bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
LA MARGINALIZACIÓN DE LA AGRICULTURA CAMPESINA E INDÍGENA: EL CASO DEL ECUADOR - DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5216/rfd.v41i1.47548
Authors: Houtart François
Published: July 2017

Resumen: En el mundo entero, la agricultura familiar campesina ha sido el pariente pobre de las políticas de desarrollo. Parece que para llegar a la modernidad se debe eliminar esta manera de producir. Una perspectiva de las políticas del “capitalismo moderno” es de seguir el ejemplo del Norte, promoviendo el desarrollo de agricultores medios, técnicamente avanzados y con una alta productividad. En el Ecuador hay un alto nivel de concentración, tanto de la producción como de la comercialización en el sector agrario. La agricultura en el Ecuador se encadena de manera más clara cada día en la lógica del capitalismo agrario, con una marginalización de la agricultura familiar campesina, siendo ese fenómeno acentuado por la nueva matriz productiva que excluye la agricultura campesina y su versión específica indígena, tratándolas como arcaicas y que los esfuerzos de una promoción de este sector aparecen como un regreso al pasado. La marginalización es así el resultado final, que se traduce en la realidad social como en la legislación, de la agricultura campesina e indígena.Resumo: No mundo inteiro, a agricultura familiar campesina tem sido o parente pobre das políticas de desenvolvimento. Parece que para chegar à Modernidade se deve eliminar esta maneira de produzir. Uma das perspectivas das políticas do "capitalismo moderno" é de seguir o exemplo do Norte, promovendo o desenvolvimento dos médios agricultores, tecnicamente avançados e com alta produtividade. No Equador há um alto nível de concentração, tanto da produção como da comercialização no setor agrário. A agricultura no Equador está ligando-se, de maneira mais clara a cada dia, à lógica do capitalismo agrário, marginalizando a agricultura familiar campesina, sendo esse fenômeno acentuado pela nova matriz produtiva que exclui a agricultura campesina e sua versão específica indígena, trantando-as como arcaicas e que os esforços de produção desse setor aparentam como um regresso ao passado. A marginalização é assim o resultado final, que se traduz na realidade social como na legislação, da agricultura campesina e indígena.
In Search for Truth: Surveillance Rumors and Vernacular Panopticon in Belarus
Authors: Astapova Anastasiya
Published: July 2017

In this article, I analyze rumors about surveillance—unverified expressions of belief and narratives, which, despite their global omnipresence, are contextualized by local peculiarities and modalities. I concentrate on the narratives recorded in Belarus, notoriously referred to as “the last dictatorship of Europe.” There, the rumors, largely inherited from the USSR, are reiterated due to the nontransparency of current legislation and other features of the Belarusian hegemonic regime, serving to create the sense of perpetual surveillance.
A Green New Deal for Appalachia: Economic Transition, Coal Reclamation Costs, Bottom-Up Policymaking (Part 1)
Authors: Taylor Betsy , Hufford Mary , Bilbrey Kendall
Published: July 2017

A key challenge of the twenty-first century will be to combine post-carbon economic transition with socioecological healing of the legacy damages concatenating from the fossil fuel era. What political and knowledge structures do we need to create integrated solutions to both of these challenges? In this paper, we draw lessons from grassroots social and environmental justice movements in Appalachia that seek post-coal economic transition. This article is in two parts. The first part analyzes participatory action research on regional economic transition conducted by the economic transition team of the Alliance for Appalachia (a regional coalition of sixteen grassroots organizations) from 2013 through 2015. Part 2 of this article looks at the Alliance’s work from 2016 to the present (and will appear in a future issue of this journal).
Climbing out of Poverty: The Economic Impact of Rock Climbing in and around Eastern Kentucky’s Red River Gorge
Authors: Maples James N. , Sharp Ryan L. , Clark Brian G. , Gerlaugh Katherine , Gillespie Braylon
Published: July 2017

Researchers are reassessing the potential for place-based resources (including rivers, agriculture, and rock formations) to generate economic activity as eastern Kentucky’s coal and manufacturing-based economy continues to shrink. Our study makes the case for rock climbing in the Red River Gorge in eastern Kentucky as a viable and sustainable source of economic activity in six of the poorest counties in the nation. Rock climbers who come to the Red River Gorge have been found to contribute several million dollars to local businesses annually, supporting an increase in jobs and wages in the area. Our study finds that climbers tend to be well educated professionals whose economic desires include visiting locally owned restaurants and attending regional festivals.
Screenness in Experimental Electronica Performances
Authors: Hofer Sonya
Published: July 2017

Sparked by the deeply contested viewpoints regarding performativity in experimental electronica whereby the laptop plays a central role, and coupled with a critical awareness of our practical and meaningful relationships with laptops, this paper looks at how the presence of the laptop screen has an effect on how people experience music in place and vice versa. As such, in thinking holistically and phenomenologically about screens, I propose “screenness” as an expressive and experiential paradigm in analyzing performances of experimental electronica, examining notable live sets by acclaimed experimental electronica artists Tim Hecker and Holly Herndon.
Factors that contribute to treatment defaulting amongst tuberculosis patients in Windhoek District, Namibia
Authors: Endjala Tuwilika , Mohamed Suraya , Ashipala Daniel Opotamutale
Published: July 2017

