bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A hyperbranched fluorescent supramolecular polymer with aggregation induced emission (AIE) properties
Authors: Zhang Jing , Zhu Jiachen , Lu Chenjie , Gu Zhengye , He Tian , Yang Anle , Qiu Huayu , Zhang Mingming , Yin Shouchun
Published: May 2016

A hyperbranched fluorescent supramolecular polymer with aggregation induced emission properties was prepared by orthogonal assembly of host–guest and metal–ligand interactions.
mpg-C3N4/anatase TiO2 with reactive {001} facets composites to enhance the photocatalytic activity of organic dye degradation
Authors: Liu Zhirong , Zheng Hong , Yang Hengxiang , Hao Lin , Wen Ling , Xu Tongzhou , Wu Siyuan
Published: May 2016

mpg-C3N4/anatase TiO2 with reactive {001} facets composite shows high UV and visible photocatalytic activity for organic dye degradation.
Sorafenib-fortified zein–chondroitin sulphate biopolymer nanoparticles as a novel therapeutic system in gastric cancer treatment
Authors: Cheng Hao-Tsai , Hsieh Sen-Yung , Chen Tsung-Hsing , Hung Pei-Fang , Pan Szu-Hua
Published: May 2016

Gastric cancer is the second most common cause of cancer related death worldwide and lacks a highly effective treatment for the advanced disease.
Controlled synthesis of CoxMn3−xO4 nanoparticles with a tunable composition and size for high performance lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Hu Xiaoshi , Li Chao , Lou Xiaobing , Yan Xiaojing , Ning Yanqun , Chen Qun , Hu Bingwen
Published: May 2016

Preparation of CoxMn3−xO4 nanoparticles using bimetallic coordination-polymer precursors, and a case study of MnCo2O4 for LIBs, suggesting an optimal size for improved capacity retention.
Facile preparation of self-healing waterborne superhydrophobic coatings based on fluoroalkyl silane-loaded microcapsules
Authors: Rao Qingqing , Chen Kunlin , Wang Chaoxia
Published: May 2016

A self-healing waterborne superhydrophobic coating comprising polysiloxane latex, microcapsules, fluorinated silica and photocatalytic titania nanoparticles shows self-repairing ability after mechanical damage or oily contaminations.
Layered double hydroxide/graphene oxide hybrid incorporated polysulfone substrate for thin-film nanocomposite forward osmosis membranes
Authors: Lu Peng , Liang Shuai , Zhou Tuantuan , Mei Xueyi , Zhang Yu , Zhang Cheng , Umar Ahmad , Wang Qiang
Published: May 2016

Herein, we report the use of a layered double hydroxide/graphene oxide (LDH/GO) hybrid as a nanofiller for a polysulfone (PSf) substrate in the fabrication of a thin film nanocomposite (TFN) forward osmosis (FO) membrane.
Structure and electrical properties of (0.965 − x)(K0.48Na0.52)NbO3–xBiGaO3–0.035(Bi0.5Na0.5)ZrO3 piezoelectric ceramics
Authors: Xing Jie , Tan Zhi , Yuan Jing , Jiang Laiming , Chen Qiang , Wu Jiagang , Zhang Wen , Xiao Dingquan , Zhu Jianguo
Published: May 2016

(0.965 − x)(K0.48Na0.52)NbO3–xBiGaO3–0.035(Bi0.5Na0.5)ZrO3 [(0.965 − x)KNN–xBG–BNZ] lead-free piezoelectric ceramics were prepared using normal sintering for improving the piezoelectric properties and temperature stability of KNN-based ceramics.
Polyvinyl pyrrolidone modified graphene oxide for improving the mechanical, thermal conductivity and solvent resistance properties of natural rubber
Authors: Zhang Xumin , Wang Jingyi , Jia Hongbing , Yin Biao , Ding Lifeng , Xu Zhaodong , Ji Qingmin
Published: May 2016

Graphene oxide is modified by polyvinyl pyrrolidone and modified graphene oxide can remarkably improve the mechanical properties of natural rubber nanocomposite.
Ligand-modified mesoporous silica SBA-15/silver hybrids for the catalyzed reduction of methylene blue
Authors: Saad Ali , Snoussi Youssef , Abderrabba Manef , Chehimi Mohamed M.
Published: May 2016

