bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Establishment of Immortalized Mouse Bmp2 Knock‐Out Dental Papilla Mesenchymal Cells Necessary for Study of Odontoblastic Differentiation and Odontogenesis
Authors: Wu Lian , Wang Feng , Donly Kevin J. , Wan Chunyan , Luo Daoshu , Harris Stephen E. , MacDougall Mary , Chen Shuo
Published: June 2015

Bmp2 is essential for dentin formation. Bmp2 cKO mice exhibited similar phenotype to dentinogenesis imperfecta, showing dental pulp exposure, hypomineralized dentin, and delayed odontoblast differentiation. As it is relatively difficult to obtain lot of primary Bmp2 cKO dental papilla mesenchymal cells and to maintain a long‐term culture of these primary cells, availability of immortalized deleted Bmp2 dental papilla mesenchymal cells is critical for studying the underlying mechanism of Bmp2 signal in odontogenesis. In this study, our goal was to generate an immortalized deleted Bmp2 dental papilla mesenchymal (iBmp2ko/ko dp) cell line by introducing Cre recombinase and green fluorescent protein (GFP) into the immortalized mouse floxed Bmp2 dental papilla mesenchymal (iBmp2fx/fx dp) cells. iBmp2ko/ko dp cells were confirmed by GFP and PCR. The deleted Bmp2 cells exhibited slow cell proliferation rate and cell growth was arrested in G2 phase. Expression of tooth‐related marker genes and cell differentiation were decreased in the deleted cells. Importantly, extracellular matrix remodeling was impaired in the iBmp2ko/ko dp cells as reflected by the decreased Mmp‐9 expression. In addition, with exogenous Bmp2 induction, these cell differentiation and mineralization were rescued as well as extracellular matrix remodeling was enhanced. Therefore, we for the first time described establishment of iBmpko/ko cells that are useful for study of mechanisms in regulating dental papilla mesenchymal cell lineages. J. Cell. Physiol. 9999: 2588–2595, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Atomic force microscopy and cells: Indentation profiles around the AFM tip, cell shape changes, and other examples of experimental factors affecting modeling
Authors: Melzak Kathryn A. , Toca‐Herrera José L.
Published: June 2015

We use atomic force microscopy in conjunction with a fluorescence microscope capable of optical sectioning to acquire images of white blood cells while force is applied with the AFM tip. The indentation profile within the cell is compared to the profile of the AFM tip: examples are shown for indentations at the center of the cell which are reasonable matches to the tip profile, and an additional example is shown for an indentation that is on the tilted side of a highly rounded cell and that differs from the tip shape. We also demonstrate that the AFM tip can interact with internal cell structures, we show that the contact area between the cell and the substrate can increase under applied pressure, that the main body of the cell can fuse with the extended lamellipodium, and that the cell can be displaced laterally by the AFM tip. The features illustrated here are relevant to the interpretation of indentation experiments that measure cell elasticity properties, as is discussed briefly. Microsc. Res. Tech. 78:626–632, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Changes in extreme precipitation over Spain using statistical downscaling of CMIP5 projections
Authors: Monjo Robert , Gaitán Emma , Pórtoles Javier , Ribalaygua Jaime , Torres Luis
Published: June 2015

The Mediterranean coast of Spain often experiences intense rainfall, sometimes reaching remarkable amounts of more than 400 mm in one day. The aim of this work is to study possible changes of extreme precipitation in Spain for this century, simulated from several Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) climate models. Eighteen climate projections (nine models under RCP4.5 and nine RCP8.5 scenarios) were downscaled using a two‐step analogue/regression statistical method. We have selected 144 rain gauges as the rainiest of a network by using a threshold of 250 mm in one day for a return period of 100 years. Observed time‐series have been extended using the ERA40 reanalysis and have subsequently been used to correct the climate projections according to a parametric quantile–quantile method. Five theoretical distributions (Gamma, Weibull, Classical Gumbel, Reversed Gumbel and Log‐logistic) have been used to fit the empirical cumulative functions (entire curves, not only the upper tail) and to estimate the expected precipitation according to several return periods: 10, 20, 50 and 100 years. Results in the projected changes for 2051–2100 compared to 1951–2000 are similar (in terms of sign and value) for the four return periods. The analysed climate projections show that changes in extreme rainfall patterns will be generally less than the natural variability. However, possible changes are detected in some regions: decreases are expected in a few kilometres inland, but with a possible increase in the coastline of southern Valencia and northern Alicante, where the most extreme rainfall was recorded. These results should be interpreted with caution because of the limited number of climate projections; anyway, this work shows that the developed methodology is useful for studying extreme rainfall under several climate scenarios.
An analysis of teleconnections in the Mediterranean region using RegCM4
Authors: Ciarlo` James M. , Aquilina Noel J.
Published: June 2015

Atmospheric teleconnections have an important influence on the variability of the Mediterranean climate. This region has a unique and sensitive climate due to its complex topography and atmospheric circulation, thus making it challenging in climate simulations. This article focuses on the representation of five teleconnections in and around the Mediterranean region and how they affect one another and the region.

