based on interviews with policymakers in Bangkok. It traces changes in the country's tax regulations and uses tax data collected at both the local and national level. Tax reforms, particularly those on income taxes after the 1997 financial crisis, have resulted in a decreased tax burden on the poor as well as the rich.
EU citizens’ rights post Brexit: why direct effect beyond the EU is not enough
Authors: Smismans Stijn
Published: August 2018

Brexit – EU citizens’ rights – Direct effect beyond the EU – The Withdrawal Agreement does not protect citizens properly – Copying substantive provisions of EU law and parts of the EU’s supranational features, such as direct effect, does not provide equal protection for EU citizens once a country is no longer part of the EU – UK-specific implementation measures to be set out in Withdrawal Agreement or Protocol – Guarantees also to be set out in primary legislation – UK Government intends to act to a great extent via secondary legislation – relationship between the Withdrawal Act and the Withdrawal Agreement and Implementation Bill
Methods for generating coherent distortion risk measures
Authors: Samanthi Ranadeera G.M. , Sepanski Jungsywan
Published: August 2018

This paper presents methods for generating new distortion functions utilising distribution functions and composite distribution functions. To ensure the coherency of the corresponding distortion risk measures, the concavity of the proposed distortion functions is established by restricting the parameter space of the generating distribution. Closed-form expressions for risk measures are derived for some cases. Numerical and graphical results are presented to demonstrate the effects of parameter values on the risk measures for exponential, Pareto and log-normal losses. In addition, we apply the proposed distortion functions to derive risk measures for a segregated fund guarantee.
Like father like daughter: sex-specific parent-of-origin effects in the transmission of liability for psychotic symptoms to offspring
Authors: Aylott A. , Zwicker A. , MacKenzie L. E. , Cumby J. , Propper L. , Abidi S. , Bagnell A. , Fisher H. L. , Pavlova B. , Alda M. , Uher R.
Published: August 2018

Children of parents with major mood and psychotic disorders are at increased risk of psychopathology, including psychotic symptoms. It has been suggested that the risk of psychosis may be more often transmitted from parent to opposite-sex offspring (e.g., from father to daughter) than to same-sex offspring (e.g., from father to son). To test whether sex-specific transmission extends to early manifestations of psychosis, we examined sex-specific contributions to psychotic symptoms among offspring of mothers and fathers with depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. We assessed psychotic symptoms in 309 offspring (160 daughters and 149 sons) aged 8–24 years (mean=13.1, s.d.=4.3), of whom 113 had a mother with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or major depression and 43 had a father with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or major depression. In semi-structured interviews, 130 (42%) offspring had definite psychotic symptoms established and confirmed by psychiatrists on one or more assessments. We tested the effects of mental illness in parents on same-sex and opposite-sex offspring psychotic symptoms in mixed-effect logistic regression models. Psychotic symptoms were more prevalent among daughters of affected fathers and sons of affected mothers than among offspring of the same sex as their affected parent. Mental illness in the opposite-sex parent increased the odds of psychotic symptoms (odds ratio (OR)=2.65, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.43–4.91, P=0.002), but mental illness in the same-sex parent did not have a significant effect on psychotic symptoms in offspring (OR=1.13, 95% CI 0.61–2.07, P=0.697). The opposite-sex-specific parent-of-origin effects may suggest X chromosome-linked genetic transmission or inherited chromosomal modifications in the etiology of psychotic symptoms.
Calling Mogadishu: How Reminders of Anarchy Bias Survey Participation
Authors: Denny Elaine K. , Driscoll Jesse
Published: August 2018

How does the fear of anarchy affect telephone survey behaviors? A survey experiment administered to a sample of Mogadishu residents—validated with a natural experiment—is used to assess this question. Randomly assigned reminders of anarchic violence conditioned differential effects on survey participation depending on subjects’ background level of security and welfare. Vulnerable subjects were more likely than non-vulnerable subjects to refuse to provide sensitive survey information after reminders of anarchy.
Psychische Störungen und kriminelle Rückfälle bei männlichen jugendlichen Gefängnisinsassen
Authors: Bessler Cornelia , Stiefel Dorothea , Barra Steffen , Plattner Belinda , Aebi Marcel
Published: August 2018

