bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Times Three Dimensional Spur Gear Static Contact Investigations Using Finite Element Method
Authors: Abdelrhman Ahmed Mohammed , F. AL-Qrimli Haidar , M. Hadi. Husam , K. Mohammed Roaad , S. Sultan Hakim
Published: April 2016

A gear is a critical component and can be found in many industrial applications. This investigation develops a three dimensional finite element spur gear model to calculate the contact stress on the gear tooth surfaces. Contact stress is one of the main factors that is used to decide the gears tooth surface strength. In addition there are other important factors such as frictional forces and micro-pits that influence the gear tooth surface. Different analytical techniques have been used to calculate the contact stress of the gear surfaces namely; Hertzian theory and AGMA standards. The analytical results have been compared to the numerical analysis to verify the spur gear finite element model.
The Southeast Asian Pholcus halabala species group (Araneae, Pholcidae): new data from field observations and ultrastructure
Authors: Huber ﻿Bernhard A. , Petcharad Booppa , Leh Moi Ung Charles , Koh Joseph K.H. , Ghazali Amir R.M.
Published: April 2016

The Southeast Asian Pholcus halabala species group is revised and re-delimited, based mainly on field observations (life color pattern, web design, position of egg-sac when carried by female, microhabitat) and ultrastructure (silk spigots, modifications of male cheliceral apophyses). The core group includes six leafdwelling species that have distinctive color patterns in life specimens (black and white or yellowish abdominal marks, dark pattern on posterior half of carapace) and build round to oval silk platforms on the undersides of leaves. Seven further species are tentatively assigned to the group pending further study. Several species originally assigned to the Pholcus halabala group are transferred to three newly proposed species groups, the Ph. krabi, Ph. buatong, and Ph. andulau groups. Nine species are newly described, four in the Ph. halabala group (Ph. khaolek Huber, sp. nov.; Ph. kuhapimuk Huber, sp. nov.; Ph. lintang Huber, sp. nov.; Ph. ubin Huber, sp. nov.); three in the Ph. krabi group (Ph. kipungit Huber, sp. nov.; Ph. krabi Huber, sp. nov.; Ph. narathiwat Huber, sp. nov.); one in the Ph. buatong group (Ph. buatong Huber, sp. nov.); and one in the Ph. andulau group (Ph. lambir Huber, sp. nov.). The females of Ph. satun Huber, 2011 and Ph. schwendingeri Huber, 2011 (both members of the buatong group) are newly described.
Crime Story in the Macedonian Printed Daily Newspapers
Authors: Vesna Stefanovska
Published: April 2016

The paper examines the media coverage of crime in the Macedonian printed newspapers and the way in which certain circumstances related to the offender, the victim and the crime are depicted. The content analysis is based on quantitative and qualitative data collected from the media articles within three-month period by using written coding instrument.
The main findings indicate that there are different approaches to and prioritization of criminal offences worth publishing in daily newspapers. The latter exhibit uneven representation of violent compared to property crimes, which means that the former crimes compared to property felonies, although less frequent in occurrence, note higher representation in part of the newspapers. In addition, differences according to the place of crimes commission are noticed between media in Macedonian and Albanian. Albanian media tend to emphasize crime perpetrated in areas where majority population is of Albanian origin compared to other major municipalities in the country. In this way, one gets the impression that these areas are incomparably much more burdened with crime, which makes them less safe than other major municipalities.
The findings relate only to media texts published in the printed newspapers on the research topic and to the classifications and definitions contained in criminal laws. Therefore, in-depth analysis on crime news depiction, not only in printed media, but also in electronic media in general, and at the web portals, in particular is challenging for scholars. This will bring new scientific insight into Macedonian criminological critical thoughts related to the role and meaning of the media and their discourse in construction of crime and criminality.
Fiscal Policy and Economic Performance: A Review
Authors: Halkos George E. , A. Paizanos Epameinondas
Published: April 2016

The economic implications of government expenditure have been shown to be significant and broad. In particular, government spending has been shown to enhance long-run economic growth by increasing the level of human capital and Research and Development (R&D) expenditure, and by improving public infrastructure. On the other hand, there is evidence that a greater size of government spending may be less efficient and therefore not necessarily associated with a better provision of public goods and higher levels of economic growth. Moreover, it is likely that the size of government expenditure and its composition are associated with key aspects of the quality of growth, such as income inequality and environmental sustainability. This paper presents a review of the theoretical and empirical literature on the relationship between fiscal policy and economic activity, both in terms of long-run economic growth and short-term output fluctuations. In general, empirical evidence on these relationships is not robust and remains inconclusive.
Desarrollo y validación de la Escala de Expectativas de Futuro en la Adolescencia (EEFA)
Authors: Sánchez-Sandoval Yolanda , Verdugo Laura
Published: April 2016

The aim of this study is to design and validate the Adolescent Future Expectations Scale. We analyze a sample consisting of 1125 participants of both sexes, from Cádiz, with an age range between 11 and 15 years old. Exploratory factorial analysis was performed with the sample 1 (n=551) and it resulted in four factors: economic expectations, academic expectations, expectations of personal well-being and family expectations. The application of the confirmatory factor analysis was performed with the sample 2 (n=574). The factor structure of the scale was confirmed. The model showed a good fit. The reliability and item analyses showed that the scale had good internal consistency. With the aim of determining construct validity, the data obtained by the Adolescent Future Expectations Scale were compared with other instruments that assess self-esteem and life satisfaction. We expected to get positive relationship between them. It was concluded that the 14-item scale is a valid instrument to evaluate adolescents’ future expectations.
La incuestionabilidad del riesgo: vulnerabilidad social y riesgo sísmico en municipios turísticos
Authors: Aledo Antonio , Sulaiman Samia
Published: April 2016