The Regional Climate Model, RegCM4, has been used to simulate the climate from 1969 to 1999 for a domain covering the Mediterranean and the surrounding region. A generalized method for calculating the indices for these patterns was identified and the corresponding indices were constructed from the modelled data and compared with reanalysis data. The modelled data was found to be highly correlated with the 20th Century Reanalysis data and the probability density functions (PDFs) were very similar to the reanalysis data, showing that the teleconnections were successfully represented within the model.

Maps of the influence of these teleconnections on temperature, precipitation and wind were also comparable to the reanalysis data, thereby suggesting that model data can be used for future projections of teleconnections and their effects on these parameters. With the use of this high‐resolution data, inter‐pattern relationships suggested in previous studies (such as that between the Mediterranean Oscillation and North sea‐Caspian Pattern) became more evident. This article also shows how the influence of teleconnections on winds affects the circulation and hence the temperature and precipitation of the region.
Optimised extraction ofβ‐carotene fromSpirulina platensisand hypoglycaemic effect in streptozotocin‐induced diabetic mice
Authors: Ma Qiu‐Yue , Fang Ming , Zheng Jia‐Hui , Ren Di‐Feng , Lu Jun
Published: June 2015

BACKGROUND

Spirulina platensisis rich inβ‐carotene, which possesses many important biological activities. This study investigated the ultrasound‐assisted extraction and purification ofβ‐carotene fromSpirulina platensisby using response surface methodology (RSM), determined its antioxidant capacityin vitroand explored its hypoglycaemic effect in diabetic mice.

RESULTS

The rawβ‐carotene extract with a concentration of 1942.14 ± 10.03 µgmL−1was obtained at the optimised condition byRSM(0.40 of the solid–liquid ratio, 51% of the extraction power, and 17 min of the extraction time), and the purity of evaporatedβ‐carotene extract reached 816.32 ± 10.57 mg g−1after purified by aNKA‐9 resin with a sampling and elution rate of 1mLmin−1. Theβ‐carotene extract scavenged 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl and hydroxyl free radicals with the highest ratios of 44 ± 0.26% and 35 ± 0.45% respectively, and exhibited strong inhibiting capacity on anti‐lipid peroxidation. The blood glucose level of streptozotocin‐induced diabetic mice was significantly reduced from 15.81 ± 1.71 mmol L−1to 8.10 ± 0.88 mmol L−1after 10 d administration of theβ‐carotene extract [100 mg kg−1body weight (BW)], and the increased food and water intakes in the diabetic mice were also significantly relieved afterβ‐carotene treatment.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggested that extraction ofβ‐carotene fromSpirulina platensishad potential prospects in scaled‐up industrialisation and healthcare applications. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Acrylic Diblock Copolymers/Clay Nanocomposites Via In Situ Nitroxide Mediated Polymerization
Authors: Cherifi Nabila , BenAboura Ahmed , Save Maud , Billon Laurent
Published: June 2015

The first nitroxide‐mediated polymerization of butyl acrylate/methyl methacrylate and/or styrene diblock copolymers‐based nanoclay composites is reported. Polybutyl acrylate (PBA) macroinitiators synthesized in the presence of raw and modified clays are used for chain extension. All materials are characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance, size exclusion chromatography, X‐ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry techniques. The obtained proton nuclear magnetic resonance and size exclusion chromatography results show that all syntheses are carried out in controlled manner. X‐ray diffraction analysis of hybrid materials reveals the formation of different structures varying between exfoliated and disordered ones. These structures depend on nanoclay distribution in different (co)polymer matrix and probable polymer/nanoclay interactions. All PBA composites and hybrid diblock materials register the enhanced thermal stability and show two glass transition temperature Tg values corresponding to the two diblock acrylic macromolecular features.

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A Polymeric Bowl for Multi‐Agent Delivery
Authors: Hyun Dong Choon
Published: June 2015

This paper describes a simple system for multi‐agent delivery. The system consists of a biodegradable polymer particle with a hollow interior, together with a hole on its surface that can be completely or partially sealed via thermal annealing. A hydrophobic dye, Nile‐red, entrapped within the shell of hollow particles presents a sustained release behavior while methylene blue, a hydrophilic model agent, encapsulated in the hollow interior shows a fast release manner. The release profiles of the probes can be further independently controlled by encapsulating methylene blue‐loaded polymer nanoparticles, instead of free dye, in the hollow particle with a small hole on its surface.