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the factors that contribute to treatment defaulting amongst Tuberculosis (TB) patients at a major health centre in Windhoek district, Namibia.Methods: A descriptive and explorative qualitative study using in depth interviews was conducted among ten TB defaulters. Key informant interviews were also conducted with the two TB nurses based at the health centre. Eligible participants were purposively selected. A thematic content analysis of transcribed data was conducted.Results: The study results indicate that defaulting TB treatment is a big challenge to TB management. The reasons for defaulting given by respondents were complex and included patient factors such as medication related factors, lack of knowledge and information as well as alcohol abuse. The findings also revealed unemployment as a major socio-economic factor that contributes to defaulting. In addition, the study shows that community, family, religious and cultural factors such as poor family support, work-related factors and religious and cultural beliefs have an influence on defaulting.Conclusions: The study concludes that no single factor contributed to treatment defaulting amongst TB patients in the selected health centre in Windhoek district and this concurred with the literature.
Enhancing Students’ Confidence in Employability Skills through the Practice of “Recall, Adapt and Apply”
Authors: Sinclair Alison J.
Published: July 2017

The ability to apply prior knowledge to new challenges is a skill that is highly valued by employers, but the confidence to achieve this does not come naturally to all students. An essential step to becoming an independent researcher requires a transition between simply following a fail-safe set of instructions to being able to adapt a known approach to solve a new problem. Practical laboratory classes provide an ideal environment for active learning, as the primary learning objective of these teaching sessions is to gain skills. However, laboratory handbooks can be presented as a series of fail-safe recipes. This aids the smooth running of practical classes but misses the opportunity to promote engagement with the underlying theory and so develop confidence in recalling approaches and adapting them to a new problem. To aid the development of employability skills, a practical laboratory series was developed for Bioscience teaching that requires on-the-spot decision-making, the recall of skills and their adaptation to new challenges. After using this approach, the proportion of student’s expressing a high level of confidence with each of eight key employability skills rose by between 9 and 35% following the practical sessions, showing that the approach of recalling, adapting then applying prior knowledge and skills can increase the confidence that students have in their employability related skills. The approach was developed for use within biological sciences practical laboratories but the principles can be adapted to any discipline involving project work.
Resistance of New Strawberry Genotypes to the Two-Spotted Spider Mite (Acari: Tetranychidae)
Authors: Esteca Fernanda De Cássia Neves , Dainese Camila Do Nascimento , Rodrigues Luis Rodolfo , Lourenção André Luiz , Passos Francisco Antonio , Moraes Gilberto José de
Published: July 2017

The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, is one of the main strawberry pests in Brazil and many other countries. The objective of this study was to compare the resistance of eight strawberry genotypes (‘Albion’, ‘IAC Guarani’, ‘IAC Princesa Isabel’, ‘Oso Grande’, IAC T-0104, IAC 12, IAC 4 and IAC 1.13) to the two-spotted spider mite, by assessing injury level, biological parameters and host preference of the mite. To facilitate the interpretation of the results, leaf trichomes of each genotype were quantified. Thirty days after the artificial infestation of the genotypes with the mite, IAC T-0104, IAC 12 and ‘IAC Princesa Isabel’ showed the lowest injury levels. ‘IAC Princesa Isabel’, IAC 4 and IAC T-0104 were distinguished from other genotypes by the highest mean generation time (T) of the mite, while ‘IAC Guarani’ was distinguished by the lowest T value. Significantly lower values of intrinsic rate of increase (rm), finite rate of increase (λ) and net reproductive rate (Ro) were determined on ‘IAC Princesa Isabel’ and IAC 1.13. The mite showed preference for ‘IAC Guarani’, as inferred by the larger number of females when offered the chance to select the detached host leaflets. Trichome density was highest on IAC 1.13 and lowest on IAC T-0104, IAC 12, ‘Albion’ and ‘Oso Grande’. The results suggested that ‘IAC Princesa Isabel’, IAC T-0104 and IAC 12 are resistant, IAC 4 and IAC 1.13 are moderately resistant, and ‘IAC Guarani’, ‘Oso Grande’ and ‘Albion’ are susceptible to the mite.
Economic and Productive Assessment of an Ordinary Small-Sized Dairy Enterprise in Southeast Brazil: A Multi-Year Study
Authors: Villela Severino D. J. , Assis Leandro P. , Lopes Marcos A. , Silvestre Luiz H. A. , Santos Roseli A. , Resende Elton S. , Martins Paulo G. M. A.
Published: July 2017

The objectives were to analyze the economic performance over time of a dairy enterprise located in southeast Brazil and to identify the key production parameters that contributed to economic performance, using a 10-year database. Two distinct approaches to evaluate production cost were analyzed. Briefly, the first approach involves variable and fixed costs (more traditional economic analysis), and the second involves total operating cost, consisting of effective operating costs and depreciation. From these two distinct approaches, we obtain as economic indicators the profitability I and profitability II, respectively. In addition, correlation between economic and productivity parameters was performed. Considering the first approach, revenue was not sufficient to cover the total cost and on average profitability I was negative. During three years, the break-even point was not achieved. Considering the second approach, gross profit margin was positive throughout the period, and consequently profitability II was positive. In general, production parameters were within the ordinary range observed in small-sized Brazilian dairy farms. From the correlations between economic and production parameters, we noted that correlation between average milk production per lactating cow and both measures of profit was present, indicating that if the average milk production per lactating cow was high, profit was positive. We conclude that this type of evaluation is important to assess the performance of a business, and consequently, for decision-making of dairy producers.
Growth and Molecular Expression of Okra Seeds Interacted with Fourteen Mango Cultivars in Mixed Cropping System
Authors: Marzouk Ream I. , El-Darier Salama M. , Mabrouk Mona E. , Khattab Kholod A.
Published: July 2017