Mesoporous silica SBA-15 was prepared and functionalized by (3-glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane in order to bind 2-aminothiazole and aminopropyl-triazole ligands.
Physicochemical and electrochemical properties of a new series of protic ionic liquids with N-chloroalkyl functionalized cations
Authors: Gorska B. , Timperman L. , Anouti M. , Pernak J. , Béguin F.
Published: May 2016

Six new protic ionic liquids (PILs) based on N-chloroalkyl functionalized morpholinium, piperidinium, pyrrolidinium and alkylammonium cations, with bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]imide as counter-ion, were synthesized by a metathesis reaction.
Inherent structure energy is a good indicator of molecular mobility in glasses
Authors: Helfferich Julian , Lyubimov Ivan , Reid Daniel , de Pablo Juan J.
Published: May 2016

Glasses produced via physical vapor deposition can display greater kinetic stability and lower enthalpy than glasses prepared by liquid cooling. We show that the inherent structure energy is a good indicator for the slow dynamics in these glasses regardless of molecular orientation.
Flexible dielectric papers based on biodegradable cellulose nanofibers and carbon nanotubes for dielectric energy storage
Authors: Zeng Xiaoliang , Deng Libo , Yao Yimin , Sun Rong , Xu Jianbin , Wong Ching-Ping
Published: May 2016

Flexible dielectric papers based on biodegradable cellulose nanofibers and carbon nanotubes for dielectric energy storage are fabricated.
Der Juristische Aspekt: „Bloßes Delegieren reicht nicht aus“
Authors: Gaede Kirsten
Published: May 2016

Was können Klinikmanager unternehmen, um juristisch beim Thema Hygiene auf der sicheren Seite zu sein? kma sprach mit Tobias Weimer, der in aktuellen Hygieneskandalen als Strafverteidiger agiert und Kliniken beim Risikomanagement berät.
Fachtagung zum Technischen Sicherheitsbeauftragten: Große Verantwortung bei wenig Handhabe
Authors: Thalmayr Maria
Published: May 2016

Der Technische Sicherheitsbeauftragte hat viele Pflichten, gleichzeitig aber wenig rechtliche Handhabe, um seiner Aufgabenstellung den nötigen Nachdruck zu verleihen. Den Überblick über alle sicherheitstechnisch erforderlichen Maßnahmen zu behalten und Hinweise auf Mängel und nötige Vorkehrungen sorgfältig zu dokumentieren, sind Grundvoraussetzungen, um im Ernstfall nicht für Schäden zu haften.
Ab initio electronic structure of quasi-two-dimensional materials: A “native” Gaussian–plane wave approach
Authors: Trevisanutto Paolo E. , Vignale Giovanni
Published: May 2016

Ab initio electronic structure calculations of two-dimensional layered structures are typically performed using codes that were developed for three-dimensional structures, which are periodic in all three directions. The introduction of a periodicity in the third direction (perpendicular to the layer) is completely artificial and may lead in some cases to spurious results and to difficulties in treating the action of external fields. In this paper we develop a new approach, which is “native” to quasi-2D materials, making use of basis function that are periodic in the plane, but atomic-like in the perpendicular direction. We show how some of the basic tools of ab initio electronic structure theory — density functional theory, GW approximation and Bethe-Salpeter equation — are implemented in the new basis. We argue that the new approach will be preferable to the conventional one in treating the peculiarities of layered materials, including the long range of the unscreened Coulomb interaction in insulators, and the effects of strain, corrugations, and external fields.
Development of a spectroscopic Mueller matrix imaging ellipsometer for nanostructure metrology
Authors: Chen Xiuguo , Du Weichao , Yuan Kui , Chen Jun , Jiang Hao , Zhang Chuanwei , Liu Shiyuan
Published: May 2016