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Deficiency of monoclonal non‐specific suppressor factor beta (MNSFB) promotes pregnancy loss in mice
Authors: Gu Yan , He Yaping , Zhang Xuan , Shi Yan , Yang Qian , Yu Lin , Sun Zhaogui , Zhang Huiqing , Wang Jianmei , Gao Xiang , Wang Jian
Published: June 2015

Maternal immune tolerance to the semi‐allogenic fetus is required for successful pregnancy in mammals. Monoclonal nonspecific suppressor factor beta (MNSFB) is an immunosuppressive factor present in uterine epithelial and stromal cells, as well as in macrophages and T cells. Although the functional neutralization of MNSFB using specific antibodies against it lead to failed embryo implantation in mice, the exact role of MNSFB at the fetal–maternal interface remains unclear. The present study generated conditional heterozygous Mnsfb‐deficient (Mnsfb+/−) mice using the LoxP/Cre system. Western‐blot analyses showed that uterine MNSFB protein in Mnsfb+/− mice was remarkably down‐regulated compared to that in the wild‐type (Mnsfb+/+) mice. The litter size of female Mnsfb+/− mice was significantly reduced, which corresponded to developmental failure of embryos beyond Day 11 of pregnancy. The expression level of MNSFB protein was also lower in the failing compared to the normal embryos. An aberrant interaction between the embryos of Day‐4 pregnant wild‐type mice and endometrial stromal cells of female Mnsfb+/− mice was observed in vitro. The uterine Day‐5 abundance of P53, BAX, and BCL‐G in pregnant Mnsfb+/− mice was significantly decreased compared to that of wild‐type mice, whereas the expression of P27 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFA) was elevated. By comparison, the levels of MNSFB and BAX proteins in human decidual tissues obtained from recurrent spontaneous miscarriage patients were significantly reduced compared to those obtained from legal medial abortion, highlighting the involvement of MNSFB in the pathogenesis of recurrent spontaneous miscarriage. Together, these results demonstrated that a deficiency in MNSFb is associated with pregnancy loss, probably through reduced P53 and/or increased TNFA production at the fetal–maternal interface. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 82: 475–488, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Model predictive control of blood sugar in patients with type‐1 diabetes
Authors: Abedini Najafabadi Hamed , Shahrokhi Mohammad
Published: June 2015

In this article, two adaptive model predictive controllers (AMPC) are applied to regulate the blood glucose in type 1 diabetic patients. The first controller is constructed based on a linear model, while the second one is designed by using a nonlinear Hammerstein model. The adaptive version of these control schemes is considered to make them more robust against model mismatches and external disturbances. The least squares method with forgetting factor is used to update the model parameters. For simulation study, two well‐known mathematical models namely, Puckett and Hovorka which describe the dynamical behavior of patient's body have been selected. The performances and robustness of the proposed controllers are tested for regulating the blood glucose of diabetic patients in presences of model mismatches and measurement noises. Simulation results indicate that the non‐linear model predictive controller (NMPC) outperforms the linear one. To improve the performance of the NMPC in rejecting the meal disturbances, two different feedforward control strategies have been considered. Simulation results indicate that the combined adaptive NMPC with feedforward controller has a better performance over the other considered control schemes. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The use of ubiquitin lysine mutants to characterize E2–E3 linkage specificity: Mass spectrometry offers a cautionary “tail”
Authors: Hong Jenny H. , Ng Deborah , Srikumar Tharan , Raught Brian
Published: June 2015

Oligomeric ubiquitin structures (i.e. ubiquitin “chains”) may be formed through any of seven different lysine residues in the polypeptide, or via the amine group of Met 1. Different types of ubiquitin chains can confer very different biological outcomes to a protein substrate, yet the structural characteristics of E2s and E3s that determine ubiquitin linkage specificity remain poorly understood. In vitro autoubiquitylation assays combined with ubiquitin protein variants bearing individually mutated lysine residues (“K‐to‐R” mutants) have thus been widely used to characterize E2–E3 linkage specificity. However, how this type of assay compares to direct identification of ubiquitin linkage types using mass spectrometry (MS) has not been rigorously tested. Here, we characterize the linkage specificity of 12 different E2–E3 combinations using both approaches. The simple MS‐based method described here is more robust, requires less material and is less prone to bias introduced by, e.g. the use of mutant proteins with unknown effects on E1, E2 or E3 recognition, antibodies with uncharacterized epitopes, the low dynamic range of X‐ray film, and additional sources of experimental error. Indeed, our results suggest that the K‐to‐R assay be approached with some caution.
Thermal Analysis Goes With Mass Spectrometry to Evaluate the Molecular Weight of a Fluorinated Plasma Polymer
Authors: Fouquet Thierry , Mertz Grégory , Delmée Maxime , Fetzer Ludivine , Becker Claude
Published: June 2015

A combination of thermal analysis (differential scanning calorimetry DSC) and mass spectrometry (MS) has been proposed to estimate the molecular weight (MW) of fluorinated plasma polymers, not reachable by MS only owing to their high dispersity. A noticeable crystalline index has been previously reported for these plasma polymers leading to a detectable melting peak in DSC, itself not sensitive to dispersity. Relying on the variation of the melting temperature as a function of MW, a set of standards of various MW have been synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). MW (from MS) plotted as a function of melting temperatures (from DSC) provided a calibration curve further used to estimate the MW of plasma polymers based on their own melting temperature. The comparison of the DSC thermograms of plasma polymer and another reference made by free radical polymerization (FRP) finally offered an original insight into the contributions from insoluble and soluble parts, mimicked by a FRP (branched, low MW) and a ATRP (linear, high MW) polymer respectively.
Tunable Fabrication of Molybdenum Disulfide Quantum Dots for Intracellular MicroRNA Detection and Multiphoton Bioimaging
Authors: Dai Wenhao , Dong Haifeng , Fugetsu Bunshi , Cao Yu , Lu Huiting , Ma Xinlei , Zhang Xueji
Published: June 2015