The present study was accomplished to study the effect of fourteen cultivars (Keitt, Ewais, White Succari, Tommy Atkins, Fajri Klan, Zebda, Alphonso, Sedeek, Naomi, Mesk, Baladi Dabsha, Baladi Arnaba, Cobania and Totapuri) of Mangifera indica L. leaves aqueous extracts (MILAE) on germination and some growth parameters as well as seedling protein profile of Hibiscus esculentus L. (okra seeds) in mixed cropping system. The study was extented to characterize and discriminate among the aforementioned cultivars. The allelopathic potential of fourteen cultivars of M. indica leaves aqueous extracts (MILAE) on germination efficiency and growth parameters of H. esculantus L. seeds (as a recipient bioassay material) was completely studied. Hypocotyl length (HL) was more sensitive than radicle length (RL) for all studied cultivars. At the all concentrations level, Mesk cultivar exerted the highest allelopathic effect, while Totapuri cultivar showed the lowest one on the germination percentage (GP), inhibition percentage (IP), the time to get 50% germination (T50), mean germination time (MGT), germination energy (GE), seed germination index (SGI), emergence percentage (EP), mean emergence time (MET), seedling emergence index (EI), seedling vigour index (SVI), hypocotyl (HL) and radicle (RL) lengths, seedling fresh (SFW) and dry (SDW) weights.Seedling protein electrophoresis data revealed that Tommy Atkins cultivar attained the minimum values for both the number of bands and the percentage of polymorphism, 6 bands and 27%, respectively. On the other hand, the maximum values were achieved from both Naomi and Totapuri cultivars, 11 bands and 51%. Reversibly, the genomic template stability (GTS %) oscillated from 32% in Cobania cultivar to 64% in specimen Tommy Atkins cultivar. The resulted dendrograms by using allelopathic and molecular data as well as seedling protein electophoresis ascertains three aggregations. The first assembly includes Sedeek, Naomi and Mesk cultivars. The second gathers Keitt and Ewais cultivars. While, the third clusters Fajri Klan, Zebda and Alphonso cultivars.
Assessing the Suitability of Agro-Waste from Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches as Quality Eco-Composite Boards
Authors: Wahab Razak , Rasat Mohd Sukhairi Mat , Samsi Hashim W. , Mustafa Mohd Tamizi , Don Siti Marlia Mohd
Published: July 2017

The properties of eco-composite boards from agro-waste of oil palm empty fruit bunches were studied. The oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) obtained from a private oil palm plantation. By using fibre cutter and particle crusher, these EFB refined. Hardeners and wax added at 1% and 3% during the mixing process. Boards with densities of 500, 600 and 700 kg/m3 produced using resin urea formaldehyde as the bonding agent at 10, 12 and 14%. The boards conditioned in a conditioning chamber set at 20±2 °C and 65% relative humidity before undergoing subsequent testing. The EN Standards specifications applied in the preparation of test samples and testing. Results showed the highest modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE) achieved in this study were 22.91 N/mm2 and 2059.56 N/mm2. The internal bonding was found to be at 0.98 N/mm2, and 467.47 N/mm2 and 512.37 N/mm2 respectively for the edge and face screw withdrawal. Boards with 700 kg/m3 density and 14% resin content met the requirement of standard specifications. Scanning electron microscopy machine used to study the resin-fibre bonding property. Resin and fibre in the board inspected carefully, and voids appeared at the cross-section of the board with density 500 kg/m3 at 10% resin suggesting moisture penetrated into the board via the open spaces and weakened the linkages existed, thus cause the board to have low properties. The thermogravimetric analysis indicates maximum rate of decomposition for the EFB boards occurred at 380.83 °C. This study shows that the board’s density and resin content applied influence on the board’s overall properties with boards produced at 700 kg/m3 density with 14% resin content showed excellent overall properties with good dimensional stability.
Reviewer Acknowledgements for Journal of Agricultural Science, Vol. 9, No. 8
Authors: Brown Anne
Published: July 2017

Reviewer acknowledgements for Journal of Agricultural Science, Vol. 9, No. 8, 2017.
Synthesis of DEAE-Soybean Starch Microspheres for Adhere Animal Cell Culture
Authors: Zhang Lei , Li Mingsheng , Ma Zhongren , Feng Yuping
Published: July 2017

The present study outlines the synthesis of a new microcarrier for anchorage-dependent animal cell cultures. The new microcarriers were synthesized from the cross-linking soybean starch microspheres followed by modification with 2-diethylaminoethyl (DEAE). Furthermore, 5 g/100 mL of wet microspheres DEAE-soybean starch microspheres were applied in the adhere cell culture, with an inoculation density 2.0 × 105 cells/mL of BHK-21, Marc-145, and MDCK cells. The cells were shown to grow well in the DEAE-soybean starch microcarrier, with BHK-21 cells showing a higher cell density after 144 h (2.5 × 106 cells/mL) compared to cells grown on the commercial product Cytodex 1 (2.2 × 106 cells/mL). These starch microcarriers have a potential application in anchorage-dependent animal cells culture, due to its low cost and its simple process.
Zaangażowanie i partycypacja finansowa
– fundamenty kształtowania wysokiej
motywacji pracowników we współczesnej
przestrzeni organizacyjnej
Authors: Kawka Tomasz
Published: July 2017