Zusammenfassung. Fragestellung: Die Prävalenz psychischer Störungen unter inhaftierten Jugendlichen ist hoch. Offen ist die Frage, ob damit eine erhöhte kriminelle Rückfälligkeit einhergeht. Methodik: Zwischen dem 01.08.2010 und 31.10.2012 wurden im kantonalen Jugendgefängnis Zürich alle inhaftierten männlichen Jugendlichen bei Eintritt psychiatrisch untersucht (N = 122). Die psychischen Störungen wurden anhand eines standardisierten Interviews erfasst. Nach der Haftentlassung wurden die Probanden im Kantonalen Rechtsinformationssystem betreffend Rückfälligkeit während eines Jahres nachkontrolliert. Ergebnisse: 90.2 % der Insassen litten unter mindestens einer psychiatrischen Störung. Über 70 % der Jugendlichen waren zum Zeitpunkt ihrer Inhaftierung von mehreren psychiatrischen Erkrankungen betroffen. Es konnten vier voneinander unabhängige Störungskategorien unterschieden werden: affektive Störungen, Angststörungen, Verhaltensstörungen und Abhängigkeitserkrankungen. Betreffend Rückfälligkeit fand sich, dass Jugendliche mit Verhaltensstörungen und/oder einer Abhängigkeitserkrankung häufiger mit einer Gewaltstraftat rückfällig wurden als aus dem Gefängnis entlassene Jugendliche ohne psychische Erkrankungen. Zudem zeigte sich, dass je jünger die inhaftierten Jugendlichen waren, desto kürzer war die Zeit nach ihrer Entlassung, bis sie eine Gewaltstraftat verübten. Schlussfolgerungen: Aufgrund der hohen Prävalenz von psychischen Störungen unter inhaftierten Jugendlichen ist es notwendig, dass diese Minderjährigen auch jugendpsychiatrisch-psychologisch untersucht und adäquat behandelt werden. Neben der psychiatrischen Versorgung der minderjährigen Gefängnisinsassen kann so auch den Anforderungen eines effektiven Opferschutzes und dem Sicherheitsbedürfnis unserer Gesellschaft entsprochen werden.
A Sharper Picture of the Moon's Bombardment History From Gravity Data
Authors: Nimmo F.
Published: August 2018

Some large impact basins on the Moon are covered with younger basalts, making it hard to determine their age by crater counting. Evans et al. (2018, https://doi.org/10.1029/2017JE005421) use Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory gravity data to identify buried craters larger than 90 km and construct a relative chronology for the impact basins. This relative chronology is broadly consistent with the degree to which the basins have relaxed: Older basins tend to be more relaxed. Pre‐Nectarian basins are likely saturated, so the roughly constant measured crater density does not require a brief formation interval. Some of the results of Evans et al. (2018) are at odds with other determinations; for example, they suggest that Imbrium could be older than Crisium, and Serenitatis as young as Imbrium.
Human menstrual blood-derived stem cells promote functional recovery in a rat spinal cord hemisection model
Authors: Wu Qinfeng , Wang Qinghua , Li Zhangjie , Li Xiangzhe , Zang Jing , Wang Zhangwei , Xu Chen , Gong Yujia , Cheng Jiaqi , Li Haoming , Shen Guangyu , Dong Chuanming
Published: August 2018

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is associated with a dismal prognosis including severe voluntary motor and sensory deficits in the presence of the current therapies, thus new and efficient treatment strategies are desperately required. Along with several advantages, such as easy accessibility, high-yield, potential of enormous proliferation, menstrual blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MenSCs) have been proposed as a promising strategy in regeneration medicine. In this study, the MenSCs were transplanted into incomplete thoracic (T10) spinal cord injury (SCI) rats, all rats were sacrificed at 7, 14, and 28 days after surgery. Based on the results, we found that MenSCs transplantation improved the hind limb motor function. Besides, H&E staining showed that MenSCs treatment markedly reduced cavity formation in the lesion site. Furthermore, treatment by MenSCs showed more MAP2-positive mature neurons, as well as axonal regeneration manifested by NF-200 and less expression of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) than the non-treatment in the lesion site. Additionally, immunofluorescence, Western blot, and qRT-PCR methods showed that levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were significantly higher in the injured spinal cord after implantation of MenSCs. Results of qRT-PCR indicated that inflammatory factors, including TNF-α and IL-1β were inhibited after MenSCs transplantation. The improved motor function of hind limb and the increased cell body area of motor neurons were suppressed by blocking of the BDNF-TrkB signaling. It was eventually revealed that MenSCs implantation had beneficial therapeutic effects on the rehabilitation of the rat spinal cord hemisection model, mainly by enhancing the expression of BDNF. MenSCs transplantation may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for patients with SCI in the future.
Autophagy exacerbates electrical remodeling in atrial fibrillation by ubiquitin-dependent degradation of L-type calcium channel
Authors: Yuan Yue , Zhao Jing , Gong Yongtai , Wang Dingyu , Wang Xiaoyu , Yun Fengxiang , Liu Zhaorui , Zhang Song , Li Wenpeng , Zhao Xinbo , Sun Li , Sheng Li , Pan Zhenwei , Li Yue
Published: August 2018