Los estudios sobre la vulnerabilidad social han ampliado la gestión de los riesgos naturales tradicionalmente direccionada a la amenaza natural y soluciones tecnológicas. Sin embargo, la visión dominante se mantiene hegemónica sin un análisis adecuado de las causas que originan vulnerabilidad social. Este artículo propone un nuevo argumento, organizado en torno al concepto de la incuestionabilidad del riesgo, entendido como la incapacidad cultural y política de objetar el modelo socioeconómico imperante en donde residen las causas de fondo productoras de riesgo. Para concretar el concepto, a modo de ejemplo, se analizan el Plan de Actuación Municipal frente al Riesgo Sísmico de la ciudad de Torrevieja.
Le Saint-Siège dans la communauté internationale
Authors: d’Onorio Joël-Benoît
Published: April 2016

De par sa présence dans le monde et son rôle dans l’histoire, l’Église catholique romaine est la seule institution religieuse à posséder un véritable statut de droit international. En 1870, lors de la prise par l’Italie du territoire des États Pontificaux, se posa la question de la capacité de l’Église à intervenir dans les relations interétatiques. Sans État, on soutint que le Saint-Siège ne pouvait bénéficier que d’une « souveraineté de tolérance ». Mais le Siège apostolique défendit avec succès la position de l’Église comme étant une societas juridice perfecta, titulaire donc d’une souveraineté inhérente à sa nature. En 1929, la doctrine internationaliste débattit sur la nature même l’État de la Cité du Vatican, créé par le Traité de Latran, en argumentant sur l’exorbitance du droit commun des éléments constitutifs d’un État. Le Saint-Siège peut néanmoins continuer à exercer librement sa mission spéciale dans le monde et, bénéficiant d’une garantie d’indépendance vis-à-vis des États, mener une intense activité internationale par le biais de la Secrétairerie d’État, à laquelle incombe, sous l’autorité du Pape, la responsabilité des relations diplomatiques. C’est ainsi qu’à la fin du XIXe siècle, plusieurs États avaient déjà fait appel à l’arbitrage du Saint-Siège pour régler leurs différends et qu’au XXe siècle, une vaste politique concordataire fut développée, signe de la reconnaissance universelle de la Papauté. Après la réconciliation de l’Italie avec le Saint-Siège, son action put s’étendre davantage en apportant son soutien aux différentes organisations internationales gouvernementales. Si bien qu’aujourd’hui le Saint-Siège est l’un des grands acteurs de la scène internationale.
A Consistent Inconsistency—An Interpretationof Sections 23 and 56(1) of the Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms of Québec
Authors: Pierre Barbara
Published: April 2016

The writer advocates the view that courts interpret statutes so as to achieve their aim; that being justice in the case: as between the parties and in respect of the law. This is identified as the common thread that explains the apparent erratic behaviour of the courts in their use of the various methods or rules of interpretation. The Supreme Court decision, Attorney General of Québec v. 2747-3174 Québec Inc., is analysed against the background of this theory and is seen to give support to it.

The court is shown to use various rules of interpretation, which lead the majority to a wide, and the minority to a narrow, interpretation of the Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms of Québec. Yet it is clear that in both cases the rules are merely a means to an end: justice as between the parties and in respect of the law. In context of the case, this means establishing a balance between the competing interests of the State and the citizen that conforms to the law relating to fundamental rights and in particular, the Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms of Québec.

As far as the State is concerned, it has a vested interest in confirming the constitutionality of its many administrative tribunals, which play an essential role in enabling the State to discharge its responsibility to govern. Citizens, on the other hand, need to be protected from the violation of their rights, in particular the right to an independent and impartial tribunal in matters relating to the determination of their rights and obligations, or charges brought against them. The Charter must be interpreted so that, in its scope and content, it gives real protection, but, consistent with the separation of powers doctrine, the interpretation must not amount to a usurpation by the courts of the role of the government to govern.

The writer concludes that the opposing conclusions of the majority and minority are more a consequence of the difference in the opinion of the judges as to the manner in which the balance should be struck, as opposed to the rules of interpretation used by them.
Le pluralisme de l’ordonnancement civil en Espagne et le droit civil en vigueur en Catalogne
Authors: Arroyo I Amayuelas Esther
Published: April 2016

Le Code civil de 1889 n’acheva pas l’unification législative de tout l’État espagnol, de telle sorte que la Catalogne conserva son propre droit civil. Dans la plupart des matières, le droit civil catalan est d’application préférentielle sur le droit civil étatique. Postérieurement, la Constitution de 1978 a reconnu la pluralité d’ordres juridiques en Espagne, permettant non seulement la conservation et la modification du droit civil propre à chaque communauté autonome, mais aussi son développement. En Catalogne, cette possibilité s’est récemment matérialisée sous la forme de codes sectoriels : l’un relatif aux successions et l’autre relatif au droit de la famille. Un troisième code sectoriel concernant le droit patrimonial est en cours. Ainsi, la compilation de droit civil spécial adoptée en 1960 sous la dictature du général Francisco Franco est devenue obsolète et très incomplète dû au contexte politique de l’époque.
Les sûretés en questions : Les tendances jurisprudentielles récentes
Authors: Boudreault Marc
Published: April 2016