W niniejszym artykule przedstawiono podstawowe determinanty kształtowania wysokiej
motywacji pracowników w  warunkach zmieniającego się paradygmatu pracy w  nowej
gospodarce. Zaprezentowano w nim ewolucję modeli motywowania pracowników w kierunku modelu zarządzania przez zaangażowanie. Przyjęto założenie, iż jednym z  najważniejszych czynników kształtującym nowoczesne podejście do ZZL powinien być
partycypacyjny system motywowania i wynagradzania. Partycypacja finansowa i zarządzanie przez zaangażowanie pozwalają bowiem uelastycznić i  monitorować racjonalne gospodarowanie kosztami płac. Tym samym zapewnia to potencjalnie samofinansowanie
się systemu opłacania pracowników, którzy są zainteresowani, aby jak najlepiej pracować.
Postuluje się stopniowe zwiększanie udziału tych narzędzi jako źródła empowermentu,
a  tym samym pobudzanie zaangażowania pracowników oraz wzrostu ich autonomii
i odpowiedzialności za efekty własnej pracy.
Intermentoring jako forma dialogu międzypokoleniowego we współczesnych organizacjach
Authors: Sidor‑Rządkowska Małgorzata
Published: July 2017

Dialog międzypokoleniowy może być rozpatrywany w  trzech wymiarach: publicznym, rodzinnym i  zawodowym. Prezentowany artykuł koncentruje się na trzecim z  wymienionych aspektów, tj. relacji w miejscu pracy. Autorka podkreśla, iż wspieranie wymiany doświadczeń pomiędzy pracownikami należącymi do różnych generacji powinno stanowić niezbędny element działań określanych mianem zarządzania różnorodnością pokoleniową. W artykule przedstawiono istotę i sposób wdrożenia intermentoringu – międzypokoleniowego transferu wiedzy i umiejętności
Badanie opinii i oczekiwań pracowników – studium przypadku uczelni wyższej
Authors: Warwas Izabela , Gzik Monika , Wiktorowicz Justyna
Published: July 2017

Współczesne organizacje potrzebują zmotywowanych, zaangażowanych i  kreatywnych pracowników. Z myślą o tym, aby przyciągać do organizacji, inspirować do działania oraz zatrzymywać na dłużej, coraz większą uwagę przywiązuje się do badania postaw, opinii, oczekiwań czy satysfakcji zatrudnionych. Badania tego rodzaju wpływają na podnoszenie efektywności komunikowania się, większe włączenie pracowników w  proces zarządza‑ nia, podniesienie skuteczności stosowanych pakietów motywacyjnych. Mogą być zatem uznane za jeden z  kluczowych procesów spójnego systemu zarządzania zasobami ludzkimi. W Polsce praktyki takie są domeną głównie przedsięwzięć zorientowanych biznesowo. Celem artykułu jest przedstawienie działań służących budowaniu zaangażowania i  włączaniu pracowników w  działania pracodawcy oraz wykorzystujących badania ich opinii i oczekiwań na przykładzie instytucji nienastawionej na zysk – jednej z polskich uczelni.
Rozwój kompetencji młodych
pracowników a pedagogiczny wymiar
empowermentu w organizacjach
na przykładzie absolwentów
uczelni technicznej
Authors: Tomczak Michał
Published: July 2017

Artykuł odnosi się do problematyki rozwoju kompetencji młodych pracowników w kontekście pedagogicznego wymiaru empowermentu. Badanie sondażowe metodą CAWI
przeprowadzono wśród młodych pracowników, absolwentów Politechniki Gdańskiej
zatrudnionych w  różnych branżach. Na podstawie przeprowadzonego badania można
wyciągnąć wniosek, że większość badanych osób stale rozwija kompetencje zdobyte
podczas studiów, przede wszystkim w formie uczestnictwa w specjalistycznych kursach
i szkoleniach zawodowych. Respondenci reprezentujący sektor prywatny oraz zatrudnieni
w niewielkich przedsiębiorstwach finansują rozwój kompetencji przede wszystkim z wła‑
snych środków. Osoby zatrudnione w  sektorze publicznym oraz w  dużych podmiotach
częściej korzystają w tym zakresie z pomocy pracodawcy.
Dialog społeczny i jego rola w skutecznej restrukturyzacji przedsiębiorstwa – studium przypadku KWK „Janina”
Authors: Nieć Dominika , Łukasiewicz Grzegorz
Published: July 2017

Dialog społeczny stanowi jedną z  podstawowych form rozwiązywania problemów na wszystkich poziomach życia społeczno‑gospodarczego. Umożliwia współdecydowanie partnerów społecznych w  sprawach kluczowych dla funkcjonowania całego państwa, pojedynczych organizacji czy społeczności lokalnych. Mając na uwadze ważność tej pro‑ blematyki dla funkcjonowania wielu organizacji oraz chęć jej propagowania, celem arty‑ kułu jest przedstawienie koncepcji dialogu społecznego oraz możliwości jej zastosowania w  procesie restrukturyzacji przedsiębiorstw. Artykuł został podzielony na dwie części: teoretyczną oraz empiryczną. W części pierwszej przedstawiono analizę podstawowych zagadnień związanych z dialogiem społecznym, w drugiej zaś – praktyczne aspekty tego zagadnienia (omówiono w  niej dialog społeczny, jaki miał miejsce w  latach 2002–2006 w Kopalni Węgla Kamiennego „Janina”).
Rola zakładowych związków zawodowych
w likwidacyjnym postępowaniu
upadłościowym – studium przypadku
Authors: Rak‑Miąsik Patrycjusz
Published: July 2017