Autophagy, a bidirectional degradative process extensively occurring in eukaryotes, has been revealed as a potential therapeutic target for several cardiovascular diseases. However, its role in atrial fibrillation (AF) remains largely unknown. This study aimed to determine the role of autophagy in atrial electrical remodeling under AF condition. Here, we reported that autophagic flux was markedly activated in atria of persistent AF patients and rabbit model of atrial rapid pacing (RAP). We also observed that the key autophagy-related gene7 (ATG7) significantly upregulated in AF patients as well as tachypacing rabbits. Moreover, lentivirus-mediated ATG7 knockdown and overexpression in rabbits were employed to clarify the effects of autophagy on atrial electrophysiology via intracardiac operation and patch-clamp experiments. Lentivirus-mediated ATG7 knockdown or autophagy inhibitor chloroquine (CQ) restored the shortened atrial effective refractory period (AERP) and alleviated the AF vulnerability caused by tachypacing in rabbits. Conversely, ATG7 overexpression significantly promoted the incidence and persistence of AF and decreased L-type calcium channel (Cav1.2 α-subunits), along with abbreviated action potential duration (APD) and diminished L-type calcium current (ICa,L). Furthermore, the co-localization and interaction of Cav1.2 with LC3B-positive autophagosomes enhanced when autophagy was activated in atrial myocytes. Tachypacing-induced autophagic degradation of Cav1.2 required ubiquitin signal through the recruitment of ubiquitin-binding proteins RFP2 and p62, which guided Cav1.2 to autophagosomes. These findings suggest that autophagy induces atrial electrical remodeling via ubiquitin-dependent selective degradation of Cav1.2 and provide a novel and promising strategy for preventing AF development.
Binder driven self-assembly of metal-organic cubes towards functional hydrogels
Authors: Sutar Papri , Suresh Venkata M. , Jayaramulu Kolleboyina , Hazra Arpan , Maji Tapas Kumar
Published: August 2018

The process of assembling astutely designed, well-defined metal-organic cube (MOC) into hydrogel by using a suitable molecular binder is a promising method for preparing processable functional soft materials. Here, we demonstrate charge-assisted H-bonding driven hydrogel formation from Ga3+-based anionic MOC ((Ga8(ImDC)12)12−) and molecular binders, like, ammonium ion (NH4+), N-(2-aminoethyl)-1,3-propanediamine, guanidine hydrochloride and β-alanine. The morphology of the resulting hydrogel depends upon the size, shape and geometry of the molecular binder. Hydrogel with NH4+ shows nanotubular morphology with negative surface charge and is used for gel-chromatographic separation of cationic species from anionic counterparts. Furthermore, a photo-responsive luminescent hydrogel is prepared using a cationic tetraphenylethene-based molecular binder (DATPE), which is employed as a light harvesting antenna for tuning emission colour including pure white light. This photo-responsive hydrogel is utilized for writing and preparing flexible light-emitting display.
Local enrichment of HP1alpha at telomeres alters their structure and regulation of telomere protection
Authors: Chow Tracy T. , Shi Xiaoyu , Wei Jen-Hsuan , Guan Juan , Stadler Guido , Huang Bo , Blackburn Elizabeth H.
Published: August 2018

