bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Probing Membrane Viscosity and Interleaflet Friction of Supported Lipid Bilayers by Tracking Electrostatically Adsorbed, Nano‐Sized Vesicles
Authors: Tabaei Seyed R. , Gillissen Jurriaan J. J. , Cho Nam‐Joon
Published: October 2016

Particle tracking is used to measure the diffusional motion of nanosized (≈100 nm), lipid vesicles that are electrostatically adsorbed onto a solid supported lipid bilayer. It is found that the motion of membrane‐adhering vesicles is Brownian and depends inversely on the vesicle size, but is insensitive to the vesicle surface charge. The measured diffusivity agrees well with the Evans–Sackmann model for the diffusion of inclusions in supported, fluidic membranes. The agreement implies that the vesicle motion is coupled to that of a nanoscopic lipid cluster in the upper leaflet, which slides over the lower leaflet. The diffusivity of membrane‐adhering vesicles is therefore predominantly governed by the interleaflet friction coefficient, while the diffusivity of single lipids is mainly governed by the membrane viscosity. Combined with fluorescence recovery after photobleaching analysis, the interleaflet friction coefficient and the membrane viscosity are determined by applying the Evans–Sackmann model to the measured diffusivity of membrane adhering vesicles and that of supported membrane lipids. This approach provides an alternative to existing methods for measuring the interleaflet friction coefficient and the membrane viscosity.
Sport and Transgender People: A Systematic Review of the Literature Relating to Sport Participation and Competitive Sport Policies
Authors: Jones Bethany Alice , Arcelus Jon , Bouman Walter Pierre , Haycraft Emma
Published: October 2016

Background

Whether transgender people should be able to compete in sport in accordance with their gender identity is a widely contested question within the literature and among sport organisations, fellow competitors and spectators. Owing to concerns surrounding transgender people (especially transgender female individuals) having an athletic advantage, several sport organisations place restrictions on transgender competitors (e.g. must have undergone gender-confirming surgery). In addition, some transgender people who engage in sport, both competitively and for leisure, report discrimination and victimisation.

Objective

To the authors’ knowledge, there has been no systematic review of the literature pertaining to sport participation or competitive sport policies in transgender people. Therefore, this review aimed to address this gap in the literature.

Method

Eight research articles and 31 sport policies were reviewed.

Results

In relation to sport-related physical activity, this review found the lack of inclusive and comfortable environments to be the primary barrier to participation for transgender people. This review also found transgender people had a mostly negative experience in competitive sports because of the restrictions the sport’s policy placed on them. The majority of transgender competitive sport policies that were reviewed were not evidence based.

Conclusion

Currently, there is no direct or consistent research suggesting transgender female individuals (or male individuals) have an athletic advantage at any stage of their transition (e.g. cross-sex hormones, gender-confirming surgery) and, therefore, competitive sport policies that place restrictions on transgender people need to be considered and potentially revised.
Influence of sailplane wing-bending flexibility on ‘1- Cosine’ gust loads
Authors: Lasauskas E.
Published: October 2016

Simultaneous modelling of aerodynamics, structure and flight dynamics is used to predict the gust loads on a model of 18-metre wingspan sailplane that includes bending flexibility. The ASWING software is used to analyse the time history of the wing-bending moment and the shear force at the wing root for the design gust speed and for the design maximum speed at different wavelengths of a ‘1-Cosine’ gust. Maximum values from the time history were compared with certification requirements for rigid sailplanes. The analysis revealed that wing-bending flexibility reduces the loads.
Comparison of Data Collection for Healthcare-Associated Infection Surveillance in Nursing Homes
Authors: Epstein Lauren , Stone Nimalie D. , LaPlace Lisa , Harper Jane , Lynfield Ruth , Warnke Linn , Whitten Tory , Maloney Meghan , Melchreit Richard , Rodriguez Richard , Quinlan Gail , Concannon Cathleen , Dumyati Ghinwa , Thompson Deborah L. , Thompson Nicola
Published: October 2016

OBJECTIVE

To facilitate surveillance and describe the burden of healthcare-associated infection (HAI) in nursing homes (NHs), we compared the quality of resident-level data collected by NH personnel and external staff.

DESIGN

A 1-day point-prevalence survey

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Overall, 9 nursing homes among 4 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Emerging Infection Program (EIP) sites were included in this study.

METHODS

NH personnel collected data on resident characteristics, clinical risk factors for HAIs, and the presence of 3 HAI screening criteria on the day of the survey. Trained EIP surveillance officers collected the same data elements via retrospective medical chart review for comparison; surveillance officers also collected available data to identify HAIs (using revised McGeer definitions). Overall agreement was calculated among residents identified by both teams with selected risk factors and HAI screening criteria. The impact of using NH personnel to collect screening criteria on HAI prevalence was assessed.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of clinical risk factors among the 1,272 residents was similar between NH personnel and surveillance officers, but the level of positive agreement (residents with factors identified by both teams) varied between 39% and 87%. Surveillance officers identified 253 residents (20%) with ≥1 HAI screening criterion, resulting in 67 residents with an HAI (5.3 per 100 residents). The NH personnel identified 152 (12%) residents with ≥1 HAI screening criterion; 42 residents had an HAI (3.5 per 100 residents).