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) quantum dots (QDs) (size <10 nm) possess attractive new properties due to the quantum confinement and edge effects as graphene QDs. However, the synthesis and application of MoS2 QDs has not been investigated in great detail. Here, a facile and efficient approach for synthesis of controllable‐size MoS2 QDs with excellent photoluminescence (PL) by using a sulfuric acid‐assisted ultrasonic route is developed for this investigation. Various MoS2 structures including monolayer MoS2 flake, nanoporous MoS2, and MoS2 QDs can be yielded by simply controlling the ultrasonic durations. Comprehensive microscopic and spectroscopic tools demonstrate that the MoS2 QDs have uniform lateral size and possess excellent excitation‐independent blue PL. The as‐generated MoS2 QDs show high quantum yield of 9.65%, long fluorescence lifetime of 4.66 ns, and good fluorescent stability over broad pH values from 4 to 10. Given the good intrinsic optical properties and large surface area combined with excellent physiological stability and biocompatibility, a MoS2 QDs‐based intracellular microRNA imaging analysis system is successfully constructed. Importantly, the MoS2 QDs show good performance as multiphoton bioimaging labeling. The proposed synthesis strategy paves a new way for facile and efficient preparing MoS2 QDs with tunable‐size for biomedical imaging and optoelectronic devices application.
Dying to make an impact
Authors: Kirby Roger
Published: June 2015

While female suicide rates have remained stable, the male rate has risen to its highest number for 12 years.
NHS crisis: time to move away from ‘free at the point of use’
Authors: Smallwood Christopher
Published: June 2015

The UK's tax‐based expenditure approach is unlikely to deliver the funds needed to avoid a continuing decline in health standards in the coming years. Christopher Smallwood argues that the solution to the problem is to encourage a system of complementary insurance to supplement the state's financing of mainstream healthcare.
Headache in sport
Authors: Kernick David P.
Published: June 2015

Headache can have an impact on sport or physical activity, either coincidentally or as a direct result of participation. David Kernick outlines the mechanisms thought to cause headache during activity, and provides treatment advice, noting that some headache medications are restricted for professional sportsmen.
Nocturia and obstructive sleep apnoea
Authors: Dawson David
Published: June 2015

Patients successfully treated for obstructive sleep apnoea often experience an improvement in their nocturia. David Dawson explains this link and suggests that clinicians working in urology clinics should consider obstructive sleep apnoea when seeing patients presenting with nocturia.
Men as patients: understanding and communicating with men
Authors: Madsen Svend Aage
Published: June 2015

Men have different strategies from women when they are patients, attaching less importance to their treatment and the disease than what might happen subsequently. The author suggests ways in which healthcare professionals can take these different strategies into account when communicating with men.
Management of undescended testes
Authors: Gordon Patrick Craig , Ramsden Alistair
Published: June 2015

The authors review the diagnosis, consequences and subsequent management of undescended testes. They recommend that infants with impalpable testes should be referred to the nearest centre providing paediatric urology cover, with a view to undergoing orchidopexy if necessary.
Surgery in renal cell cancer
Authors: Blick Christopher , Sullivan Mark , Cranston David
Published: June 2015

The incidence of renal cancer has increased over the past 30 years, with renal cell carcinoma being the most common form. In this article, the authors discuss the surgical options for treatment of both localised and metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
Daily phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor therapy: a new treatment option for prostatitis/prostatodynia?
Authors: Kirby Roger S. , Carson Culley , Dasgupta Prokar
Published: June 2015

The management of patients with chronic pelvic pain attributed to chronic prostatitis has always been rather unsatisfactory. Even prolonged treatment with an aminoquinolone, such as ciprofloxacin, and an anti‐inflammatory agent, or, alternatively an alpha‐blocker, seldom results in rapid resolution of the symptoms, and is commonly completely ineffective.
“In rape cases we can use this pill”: A multimethods assessment of emergency contraception knowledge, access, and needs on the Thailand − Burma border
Authors: Hobstetter Margaret , Sietstra Cari , Walsh Meredith , Leigh Jennifer , Foster Angel M.
Published: May 2015

Objectives

To evaluate availability, service delivery, and barriers to access to emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) along the Thailand–Burma border.

Methods

From June 2010 to May 2011 we undertook a multimethods qualitative assessment among cross‐border populations, migrants, and refugees. We conducted 46 key informant interviews with representatives from 25 organizations, 18 focus group discussions with migrant adults, migrant adolescents, and healthcare workers, and a service mapping exercise with 22 stakeholders.

Results

We found low use of ECPs among the target populations. Structural barriers and lack of evidence‐based reproductive health protocols, education, and information restrict access to the limited family planning resources available in this region. Misinformation about ECPs was widespread among health workers and organizational policies were often non‐evidence based.