In this paper, we describe the development of a spectroscopic Mueller matrix imaging ellipsometer (MMIE), which combines the great power of Mueller matrix ellipsometry with the high spatial resolution of optical microscopy. A dual rotating-compensator configuration is adopted to collect the full 4 × 4 imaging Mueller matrix in a single measurement. The light wavelengths are scanned in the range of 400–700 nm by a monochromator. The instrument has measurement accuracy and precision better than 0.01 for all the Mueller matrix elements in both the whole image and the whole spectral range. The instrument was then applied for the measurement of nanostructures combined with an inverse diffraction problem solving technique. The experiment performed on a photoresist grating sample has demonstrated the great potential of MMIE for accurate grating reconstruction from spectral data collected by a single pixel of the camera and for efficient quantification of geometrical profile of the grating structure over a large area with pixel resolution. It is expected that MMIE will be a powerful tool for nanostructure metrology in future high-volume nanomanufacturing.
Thermodynamics of complex structures formed between single-stranded DNA oligomers and the KH domains of the far upstream element binding protein
Authors: Chakraborty Kaushik , Sinha Sudipta Kumar , Bandyopadhyay Sanjoy
Published: May 2016

The noncovalent interaction between protein and DNA is responsible for regulating the genetic activities in living organisms. The most critical issue in this problem is to understand the underlying driving force for the formation and stability of the complex. To address this issue, we have performed atomistic molecular dynamics simulations of two DNA binding K homology (KH) domains (KH3 and KH4) of the far upstream element binding protein (FBP) complexed with two single-stranded DNA (ss-DNA) oligomers in aqueous media. Attempts have been made to calculate the individual components of the net entropy change for the complexation process by adopting suitable statistical mechanical approaches. Our calculations reveal that translational, rotational, and configurational entropy changes of the protein and the DNA components have unfavourable contributions for this protein-DNA association process and such entropy lost is compensated by the entropy gained due to the release of hydration layer water molecules. The free energy change corresponding to the association process has also been calculated using the Free Energy Perturbation (FEP) method. The free energy gain associated with the KH4–DNA complex formation has been found to be noticeably higher than that involving the formation of the KH3–DNA complex.
Mechanical properties of graphynes under shearing and bending
Authors: Yi Lijun , Zhang Yingyan , Feng Xiqiao , Chang Tienchong , Wang Ji , Du Jianke , Zhou Jianxin
Published: May 2016

Graphynes are the allotrope of graphene. In this work, extensive molecular dynamics simulations are performed on four different graphynes (α-, β-, γ-, and 6,6,12-graphynes) to explore their mechanical properties (shear modulus, shear strength, and bending rigidity) under shearing and bending. While the shearing properties are anisotropic, the bending rigidity is almost independent of the chirality of graphynes. We also find that the shear modulus and shear fracture strength of graphynes decrease with increasing temperature. The effect of the percentage of the acetylenic linkages on the shear mechanical properties and bending rigidity is investigated. It is shown that the fracture shear strengths and bending rigidities of the four types of graphynes decrease, while the fracture shear strain increases, with increasing percentages of the acetylenic linkages. Significant wrinkling is observed in graphyne under shear strain. The influence of the temperatures and percentages of the acetylenic linkages on the ratio of amplitude-to-wavelength in the wrinkles are examined.
Glassy dynamics of model colloidal polymers: The effect of “monomer” size
Authors: Li Jian , Zhang Bo-kai , Li Hui-shu , Chen Kang , Tian Wen-de , Tong Pei-qing
Published: May 2016

In recent years, attempts have been made to assemble colloidal particles into chains, which are termed “colloidal polymers.” An apparent difference between molecular and colloidal polymers is the “monomer” size. Here, we propose a model to represent the variation from molecular polymer to colloidal polymer and study the quantitative differences in their glassy dynamics. For chains, two incompatible local length scales, i.e., monomer size and bond length, are manifested in the radial distribution function and intramolecular correlation function. The mean square displacement of monomers exhibits Rouse-like sub-diffusion at intermediate time/length scale and the corresponding exponent depends on the volume fraction and the monomer size. We find that the threshold volume fraction at which the caging regime emerges can be used as a rescaling unit so that the data of localization length versus volume fraction for different monomer sizes can gather close to an exponential curve. The increase of monomer size effectively increases the hardness of monomers and thus makes the colloidal polymers vitrify at lower volume fraction. Static and dynamic equivalences between colloidal polymers of different monomer sizes have been discussed. In the case of having the same peak time of the non-Gaussian parameter, the motion of monomers of larger size is much less non-Gaussian. The mode-coupling critical exponents for colloidal polymers are in agreement with that of flexible bead-spring chains.
Time-resolved X-ray spectroscopies of chemical systems: New perspectives
Authors: Chergui Majed
Published: May 2016