Postawienie przedsiębiorstwa w stan upadłości likwidacyjnej rodzi ryzyko jego zamknięcia, a  tym samym zwiększa prawdopodobieństwo dotknięcia bezrobociem dużej grupy
ludzi. W  takich sytuacjach aktywność zakładowych przedstawicielstw pracowniczych
wzrasta, co jest w pełni uzasadnione spoczywającymi na nich obowiązkami. Celem artykułu jest próba zaprezentowania wpływu współpracy zakładowej organizacji związkowej
z syndykiem masy upadłości na realizację celu procesu upadłościowego. Na pytanie, jak
w trakcie likwidacji przedsiębiorstwa wygląda ta współpraca, autor poszukuje odpowiedzi
zarówno w literaturze przedmiotu, jak i w wynikach analizy przypadku jednej z postawionych w stan upadłości firm produkcyjnych z branży motoryzacyjnej.
Web of deceit: Relationships between the dark triad, perceived ability to deceive and cyberloafing
Authors: Lowe-Calverley Emily , Grieve Rachel
Published: July 2017

The rapid growth of digitally mediated work means that non-traditional forms of counterproductive workplace behaviours are emerging, such as cyberloafing: use of the Internet for non-work related purposes. Time lost due to cyberloafing can have substantial impact on productivity. This research was the first to investigate the mechanisms by which dark personality traits and perceived ability to deceive are associated with cyberloafing. A sample of currently or previously employed participants (N = 273), completed measures of psychopathy, Machiavellianism, narcissism, perceived ability to deceive, and cyberloafing. Path analysis was used to evaluate the model, and revealed good fit. As predicted, PATD mediated the relationships between the Dark Triad and cyberloafing, while psychopathy also related to cyberloafing directly. These findings suggest that in order to reduce cyberloafing, workplace policy should target an individual’s confidence in their ability to evade detection when misusing the Internet. Future research could strengthen the approach taken here by including a behavioural measure of cyberloafing. It is concluded that perceived ability to deceive plays a vital role in determining the way in which individuals possessing dark personality characteristics engage in technology-based counterproductive work behaviours.
Evaluation of CD57+ cells in oral squamous cells carcinoma and their relationship with clinicopathological parameters
Authors: Lopes Maria Luiza Diniz de Sousa , Barros Caio César da Silva , Medeiros Maurília Raquel de Souto , Miguel Márcia Cristina da Costa , Souza Lélia Batista de , Alves Pollianna Muniz , Silveira Éricka Janine Dantas da
Published: July 2017

Introduction: The immune response occurring in the tumor microenvironment is very complex. Surface molecule CD57 can be expressed by natural killer cells and/or activated T lymphocytes, which are key cellular types in the cancer immunity. Objectives: This study investigated CD57 immunoexpression in immune cells of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and verified its association with clinicopathological features. Methods: Paraffin-embedded sections of 45 OSCCs were submitted to morphological and immunohistochemical analysis using anti-CD57 antibody. Relationship between the expression of CD57 and clinicopathological parameters (age, metastasis to regional lymph nodes, clinical stage and histopathological grade of malignancy) was verified by Pearson’s Chi square, and Fisher exact statistical tests. Results: The majority (64.4%) of the OSCCs analyzed affected subjects of male gender and over 40 years old (68.9%). There was a significant association between histological grade of malignancy and presence of lymph node metastasis, as well as clinical stage (p<0.05). Conclusions: The results suggest that CD57+ cells immune cells infiltration is a consistent finding in OSCC, regardless of clinicopathological features of these tumors.
A theory of working memory without consciousness or sustained activity
Authors: Trübutschek Darinka , Marti Sébastien , Ojeda Andrés , King Jean-Rémi , Mi Yuanyuan , Tsodyks Misha , Dehaene Stanislas
Published: July 2017

Working memory and conscious perception are thought to share similar brain mechanisms, yet recent reports of non-conscious working memory challenge this view. Combining visual masking with magnetoencephalography, we investigate the reality of non-conscious working memory and dissect its neural mechanisms. In a spatial delayed-response task, participants reported the location of a subjectively unseen target above chance-level after several seconds. Conscious perception and conscious working memory were characterized by similar signatures: a sustained desynchronization in the alpha/beta band over frontal cortex, and a decodable representation of target location in posterior sensors. During non-conscious working memory, such activity vanished. Our findings contradict models that identify working memory with sustained neural firing, but are compatible with recent proposals of ‘activity-silent’ working memory. We present a theoretical framework and simulations showing how slowly decaying synaptic changes allow cell assemblies to go dormant during the delay, yet be retrieved above chance-level after several seconds.
The c-Jun N-terminal kinase pathway of a vector insect is activated by virus capsid protein and promotes viral replication
Authors: Wang Wei , Zhao Wan , Li Jing , Luo Lan , Kang Le , Cui Feng
Published: July 2017