CONCLUSION

We identified discrepancies in resident-level data collection between surveillance officers and NH personnel, resulting in varied estimates of the HAI prevalence. These findings have important implications for the design and implementation of future HAI prevalence surveys.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2016;1440–1445
Impact of an Infection Control and Antimicrobial Stewardship Program on Solid Organ Transplantation and Hepatobiliary Surgical Site Infections
Authors: Frenette Charles , Sperlea David , Leharova Yveta , Thirion Daniel J. G.
Published: October 2016

OBJECTIVE

The goal of this long-term quasi-experimental retrospective study was to assess the impact of a 5-year serial infection control and antimicrobial stewardship intervention on surgical site infections (SSIs).

METHODS

This study was conducted in a tertiary-care public teaching institution over a 5-year period from January 2010 to December 2014. All patients undergoing hepatobiliary surgery and liver, kidney, pancreas, and simultaneous pancreas–kidney transplantation were included. Outcomes were compared between a preintervention group (2010–2011) and a postintervention group (2012–2014).

RESULTS

A total of 1,424 procedures averaged an overall SSI rate of 11.2%. After implementation of the interventions, a decrease of 52.8% in SSI rates from 17.4% to 8.2% was observed (P<.001; odds ratio [OR], 2.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.5–2.9). An overall significant decrease >50% (relative rate; P<.001) was observed in superficial incisional and organ-space infections between pre- and postintervention groups. In addition, a 54.9% decrease from 19.7% to 8.9% (P<.001; OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.4–3.5) and a 51.6% decrease from 15.5% to 7.5% (P=.001; OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.4–3.5) were observed for SSI rates in hepatobiliary surgery and solid organ transplantation, respectively. The antimicrobial stewardship intervention increased overall conformity to the internal surgical prophylaxis protocol by 15.2% (absolute rate) from 45.1% to 60.3% (P<.003; 95% CI, 5.4–24.9).

CONCLUSIONS

A long-term serial infection control and antimicrobial stewardship intervention decreased SSIs among patients undergoing hepatobiliary surgery and liver, kidney, pancreas, and simultaneous pancreas–kidney transplantation.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2016;1468–1474
Fundamental solutions to moment equations for the simulation of microscale gas flows
Authors: Lockerby D. A. , Collyer B.
Published: October 2016

Fundamental solutions (Green’s functions) to Grad’s steady-state linearised 13-moment equations for non-equilibrium gas flows are derived. The creeping microscale gas flows, to which they pertain, are important to understanding the behaviour of atmospheric particulate and the performance of many potential micro/nano technologies. Fundamental solutions are also derived for the regularised form of the steady-state linearised 13-moment equations, due to Struchtrup & Torrilhon (Phys. Fluids, vol. 15 (9), 2003, pp. 2668–2680). The solutions are compared to their classical and ubiquitous counterpart: the Stokeslet. For an illustration of their utility, the fundamental solutions to Grad’s equations are implemented in a linear superposition approach to modelling external flows. Such schemes are mesh free, and benefit from not having to truncate and discretise an infinite three-dimensional domain. The high accuracy of the technique is demonstrated for creeping non-equilibrium gas flow around a sphere, for which an analytical solution exists for comparison. Finally, to demonstrate the method’s geometrical flexibility, the flow generated between adjacent spheres held at a fixed uniform temperature difference is explored.
Human resource development and human resource management levers for sustained competitive advantage: Combining isomorphism and differentiation
Authors: Chapman Elizabeth F , Sisk Faye A , Schatten Jeff , Miles Edward W
Published: October 2016

Numerous studies have investigated human resources as a source of sustained competitive advantage, indicating that the high-performance work systems created by certain human resource development and human resource management practices lead to greater firm performance. Though the mechanism by which this link exists remains a ‘black box,’ substantial evidence shows organizations benefit by adopting the human resource development and human resource management practices that lead to high-performance work systems. We discuss two divergent perspectives, institutional theory and resource-based view, and their impact on high-performance work systems. We argue that organizations adhering to tenets of institutional theory experience isomorphism in certain human resource development and human resource management practices, whereas resource-based view attributes create ways that firms differentiate their practices. We posit that to be competitive firms must balance the push–pull effect of institutional pressure with that of resource-based view differentiation.
Knowledge exploration and innovation: A review and an inverse S-curve proposition
Authors: Luo Ben Nanfeng , Lui Steven , Liu Chih-Hsing , Zhang Rongrong
Published: October 2016