Ce texte a un double objectif. D’abord revoir quels sont les jugements marquants qui ont été rendus dans le domaine des sûretés en 1998 en les situant par rapport à la doctrine et la jurisprudence. Ensuite, faire ressortir les tendances qui se dessinent avec, le cas échéant, les difficultés ou les conséquences qui peuvent en découler. Les jugements ainsi retenus ont été regroupés, pour fins de commodité, sous forme de dix questions.
The Protection of Religious Freedom under the European Convention on Human Rights
Authors: Martínez-Torrón Javier , Navarro-Valls Rafael
Published: April 2016

The international protection of the freedom of religion and belief has experienced substantial improvements during the second half of this century. One of the important steps that has been taken by international organizations is the European Convention on Human Rights (1950). The system of the European Convention has often been presented as a model of efficiency in the international protection of human rights, above all for the judicial machinery created to enforce the rights included in the Convention and its Protocols, whose center is the European Court of Human Rights (Strasbourg). The European system, however, is far from perfect, at least as far as the protection of the freedom of religion, conscience and thought is concerned. This article attempts to describe the main strengths and deficiencies of the case-law of the European Court in regard to the freedom of religion and belief. The Court has showed respect for the historical tradition of each country, and has explicitly affirmed that every religious group is entitled to true freedom—not merely toleration. In practice, however, the Court has failed to fully protect the strictly individual dimension of religious liberty, and consequently the rights of some religious minorities seem to be in danger—specially those minorities which defend ideas openly contrasting with the ethical choices assumed by the majority. The article ends with some conclusions on the aspects of the European Court's doctrine that will be advisable to change if it wants to be considered as an example that should be followed in the international environment.
L’abandon d’enfants : du Québec à la France en passant par l’Ontario
Authors: Pourbaix Marie-Noëlle
Published: April 2016

Ce travail porte sur la question de l’abandon d’enfants analysée sous l’angle du droit comparé. Nous avons tenté d’y mettre en relief les différentes interprétations entourant la notion juridique d’abandon et les composantes des systèmes québécois, ontarien et français relativement aux mesures existant pour protéger l’enfant abandonné. Nous avons examiné principalement trois contextes juridiques différents : les lois sur la protection de l’enfant, l’autorité parentale et les déclarations d’abandon. Nous avons voulu mettre en lumière, entre autres, les mécanismes d’intervention en milieu familial en comparant les lois particulières du Canada au système d’assistance éducative de la France. Nous nous sommes aussi attardée à la déchéance de l’autorité parentale comme moyen supplémentaire de protéger l’enfant. Finalement, nous avons étudié le contexte des mesures permettant de rendre adoptable un enfant abandonné. Cette analyse nous a démontré qu’en cette matière, l’État québécois préconise un système hybride, c’est-à-dire un système alliant des interprétations et des mécanismes clairement inspirés de la common law à d’autres, purement civilistes.
Tolerance and Natural Law
Authors: Budziszewski J.
Published: April 2016

Although the practice of tolerance might appear to be endangered by the natural law, closer consideration shows that it is grounded in the natural law. By analysis we find that tolerance is a virtue of the Aristotelian type, founded on the two great pillars of right judgment in the protection of greater ends against lesser ends, and right judgment in the protection of ends against mistaken means, with the second being the more fundamental. While this analysis is new, the insights that it elaborates are old, as can be seen through consideration of the four different ways in which the medieval natural law thinker Thomas Aguinas qualified the classical idea that the purpose of law is to make men good. We conclude that although the natural law does generate a doctrine of tolerance, it does not produce a liberal doctrine of tolerance. That is, it is not based on neutrality, skepticism, abstract subjective rights, or a harm principle, whether of the generic of the John Stuart Millian variety.
La vente sous contrôle de justice : comment le législateur se porte à la défense d’intérêts contradictoires
Authors: Lafontaine Michèle
Published: April 2016

L’entrée en vigueur du Code civil du Québec modifie sensiblement le mode d’exécution des garanties hypothécaires et affecte toutes les parties impliquées. On introduit un processus de vente sous contrôle de justice impliquant une « personne désignée » par le tribunal, sans toutefois bien cerner son rôle et ses pouvoirs. L’objectif du présent texte est donc de s’interroger sur la capacité du législateur de protéger tous les intérêts contradictoires en proposant un cadre minimal à la vente sous contrôle de justice.

Étant une vente forcée, la vente sous contrôle de justice doit être efficace, sans toutefois devenir inéquitable. Dans ces conditions, plusieurs exigences se manifestent dans l’étude des différents modes de vente permis par le législateur. Ainsi, les promesses unilatérales faites par des acheteurs potentiels doivent se conformer aux conditions essentielles établies par la loi et le jugement, sous peine des sanctions nécessaires.

Cependant, comme le législateur n’a pas cru bon de préciser clairement ces sanctions, des conséquences sont inévitables. D’une part, nous devons en déduire les effets de la vente : les obligations des parties sont alors directement tributaires de cette interprétation. D’autre part, nous ne pouvons que constater le rôle primordial octroyé à la personne désignée. Puisque le législateur lui confie ultimement la responsabilité de protéger les intérêts contradictoires, elle devient un pivot essentiel. Dans ce contexte, le législateur réussit-il alors vraiment à protéger les intérêts contradictoires ?
Les traits constitutifs de l’État fédéral belge
Authors: Verdussen Marc
Published: April 2016

L’État fédéral belge est né d’une métamorphose progressive, qui s’est opérée au départ d’une structure originellement unitaire. Il s’est formé par le morcellement d’un État souverain, sous la pression de forces centrifuges. De surcroît, il s’est constitué par acheminement, le fédéralisme multinational qui le fonde étant le fruit d’une longue évolution historique.