Conclusion

Potential policy and program interventions to improve access to ECPs along the Thailand–Burma border include integrating evidence‐based practices into community efforts, expanding training opportunities for health workers, and improving communication and coordination among organizations serving populations on both sides of the border.
Danzas como tradición y como disputa: La ilusión comunitaria china en el Soconusco chiapaneco
Authors: Lisbona Guillén Miguel
Published: June 2015

Referir la impronta dejada por los inmigrantes chinos que llegaron a Chiapas a finales del siglo xix y principios del xx parece algo manido para quien conoce el estado y, muy especialmente, su región costera: el Soconusco. Sin embargo, lo obvio, por perceptible, como puede ser la existencia de una tradición gastronómica conocida como comida china, y convertida en marca de identidad en la región, no significa que la construcción de “lo chino” o de una “comunidad china” por parte de los hijos o nietos de inmigrantes sea un hecho nítido y palpable. Las dificultades para esta construcción en la actualidad son abordadas en este artículo mediante, sobre todo, el ejemplo que aportan las agrupaciones dancísticas que existen en diversos municipios costeros. Mediante sus diferencias se observa cómo se difumina la ilusión de una comunidad de descendientes consanguíneos para constituirse los grupos de danza en representantes municipales en disputa por la asunción de lo chino pero, sobre todo, mostrando el valor creativo de sus actividades.
Kinds of Blue: Diversity in UN Peacekeeping Missions and Civilian Protection
Authors: Bove Vincenzo , Ruggeri Andrea
Published: June 2015

For a given number of troops in a peace operation, is it advisable to have soldiers from a single country, or should the UN recruit peacekeepers from a variety of donor countries? Since 1990, the number of contributors to peace operations has grown threefold, and most operations have carried the mandate to protect civilians. This article explores the effect of diversity in the composition of a mission, measured by fractionalization and polarization indices, on its performance in protecting civilians in Africa in the period 1991–2008. It finds that mission diversity decreases the level of violence against civilians, a result that holds when geographic and linguistic distances between countries are considered.
Soil thermal regime after fuel spill cleanup response in a continuous permafrost zone
Authors: Barnes David L.
Published: June 2015

Releases of diesel fuel in the Arctic tundra are a common occurrence. Response to such releases in this region typically involves excavating the contaminated soil and backfilling the excavation with clean material. Owing to the lack of clean stockpiled native soils, coarse-grained soil (aggregate) used for the construction of roads and foundation pads may be the only backfill material available. Backfilling the excavated zone with soil that has different characteristics than the surrounding native soil, combined with the removal of natural vegetation, may drastically change the maximum thaw depth reached during the thawing season, altering the underlying permafrost condition. At the extreme, such measures in areas of ground ice can result in the creation of thermokarsting. We measured maximum thaw depths in aggregate backfill at a diesel spill site located in northwestern Alaska. Using an analytic solution, we investigated the reduction in maximum thaw depth by placing a relatively thin layer (0.5 m) of fine-grained native soil over the aggregate backfill. Such a practice reduces the maximum thaw depth by as much as 1.4 m over backfilling with aggregate only.
Communities of practice in the management of an Arctic environment: monitoring knowledge as complementary to scientific knowledge and the precautionary principle?
Authors: Nyseth Torill , Viken Arvid
Published: June 2015

This article addresses knowledge management in governing vulnerable polar areas and tourism. Since the 1870s, Svalbard has been a cruise tourism destination. Due to less ice during the summer period, the number of tourists visiting the remote northeast corner of the archipelago has increased significantly, and the potential negative impact on this vulnerable natural environment has become an issue. The standard modes of managing these areas have either been to apply the precautionary principle or measures based on scientific evidence. As management models, however, both principles are contested for a number of reasons. This paper argues for a third model that is partly based on a form of monitoring knowledge that has circulated in ‘communities of practice’ and that has been developed over time. This form of knowledge constitutes viable expertise for the governing and management of the environment-tourism nexus in the area, but it needs to be acknowledged as a complementary management platform. This article demonstrates how such monitoring can be done, and it suggests some principles for the development of monitoring knowledge for administrative and management purposes.
Editorial: Theatre's Itinerant Routes/Roots
Authors: CANNING CHARLOTTE M.
Published: June 2015

These four articles are very different in subject, geography, methodology and evidence. Despite these significant divergences, their presence in a single issue is fortuitous. What these articles offer as a single entity is an important reminder of how theatre is always concerned with and emerging from exchange and movement. Sometimes the movement is across global geopolitical boundaries; sometimes it is only across counties in a single nation. Sometimes the movement is the global circulation of ideas, and artists of very different cultures may be approaching similar subjects in similar ways although they have never met. Sometimes those routes may be traced on a map; sometimes they are roots only revealed as pathways through the transformative act of performance. Sometimes, of course, the movement is simply that of the body in representation. In all these essays the routes/roots involve challenges to collaboration and understanding, and results may come from achieving the goal of connection and/or from falling far short. Through comparing these articles with one another, we can enrich our own work as scholars and artists because they remind us to re-examine how we define even our most basic terms and assumptions.
Site complementarity between biodiversity and ecosystem services in conservation planning of sparsely-populated regions
Authors: CIMON-MORIN JÉRÔME , DARVEAU MARCEL , POULIN MONIQUE
Published: June 2015