Firms today thrive on innovation. Knowledge exploration, the nonlocal search for new knowledge beyond the firm’s current expertise, is posited to be critical for innovation. This paper seeks to contribute to the research on knowledge exploration in two ways. First, this paper provides a comprehensive review of key empirical studies on knowledge exploration and innovation. Second, this paper proposes a recombinatory search framework of innovation to reconceptualise extant understanding of knowledge exploration on innovation. This new framework focusses on the evolution of the benefits and costs of knowledge exploration, and puts forward an inverse S-curve proposition between knowledge exploration and innovation. Two company cases, IBM and Procter & Gamble, are then used to illustrate the new proposition.
El Mirón Cave (Ramales, Cantabria, Spain) Date List V: Middle Paleolithic and Lower Magdalenian
Authors: Straus Lawrence G , González Morales Manuel R
Published: October 2016

This fifth date list for the long cultural sequence in El Mirón Cave (Cantabria, Spain) reports on new radiocarbon assays for the Middle Paleolithic and Lower Magdalenian levels, ranging from about >45 to 15 uncalibrated kyr.
Middle Pennsylvanian vegetation of the San Giorgio Basin, southern Sardinia (Italy)
Authors: CLEAL CHRISTOPHER J. , SCANU GIOVANNI G. , BUOSI CARLA , PITTAU PAOLA , KUSTATSCHER EVELYN
Published: October 2016

The small, intramontane San Giorgio Basin in southwestern Sardinia has yielded plant macrofossils dominated by sphenophytes, but with subsidiary pteridosperms, ferns, (?)noeggerathians and cordaitanthaleans. They belong to the upper part of theCrenulopteris acadicaZone or possibly theOdontopteris cantabricaZone, indicating a late Asturian or Cantabrian (≡ late Moscovian) age. They therefore correlate with the post-Leonian deposits in northern Spain, the Nýřany Member in Western and Central Bohemia, and the Llantwit Beds in South Wales. The presence of post-tectonic deposits of this age is further evidence of the widespread influence of the Leonian Phase of tectonic activity in middle Asturian times, whose effect can be observed across Europe. The San Giorgio Basin is therefore a late Variscan rather than post-Variscan basin.
Control of oxidation-reduction potential during Cheddar cheese ripening and its effect on the production of volatile flavour compounds
Authors: Caldeo Veronica , Hannon John A , Hickey Dara-Kate , Waldron Dave , Wilkinson Martin G , Beresford Thomas P , McSweeney Paul L H
Published: October 2016

In cheese, a negative oxidation-reduction (redox) potential is required for the stability of aroma, especially that associated with volatile sulphur compounds. To control the redox potential during ripening, redox agents were added to the salted curd of Cheddar cheese before pressing. The control cheese contained only salt, while different oxidising or reducing agents were added with the NaCl to the experimental cheeses. KIO3 (at 0·05, 0·1 and 1%, w/w) was used as the oxidising agent while cysteine (at 2%, w/w) and Na2S2O4 (at 0·05 and 0·1%, w/w) were used as reducing agents. During ripening the redox potential of the cheeses made with the reducing agents did not differ significantly from the control cheese (Eh ≈ −120 mV) while the cheeses made with 0·1 and 0·05% KIO3 had a significantly higher and positive redox potential in the first month of ripening. Cheese made with 1% KIO3 had positive values of redox potential throughout ripening but no starter lactic acid bacteria survived in this cheese; however, numbers of starter organisms in all other cheeses were similar. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the volatile compounds clearly separated the cheeses made with the reducing agents from cheeses made with the oxidising agents at 2 month of ripening. Cheeses with reducing agents were characterized by the presence of sulphur compounds whereas cheeses made with KIO3 were characterized mainly by aldehydes. At 6 month of ripening, separation by PCA was less evident. These findings support the hypothesis that redox potential could be controlled during ripening and that this parameter has an influence on the development of cheese flavour.
IDENTIFIABILITY OF THE SIGN OF COVARIATE EFFECTS IN THE COMPETING RISKS MODEL
Authors: Lo Simon M.S. , Wilke Ralf A.
Published: October 2016

We present a new framework for the identification of competing risks models, which also include Roy models. We show that by establishing a Hicksian-type decomposition, the direction of covariate effects on the marginal distributions of the competing risks model can be identified under weak restrictions. Our approach leaves the marginal distributions and their joint distribution completely unspecified, except that the associated copula is invariant in the covariates. Results from simulations and two data examples suggest that our method often outperforms existing comparable approaches in terms of the range of durations for which the direction of the covariate effect is identified, particularly for long duration.
Preparation and crystal structure of garnet-type calcium zirconium germanate Ca4ZrGe3O12
Authors: Zhuravlev V. D. , Tyutyunnik A. P. , Lobachevskaya N. I.
Published: October 2016

A polycrystalline sample of Ca4ZrGe3O12was synthesized using the nitrate–citrate method and heated at 850–1100 °C. Structural refinement based on X-ray powder diffraction data showed that the crystal structure is of the garnet type with a cubic unit-cell parameter [a= 12.71299(3) Å] and the space groupIa$\bar 3$d. The structural formula is presented as Ca3[CaZr]octa[Ge]tetraO12.
Exploring genetic moderators and epigenetic mediators of contextual and family effects: From Gene × Environment to epigenetics
Authors: Beach Steven R. H. , Brody Gene H. , Barton Allen W. , Philibert Robert A.
Published: October 2016