Bien qu’étant soumis à une stratification en trois niveaux superposés de gouvernement et composé de plusieurs collectivités fédérées, l’État fédéral belge est traversé par une profonde bipolarisation entre une population flamande et une population francophone. Sa survie est très largement tributaire de la volonté des partenaires de préserver une « tolérance réciproque », selon l’expression de Michael Walzer.
Customary Law, Women's Rights and Traditional Courts in Cameroon
Authors: Temngah Joseph N.
Published: April 2016

This article highlights the controversy over Women's Rights in Cameroon given that women are regarded as a man's property under customary law. The article points out the position of women's rights under statutory law. It compares both rules without settling for either of them. Both rules are sources of Cameroonian law and are administered concurrently by the courts. Again, this article shows the awareness women have demonstrated by challenging the customary law position which considers a woman as an object. Finally, the article settles for the codification of laws notwithstanding the difficulties involved in this exercise, especially in a bi-jural state like Cameroon.
The Environmental Assessment Process and Public Participation in Québec: Concrete Elements for Sustainable Development
Authors: Renaud Pierre
Published: April 2016

In southern Québec, projects having major environmental impact are subjected to the environmental assessment process which provides a period of information and consultation. During this period, any citizens, groups or municipalities can ask the Minister of the Environment and Wildlife to conduct, through the BAPE, a public inquiry on the project. This environmental impact assessment process, in place since 1978, was a precursor of sustainable development. The present paper is a presentation of the practical working of the environmental process at the government level.
Cameroon: The Law across the Bridge: Twenty Years (1972-1992) of Confusion
Authors: Ngwafor Ephraim N.
Published: April 2016

As a result of its hi-jural legal system consisting of Common Law and Civil Law jurisdictions, Cameroon has been faced with some serious legal dilemmas. Amongst the problems that have arisen is the question of whether a judge in a Civil Law jurisdiction has the authority to judge a divorce matter where the parties to the action are domiciled in a Common Law jurisdiction and vice versa. This article aims to undertake an analysis of the legal system in Cameroon in an attempt to provide a solution to the foregoing issue.
L’évaluation du témoignage d’opinion pour en établir l’admissibilité : les leçons récentes du droit de la preuve
Authors: Paciocco David M.
Published: April 2016

Depuis quelque temps, il existe une perception très connue que le taux de condamnation pour des infractions de nature sexuelle est inacceptablement bas. Les cours, frustrées par leur incapacité d’en arriver à faire ressortir la vérité quant aux allégations d’abus sexuel, particulièrement dans les cas impliquant des enfants, ont modifié le droit de la preuve dans le but d’améliorer l’accès à l’information. Ceci est particulièrement vrai dans les cas de témoignage expert. Dans plusieurs décisions importantes, la Cour suprême du Canada a accueilli des opinions émanant de travailleurs sociaux, de psychiatres, de psychologues et d’experts concernant l’abus envers les enfants. La règle de la question fondamentale s’est effondrée sous le poids de cette tendance, aussi bien que l’exclusion de permettre les experts de prévoir la preuve ayant rapport avec la crédibilité des autres témoins. A l’occasion, même le standard de qualification des experts à témoigner a été appliqué avec générosité. Aussi, les tribunaux ont, pour quelque temps, accepté la preuve fondée sur les sciences sociales sans se demander si les théories et croyances de l’« expert » étaient suffisamment fiables pour justifier leur audition, vu les risques associés à pareille preuve. La décision importante de la Cour suprême du Canada dans R. c. Mohan a établi un nouveau ton. Quoiqu’elle ait réaffirmé le déclin de la règle de la question fondamentale et ait conservé d’autres développements, la Cour suprême du Canada a mis l’emphase sur la crédibilité de la preuve fondée sur la science et les sciences sociales, particulièrement lorsque les théories sous-jacentes étaient nouvelles. Ce faisant, elle a avancé un test fondé sur la « pertinence et la nécessité » qui exige que les tribunaux se concentrent directement sur une gamme de facteurs. S’il est employé soigneusement, l’approche qu’il exige peut améliorer l’information disponible pour arriver à une adjudication sans permettre aux théories fondées sur les sciences sociales souvent discutables et non fiables, d’engendrer des condamnations injustes ou des acquittements non mérités. Cet article analyse les développements dans le droit concernant l’admissibilité de la preuve d’experts et cherche à fournir des paramètres pour l’application du test Mohan.
L’audiovisuel dans les accords internationaux favorisant le libre-échange : des
problèmes économiques et culturels difficiles à négocier
Authors: Carniaux Anton
Published: April 2016

L’étude suivante aborde le problème du traitement particulier que connaissent, ou
devraient connaître, les produits audiovisuels dans les accords internationaux favorisant le
libre-échange.

Les enjeux économiques, politiques et culturels liés à ces produits rendent
beaucoup plus ardues les négociations gouvernementales entre les tenants d’un libéralisme
total et les défendeurs d’une « protection » adaptée à ce secteur.

Ces tensions ont deux traductions juridiques synthétisables à partir des traités
analysés (le GATT, l’ALENA et les Traités d’intégration européenne).

En premier lieu, il
arrive que des mécanismes juridiques internationaux reflètent clairement des enjeux
strictement économiques, défendus par certains pays producteurs audiovisuels, dominés
commercialement dans ce secteur. Les justifications économiques avancées reposent sur une
analyse particulière du marché audiovisuel où les déséquilibres sont énormes.