The consequences of considering ecosystem services (ES) in conservation assessment are still widely debated. The degree of success depends on the extent to which biodiversity and ES can be secured under joint conservation actions. Unlike biodiversity, ES conservation is inseparably linked to human beneficiaries. Reconciling biodiversity with ES and conservation can be particularly challenging in sparsely populated areas. This study, in a sparsely-populated region of eastern Canada, focused on freshwater wetland biodiversity and ten ES provided by wetlands. Within a given maximal total area, the results showed that planning for biodiversity underrepresented local flow ES supply by 57% and demand by 61% in conservation networks. Planning for ES alone underrepresented wetland biodiversity surrogates by an average of 34%. Considering both biodiversity and ES simultaneously, all of the biodiversity and ES targets were achieved with only a 6% mean increase in area. Achieving all conservation targets starting from a network that was primarily built for either ES or biodiversity features alone was two to five times less efficient than considering both ES and biodiversity simultaneously in conservation assessment. A better framework is required to translate these spatial synergies into effective joint conservation actions.
A rewriting framework and logic for activities subject to regulations
Authors: KANOVICH MAX , BAN KIRIGIN TAJANA , NIGAM VIVEK , SCEDROV ANDRE , TALCOTT CAROLYN , PEROVIC RANKO
Published: June 2015

Activities such as clinical investigations (CIs) or financial processes are subject to regulations to ensure quality of results and avoid negative consequences. Regulations may be imposed by multiple governmental agencies as well as by institutional policies and protocols. Due to the complexity of both regulations and activities, there is great potential for violation due to human error, misunderstanding, or even intent. Executable formal models of regulations, protocols and activities can form the foundation for automated assistants to aid planning, monitoring and compliance checking. We propose a model based on multiset rewriting where time is discrete and is specified by timestamps attached to facts. Actions, as well as initial, goal and critical states may be constrained by means of relative time constraints. Moreover, actions may have non-deterministic effects, i.e. they may have different outcomes whenever applied. We present a formal semantics of our model based on focused proofs of linear logic with definitions. We also determine the computational complexity of various planning problems. Plan compliance problem, for example, is the problem of finding a plan that leads from an initial state to a desired goal state without reaching any undesired critical state. We consider all actions to be balanced, i.e. their pre- and post-conditions have the same number of facts. Under this assumption on actions, we show that the plan compliance problem is PSPACE-complete when all actions have only deterministic effects and is EXPTIME-complete when actions may have non-deterministic effects. Finally, we show that the restrictions on the form of actions and time constraints taken in the specification of our model are necessary for decidability of the planning problems.
Introduction: urban crises, policing crises: mirror images? (c. 1700–1900): cities in flux and changes to policing
Authors: DENIS VINCENT , MILLIOT VINCENT , LUCREZIO MONTICELLI CHIARA
Published: June 2015

The articles gathered here aim at outlining a complex view of the relationship between cities in a state of ‘crisis’ and changes to policing systems, in a period marked by rapid urbanization and industrialization. They explore the connections between the rhythms of urban change and the changes in the institutions responsible for policing the city. This introduction defines ‘urban crisis’ as a brief paroxysm and a way of describing rapid urban change that is considered problematic especially in terms of social control. It examines three sets of issues to highlight the relationships between policing powers and urban dynamics: first, how the police managed to handle unforeseen, traumatic events in emergency situations; second, how the police forces tried to legitimize their status through their understanding and control of urban dynamics; and third, how the police used the discourse of urban crisis they helped to produce, as a tool for their own ends.
City, housing and welfare in Spain, from the Civil War to present times
Authors: CARDESÍN JOSÉ MARÍA
Published: June 2015

This article presents some trends in the urban history of contemporary Spain. We analyse the forging of land, housing and urban planning policies set in the broader context of economic and welfare policy, and political development. We place an emphasis on endogenous causes, especially those associated with Franco's dictatorship and the transition towards democracy. However, we also evaluate the influence of exogenous factors, such as those implying the end of the Bretton Woods system and the reorientation towards neoliberalism. This should finally provide us with a deeper understanding of the historical roots underlying the recent real estate bubble.
Japan, the First Quest of Modernization in East Asia
Authors: Marković Ljiljana
Published: June 2015

In 1868, Japan embarked on its unique journey to become a modern country that was deemed successful and advanced by Western standards. But what characterized Japanese civilization at the outset of this quest and how did the makers of modern Japan conceptualize their goals? To answer this question, we will look at the long tradition of the Mito School, with special attention for the works of the Later Mito School, and to the thinkers and practitioners of the Bakumatsu and Meiji periods. This shall enable us to determine the aim, the nature and the success of Japan’s quest for its own path to modernization. The dissemination of the paradigm of modernization thereby attained to Korea and China shall be followed through and evaluated.
Does Mexico benefit from the Clean Development Mechanism? A model-based scenario general equilibrium analysis
Authors: Montaud Jean-Marc , Pecastaing Nicolas
Published: June 2015