In the current manuscript, we provide an overview of a research program at the University of Georgia's Center for Family Research designed to expand upon rapid and ongoing developments in the fields of genetics and epigenetics. By placing those developments in the context of translational research on family and community determinants of health and well-being among rural African Americans, we hope to identify novel, modifiable environments and biological processes. In the first section of the article, we review our earlier work on genotypic variation effects on the association between family context and mental and physical health outcomes as well as differential responses to family-based intervention. We then transition to discuss our more recent research on the association of family and community environments with epigenetic processes. In this second section of the article, we begin by briefly reviewing terminology and basic considerations before describing evidence that early environments may influence epigenetic motifs that potentially serve as mediators of long-term effects of early family and community environments on longer term health outcomes. We also provide evidence that genotype may sometimes influence epigenetic outcomes. Finally, we describe our recent efforts to use genome-wide characterization of epigenetic patterns to better understand the biological impact of protective parenting on long-term shifts in inflammatory processes and its potential implications for young adult health. As will be clear, research on epigenetics as a mediator of the connections between family/community processes and a range of health outcomes is still in its infancy, but the potential to develop important insights regarding mechanisms linking modifiable environments to biological processes and long-term health outcomes already is coming into view.
‘So one would notice the good navigability’: economic decline and the cartographic conception of urban space in late fifteenth- and sixteenth-century Bruges
Authors: DEWILDE BRECHT , DUMOLYN JAN , LAMBERT BART , VANNIEUWENHUYZE BRAM
Published: October 2016

During most of the late medieval period, the Flemish city of Bruges acted as the main commercial hub of north-western Europe. In the course of the fifteenth century, however, Bruges lost much of its allure as an economic metropolis. One of the most urgent challenges the urban authorities were facing was the navigability of the waterways in and around the city. While the city government made structural investments to remedy the problems, written sources constantly emphasized how important it was that Bruges remained accessible from the sea. During the same period, the earliest preserved maps of the city and its environment emerged. Drawing on the work of Henri Lefebvre, this article argues that these visual representations were informed by the same commercial ideology. Despite, or exactly because of, the city's decreasing maritime accessibility, they conceived Bruges as a place that could easily be reached by trading ships and where merchants could trade in the best possible circumstances.
Development of Ca2+-release mechanisms during oocyte maturation of the starfishAsterina pectinifera
Authors: Takahashi Isao , Kyozuka Keiichiro
Published: October 2016

An important step for successful fertilization and further development is the increase in intracellular Ca2+in the activated oocyte. It has been known that starfish oocytes become increasingly sensitive to inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) during meiotic maturation to exhibit highly efficient IP3-induced Ca2+release (IICR) by the time of germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD). However, we noted that the peak level of intracellular Ca2+increase after insemination is already high in the maturing oocytes before GVBD. Using maturing oocytes before GVBD, we investigated Ca2+release mechanisms other than IICR. We report here that Ca2+-release mechanisms dependent on nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADP), the precursor of NAADP, became functional prior to the development of IICR mechanisms. As with IP3, but unlike NAADP, the Ca2+stores responsive to NADP are sensitized during the meiotic maturation induced by 1-methyladenine (1-MA). This suggests that the process may represent a physiological response to the maturation hormone. NADP-dependent Ca2+release in immature oocytes, however, did not induce oocyte maturation by itself, but was enhanced by the conditions mimicking the increases of intracellular Ca2+and pH that take place in the maturing oocytes of starfish.
Barcelona, Catalonia and the Crown of Aragón in the Bourbon Spanish Empire
Authors: Pietschmann Horst
Published: October 2016

After an outline of present-day ‘glocalization problems’ of the European Community this article analyses the problem of whether the centralizing policy of the Spanish Bourbon government after the War of Spanish Succession provides historical evidence on the origins of contemporary Catalan nationalism, as often argued, or not. Referring briefly to the medieval and early modern imperial traditions of both the Aragonese kingdoms, especially of Catalonia and its predominant city of Barcelona, and the Castilian kingdoms, the article argues that during the 18th century the Crown made strong efforts to integrate Catalans into the imperial government and trade and spent large quantities of fiscal income in the modernization of Catalonia as a central base of its Mediterranean policy. Therefore, the historical origins of present-day nationalism have to be explained in the context of more recent historical phenomena in the context of the so-called ‘uncompleted Spanish national project’.
Competing Identities and Turkey’s Future
Authors: Ferguson Yale H.
Published: October 2016

One frequent observation about the contemporary world is that the pace of change appears to be accelerating. Turkey is a case in point, and the same is true of Turkey’s relationships with the Middle East, the European Union, and the wider world. All have continued to evolve at such an astonishing rate that almost the only constant has been change itself. Early in the millennium Turkey appeared to have managed the difficult transition from a long era of military control to a relatively stable elected government and liberal democratic values. That expectation eroded in subsequent years under the rule of Prime Minister (now President) Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Islamist Justice and Development Party (AKP), with an unmistakable drift towards a decidedly illiberal democracy – if not outright authoritarianism – and increased violence at home and abroad. At the time of writing (late-July 2016), Turkey has recently experienced a major military coup, a formal state of emergency has been declared, and a sweeping crackdown is occurring that affects virtually every sector of society.
The Maritime Routes Between China and the Indian Ocean During the Second to Ninth Centuriesc.e.
Authors: HAW STEPHEN G.
Published: October 2016