The past 3–5 years have witnessed a dramatic increase in the number of time-resolved X-ray spectroscopic studies, mainly driven by novel technical and methodological developments. The latter include (i) the high repetition rate optical pump/X-ray probe studies, which have greatly boosted the signal-to-noise ratio for picosecond (ps) X-ray absorption spectroscopy studies, while enabling ps X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES) at synchrotrons; (ii) the X-ray free electron lasers (XFELs) are a game changer and have allowed the first femtosecond (fs) XES and resonant inelastic X-ray scattering experiments to be carried out; (iii) XFELs are also opening the road to the development of non-linear X-ray methods. In this perspective, I will mainly focus on the most recent technical developments and briefly address some examples of scientific questions that have been addressed thanks to them. I will look at the novel opportunities in the horizon.
Communication: Quantum six-dimensional calculations of the coupled translation-rotation eigenstates of H2O@C60
Authors: Felker Peter M. , Bačić Zlatko
Published: May 2016

We report rigorous quantum calculations of the translation-rotation (TR) eigenstates of para- and ortho-H2O@C60. They provide a comprehensive description of the dynamical behavior of H2O inside the fullerene having icosahedral (Ih) symmetry. The TR eigenstates are assigned in terms of the irreducible representations of the proper symmetry group of H2O@C60, as well as the appropriate translational and rotational quantum numbers. The coupling between the orbital and the rotational angular momenta of the caged H2O gives rise to the total angular momentum λ, which additionally labels each TR level. The calculated TR levels allow tentative assignments of a number of transitions in the recent experimental INS spectra of H2O@C60 that have not been assigned previously.
Phenomenological thermodynamic potentials for bulk and thin-film Ba(Zr0.08Ti0.92)O3 single crystals
Authors: Peng J. L. , Li Q. , Shan D. L. , Pan K. , Yu G. S. , Liu Y. Y.
Published: May 2016

Phenomenological thermodynamic analysis is an important theoretical investigation method for ferroelectric materials, however, it cannot be implemented for Ba(ZrxTi1−x)O3 due to the lack of thermodynamic potential coefficients. In this paper, we have constructed a phenomenological thermodynamic potential for bulk Ba(Zr0.08Ti0.92)O3 single crystals, which reproduces the three phase transition temperatures, dielectric and piezoelectric constants of bulk Ba(Zr0.08Ti0.92)O3 single crystals well, suggesting that the constructed thermodynamic potential is reliable. Then the thermodynamic potential with appropriate modification is applied to predict misfit strain-temperature phase diagram and electromechanical properties of Ba(Zr0.08Ti0.92)O3 thin films. It is found that compressive strain favors the tetragonal c phase with an out-of-plane polarization component, while tensile misfit strain favors orthorhombic aa phase with an in-plane polarization component. It also reveals that Ba(Zr0.08Ti0.92)O3 thin films under appropriate compressive strain show higher piezoelectric coefficient d15 than that of their bulk counterpart. The constructed thermodynamic potential opens a new avenue to theoretical analysis on Ba(Zr0.08Ti0.92)O3.
Polyanhydrides: Synthesis, Properties, and Applications
Authors: Poetz Katie L. , Shipp Devon A.
Published: May 2016

This review focusses on polyanhydrides, a fascinating class of degradable polymers that have been used in and investigated for many bio-related applications because of their degradability and capacity to undergo surface erosion. This latter phenomenon is driven by hydrolysis of the anhydride moieties at the surface and high hydrophobicity of the polymer such that degradation and mass loss (erosion) occur before water can penetrate deep within the bulk of the polymer. As such, when surface-eroding polymers are used as therapeutic delivery vehicles, the rate of delivery is often controlled by the rate of polymer erosion, providing predictable and controlled release rates that are often zero-order. These desirable attributes are heavily influenced by polymer composition and morphology, and therefore also monomer structure and polymerization method. This review examines approaches for polyanhydride synthesis, discusses their general thermomechanical properties, surveys their hydrolysis and degradation processes along with their biocompatibility, and looks at recent developments and uses of polyanhydrides in drug delivery, stimuli-responsive materials, and novel nanotechnologies.
The history of using rainfall data to improve production in the grain industry in Australia—from Goyder to ENSO
Authors: Yates Derek , Vervoort R. Willem , Minasny Budiman , McBratney Alex
Published: May 2016