Enhanced telomere maintenance is evident in malignant cancers. While telomeres are thought to be inherently heterochromatic, detailed mechanisms of how epigenetic modifications impact telomere protection and structures are largely unknown in human cancers. Here we develop a molecular tethering approach to experimentally enrich heterochromatin protein HP1α specifically at telomeres. This results in increased deposition of H3K9me3 at cancer cell telomeres. Telomere extension by telomerase is attenuated, and damage-induced foci at telomeres are reduced, indicating augmentation of telomere stability. Super-resolution STORM imaging shows an unexpected increase in irregularity of telomeric structure. Telomere-tethered chromo shadow domain (CSD) mutant I165A of HP1α abrogates both the inhibition of telomere extension and the irregularity of telomeric structure, suggesting the involvement of at least one HP1α-ligand in mediating these effects. This work presents an approach to specifically manipulate the epigenetic status locally at telomeres to uncover insights into molecular mechanisms underlying telomere structural dynamics.
Bioinspired ultra-stretchable and anti-freezing conductive hydrogel fibers with ordered and reversible polymer chain alignment
Authors: Zhao Xue , Chen Fang , Li Yuanheng , Lu Han , Zhang Ning , Ma Mingming
Published: August 2018

High-performance stretchable conductive fibers are desired for the development of stretchable electronic devices. Here we show a simple spinning method to prepare conductive hydrogel fibers with ordered polymer chain alignment that mimics the hierarchically organized structure of spider silk. The as-prepared sodium polyacrylate hydrogel fiber is further coated with a thin layer of polymethyl acrylate to form a core–shell water-resistant MAPAH fiber. Owing to the coexistence and reversible transformation of crystalline and amorphous domains in the fibers, MAPAH fibers exhibit high tensile strength, large stretchability and fast resilience from large strain. MAPAH fiber can serve as a highly stretchable wire with a conductive hydrogel core and an insulating cover. The stretchability and conductivity of the MAPAH fiber are retained at −35 °C, indicating its anti-freezing property. As a prime example of stretchable conductive fibers, MAPAH fibers will shed light on the design of next generation textile-based stretchable electronic devices.
Consumption-based greenhouse gas emissions accounting with capital stock change highlights dynamics of fast-developing countries
Authors: Chen Zhan-Ming , Ohshita Stephanie , Lenzen Manfred , Wiedmann Thomas , Jiborn Magnus , Chen Bin , Lester Leo , Guan Dabo , Meng Jing , Xu Shiyun , Chen Guoqian , Zheng Xinye , Xue JinJun , Alsaedi Ahmed , Hayat Tasawar , Liu Zhu
Published: August 2018

Traditional consumption-based greenhouse gas emissions accounting attributed the gap between consumption-based and production-based emissions to international trade. Yet few attempts have analyzed the temporal deviation between current emissions and future consumption, which can be explained through changes in capital stock. Here we develop a dynamic model to incorporate capital stock change in consumption-based accounting. The new model is applied using global data for 1995–2009. Our results show that global emissions embodied in consumption determined by the new model are smaller than those obtained from the traditional model. The emissions embodied in global capital stock increased steadily during the period. However, capital plays very different roles in shaping consumption-based emissions for economies with different development characteristics. As a result, the dynamic model yields similar consumption-based emissions estimation for many developed countries comparing with the traditional model, but it highlights the dynamics of fast-developing countries.
Engineered bidirectional promoters enable rapid multi-gene co-expression optimization
Authors: Vogl Thomas , Kickenweiz Thomas , Pitzer Julia , Sturmberger Lukas , Weninger Astrid , Biggs Bradley W. , Köhler Eva-Maria , Baumschlager Armin , Fischer Jasmin Elgin , Hyden Patrick , Wagner Marlies , Baumann Martina , Borth Nicole , Geier Martina , Ajikumar Parayil Kumaran , Glieder Anton
Published: August 2018

Numerous synthetic biology endeavors require well-tuned co-expression of functional components for success. Classically, monodirectional promoters (MDPs) have been used for such applications, but MDPs are limited in terms of multi-gene co-expression capabilities. Consequently, there is a pressing need for new tools with improved flexibility in terms of genetic circuit design, metabolic pathway assembly, and optimization. Here, motivated by nature’s use of bidirectional promoters (BDPs) as a solution for efficient gene co-expression, we generate a library of 168 synthetic BDPs in the yeast Komagataella phaffii (syn. Pichia pastoris), leveraging naturally occurring BDPs as a parts repository. This library of synthetic BDPs allows for rapid screening of diverse expression profiles and ratios to optimize gene co-expression, including for metabolic pathways (taxadiene, β-carotene). The modular design strategies applied for creating the BDP library could be relevant in other eukaryotic hosts, enabling a myriad of metabolic engineering and synthetic biology applications.
H-bonded reusable template assisted para-selective ketonisation using soft electrophilic vinyl ethers
Authors: Maji Arun , Dahiya Amit , Lu Gang , Bhattacharya Trisha , Brochetta Massimo , Zanoni Giuseppe , Liu Peng , Maiti Debabrata
Published: August 2018