Since 2000, the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) under the Kyoto Protocol has included southern countries in the fight against climate change by encouraging northern countries to make environmentally friendly direct investments at the lowest cost in these developing nations. Although CDM investments have enjoyed great success, the question of the contribution of these investments to the development of the host countries remains insufficiently explored. This paper offers a computable general equilibrium model-based scenario, describing the potential economic and environmental impacts of CDM investments for Mexico. As modelled in this study, these investments should generate both additional demand for activities that produce the fixed capital goods required for their implementation and environmentally friendly technological changes in the production process for the electricity sector. The numerical simulations reveal the growth potential and important fund of development represented by the CDM for Mexico; however, they show that the environmental impact also appears broadly mixed and dependent on both the nature of the sectors it affects and the intensity of the technological change it generates.
Assessment of the variability of Senegalese landraces for phenology and sugar yield components to broaden the genetic pool of multi-purpose sorghum
Authors: Tovignan Thierry Klanvi , Luquet Delphine , Fonceka Daniel , Ndoye Ibrahima , Trouche Gilles , Cisse Ndiaga
Published: June 2015

Sweet sorghum is highly coveted to contribute and take up food and energy challenges. A collection of 84 West Africa landraces mostly from Senegal and four control cultivars were screened to identify relevant accessions and trait combination for multi-purpose (sugar/grain/biomass). The implication of photoperiod sensitivity was particularly addressed. A total of 20 traits related to phenology, morphology, grain and sugar production were assessed in two sowing dates (July and August) at CNRA Bambey in Senegal. Late sowing resulted in shortened vegetative phase and a significant decrease in traits related to plant size, stem sugar, biomass and grain productions. Broad-sense heritability was moderate to high for most of the phenology, morphology, grain and sugar-related traits, suggesting their interest for breeding. All the traits related to plant size were positively correlated with plant sugar production except plant height. A cluster analysis identified three groups contrasting in their ability to combine sugar, grain or fodder production based on 18 traits measured for the early sowing. Clusters I and III were suitable for one purpose: grain and sugar, respectively. Cluster II was the most suitable for multi-purpose, showing the best trade-off among grain, sugar and vegetative biomass production. The best accessions for stem sugar yield belonged to durra, caudatum and their intermediate types. The relationship between internode size and sweetness should be further studied, in particular exploring their relationship with internode tissue anatomy. Further studies are also needed to evaluate the role that stay-green can play in sugar yield maintenance under post-flowering drought.
Historic Warm Periods Shed Light on Future Cyclones
Authors: Shultz David
Published: June 2015

Researchers look back in time to help understand our warmer future.
The anatomy of urban social networks and its implications in the searchability problem
Authors: Herrera-Yagüe C. , Schneider C. M. , Couronné T. , Smoreda Z. , Benito R. M. , Zufiria P. J. , González M. C.
Published: June 2015

The appearance of large geolocated communication datasets has recently increased our understanding of how social networks relate to their physical space. However, many recurrently reported properties, such as the spatial clustering of network communities, have not yet been systematically tested at different scales. In this work we analyze the social network structure of over 25 million phone users from three countries at three different scales: country, provinces and cities. We consistently find that this last urban scenario presents significant differences to common knowledge about social networks. First, the emergence of a giant component in the network seems to be controlled by whether or not the network spans over the entire urban border, almost independently of the population or geographic extension of the city. Second, urban communities are much less geographically clustered than expected. These two findings shed new light on the widely-studied searchability in self-organized networks. By exhaustive simulation of decentralized search strategies we conclude that urban networks are searchable not through geographical proximity as their country-wide counterparts, but through an homophily-driven community structure.
Comparative study reveals better far-red fluorescent protein for whole body imaging
Authors: Luker K.E. , Pata P. , Shemiakina I.I. , Pereverzeva A. , Stacer A.C. , Shcherbo D.S. , Pletnev V.Z. , Skolnaja M. , Lukyanov K.A. , Luker G.D. , Pata I. , Chudakov D.M.
Published: June 2015

Genetically encoded far-red and near-infrared fluorescent proteins enable efficient imaging in studies of tumorigenesis, embryogenesis and inflammation in model animals. Here we report comparative testing of available GFP-like far-red fluorescent proteins along with a modified protein, named Katushka2S and near-infrared bacterial phytochrome-based markers. We compare fluorescence signal and signal-to-noise ratio at various excitation wavelength and emission filter combinations using transiently transfected cell implants in mice, providing a basis for rational choice of optimal marker(s) for in vivo imaging studies. We demonstrate that the signals of various far-red fluorescent proteins can be spectrally unmixed based on different signal-to-noise ratios in different channels, providing the straightforward possibility of multiplexed imaging with standard equipment. Katushka2S produced the brightest and fastest maturing fluorescence in all experimental setups. At the same time, signal-to-noise ratios for Katushka2S and near-infrared bacterial phytochrome, iRFP720 were comparable in their optimal channels. Distinct spectral and genetic characteristics suggest this pair of a far-red and a near-infrared fluorescent protein as an optimal combination for dual color, whole body imaging studies in model animals.
Nutrition regulation of male accessory gland growth and maturation in Tribolium castaneum
Authors: xu Jingjing , Anciro Ashlee L , Palli Subba Reddy
Published: June 2015