Rainfall is a major driver for dryland wheat yields across Australia. Many authors have covered issues such as rainfall trends in Australia, and much of this information has been reviewed and updated in recent years in relation to the Millennium drought and associated concerns about climate change. However, despite a long history of work relating rainfall to grain yields, there has been no overall historical review of attempts at predictive methods and their reliability. Although many of these attempts have now been abandoned or revised, and science has moved in different directions, a review is useful to identify historical patterns and to recognise recurring themes. This might lead to new science questions and a re-appreciation of older findings. The aim of this study is therefore to review the overall literature on this topic, provide a historical timeline, and summarise the achievements and any remaining research questions. The early use of climatic data in Australia was to categorise existing and likely areas for production, with production, not surprisingly, being the emphasis. The search for a crop or climatic index was possibly initiated in an attempt to understand or simplify the complex relationships between crops and the environment. No single index has proved universally applicable, but some acceptance of early growing-season rains as an indicator seems common. The development of complex climatic models, and the availability of quality data for agricultural systems models, has allowed further quantification of the relationship between crops and climate, especially on a seasonal basis. There is little doubt that the relationship between the climatic southern oscillation phenomenon and seasonal rainfall patterns in Australia is important, but its absolute definition remains elusive. From a producer’s perspective, relationships between rainfall at specific (indicator) periods and seasonal or annual rainfall, as appropriate to specific crops, would be useful simple indicators because many farmers already maintain their own rainfall records.
Quantitative analysis of gene actions controlling root length under water stress in spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes
Authors: Ayalew Habtamu , Liu Hui , Yan Guijun
Published: May 2016

Understanding the genetic control of agronomic traits is important in designing crop improvement programs. Study was conducted to analyse the genetic control of root length under water stress. A full diallel cross of four spring wheat lines, along with their F1 progenies was evaluated under –0.82 MPa water stress in a hydroponic culture. Analysis of variance showed highly significant (P < 0.01) difference among the parental lines and their F1 progenies. Genotypes Santa Elena, Colotana 296–52 and Pato showed comparable longer roots whereas Tincurrin grew significantly (P < 0.05) shorter roots. Genotypes with long roots were found to have more dominant genes than those with shorter roots. Both general and specific combining abilities were highly significant (P < 0.01) indicating the importance of additive and dominant gene effects in the control of root length under water stress. Genotype Santa Elena was found to be the best general combiner whereas the specific cross Santa Elena × Pato was the best hybrid. Moderate narrow-sense heritability (38%) was observed indicating the possibility of improving root length under water stress. The highly significant specific combining ability value (dominant genetic control) suggests that genotypes with more dominant genes should be selected as parents for hybridisation and the hybrid wheat approach might be helpful in improving water stress resistance.
Tissue-specific uptake of the benzodiazepine oxazepam in adult Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis)
Authors: Heynen Martina , Brodin Tomas , Klaminder Jonatan , Jonsson Micael , Fick Jerker
Published: May 2016

Environmental contextAlthough pharmaceuticals are found in wild fish, there is no consensus as to which fish tissue to use when measuring the pharmaceutical concentrations. Using the psychiatric pharmaceutical oxazepam in Eurasian perch as an example, we found that oxazepam was distributed in the perch tissues in the following order of concentration: muscle<liver=brain<blood plasma. These results help to interpret and compare previous studies, and provide guidance for future studies. AbstractPsychoactive substances are used worldwide and constitute one of the common groups of pharmaceutical contaminants in surface waters. Typically, in field surveys and laboratory studies, muscle or whole-body homogenates are used to quantify pharmaceutical concentrations in biota, although uptake of pharmaceuticals may be tissue-specific. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the tissue-specific (muscle, liver, brain and blood plasma) uptake of the anxiolytic oxazepam in adult Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis). In laboratory experiments, perch were exposed to four different concentrations (2, 4, 12 and 20µgL–1) of oxazepam for 6 days, and muscle, liver, brain tissue and blood plasma were sampled to determine tissue-specific bioconcentration. We found that the tissue-specific bioconcentration was independent of oxazepam concentration. However, among tissue types, bioconcentration was significantly different, with the concentration in muscle<liver=brain<blood plasma. Hence, it is important to consider the type of tissue used to quantify pharmaceutical uptake in fish, for predictions of species-specific sensitivity and comparisons across studies. Furthermore, our results indicate a somewhat lower transportability (brain/plasma ratio 0.54) of oxazepam from blood to brain in fish compared with in mammals, which should be kept in mind when employing ‘read-across’ approaches.
Superficial institutions and challenges of re-regulation in the Republic of Georgia
Authors: Diakonidze Ana
Published: May 2016