In nature, enzymatic pathways generate Caryl−C(O) bonds in a site-selective fashion. Synthetically, Caryl−C(O) bonds are synthesised in organometallic reactions using prefunctionalized substrate materials. Electrophilic routes are largely limited to electron-rich systems, non-polar medium, and multiple product formations with a limited scope of general application. Herein we disclose a directed para-selective ketonisation technique of arenes, overriding electronic bias and structural congestion, in the presence of a polar protic solvent. The concept of hard–soft interaction along with in situ activation techniques is utilised to suppress the competitive routes. Mechanistic pathways are investigated both experimentally and computationally to establish the hypothesis. Synthetic utility of the protocol is highlighted in formal synthesis of drugs, drug cores, and bioactive molecules.
Morphological instability of aqueous dissolution of silicate glasses and minerals
Authors: Wang Yifeng , Jove-Colon Carlos F. , Lenting Christoph , Icenhower Jonathan , Kuhlman Kristopher L.
Published: August 2018

Understanding of aqueous dissolution of silicate glasses and minerals is of great importance to both Earth and materials sciences. Silicate dissolution exhibits complex temporal evolution and rich pattern formations. Recently, we showed how observed complexity could emerge from a simple self-organizational mechanism: dissolution of the silica framework in a material could be catalyzed by the cations released from the reaction itself. This mechanism enables us to systematically predict many key features of a silicate dissolution process including the occurrence of a sharp corrosion front (vs. a leached surface layer), oscillatory dissolution and multiple stages of the alteration process (e.g., an alteration rate resumption at a late stage of glass dissolution). Here, through a linear stability analysis, we show that the same mechanism can also lead to morphological instability of an alteration front, which, in combination with oscillatory dissolution, can potentially lead to a whole suite of patterning phenomena, as observed on archaeological glass samples as well as in laboratory experiments, including wavy dissolution fronts, growth rings, incoherent bandings of alteration products, and corrosion pitting. The result thus further demonstrates the importance of the proposed self-accelerating mechanism in silicate material degradation.
A Multiplex PCR/LDR Assay for Viral Agents of Diarrhea with the Capacity to Genotype Rotavirus
Authors: Mirza Aashiq H. , Das Sanchita , Pingle Maneesh R. , Rundell Mark S. , Armah George , Gyan Ben , Hodinka Richard L. , Larone Davise H. , Spitzer Eric D. , Barany Francis , Golightly Linnie M.
Published: August 2018

Rotavirus and noroviruses are major causes of diarrhea. Variable rotavirus vaccination efficacy in Africa and Asia is multifactorial, including the diversity of circulating strains and viral co-infection. We describe a multiplexed assay that detects and genotypes viruses from stool specimens. It includes a one-step reverse transcriptase PCR reaction, a ligase detection reaction (LDR), then hybridization of fluorescent products to micro-beads. In clinical samples it detects rotavirus, caliciviruses (sapovirus and norovirus), mixed infections, and genotypes or genogroups of rotaviruses and noroviruses, respectively. The assay also has the capacity to detect hepatitis A. The assay was validated on reference isolates and 296 stool specimens from the US and Ghana. The assay was 97% sensitive and 100% specific. The genogroup was concordant in 100% of norovirus, and the genotype in 91% and 89% of rotavirus G- and P-types, respectively. Two rare rotavirus strains, G6P[6] and G6P[8], were detected in stool specimens from Ghana. The high-throughput assay is sensitive, specific, and may be of utility in the epidemiological surveillance for rare and emerging viral strains post-rotavirus vaccine implementation.
Tailoring far-infrared surface plasmon polaritons of a single-layer graphene using plasmon-phonon hybridization in graphene-LiF heterostructures
Authors: Hajian Hodjat , Serebryannikov Andriy E. , Ghobadi Amir , Demirag Yigit , Butun Bayram , Vandenbosch Guy A. E. , Ozbay Ekmel
Published: August 2018