Insulin/IGF-1 signaling (IIS) pathway is known to control growth, development and reproduction. Insulin-like peptide mediated body size plasticity in Drosophila melanogaster has been reported. Here, our studies showed that IIS pathway and nutrition regulate growth and maturation of the male accessory gland (MAG) in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum. The size of MAG increased from day 1 to day 5 post-adult emergence (PAE). This increase in the size of MAG is contributed by an increase in cell size, but not cell number. The growth of MAG was impaired after double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-mediated knockdown in the expression of genes coding for ILP3, InR, Chico, PI3k, AKT and GATA1 involved in IIS pathway. Interestingly, starvation showed similar effects on the growth and maturation of MAG. The phenotypes observed in animals where IIS signaling pathway genes were knocked down are similar to the phenotypes observed after starving beetles for 5 days PAE. These data suggest that nutrition signals working through IIS pathway regulate maturation of MAG by promoting the growth of MAG cells.
A Novel Characterization of Amalgamated Networks in Natural Systems
Authors: Barranca Victor J. , Zhou Douglas , Cai David
Published: June 2015

Densely-connected networks are prominent among natural systems, exhibiting structural characteristics often optimized for biological function. To reveal such features in highly-connected networks, we introduce a new network characterization determined by a decomposition of network-connectivity into low-rank and sparse components. Based on these components, we discover a new class of networks we define as amalgamated networks, which exhibit large functional groups and dense connectivity. Analyzing recent experimental findings on cerebral cortex, food-web and gene regulatory networks, we establish the unique importance of amalgamated networks in fostering biologically advantageous properties, including rapid communication among nodes, structural stability under attacks and separation of network activity into distinct functional modules. We further observe that our network characterization is scalable with network size and connectivity, thereby identifying robust features significant to diverse physical systems, which are typically undetectable by conventional characterizations of connectivity. We expect that studying the amalgamation properties of biological networks may offer new insights into understanding their structure-function relationships.
GPS tracking for mapping seabird mortality induced by light pollution
Authors: Rodríguez Airam , Rodríguez Beneharo , Negro Juan J.
Published: June 2015

Light pollution and its consequences on ecosystems are increasing worldwide. Knowledge on the threshold levels of light pollution at which significant ecological impacts emerge and the size of dark refuges to maintain natural nocturnal processes is crucial to mitigate its negative consequences. Seabird fledglings are attracted by artificial lights when they leave their nest at night, causing high mortality. We used GPS data-loggers to track the flights of Cory’s shearwater Calonectris diomedea fledglings from nest-burrows to ground and to evaluate the light pollution levels of overflown areas on Tenerife, Canary Islands, using nocturnal, high-resolution satellite imagery. Birds were grounded at locations closer than 16 km from colonies in their maiden flights and 50% were rescued within a 3 km radius from the nest-site. Most birds left the nests in the first three hours after sunset. Rescue locations showed radiance values greater than colonies and flight distance was positively related to light pollution levels. Breeding habitat alteration by light pollution was more severe for inland colonies. We provide scientific-based information to manage dark refuges facilitating that fledglings from inland colonies reach the sea successfully. We also offer methodological approaches useful for other critically threatened petrel species grounded by light pollution.
Urokinase-type Plasminogen Activator Resulting from Endometrial Carcinogenesis Enhances Tumor Invasion and Correlates with Poor Outcome of Endometrial Carcinoma Patients
Authors: Huang Chia-Yen , Chang Ming-Cheng , Huang Wei-Yun , Huang Ching-Ting , Tang Yu-Chien , Huang Hsien-Da , Kuo Kuan-Ting , Chen Chi-An , Cheng Wen-Fang
Published: June 2015

The purpose of this study was to identify the dysregulated genes involved in the tumorigenesis and progression of endometrial endometrioid adenocarcinoma (EEC) and their possible mechanisms. Endometrial specimens including normal endometrial tissues, atypical endometrial hyperplasia and EEC were analyzed. The expression profiles were compared using GeneChip Array. The gene expression levels were determined by real-time RT-PCR in the training and testing sets to correlate the clinico-pathological parameters of EEC. Immunoblotting, in vitro cell migration and invasion assays were performed in human endometrial cancer cell lines and their transfectants. In microarray analysis, seven dysregulated genes were identified. Only the levels of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) were higher in EEC with deep myometrial invasion, positive lympho-vascular space invasion, lymph node metastasis and advanced stages. After multivariate analysis, uPA was the only independent poor prognostic factor for disease-free survival in the EEC patients (hazard ratio: 4.65, p = 0.03). uPA may enhance the migratory and invasive capabilities of endometrial tumor cells by the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, Akt and p38 molecules. uPA is a dysregulated gene involved in the tumorigenesis, bio-pathological features and outcomes of EEC. uPA may be a potential molecule and target for the detection and treatment of EEC.