Applying the Varieties of Capitalism approach, this paper explains why current reforms in the field of labour and training policies in Georgia are not complementary and therefore run the risk of reproducing superficial institutions. Developments in two policy areas are discussed since the early 1990s with particular attention to discerning the role of international actors (donors) in the formation of institutional complementarity. The article argues that compliance with donor requirements is often predetermined by the incentives to keep receiving benefits rather than implementing substantial changes. As a result, a lack of complementarity and superficial institutions persist.
MICOS and phospholipid transfer by Ups2–Mdm35 organize membrane lipid synthesis in mitochondria
Authors: Aaltonen Mari J. , Friedman Jonathan R. , Osman Christof , Salin Bénédicte , di Rago Jean-Paul , Nunnari Jodi , Langer Thomas , Tatsuta Takashi
Published: May 2016

Mitochondria exert critical functions in cellular lipid metabolism and promote the synthesis of major constituents of cellular membranes, such as phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylcholine. Here, we demonstrate that the phosphatidylserine decarboxylase Psd1, located in the inner mitochondrial membrane, promotes mitochondrial PE synthesis via two pathways. First, Ups2–Mdm35 complexes (SLMO2–TRIAP1 in humans) serve as phosphatidylserine (PS)-specific lipid transfer proteins in the mitochondrial intermembrane space, allowing formation of PE by Psd1 in the inner membrane. Second, Psd1 decarboxylates PS in the outer membrane in trans, independently of PS transfer by Ups2–Mdm35. This latter pathway requires close apposition between both mitochondrial membranes and the mitochondrial contact site and cristae organizing system (MICOS). In MICOS-deficient cells, limiting PS transfer by Ups2–Mdm35 and reducing mitochondrial PE accumulation preserves mitochondrial respiration and cristae formation. These results link mitochondrial PE metabolism to MICOS, combining functions in protein and lipid homeostasis to preserve mitochondrial structure and function.
Increased expression of AT-1/SLC33A1 causes an autistic-like phenotype in mice by affecting dendritic branching and spine formation
Authors: Hullinger Rikki , Li Mi , Wang Jingxin , Peng Yajing , Dowell James A. , Bomba-Warczak Ewa , Mitchell Heather A. , Burger Corinna , Chapman Edwin R. , Denu John M. , Li Lingjun , Puglielli Luigi
Published: May 2016

The import of acetyl-CoA into the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) by AT-1/SLC33A1 regulates Nε-lysine acetylation of ER-resident and -transiting proteins. Specifically, lysine acetylation within the ER appears to influence the efficiency of the secretory pathway by affecting ER-mediated quality control. Mutations or duplications in AT-1/SLC33A1 have been linked to diseases such as familial spastic paraplegia, developmental delay with premature death, and autism spectrum disorder with intellectual disability. In this study, we generated an AT-1 Tg mouse model that selectively overexpresses human AT-1 in neurons. These animals demonstrate cognitive deficits, autistic-like social behavior, aberrations in synaptic plasticity, an increased number of dendritic spines and branches, and widespread proteomic changes. We also found that AT-1 activity regulates acetyl-CoA flux, causing epigenetic modulation of the histone epitope H3K27 and mitochondrial adaptation. In conclusion, our results indicate that increased expression of AT-1 can cause an autistic-like phenotype by affecting key neuronal metabolic pathways.
TRPM7 is a molecular substrate of ATP-evoked P2X7-like currents in tumor cells
Authors: Nörenberg Wolfgang , Plötz Tanja , Sobottka Helga , Chubanov Vladimir , Mittermeier Lorenz , Kalwa Hermann , Aigner Achim , Schaefer Michael
Published: May 2016