No evidence has shown whether insect-borne viruses manipulate the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway of vector insects. Using a system comprising the plant virus Rice stripe virus (RSV) and its vector insect, the small brown planthopper, we have studied the response of the vector insect’s JNK pathway to plant virus infection. We found that RSV increased the level of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α and decreased the level of G protein Pathway Suppressor 2 (GPS2) in the insect vector. The virus capsid protein competitively bound GPS2 to release it from inhibiting the JNK activation machinery. We confirmed that JNK activation promoted RSV replication in the vector, whereas JNK inhibition caused a significant reduction in virus production and thus delayed the disease incidence of plants. These findings suggest that inhibition of insect vector JNK may be a useful strategy for controling the transmission of plant viruses.
ATP sensing in living plant cells reveals tissue gradients and stress dynamics of energy physiology
Authors: De Col Valentina , Fuchs Philippe , Nietzel Thomas , Elsässer Marlene , Voon Chia Pao , Candeo Alessia , Seeliger Ingo , Fricker Mark D , Grefen Christopher , Møller Ian Max , Bassi Andrea , Lim Boon Leong , Zancani Marco , Meyer Andreas J , Costa Alex , Wagner Stephan , Schwarzländer Markus
Published: July 2017

Growth and development of plants is ultimately driven by light energy captured through photosynthesis. ATP acts as universal cellular energy cofactor fuelling all life processes, including gene expression, metabolism, and transport. Despite a mechanistic understanding of ATP biochemistry, ATP dynamics in the living plant have been largely elusive. Here, we establish MgATP2- measurement in living plants using the fluorescent protein biosensor ATeam1.03-nD/nA. We generate Arabidopsis sensor lines and investigate the sensor in vitro under conditions appropriate for the plant cytosol. We establish an assay for ATP fluxes in isolated mitochondria, and demonstrate that the sensor responds rapidly and reliably to MgATP2- changes in planta. A MgATP2- map of the Arabidopsis seedling highlights different MgATP2- concentrations between tissues and within individual cell types, such as root hairs. Progression of hypoxia reveals substantial plasticity of ATP homeostasis in seedlings, demonstrating that ATP dynamics can be monitored in the living plant.
In vitro analysis of RQC activities provides insights into the mechanism and function of CAT tailing
Authors: Osuna Beatriz A , Howard Conor J , KC Subheksha , Frost Adam , Weinberg David E
Published: July 2017

Ribosomes can stall during translation due to defects in the mRNA template or translation machinery, leading to the production of incomplete proteins. The Ribosome-associated Quality control Complex (RQC) engages stalled ribosomes and targets nascent polypeptides for proteasomal degradation. However, how each RQC component contributes to this process remains unclear. Here we demonstrate that key RQC activities—Ltn1p-dependent ubiquitination and Rqc2p-mediated Carboxy-terminal Alanine and Threonine (CAT) tail elongation—can be recapitulated in vitro with a yeast cell-free system. Using this approach, we determined that CAT tailing is mechanistically distinct from canonical translation, that Ltn1p-mediated ubiquitination depends on the poorly characterized RQC component Rqc1p, and that the process of CAT tailing enables robust ubiquitination of the nascent polypeptide. These findings establish a novel system to study the RQC and provide a framework for understanding how RQC factors coordinate their activities to facilitate clearance of incompletely synthesized proteins.
CRISPR-mediated genetic interaction profiling identifies RNA binding proteins controlling metazoan fitness
Authors: Norris Adam D , Gracida Xicotencatl , Calarco John A
Published: July 2017

Genetic interaction screens have aided our understanding of complex genetic traits, diseases, and biological pathways. However, approaches for synthetic genetic analysis with null-alleles in metazoans have not been feasible. Here, we present a CRISPR/Cas9-based Synthetic Genetic Interaction (CRISPR-SGI) approach enabling systematic double-mutant generation. Applying this technique in Caenorhabditis elegans, we comprehensively screened interactions within a set of 14 conserved RNA binding protein genes, generating all possible single and double mutants. Many double mutants displayed fitness defects, revealing synthetic interactions. For one interaction between the MBNL1/2 ortholog mbl-1 and the ELAVL ortholog exc-7, double mutants displayed a severely shortened lifespan. Both genes are required for regulating hundreds of transcripts and isoforms, and both may play a critical role in lifespan extension through insulin signaling. Thus, CRISPR-SGI reveals a rich genetic interaction landscape between RNA binding proteins in maintaining organismal health, and will serve as a paradigm applicable to other biological questions.
The human cytoplasmic dynein interactome reveals novel activators of motility
Authors: Redwine William B , DeSantis Morgan E , Hollyer Ian , Htet Zaw Min , Tran Phuoc Tien , Swanson Selene K , Florens Laurence , Washburn Michael P , Reck-Peterson Samara L
Published: July 2017

In human cells, cytoplasmic dynein-1 is essential for long-distance transport of many cargos, including organelles, RNAs, proteins, and viruses, towards microtubule minus ends. To understand how a single motor achieves cargo specificity, we identified the human dynein interactome by attaching a promiscuous biotin ligase (‘BioID’) to seven components of the dynein machinery, including a subunit of the essential cofactor dynactin. This method reported spatial information about the large cytosolic dynein/dynactin complex in living cells. To achieve maximal motile activity and to bind its cargos, human dynein/dynactin requires ‘activators’, of which only five have been described. We developed methods to identify new activators in our BioID data, and discovered that ninein and ninein-like are a new family of dynein activators. Analysis of the protein interactomes for six activators, including ninein and ninein-like, suggests that each dynein activator has multiple cargos.
Birth and death of a protein
Authors: Clément Julie , de Massy Bernard
Published: July 2017

The ways in which recombination sites are determined during meiosis are becoming clearer following a phylogenomic analysis for 225 different species.
Alder and the Golden Fleece: high diversity of Frankia and ectomycorrhizal fungi revealed from Alnus glutinosa subsp. barbata roots close to a Tertiary and glacial refugium
Authors: Roy Melanie , Pozzi Adrien C. , Gareil Raphaëlle , Nagati Melissande , Manzi Sophie , Nouioui Imen , Sharikadze Nino , Jargeat Patricia , Gryta Hervé , Moreau Pierre-Arthur , Fernandez Maria P. , Gardes Monique
Published: July 2017

Background

Recent climatic history has strongly impacted plant populations, but little is known about its effect on microbes. Alders, which host few and specific symbionts, have high genetic diversity in glacial refugia. Here, we tested the prediction that communities of root symbionts survived in refugia with their host populations. We expected to detect endemic symbionts and a higher species richness in refugia as compared to recolonized areas.