Being one-atom thick and tunable simultaneously, graphene plays the revolutionizing role in many areas. The focus of this paper is to investigate the modal characteristics of surface waves in structures with graphene in the far-infrared (far-IR) region. We discuss the effects exerted by substrate permittivity on propagation and localization characteristics of surface-plasmon-polaritons (SPPs) in single-layer graphene and theoretically investigate characteristics of the hybridized surface-phonon-plasmon-polaritons (SPPPs) in graphene/LiF/glass heterostructures. First, it is shown how high permittivity of substrate may improve characteristics of graphene SPPs. Next, the possibility of optimization for surface-phonon-polaritons (SPhPs) in waveguides based on LiF, a polar dielectric with a wide polaritonic gap (Reststrahlen band) and a wide range of permittivity variation, is demonstrated. Combining graphene and LiF in one heterostructure allows to keep the advantages of both, yielding tunable hybridized SPPPs which can be either forwardly or backwardly propagating. Owing to high permittivity of LiF below the gap, an almost 3.2-fold enhancement in the figure of merit (FoM), ratio of normalized propagation length to localization length of the modes, can be obtained for SPPPs at 5–9 THz, as compared with SPPs of graphene on conventional glass substrate. The enhancement is efficiently tunable by varying the chemical potential of graphene. SPPPs with characteristics which strongly differ inside and around the polaritonic gap are found.
Polymorphisms of SLCO1B1 rs4149056 and SLC22A1 rs2282143 are associated with responsiveness to acitretin in psoriasis patients
Authors: Chen Wangqing , Zhang Xu , Zhang Wei , Peng Cong , Zhu Wu , Chen Xiang
Published: August 2018

Acitretin is widely used to treat psoriasis, but the efficacy varies significantly among individuals. To explore the association between polymorphisms and acitretin efficacy, we enrolled 46 and 105 Chinese Han psoriasis vulgaris patients for discovery and validation phases, respectively. The patients were treated with acitretin (30 mg/day) and calcipotriol ointment for at least 8 weeks, and their genotypes were detected. The wild-type genes and variants were transfected into HEK293 cells, which were then incubated with acitretin. The cellular acitretin concentration was measured by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. We found that the polymorphisms rs4149056 in the SLCO1B1 gene and rs2282143 in the SLC22A1 gene were associated with efficacy, both in the discovery (P = 0.013 and P = 0.002) and validation phases (P = 0.028 and P = 0.014), based on a 50% reduction from before to after treatment of the psoriasis area severity index (PASI50). When the PASI75 was used as an efficacy cutoff, a similar conclusion was drawn. The uptake of acitretin was lower with the rs4149056C (P = 0.002) and rs2282143T alleles (P = 0.038) than the wild-type alleles. Our results imply that the rs4149056C and rs2282143T variants decrease the acitretin uptake, and significantly associated with clinical effective responsiveness.
Brain imaging reveals covert consciousness during behavioral unresponsiveness induced by propofol
Authors: Huang Zirui , Vlisides Phillip E. , Tarnal Vijaykumar C. , Janke Ellen L. , Keefe Kelley M. , Collins Margaret M. , McKinney Amy M. , Picton Paul , Harris Richard E. , Mashour George A. , Hudetz Anthony G.
Published: August 2018

Detecting covert consciousness in behaviorally unresponsive patients by brain imaging is of great interest, but a reproducible model and evidence from independent sources is still lacking. Here we demonstrate the possibility of using general anesthetics in a within-subjects study design to test methods or statistical paradigms of assessing covert consciousness. Using noninvasive neuroimaging in healthy volunteers, we identified a healthy study participant who was able to exhibit the specific fMRI signatures of volitional mental imagery while behaviorally unresponsive due to sedation with propofol. Our findings reveal a novel model that may accelerate the development of new approaches to reproducibly detect covert consciousness, which is difficult to achieve in patients with heterogeneous and sometimes clinically unstable neuropathology.
Functional development of olfactory tubercle domains during weaning period in mice
Authors: Murofushi Wataru , Mori Kensaku , Murata Koshi , Yamaguchi Masahiro
Published: August 2018