Within the ion channel–coupled purine receptor (P2X) family, P2X7 has gained particular interest because of its role in immune responses and in the growth control of several malignancies. Typical hallmarks of P2X7 are nonselective and noninactivating cation currents that are elicited by high concentrations (0.1–10 mM) of extracellular ATP. Here, we observe spurious ATP-induced currents in HEK293 cells that neither express P2X7 nor display ATP-induced Ca2+ influx or Yo-Pro-1 uptake. Although the biophysical properties of these ionic currents resemble those of P2X7 in terms of their reversal potential close to 0 mV, nonrectifying current-voltage relationship, current run-up during repeated ATP application, and augmentation in bath solutions containing low divalent cation (DIC) concentrations, they are poorly inhibited by established P2X7 antagonists. Because high ATP concentrations reduce the availability of DICs, these findings prompted us to ask whether other channel entities may become activated by our experimental regimen. Indeed, a bath solution with no added DICs yields similar currents and also a rapidly inactivating Na+-selective conductance. We provide evidence that TRPM7 and ASIC1a (acid-sensing ion channel type Ia)-like channels account for these noninactivating and phasic current components, respectively. Furthermore, we find ATP-induced currents in rat C6 glioma cells, which lack functional P2X receptors but express TRPM7. Thus, the observation of an atypical P2X7-like conductance may be caused by the activation of TRPM7 by ATP, which scavenges free DICs and thereby releases TRPM7 from permeation block. Because TRPM7 has a critical role in controlling the intracellular Mg2+ homeostasis and regulating tumor growth, these data imply that the proposed role of P2X7 in C6 glioma cell proliferation deserves reevaluation.
Polymodal activation of the TREK-2 K2P channel produces structurally distinct open states
Authors: McClenaghan Conor , Schewe Marcus , Aryal Prafulla , Carpenter Elisabeth P. , Baukrowitz Thomas , Tucker Stephen J.
Published: May 2016

The TREK subfamily of two-pore domain (K2P) K+ channels exhibit polymodal gating by a wide range of physical and chemical stimuli. Crystal structures now exist for these channels in two main states referred to as the “up” and “down” conformations. However, recent studies have resulted in contradictory and mutually exclusive conclusions about the functional (i.e., conductive) status of these two conformations. To address this problem, we have used the state-dependent TREK-2 inhibitor norfluoxetine that can only bind to the down state, thereby allowing us to distinguish between these two conformations when activated by different stimuli. Our results reconcile these previously contradictory gating models by demonstrating that activation by pressure, temperature, voltage, and pH produce more than one structurally distinct open state and reveal that channel activation does not simply involve switching between the up and down conformations. These results also highlight the diversity of structural mechanisms that K2P channels use to integrate polymodal gating signals.
Revisiting the health effects of psychological stress—its influence on susceptibility to ionizing radiation: a mini-review
Authors: Wang Bing , Katsube Takanori , Begum Nasrin , Nenoi Mitsuru
Published: May 2016

Both psychological stress (PS) and ionizing radiation (IR) cause varied detrimental effects on humans. There has been no direct evidence so far showing PS alone could cause cancer; however, long-lasting PS may affect our overall health and ability to cope with cancer. Due to their living conditions and occupations, some people may encounter concurrent exposure to both PS and IR to a high extent. In addition to possible health effects resulting directly from exposure to IR on these people, fear of IR exposure is also a cause of PS. The question of whether PS would influence susceptibility to IR, radiocarcinogenesis in particular, is of great concern by both the academic world and the public. Recently, investigations using animal PS models demonstrated that PS could modulate susceptibility to IR, causing increased susceptibility to radiocarcinogenesis in Trp53 -heterozygous mice, hematological toxicity in peripheral blood and elevated chromosome aberration (dicentrics) frequency in splenocytes of Trp53– wild-type mice. To actively reduce health risk from exposure to IR, further studies are needed to cumulate more evidence and provide insights into the mechanisms underlying the alterations in susceptibility due to PS modulation. This mini-review gives a general overview of the significance of PS effects on humans and experimental animals, with a special focus on summarizing the latest weight-of-evidence approaches to radiobiological studies on PS-induced alterations in susceptibility in experimental animal models. The susceptibility being investigated is mainly in the context of the impact of the modulatory effect of PS on radiocarcinogenesis; we seek to improve understanding of the combined effects of exposure to both PS and IR in order to facilitate, via active intervention, strategies for radiation risk reduction.
Doing and Allowing
Authors: Woollard Fiona
Published: May 2016