En deuxième lieu, on peut distinguer une traduction juridique ambiguë d’enjeux
culturels et politiques, beaucoup plus légitimes que l’argument économique, mais dont la
préservation nécessite une action protectrice en faveur des produits audiovisuels. Cette
action s’oppose bien sûr à la finalité globale des traités en question et, plus
fondamentalement, s’intègre mal dans une structure juridique, vouée à l’économique, et
manquant d’ouverture intellectuelle. De telle sorte que l’on est porté à douter
systématiquement de l’honnêteté des dispositifs de protection culturelle mis en
place.

Les conséquences de cette pensée économique réductrice sont aggravées par
l’utilisation du pouvoir politique détenu par les États, pour contourner les rares
dispositions protégeant les produits audiovisuels menacés.
Distributed task-specific processing of somatosensory feedback for voluntary motor control
Authors: Omrani Mohsen , Murnaghan Chantelle D , Pruszynski J Andrew , Scott Stephen H
Published: April 2016

Corrective responses to limb disturbances are surprisingly complex, but the neural basis of these goal-directed responses is poorly understood. Here we show that somatosensory feedback is transmitted to many sensory and motor cortical regions within 25 ms of a mechanical disturbance applied to the monkey’s arm. When limb feedback was salient to an ongoing motor action (task engagement), neurons in parietal area 5 immediately (~25 ms) increased their response to limb disturbances, whereas neurons in other regions did not alter their response until 15 to 40 ms later. In contrast, initiation of a motor action elicited by a limb disturbance (target selection) altered neural responses in primary motor cortex ~65 ms after the limb disturbance, and then in dorsal premotor cortex, with no effect in parietal regions until 150 ms post-perturbation. Our findings highlight broad parietofrontal circuits that provide the neural substrate for goal-directed corrections, an essential aspect of highly skilled motor behaviors.
Neural clocks and Neuropeptide F/Y regulate circadian gene expression in a peripheral metabolic tissue
Authors: Erion Renske , King Anna N , Wu Gang , Hogenesch John B , Sehgal Amita
Published: April 2016

Metabolic homeostasis requires coordination between circadian clocks in different tissues. Also, systemic signals appear to be required for some transcriptional rhythms in the mammalian liver and the Drosophila fat body. Here we show that free-running oscillations of the fat body clock require clock function in the PDF-positive cells of the fly brain. Interestingly, rhythmic expression of the cytochrome P450 transcripts, sex-specific enzyme 1 (sxe1) and Cyp6a21, which cycle in the fat body independently of the local clock, depends upon clocks in neurons expressing neuropeptide F (NPF). NPF signaling itself is required to drive cycling of sxe1 and Cyp6a21 in the fat body, and its mammalian ortholog, Npy, functions similarly to regulate cycling of cytochrome P450 genes in the mouse liver. These data highlight the importance of neuronal clocks for peripheral rhythms, particularly in a specific detoxification pathway, and identify a novel and conserved role for NPF/Npy in circadian rhythms.
A long non-coding RNA targets microRNA miR-34a to regulate colon cancer stem cell asymmetric division
Authors: Wang Lihua , Bu Pengcheng , Ai Yiwei , Srinivasan Tara , Chen Huanhuan Joyce , Xiang Kun , Lipkin Steven M , Shen Xiling
Published: April 2016

The roles of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in regulating cancer and stem cells are being increasingly appreciated. Its diverse mechanisms provide the regulatory network with a bigger repertoire to increase complexity. Here we report a novel LncRNA, Lnc34a, that is enriched in colon cancer stem cells (CCSCs) and initiates asymmetric division by directly targeting the microRNA miR-34a to cause its spatial imbalance. Lnc34a recruits Dnmt3a via PHB2 and HDAC1 to methylate and deacetylate the miR-34a promoter simultaneously, hence epigenetically silencing miR-34a expression independent of its upstream regulator, p53. Lnc34a levels affect CCSC self-renewal and colorectal cancer (CRC) growth in xenograft models. Lnc34a is upregulated in late-stage CRCs, contributing to epigenetic miR-34a silencing and CRC proliferation. The fact that lncRNA targets microRNA highlights the regulatory complexity of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), which occupy the bulk of the genome.
Depinning field of domain walls with a misaligned grain boundary in iron-based soft magnets
Authors: Yamada Keisuke , Irie Shota , Murayama Soh , Nakatani Yoshinobu
Published: April 2016

We report on the domain wall (DW) depinning in an iron-based soft magnet with a misaligned grain boundary (GB) using micromagnetic simulations. The results show that the depinning magnetic field decreases with increasing roughness of the misaligned GB. This effect can be explained from the ratio of the overlapping areas of the GB to the DW when the DW is depinned from the GB. The results presented here offer a promising route to the design of soft magnets to decrease coercive force.
Chemical doping modulation of nonlinear photoluminescence properties in monolayer MoS2
Authors: Mouri Shinichiro , Miyauchi Yuhei , Matsuda Kazunari
Published: April 2016

We demonstrate a simple modulation technique of nonlinear optical properties in monolayer (1L) MoS2 via chemical doping. The strong nonlinear behavior of the exciton photoluminescence (PL) intensity is observed with increasing excitation power density for low-electron-density 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (F4TCNQ)-doped 1L-MoS2, whereas the exciton PL intensity of as-prepared, heavily electron-doped 1L-MoS2 exhibits weak sublinear behavior. These results are attributable to an enhanced exciton–exciton annihilation rate for the excitons in F4TCNQ-doped 1L-MoS2 as the dominant decay pathway under strong optical excitation conditions.
Identificación de Escherichia coli enteropatógena en niños con síndrome diarreico agudo del Estado Sucre, Venezuela
Authors: Michelli Elvia , Millán Adriana , Rodulfo Hectorina , Michelli Mirian , Luiggi Jesús , Carreño Numirin , De Donato Marcos
Published: April 2016

Introducción. Las Escherichia coli diarreogénicas son uno de los principales agentes causales de síndrome diarreico agudo.