Methods

We sampled ectomycorrhizal (EM) root tips and the nitrogen-fixing actinomycete Frankia communities in eight sites colonized by Alnus glutinosa subsp. barbata close to the Caucasus in Georgia. Three sites were located in the Colchis, one major Eurasian climatic refugia for Arcto-Tertiary flora and alders, and five sites were located in the recolonized zone. Endemic symbionts and plant ITS variants were detected by comparing sequences to published data from Europe and another Tertiary refugium, the Hyrcanian forest. Species richness and community structure were compared between sites from refugia and recolonized areas for each symbionts.

Results

For both symbionts, most MOTUs present in Georgia had been found previously elsewhere in Europe. Three endemic Frankia strains were detected in the Colchis vs two in the recolonized zone, and the five endemic EM fungi were detected only in the recolonized zone. Frankia species richness was higher in the Colchis while the contrary was observed for EM fungi. Moreover, the genetic diversity of one alder specialist Alnicola xanthophylla was particularly high in the recolonized zone. The EM communities occurring in the Colchis and the Hyrcanian forests shared closely related endemic species.

Discussion

The Colchis did not have the highest alpha diversity and more endemic species, suggesting that our hypothesis based on alder biogeography may not apply to alder’s symbionts. Our study in the Caucasus brings new clues to understand symbioses biogeography and their survival in Tertiary and ice-age refugia, and reveals that isolated host populations could be of interest for symbiont diversity conservation.
Clinical streptococcal isolates, distinct fromStreptococcus pneumoniae,but containing the β-glucosyltransferasettsgene and expressing serotype 37 capsular polysaccharide
Authors: Sheppard Carmen L. , Kapatai Georgia , Broughton Karen , Schaefer Ulf , Hannah Matthew , Litt David J. , Fry Norman K.
Published: July 2017

The major virulence factor of the pneumococcus, and target for conjugate vaccines, is the polysaccharide capsule, which is usually encoded by the highly variablecpslocus. Serotype 37 is an unusual pneumococcal type in which the single β-glucosyltransferase gene responsible for serotype capsule production (tts) is located outside of the capsular operon region. Using a previously described automated whole genome sequence (WGS)-based serotyping bioinformatics tool, PneumoCaT, we identified and investigated seven clinical isolates (three from blood cultures) of non-pneumococcal streptococci containing a highly homologousttsand included them in a study panel of 20 isolates which included a 11 further clinical isolates ofS. pneumoniaeserotype 37, a reference strain of serotype 37 and theS. pseudopneumoniaetype strain BAA 960T. The seven non-pneumococcal isolates generated novel alleles at all pneumococcal MLST loci and gave low percentage similarity (<45%) toS. pneumoniaeorS. pseudopneumoniaespecies by comparison of short sequence patterns in genomic data (k-mer analysis). TheS. pseudopneumoniaeBAA-960Tisolate generated two novel alleles in the MLST and gave a high similarity (>99%) to the reference sequence for BAA-960T. Twelve isolates gave high similarity (>77%) to theStreptococcus pneumoniae5652-06 serotype 19A reference genome sequence and had previously reported MLST alleles. Each of the seven clinical non-pneumococcal strains and all of the 12S. pneumoniaepossessed a β-glycosyltransferase gene (tts) with >95% similarity to the pneumococcalttsreference DNA sequence with 20–22 non-synonymous SNPs. All but two strains in which thettsgene was detected gave positive reactions for serotype 37 in slide agglutination tests with serotype 37 typing sera. Phylogenetic analysis using both SNP and MLST data showed distinct clades corresponding to strains identified as pneumococcus or non-pneumococcus by kmer WGS analysis. Extended k-mer database analysis and ribosomal MLST placed the non-pneumococcal isolates within theS. mitisgroup. Biochemical and bile solubility assays showed differences between the unusual isolates andS. pneumoniae. All isolates had detectable pneumolysin (ply) genes, but only those that identified as pneumococcus contained the genes for autolysin (lytA) or the ABC transporter lipoprotein A (piaA) with >80% coverage and >95% similarity. Here we report the existence of a novel group of strains distinct fromS. pneumoniae, but which can express a pneumococcal serotype 37 capsular polysaccharide which can be associated with clinical disease.
Identification of four prognostic LncRNAs for survival prediction of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Wang Zhonghao , Wu Qian , Feng Shu , Zhao Yanhua , Tao Chuanmin
Published: July 2017

Background

As the fifth most common cancer worldwide, Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is also the third most common cause of cancer-related death in China. Several lncRNAs have been demonstrated to be associated with occurrence and prognosis of HCC. However, identification of prognostic lncRNA signature for HCC with expression profiling data has not been conducted yet.