The interpretation of history is often a complex task. All too often, sources are misinterpreted because of historians’ preconceptions. This article takes issue with one such misinterpretation, the anachronistic view that the Strait of Melaka has been the principal sea route connecting the Indian Ocean with the South China Sea throughout most of recorded history. Beginning at a period when an overland journey across the Malay Peninsula was an essential link in the routes connecting South, Southeast and East Asia, it is suggested that the first entirely maritime itinerary to be used regularly passed through the Sunda Strait. Changes in itineraries affected the fortunes of the states of Southeast Asia, particularly of Funan and Srivijaya.
L2 processing and memory retrieval: Some empirical and conceptual challenges
Authors: JACOB GUNNAR , LAGO SOL , PATTERSON CLARE
Published: October 2016

Cunnings' keynote offers a new perspective on L2 processing by casting L1–L2 differences in terms of the memory system. One advantage of this approach is that it makes use of cue-based memory retrieval, a framework that has given rise to a wealth of research on L1 processing. However, there remain some questions about the evidence-base and predictions of the account, as well as conceptual challenges to its implementation.
Obesity services planning framework for interprofessional primary care organizations
Authors: Brauer Paula , Royall Dawna , Dwyer John , Edwards A. Michelle , Hussey Tracy , Kates Nick , Smith Heidi , Kirkconnell Ross
Published: October 2016

Aim

We report on a formative project to develop an organization-level planning framework for obesity prevention and management services.

Background

It is common when developing new services to first develop a logic model outlining expected outcomes and key processes. This can be onerous for single primary care organizations, especially for complex conditions like obesity.

Methods

The initial draft was developed by the research team, based on results from provider and patient focus groups in one large Family Health Team (FHT) in Ontario. This draft was reviewed and activities prioritized by 20 FHTs using a moderated electronic consensus process. A national panel then reviewed the draft.

Findings

Providers identified five main target groups: pregnancy to 2, 3–12, 13–18, 18+ years at health risk, and 18+ with complex care needs. Desired outcomes were identified and activities were prioritized under categories: raising awareness (eg, providing information and resources on weight-health), identification and initial management (eg, wellness care), follow-up management (eg, group programs), expanded services (eg, availability of team services), and practice initiatives (eg, interprofessional education). Overall, there was strong support for raising awareness by providing information on the weight-health connection and on community services. There was also strong support for growth assessment in pediatric care. In adults, there was strong support for wellness care/health check visits and episodic care to identify people for interventions, for group programs, and for additional provider education.

Conclusions

Joint development by different teams proved useful for consensus on outcomes and for ensuring relevancy across practices. While priorities will vary depending on local context, the basic descriptions of care processes were endorsed by reviewers. Key next steps are to trial the use of the framework and for further implementation studies to find optimally effective approaches for obesity prevention and management across the lifespan.
Providers’ perceptions of barriers and facilitators to disclosure of alcohol use by women veterans
Authors: Abraham Traci H. , Lewis Eleanor T. , Drummond Karen L. , Timko Christine , Cucciare Michael A.
Published: October 2016

Aim

To better understand barriers and facilitators that hinder or help women veterans discuss their alcohol use with providers in primary care in order to better identify problematic drinking and enhance provider–patient communication about harmful drinking.

Background

Women presenting to primary care may be less likely than men to disclose potentially harmful alcohol use. No studies have qualitatively examined the perspectives of primary care providers about factors that affect accurate disclosure of alcohol use by women veterans during routine clinic visits.

Methods

Providers (n=14) were recruited from primary care at two veterans Administration Women’s Health Clinics in California, United States. An open-ended interview guide was developed from domains of the consolidated framework for implementation science. Interviews elicited primary care providers’ perspectives on barriers and facilitators to women veterans’ (who may or may not be using alcohol in harmful ways) disclosure of alcohol use during routine clinic visits. Interview data were analyzed deductively using a combination of template analysis and matrix analysis.