Objetivo. Identificar grupos clonales de E. coli Enteropatógena (ECEP), en 485 niños con diarrea aguda, con edades entre 0-10 años, asistidos en centros de salud de los municipios Arismendi, Benítez y Sucre, estado Sucre, Venezuela, entre marzo-diciembre, 2011.

Materiales y métodos. Previo consentimiento informado, se recolectaron muestras fecales y  se identificaron E. coli, utilizando metodologías de coprocultivo estándar y serología con antisueros polivalentes y monovalentes. Se aisló ADN e hicieron dos PCR múltiples, para amplificar los genes eae (intimina) y bfpA (bundlina).

Resultados. En el 39,6% de los coprocultivos se determinó la presencia de infección bacteriana. La prevalencia de E. coli fue 54,7%; el 82,9% de estas cepas fue positivo por serología, para los serogrupos y el serotipo evaluados, siendo identificados mayormente en niños entre 0-2 años (37,9%). El 48,6% de las cepas E. coli amplificaron para el gen eae, de éstas, el 58,8% se clasificó como ECEP típicas (eae+ y bfp+). ECEP II fue el serogrupo más frecuente, 38,7%, con predominio de ECEP típicas (60%). El alelo b de intimina fue el más identificado (74,5%) en cepas positivas para el gen eae. Sólo se identificaron cuatro cepas con el serotipo O157:H7 por antisueros, las cuales no amplificaron por PCR para los genes eae y bfpA.

Conclusiones. Este estudio muestra la importancia de aplicar pruebas moleculares para identificar cepas E. coli diarreogénicas implicadas en cuadros clínicos de variada severidad.
Identificación molecular de aislamientos clínicos de Leishmania spp. procedentes de Colombia con base en el gen hsp70
Authors: Montalvo Ana M. , Fraga Jorge , Montano Ivón , Monzote Lianet , Van der Auwera Gert , Marín Marcel , Muskus Carlos
Published: April 2016

Introducción. La leishmaniasis es una enfermedad de alta prevalencia en Colombia, donde al menos seis especies diferentes pueden causar una variada presentación clínica en el humano. La tipificación de la especie es importante no solo desde el punto de vista epidemiológico, sino en el diagnóstico, dado que el tratamiento y el esquema de tratamiento pueden variar dependiendo de la especie identificada. Para la identificación se han utilizado distintas alternativas metodológicas, con variable poder discriminatorio.

Objetivo. Realizar la identificación molecular de especies de Leishmania spp. mediante la amplificación molecular de un fragmento del gen hsp70.

Materiales y métodos. Se realizó la amplificación molecular de un fragmento del gen hsp70: PCR-hsp70 (siglas en inglés) seguida del análisis del tamaño de los fragmentos de restricción (RFLP siglas en inglés), a 81 aislamientos clínicos de Leishmania spp., provenientes de pacientes con enfermedad cutánea y mucocutánea, en los cuales se identificaron las especies presentes.

Resultados. Se obtuvo un único producto de amplificación para el total de muestras analizadas. La restricción enzimática permitió identificar 70 aislamientos con un patrón de bandas correspondiente a Leishmania braziliensis, que incluye dos patrones diferentes (62 y 8 aislamientos respectivamente); 9 aislamientos compatibles con Leishmania panamensis y 2 con Leishmania guyanensis. El origen geográfico de los aislamientos concuerda con reportes anteriores sobre la distribución de las especies correspondientes.

Conclusiones. La técnica de PCR-hsp70/RFLP utilizada es útil para identificar especies de Leishmania aisladas de muestras clínicas de Colombia que puede ser aplicable también al estudio de cepas provenientes de vectores y reservorios con importancia epidemiológica.
Evidencia molecular de Rickettsia typhi en perros de una comunidad rural de Yucatán, México
Authors: Martínez Daly , Torres Marco , Koyoc Edgar , López Karina , Panti Alonso , Rodríguez Iván , Puc Adriano , Dzul Karla , Zavala Jorge , Medina Anuar , Chablé Juan , Manrique Pablo
Published: April 2016

Introducción. Rickettsia typhi es la bacteria causante del tifo murino o endémico, el cual es transmitido al ser humano principalmente por medio de heces infectadas de pulgas y en cuyo ciclo de infección se encuentran involucrados distintos animales sinantrópicos y domésticos. En la comunidad rural de Bolmay, Yucatán, México, se han reportado casos de tifo murino en seres humanos durante el periodo 2007-2010.

Objetivo. Identificar la presencia de R. typhi y estimar la frecuencia de infección en perros de Bolmay, Yucatán, México.

Materiales y métodos. Se tomaron muestras de sangre completa a 128 perros, se les extrajo ADN total y se analizaron mediante la prueba de Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa para amplificar fragmentos de los genes17-kDa y omp B y confirmar la presencia de Rickettsia spp. Los productos de las reacciones se enviaron a secuenciación y se les realizó un análisis de alineamiento con la herramienta BLAST.