Methods

With the reuse of public available TCGA data, expression profiles of lncRNA for 371 patients with HCC were obtained and analyzed to find the independent prognostic lncRNA. Based on the expression of lncRNA, we developed a risk score model, which was evaluated by survival analysis and ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curve. Enrichment analysis was performed to predict the possible role of the identified lncRNA in HCC prognosis.

Results

Four lncRNAs (RP11-322E11.5, RP11-150O12.3, AC093609.1, CTC-297N7.9) were found to be significantly and independently associated with survival of HCC patients. We used these four lncRNAs to construct a risk score model, which exhibited a strong ability to distinguish patients with significantly different prognosis (HR = 2.718, 95% CI [2.103–3.514], p = 2.32e−14). Similar results were observed in the subsequent stratification survival analysis for HBV infection status and pathological stage. The ROC curve also implied our risk score as a good indicator for 5-year survival prediction. Furthermore, enrichment analysis revealed that the four signature lncRNAs may be involved in multiple pathways related to tumorigenesis and prognosis.

Discussion

Our study recognized four lncRNAs to be significantly associated with prognosis of liver cancer, and could provide novel insights into the potential mechanisms of HCC progression. Additionally, CTC-297N7.9 may influence the downstream TMEM220 gene expression through cis-regualtion. Nevertheless, further well-designed experimental studies are needed to validate our findings.
Predicting the host of influenza viruses based on the word vector
Authors: Xu Beibei , Tan Zhiying , Li Kenli , Jiang Taijiao , Peng Yousong
Published: July 2017

Newly emerging influenza viruses continue to threaten public health. A rapid determination of the host range of newly discovered influenza viruses would assist in early assessment of their risk. Here, we attempted to predict the host of influenza viruses using the Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier based on the word vector, a new representation and feature extraction method for biological sequences. The results show that the length of the word within the word vector, the sequence type (DNA or protein) and the species from which the sequences were derived for generating the word vector all influence the performance of models in predicting the host of influenza viruses. In nearly all cases, the models built on the surface proteins hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) (or their genes) produced better results than internal influenza proteins (or their genes). The best performance was achieved when the model was built on the HA gene based on word vectors (words of three-letters long) generated from DNA sequences of the influenza virus. This results in accuracies of 99.7% for avian, 96.9% for human and 90.6% for swine influenza viruses. Compared to the method of sequence homology best-hit searches using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST), the word vector-based models still need further improvements in predicting the host of influenza A viruses.
Wills Made in Suspicious Circumstances: the Problem of the Vulnerable Testator
Authors: Kerridge Roger
Published: July 2002

English law provides inadequate protection for vulnerable testators, a growing class. Those thinking of challenging suspicious wills are deterred by the cost and poor prospects of success. Traditionally, probate lawyers have been reluctant, when challenging wills, to allege misconduct and the leading case of White v. Nye has caused general confusion by attempting to disguise a plea of fraud as though it were a plea of lack of knowledge and approval.
Markov chain Monte Carlo for mapping a quantitative trait locus in outbred populations
Authors: BINK M. C. A. M. , JANSS L. L. G. , QUAAS R. L.
Published: July 2002

A Bayesian approach is presented for mapping a quantitative trait locus (QTL) using the
‘Fernando and Grossman’ multivariate Normal approximation to QTL inheritance. For this
model, a Bayesian implementation that includes QTL position is problematic because standard
Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithms do not mix, i.e. the QTL position gets stuck in
one marker interval. This is because of the dependence of the covariance structure for the QTL
effects on the adjacent markers and may be typical of the ‘Fernando and Grossman’ model. A
relatively new MCMC technique, simulated tempering, allows mixing and so makes possible
inferences about QTL position based on marginal posterior probabilities. The model was
implemented for estimating variance ratios and QTL position using a continuous grid of allowed
positions and was applied to simulated data of a standard granddaughter design. The results
showed a smooth mixing of QTL position after implementation of the simulated tempering
sampler. In this implementation, map distance between QTL and its flanking markers was
artificially stretched to reduce the dependence of markers and covariance. The method generalizes
easily to more complicated applications and can ultimately contribute to QTL mapping in
complex, heterogeneous, human, animal or plant populations.
Some strong forms of the local duality of
ultraproducts
Authors: Basallote Manuela , Díaz Santiago
Published: July 2002

We obtain two refinements of the so
called local duality of ultrapowers, that is, the ultrapower version of the
well-known principle of local reflexivity.

1991 Mathematics Subject Classification. 46B07, 46B08.
GREEK NONSENSE IN MORE’S UTOPIA
Authors: NELSON ERIC
Published: July 2002

This article locates Sir Thomas More’s Utopia within the broader context of the sixteenth-century Greek revival in England. More and the other humanists whom Erasmus befriended during his time in England became the first Englishmen to learn Greek and to make a polemical point of preferring Greece to Rome. During the period of Utopia’s preparation and publication, this circle’s Hellenism took on a new intensity, as several of its members were called upon to defend Erasmus’s controversial project of using the Greek New Testament to correct the Vulgate. Responding to opponents of the new Greek learning, the Erasmians launched a particularly energetic attack on Roman philosophy. It is argued that Utopia intervenes in this quarrel by dramatizing a confrontation between the values of the Roman republican tradition and those of a rival commonwealth theory based on Greek ethics. Utopia suggests that, when seen from a Roman perspective, Greek advice looks like ‘nonsense’. But, for More, that ‘nonsense’ yields the ‘best state of a commonwealth’.