Findings

Participants reported six barriers and five facilitators that they perceived affect women veteran’s decision to accurately disclose alcohol use during screenings and openness to discussing harmful drinking with a primary care provider. The most commonly described barriers to disclosure were stigma, shame, and discomfort, and co-occuring mental health concerns, while building strong therapeutic relationships and using probes to ‘dig deeper’ were most often described as facilitators. Findings from this study may enhance provider–patient discussions about alcohol use and help primary care providers to better identify problematic drinking among women veterans, ultimately improving patient outcomes.
Servicification of Firms and Trade Policy Implications
Authors: LODEFALK MAGNUS
Published: October 2016

In the OECD countries, the decline of manufacturing and the employment implications have long been matters of concern. Recently, policymakers in several countries have set out to try and achieve reindustrialization. The servicification of firms is related to these concerns and aspirations. However, servicification, and particularly its role in trade policy, has received limited attention. I review micro-level evidence and discuss its implications. I find that imported, domestic and exported services are all important to contemporary firm competitiveness and participation in international value chains. Therefore, historic policymaking divisions between trade in manufactures and trade in services services, between export and import interests, and among modes of supply are becoming less relevant. I conclude by suggesting potential steps forward.
Does retirement flexibility provide a hedge against macroeconomic risk?
Authors: ADEMA YVONNE , BONENKAMP JAN , MEIJDAM LEX
Published: October 2016

Retirement flexibility is often seen as a hedge against macroeconomic risks such as capital market risks, which justifies more risky asset portfolios. This paper analyses the robustness of this claim in both a partial equilibrium and general equilibrium setting. We show that this positive relationship between risk taking and retirement flexibility is weakened and under some conditions even turned around if not only capital market risks, but also productivity risks are considered. Productivity risk in combination with a high elasticity of substitution between consumption and leisure creates a positive correlation between asset returns and labour income, reducing the willingness of consumers to bear risk.
Accounting for the rise in unfunded public pension liabilities: faulty counterfactuals and the allure of simple gain/loss summations
Authors: COSTRELL ROBERT M.
Published: October 2016

This paper provides a methodological critique of an influential method for assessing the impact on the Unfunded Accrued Liabilities (UAL) of the gap between assumed and actual investment returns over extended periods, and offers a sound replacement. The method in question simply sums over time the components of the annual actuarial gain/loss report. This implicitly assumes that in the counterfactual exercise, the interest on the additional UAL is covered dollar-for-dollar by amortization. But under actual funding formulas amortization usually varies less than interest. This means there are large intertemporal interactions between the gap in investment returns and subsequent shortfalls between contributions and interest. Using the actual funding formula in the counterfactual can lead to much higher estimates of the UAL impact of the gap in investment returns because it does not assume away these interactions. This method can more accurately inform policy-makers, regarding the importance of cutting the assumed rate of return.
Principal Component Analysis of Working Memory Variables during Child and Adolescent Development
Authors: Barriga-Paulino Catarina I. , Rodríguez-Martínez Elena I. , Rojas-Benjumea María Ángeles , Gómez Carlos M.
Published: October 2016

Correlation and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of behavioral measures from two experimental tasks (Delayed Match-to-Sample and Oddball), and standard scores from a neuropsychological test battery (Working Memory Test Battery for Children) was performed on data from participants between 6–18 years old. The correlation analysis (p < .05) results showed a common maturational trend in working memory performance between these two types of tasks. Applying PCA (Eigenvalues > 1), the scores of the first extracted component were significantly correlated (p < .05) to most behavioral measures, suggesting some commonalities of the processes of age-related changes in the measured variables. The results suggest that this first component would be related to age but also to individual differences during the cognitive maturation process across childhood and adolescence stages. The fourth component would represent the speed-accuracy trade-off phenomenon as it presents loading components with different signs for reaction times and errors.
How well can morphology assess cell death modality? A proteomics study
Authors: Chernobrovkin Alexey L , Zubarev Roman A
Published: October 2016

While the focus of attempts to classify cell death programs has finally shifted in 2010s from microscopy-based morphological characteristics to biochemical assays, more recent discoveries have put the underlying assumptions of many such assays under severe stress, mostly because of the limited specificity of the assays. On the other hand, proteomics can quantitatively measure the abundances of thousands of proteins in a single experiment. Thus proteomics could develop a modern alternative to both semiquantitative morphology assessment as well as single-molecule biochemical assays. Here we tested this hypothesis by analyzing the proteomes of cells dying after been treated with various chemical agents. The most striking finding is that, for a multivariate model based on the proteome changes in three cells lines, the regulation patterns of the 200–500 most abundant proteins typically attributed to household type more accurately reflect that of the proteins directly interacting with the drug than any other protein subset grouped by common function or biological process, including cell death. This is in broad agreement with the 'rigid cell death mechanics' model where drug action mechanism and morphological changes caused by it are bijectively linked. This finding, if confirmed, will open way for a broad use of proteomics in death modality assessment.
Interplay between hydrophilicity and surface barriers on water transport in zeolite membranes
Authors: Fasano Matteo , Humplik Thomas , Bevilacqua Alessio , Tsapatsis Michael , Chiavazzo Eliodoro , Wang Evelyn N. , Asinari Pietro
Published: October 2016