Resultados. Se encontró una frecuencia de infección de 5,5 % (7/128). El alineamiento demostró 99 % y 100 % de homologación para los genes 17-kDa y omp B respectivamente, ambos para la especie R. typhi.

Conclusión. Se detectó la presencia de R. typhi con baja frecuencia de infección en perros de la comunidad de estudio; sin embargo, podría representar un riesgo potencial de transmisión hacia los seres humanos. 
Piomiositis tuberculosa en un paciente inmunodeprimido
Authors: Osorio Johanna , Barreto Jackeline , Benavides Jhonattan , López Óscar , Cuenca Ángela , García Esperanza
Published: April 2016

La piomiositis tuberculosa es una manifestación poco frecuente de tuberculosis extrapulmonar, siendo más común en pacientes inmunosuprimidos, con manifestaciones clínicas similares a la piomiositis de otra etiología, pero con una edad menor de presentación; como factores de riesgo se destacan la infección tuberculosa previa y la inmunosupresión farmacológica. El diagnóstico depende de una alta sospecha clínica en una población susceptible, ya que en muchas ocasiones el aislamiento microbiológico no es posible. La respuesta al tratamiento y el pronóstico son buenos. El caso que se presenta a continuación, es llamativo dada la rareza de esta manifestación de tuberculosis y la respuesta lenta al manejo antituberculoso de primera línea en un paciente con infección por VIH con recaída y un aislamiento microbiológico susceptible. 
Anatomy and osteohistology of the basal hadrosaurid dinosaurEotrachodonfrom the uppermost Santonian (Cretaceous) of southern Appalachia
Authors: Prieto-Márquez Albert , Erickson Gregory M. , Ebersole Jun A.
Published: April 2016

The cranial and postcranial anatomy of the basal hadrosaurid dinosaurEotrachodon orientalis, from the uppermost Santonian of southern Appalachia (southeastern U.S.A.), is described in detail. This animal is the only known pre-Campanian non-lambeosaurine hadrosaurid, and the most complete hadrosauroid known from Appalachia.E. orientalispossesses a mosaic of plesiomorphic and derived characters in the context of Hadrosauroidea. Characters shared with basal hadrosauroids include a short and sloping maxillary ectopterygoid shelf, caudally prominent maxillary jugal process, one functional tooth per alveolus on the maxillary occlusal plane, a jugal rostral process with a shallow caudodorsal margin and medioventrally facing articular facet, a vertical dentary coronoid process with a poorly expanded apex, and tooth crowns with accessory ridges. Derived characters shared with other hadrosaurids include a circumnarial depression compartmented into three fossae (as in brachylophosaurins andEdmontosaurus), a thin everted premaxillary oral margin (as inGryposaurus,Prosaurolophus, andSaurolophus), and a maxilla with a deep and rostrocaudally extensive rostrodorsal region with a steeply sloping premaxillary margin (as inGryposaurus).Eotrachodon orientalisdiffers primarily from the other hadrosauroid from the Mooreville Chalk of Alabama,Lophorhothon atopus, in having a slender and crestless nasal whose caudodorsal margin is not invaded by the circumnarial depression.Hadrosaurus foulkii, the only other known hadrosaurid from Appalachia, is distinct fromE. orientalisin having dentary teeth lacking accessory ridges and a dorsally curved shaft of the ischium. A histological section of the tibia of theE. orientalisholotype (MSC 7949) suggests that this individual was actively growing at the time of death and, thus, had the potential to become a larger animal later in development.
Preliminary study on non-viral transfection of F9 (factor IX) gene by nucleofection in human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Olmedillas López Susana , Garcia-Arranz Mariano , Garcia-Olmo Damian , Liras Antonio
Published: April 2016

Background.Hemophilia is a rare recessive X-linked disease characterized by a deficiency of coagulation factor VIII or factor IX. Its current treatment is merely palliative. Advanced therapies are likely to become the treatment of choice for the disease as they could provide a curative treatment.

Methods.The present study looks into the use of a safe non-viral transfection method based on nucleofection to express and secrete human clotting factor IX (hFIX) where human adipose tissue derived mesenchymal stem cells were used as target cellsin vitrostudies and NOD. Cg-Prkdcscid Il2rgtm1Wjl/SzJ mice were used to analyze factor IX expressionin vivostudies. Previously, acute liver injury was induced by an injected intraperitoneal dose of 500 mg/kg body weight of acetaminophen.

Results.Nucleofection showed a percentage of positive cells ranging between 30.7% and 41.9% and a cell viability rate of 29.8%, and cells were shown to secrete amounts of hFIX between 36.8 and 71.9 ng/mL. hFIX levels in the blood of NSG mice injected with ASCs transfected with this vector, were 2.7 ng/mL 48 h after injection. Expression and secretion of hFIX were achieved bothin vitrocell culture media andin vivoin the plasma of mice treated with the transfected ASCs. Such cells are capable of eventually migrating to a previously damaged target tissue (the liver) where they secrete hFIX, releasing it to the bloodstream over a period of at least five days from administration.

Conclusions.The results obtained in the present study may form a preliminary basis for the establishment of a futureex vivonon-viral gene/cellular safe therapy protocol that may eventually contribute to advancing the treatment of hemophilia.
Harm reduction interventions in HIV care: a qualitative exploration of patient and provider perspectives
Authors: Carlberg-Racich Suzanne
Published: April 2016

Background.A culture of stringent drug policy, one-size-fits-all treatment approaches, and drug-related stigma has clouded clinical HIV practice in the United States. The result is a series of missed opportunities in the HIV care environment. An approach which may address the broken relationship between patient and provider is harm reduction—which removes judgment and operates at the patient’s stage of readiness. Harm reduction is not a routine part of care; rather, it exists outside clinic walls, exacerbating the divide between compassionate, stigma-free services and the medical system.