Mammals shift their feeding habits from mother’s milk to environmental foods postnatally. While this weaning process accompanies the acquisition of attractive behaviour toward environmental foods, the underlying neural mechanism for the acquisition is poorly understood. We previously found that adult mouse olfactory tubercle (OT), which belongs to the olfactory cortex and ventral striatum, has functional domains that represent odour-induced motivated behaviours, and that c-fos induction occurs mainly in the anteromedial domain of OT following learned odour-induced food seeking behaviour. To address the question whether the anteromedial OT domain is involved in the postnatal acquisition of food seeking behaviour, we examined OT development during weaning of mice. Whereas at postnatal day 15 (P15), all mice were attracted to lactating mothers, P21 mice were more attracted to familiar food pellets. Mapping of c-fos induction during food seeking and eating behaviours showed that while c-fos activation was observed across wide OT domains at P15, the preferential activation of c-fos in the anteromedial domain occurred at P21 and later ages. These results indicate that preferential c-fos activation in the anteromedial OT domain occurred concomitantly with the acquisition of attractive behaviour toward food, which suggests the importance of this domain in the weaning process.
Protist species richness and soil microbiome complexity increase towards climax vegetation in the Brazilian Cerrado
Authors: de Araujo Ademir Sergio Ferreira , Mendes Lucas William , Lemos Leandro Nascimento , Antunes Jadson Emanuel Lopes , Beserra Jose Evando Aguiar , de Lyra Maria do Carmo Catanho Pereira , Figueiredo Marcia do Vale Barreto , Lopes Ângela Celis de Almeida , Gomes Regina Lucia Ferreira , Bezerra Walderly Melgaço , Melo Vania Maria Maciel , de Araujo Fabio Fernando , Geisen Stefan
Published: August 2018

Biodiversity underlies ecosystem functioning. While aboveground biodiversity is often well studied, the belowground microbiome, in particular protists, remains largely unknown. Indeed, holistic insights into soil microbiome structures in natural soils, especially in hyperdiverse biomes such as the Brazilian Cerrado, remain unexplored. Here, we study the soil microbiome across four major vegetation zones of the Cerrado, ranging from grass-dominated to tree-dominated vegetation with a focus on protists. We show that protist taxon richness increases towards the tree-dominated climax vegetation. Early successional habitats consisting of primary grass vegetation host most potential plant pathogens and least animal parasites. Using network analyses combining protist with prokaryotic and fungal sequences, we show that microbiome complexity increases towards climax vegetation. Together, this suggests that protists are key microbiome components and that vegetation succession towards climax vegetation is stimulated by higher loads of animal and plant pathogens. At the same time, an increase in microbiome complexity towards climax vegetation might enhance system stability.
Comparison of poly(styrene-divinylbenzene)-based monolithic and bead-based methodologies used in NANOFLOW LCMS for proteomic studies
Authors: Tsai Pei-Lun , Sung Tsu-Yi , Chong Chinh-Yen , Huang Sheng-Yu , Chen Sung-Fang
Published: August 2018

The SDVB-based monolithic chromatography combined with electrospray mass spectrometry is a powerful tool in proteomics analysis.
InvestigatingSaccharomyces cerevisiaealkene reductase OYE 3 by substrate profiling, X-ray crystallography and computational methods
Authors: Powell, III Robert W. , Buteler M. Pilar , Lenka Sunidhi , Crotti Michele , Santangelo Sara , Burg Matthew J. , Bruner Steven , Brenna Elisabetta , Roitberg Adrian E. , Stewart Jon D.
Published: August 2018

Saccharomyces cerevisiaeOYE 3 and OYE 1 share 80% sequence identity, but sometimes differ in stereoselectivities.
Polystyrene enhanced crystallization of perovskites towards high performance solar cells
Authors: Kim Hyeong Pil , bin Mohd Yusoff Abd. Rashid , Jang Jin
Published: August 2018

Perovskite solar cells have attracted significant attention due to their high efficiency and low cost.
Using an RNA aptamer probe for super-resolution imaging of native EGFR
Authors: Yan Qiuyan , Cai Mingjun , Zhou Lulu , Xu Haijiao , Shi Yan , Sun Jiayin , Jiang Junguang , Gao Jing , Wang Hongda
Published: August 2018

Using aptamer recognized membrane EGFR with high specificity and improved precision in super-resolution imaging.