A comprehensive understanding of molecular transport within nanoporous materials remains elusive in a broad variety of engineering and biomedical applications. Here, experiments and atomistic simulations are synergically used to elucidate the non-trivial interplay between nanopore hydrophilicity and surface barriers on the overall water transport through zeolite crystals. At these nanometre-length scales, these results highlight the dominating effect of surface imperfections with reduced permeability on the overall water transport. A simple diffusion resistance model is shown to be sufficient to capture the effects of both intracrystalline and surface diffusion resistances, thus properly linking simulation to experimental evidence. This work suggests that future experimental work should focus on eliminating/overcoming these surface imperfections, which promise an order of magnitude improvement in permeability.
Interference-driven spacer acquisition is dominant over naive and primed adaptation in a native CRISPR–Cas system
Authors: Staals Raymond H. J. , Jackson Simon A. , Biswas Ambarish , Brouns Stan J. J. , Brown Chris M. , Fineran Peter C.
Published: October 2016

CRISPR–Cas systems provide bacteria with adaptive immunity against foreign nucleic acids by acquiring short, invader-derived sequences called spacers. Here, we use high-throughput sequencing to analyse millions of spacer acquisition events in wild-type populations of Pectobacterium atrosepticum. Plasmids not previously encountered, or plasmids that had escaped CRISPR–Cas targeting via point mutation, are used to provoke naive or primed spacer acquisition, respectively. The origin, location and order of spacer acquisition show that spacer selection through priming initiates near the site of CRISPR–Cas recognition (the protospacer), but on the displaced strand, and is consistent with 3′–5′ translocation of the Cas1:Cas2-3 acquisition machinery. Newly acquired spacers determine the location and strand specificity of subsequent spacers and demonstrate that interference-driven spacer acquisition (‘targeted acquisition’) is a major contributor to adaptation in type I-F CRISPR–Cas systems. Finally, we show that acquisition of self-targeting spacers is occurring at a constant rate in wild-type cells and can be triggered by foreign DNA with similarity to the bacterial chromosome.
Unsupervised vector-based classification of single-molecule charge transport data
Authors: Lemmer Mario , Inkpen Michael S. , Kornysheva Katja , Long Nicholas J. , Albrecht Tim
Published: October 2016

The stochastic nature of single-molecule charge transport measurements requires collection of large data sets to capture the full complexity of a molecular system. Data analysis is then guided by certain expectations, for example, a plateau feature in the tunnelling current distance trace, and the molecular conductance extracted from suitable histogram analysis. However, differences in molecular conformation or electrode contact geometry, the number of molecules in the junction or dynamic effects may lead to very different molecular signatures. Since their manifestation is a priori unknown, an unsupervised classification algorithm, making no prior assumptions regarding the data is clearly desirable. Here we present such an approach based on multivariate pattern analysis and apply it to simulated and experimental single-molecule charge transport data. We demonstrate how different event shapes are clearly separated using this algorithm and how statistics about different event classes can be extracted, when conventional methods of analysis fail.
SUMOylated NKAP is essential for chromosome alignment by anchoring CENP-E to kinetochores
Authors: Li Teng , Chen Liang , Cheng Juanxian , Dai Jiang , Huang Yijiao , Zhang Jian , Liu Zhaoshan , Li Ang , Li Na , Wang Hongxia , Yin Xiaomin , He Kun , Yu Ming , Zhou Tao , Zhang Xuemin , Xia Qing
Published: October 2016

Chromosome alignment is required for accurate chromosome segregation. Chromosome misalignment can result in genomic instability and tumorigenesis. Here, we show that NF-κB activating protein (NKAP) is critical for chromosome alignment through anchoring CENP-E to kinetochores. NKAP knockdown causes chromosome misalignment and prometaphase arrest in human cells. NKAP dynamically localizes to kinetochores, and is required for CENP-E kinetochore localization. NKAP is SUMOylated predominantly in mitosis and the SUMOylation is needed for NKAP to bind CENP-E. A SUMOylation-deficient mutant of NKAP cannot support the localization of CENP-E on kinetochores or proper chromosome alignment. Moreover, Bub3 recruits NKAP to stabilize the binding of CENP-E to BubR1 at kinetochores. Importantly, loss of NKAP expression causes aneuploidy in cultured cells, and is observed in human soft tissue sarcomas. These findings indicate that NKAP is a novel and key regulator of mitosis, and its dysregulation might contribute to tumorigenesis by causing chromosomal instability.
The Zn-finger domain of MdmX suppresses cancer progression by promoting genome stability in p53-mutant cells
Authors: Matijasevic Z , Krzywicka-Racka A , Sluder G , Gallant J , Jones S N
Published: October 2016