Methods.Qualitative, phenomenological, semi-structured, individual interviews with patients and providers were conducted in three publicly-funded clinics in Chicago, located in areas of high HIV prevalence and drug use and serving African-American patients (N= 38). A deductive thematic analysis guided the process, including: the creation of an index code list, transcription and verification of interviews, manual coding, notation of emerging themes and refinement of code definitions, two more rounds of coding within AtlasTi, calculation of Cohen’s Kappa for interrater reliability, queries of major codes and analysis of additional common themes.

Results.Thematic analysis of findings indicated that the majority of patients felt receptive to harm reduction interventions (safer injection counseling, safer stimulant use counseling, overdose prevention information, supply provision) from their provider, and expressed anticipated gratitude for harm reduction information and/or supplies within the HIV care visit, although some were reluctant to talk openly about their drug use. Provider results were mixed, with more receptivity reported by advanced practice nurses, and more barriers cited by physicians. Notable barriers included: role-perceptions, limited time, inadequate training, and the patients themselves.

Discussion.Patients are willing to receive harm reduction interventions from their HIV care providers, while provider receptiveness is mixed. The findings reveal critical implications for diffusion of harm reduction into HIV care, including the need to address cited barriers for both patients and providers to ensure feasibility of implementation. Strategies to address these barriers are discussed, and recommendations for further research are also shared.
High‐Performance Inverted Planar Heterojunction Perovskite Solar Cells Based on Lead Acetate Precursor with Efficiency Exceeding 18%
Authors: Zhao Lichen , Luo Deying , Wu Jiang , Hu Qin , Zhang Wei , Chen Ke , Liu Tanghao , Liu Yi , Zhang Yifei , Liu Feng , Russell Thomas P. , Snaith Henry J. , Zhu Rui , Gong Qihuang
Published: April 2016

Organic–inorganic lead halide perovskites are emerging materials for the next‐generation photovoltaics. Lead halides are the most commonly used lead precursors for perovskite active layers. Recently, lead acetate (Pb(Ac)2) has shown its superiority as the potential replacement for traditional lead halides. Here, we demonstrate a strategy to improve the efficiency for the perovskite solar cell based on lead acetate precursor. We utilized methylammonium bromide as an additive in the Pb(Ac)2 and methylammonium iodide precursor solution, resulting in uniform, compact and pinhole‐free perovskite films. We observed enhanced charge carrier extraction between the perovskite layer and charge collection layers and delivered a champion power conversion efficiency of 18.3% with a stabilized output efficiency of 17.6% at the maximum power point. The optimized devices also exhibited negligible current density–voltage (J–V) hysteresis under the scanning conditions.
Solution‐Based Fabrication of Narrow‐Disperse ABC Three‐Segment and Θ‐Shaped Nanoparticles
Authors: Zhang Zhen , Zhou Changming , Dong Haiyan , Chen Daoyong
Published: April 2016

Nanoparticles sized tens of nm with not only a highly complex but also a highly regular nanostructure, although ubiquitous in nature, are very difficult to prepare artificially. Herein, we report efficient solution‐based preparation of narrow‐disperse ABC three‐segment hierarchical nanoparticles (HNPs) with a size of tens of nm through a three‐level hierarchical self‐assembly of A‐b‐B‐b‐C triblock copolymers in solution. An ABC HNP is composed of three nanoparticles, A, B, and C that are linearly connected; in the ABC HNP, the B nanoparticle is sandwiched between the A and C nanoparticles. The method for the preparation is highly efficient, because all of the A‐b‐B‐b‐C chains in the solution are converted into the ABC HNPs. Furthermore, the ABC HNPs self‐assembled into Θ‐shaped HNPs tens nm in size. Both the ABC and Θ‐shaped HNPs, are highly complex but highly regular, and are novel HNPs, and they should be very promising for addressing various theoretical and practical problems.
Nanotexaphyrin: One‐Pot Synthesis of a Manganese Texaphyrin‐Phospholipid Nanoparticle for Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Authors: Keca Joseph M. , Chen Juan , Overchuk Marta , Muhanna Nidal , MacLaughlin Christina M. , Jin Cheng S. , Foltz Warren D. , Irish Jonathan C. , Zheng Gang
Published: April 2016

The discovery and synthesis of novel multifunctional organic building blocks for nanoparticles is challenging. Texaphyrin macrocycles are capable and multifunctional chelators. However, they remain elusive as building blocks for nanoparticles because of the difficulty associated with synthesis of texaphyrin constructs capable of self‐assembly. A novel manganese (Mn)‐texaphyrin‐phospholipid building block is described, along with its one‐pot synthesis and self‐assembly into a Mn‐nanotexaphyrin. This nanoparticle possesses strong resilience to manganese dissociation, structural stability, in vivo bio‐safety, and structure‐dependent T1 and T2 relaxivities. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast enhanced visualization of lymphatic drainage is demonstrated with respect to proximal lymph nodes on the head and neck VX‐2 tumors of a rabbit. Synthesis of 17 additional metallo‐texaphyrin building blocks suggests that this novel one‐pot synthetic procedure for nanotexaphyrins may lead to a wide range of applications in the field of nanomedicines.