The MDMX (MDM4) oncogene is amplified or overexpressed in a significant percentage of human tumors. MDMX is thought to function as an oncoprotein by binding p53 tumor suppressor protein to inhibit p53-mediated transcription, and by complexing with MDM2 oncoprotein to promote MDM2-mediated degradation of p53. However, down-regulation or loss of functional MDMX has also been observed in a variety of human tumors that are mutated for p53, often correlating with more aggressive cancers and a worse patient prognosis. We have previously reported that endogenous levels of MdmX can suppress proliferation and promote pseudo-bipolar mitosis in primary and tumor cells derived from p53-deficient mice, and that MdmX-p53 double deficient mice succumb to spontaneously formed tumors more rapidly than p53-deficient mice. These results suggest that the MdmX oncoprotein may act as a tumor-suppressor in cancers with compromised p53 function. By using orthotopic transplantation and lung colonization assays in mice we now establish a p53-independent anti-oncogenic role for MdmX in tumor progression. We also demonstrate that the roles of MdmX in genome stability and in proliferation are two distinct functions encoded by the separate MdmX protein domains. The central Zn-finger domain suppresses multipolar mitosis and chromosome loss, whereas the carboxy-terminal RING domain suppresses proliferation of p53-deficient cells. Furthermore, we determine that it is the maintenance of genome stability that underlies MdmX role in suppression of tumorigenesis in hyperploid p53 mutant tumors. Our results offer a rationale for the increased metastatic potential of p53 mutant human cancers with aberrant MdmX function and provide a caveat for the application of anti-MdmX treatment of tumors with compromised p53 activity.
Interplay between transglutaminases and heparan sulphate in progressive renal scarring
Authors: Burhan Izhar , Furini Giulia , Lortat-Jacob Hugues , Atobatele Adeola G. , Scarpellini Alessandra , Schroeder Nina , Atkinson John , Maamra Mabrouka , Nutter Faith H. , Watson Philip , Vinciguerra Manlio , Johnson Timothy S. , Verderio Elisabetta A. M.
Published: October 2016

Transglutaminase-2 (TG2) is a new anti-fibrotic target for chronic kidney disease, for its role in altering the extracellular homeostatic balance leading to excessive build-up of matrix in kidney. However, there is no confirmation that TG2 is the only transglutaminase involved, neither there are strategies to control its action specifically over that of the conserved family-members. In this study, we have profiled transglutaminase isozymes in the rat subtotal nephrectomy (SNx) model of progressive renal scarring. All transglutaminases increased post-SNx peaking at loss of renal function but TG2 was the predominant enzyme. Upon SNx, extracellular TG2 deposited in the tubulointerstitium and peri-glomerulus via binding to heparan sulphate (HS) chains of proteoglycans and co-associated with syndecan-4. Extracellular TG2 was sufficient to activate transforming growth factor-β1 in tubular epithelial cells and this process occurred in a HS-dependent way, in keeping with TG2-affinity for HS. Analysis of heparin binding of the main transglutaminases revealed that although the interaction between TG1 and HS is strong, the conformational heparin binding site of TG2 is not conserved, suggesting that TG2 has a unique interaction with HS within the family. Our data provides a rationale for a novel anti-fibrotic strategy specifically targeting the conformation-dependent TG2-epitope interacting with HS.
Landscape mapping at sub-Antarctic South Georgia provides a protocol for underpinning large-scale marine protected areas
Authors: Hogg Oliver T. , Huvenne Veerle A. I. , Griffiths Huw J. , Dorschel Boris , Linse Katrin
Published: October 2016

Global biodiversity is in decline, with the marine environment experiencing significant and increasing anthropogenic pressures. In response marine protected areas (MPAs) have increasingly been adopted as the flagship approach to marine conservation, many covering enormous areas. At present, however, the lack of biological sampling makes prioritising which regions of the ocean to protect, especially over large spatial scales, particularly problematic. Here we present an interdisciplinary approach to marine landscape mapping at the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia as an effective protocol for underpinning large-scale (105–106  km2) MPA designations. We have developed a new high-resolution (100 m) digital elevation model (DEM) of the region and integrated this DEM with bathymetry-derived parameters, modelled oceanographic data, and satellite primary productivity data. These interdisciplinary datasets were used to apply an objective statistical approach to hierarchically partition and map the benthic environment into physical habitats types. We assess the potential application of physical habitat classifications as proxies for biological structuring and the application of the landscape mapping for informing on marine spatial planning.
Pulled microcapillary tube resonators with electrical readout for mass sensing applications
Authors: Lee Donghyuk , Kim Joonhui , Cho Nam-Joon , Kang Taewook , Kauh Sangken , Lee Jungchul
Published: October 2016

This paper reports a microfabrication-free approach to make hollow channel mass sensors by pulling a glass capillary and suspending it on top of a machined jig. A part of the pulled section makes simple contact with an actuation node and a quartz tuning fork (QTF) which acts as a sensing node. The two nodes define a pulled micro capillary tube resonator (PμTR) simply supported at two contacts. While a piezo actuator beneath the actuation node excites the PμTR, the QTF senses the resonance frequency of the PμTR. The proposed concept was validated by electrical and optical measurements of resonant spectra of PμTR. Then, different liquid samples including water, ethanol, glycerol, and their binary mixtures were introduced into the PμTR and the resonance frequency of the PμTR was measured as a function of liquid density. Density responsivity of −3,088 Hz-g−1 cm3 obtained is comparable to those of microfabricated hollow resonators. With a micro droplet generation chip configured in series with the PμTR, size distribution of oil droplets suspended in water was successfully measured with the radius resolution of 31 nm at the average droplet radius, 28.47 μm. Overall, typical off-the-shelf parts simply constitute a resonant mass sensing system along with a convenient electrical readout.