According to common-sense morality, the difference between doing and allowing harm matters morally. Doing harm can be wrong when merely allowing harm would not be, even if all other factors are equal: the level of harm is the same, the agent’s motivation is the same, the cost to the agent of avoiding countenancing harm is the same, and so on. Suppose that you have accidentally swallowed poison and you need to get to hospital urgently. It might be permissible for you to refuse to stop and help if you spot Sarah drowning, but impermissible for you to push her into a river to clear your way to the hospital. Without this moral distinction between doing and allowing, it seems likely that our everyday morality would look very different. Treating doing and allowing harm as equivalent seems to leave us with a morality that is either much more permissive than we normally think it is (permitting us to do harm to others to avoid personal sacrifices) or much more demanding (requiring us to prevent harm to others even at great personal sacrifice). Yet the moral significance of the distinction is highly controversial. When serious harm to others is at stake, it may seem puzzling that it should matter whether the harm is done or merely allowed. Powerful critics have argued that the distinction is morally irrelevant. Others have charged that the distinction itself falls apart under scrutiny: our intuitions about whether behavior counts as doing or allowing harm do not reflect any clear, nonmoral distinction. Much of the early contemporary debate on the moral relevance of the distinction between doing and allowing harm focused on appeals to intuitions. We are asked to examine “contrast cases” in which all others factors are supposedly held constant. However, appeals to intuitions are of limited use. They may establish whether we treat the distinction as morally relevant, but they cannot show whether we ought to do so. The real challenge for a defender of the doing/allowing distinction is to provide a clear analysis of the distinction and a convincing argument that, under this analysis, the distinction connects appropriately to more fundamental moral concepts. This article maps out the philosophical literature on the analysis and moral significance of the distinction between doing and allowing harm, from the beginnings of contemporary interest in the issue in the 1960s and 1970s to recent trends and developments.
Pierre de Ronsard
Authors: Maynard Katherine
Published: May 2016

Perhaps no poet of the French Renaissance has known as much fame, in both his own lifetime and through his legacy, as Pierre de Ronsard (b. 1524–d. 1585). Born at the manor of La Possonnière in the Vendômois region of France to a father who served François I, the noble Ronsard participated in the royal diplomatic corps before turning to poetry under the tutelage of Jean Dorat at his Collège de Coqueret in Paris. Here, Ronsard studied with the poet Joachim Du Bellay, and the two became the founding members of a poetic coterie, “the Brigade,” later known as “the Pléiade.” With Ronsard at the helm, the group inaugurated a poetic movement that aspired to break with French poets of the past by promoting the study of ancient Roman and Greek poetry as a source of inspiration and imitation. In so doing, Ronsard and his comrades hoped to raise the reputation of French poetry to compete with France’s cultural rivals the Italians. From the mid-16th century to his death in 1585, the prolific Ronsard adopted numerous poetic forms from Antiquity and Renaissance Italy and adapted them to French poetry, all the while remaining responsive to contemporary trends and current events. He made waves in 1550 with his first collection of poetry, Les quatre premiers livres des Odes, which was largely inspired by his readings of Pindar and, to a lesser extent, Horace. His first book of Amours, which demonstrated his skill as a Petrarchan sonneteer, followed two years later. Ronsard was also a court poet closely associated with the last Valois kings, and, in particular, Charles IX (b. 1550–d. 1574, r. 1560–1574), the second son of Henri II and Catherine de’ Medici, to whom the poet dedicated an epic poem La Franciade in 1572. Throughout the course of the Wars of Religion, Ronsard supported the king and the royalist Catholic cause, most dramatically in the early 1560s with a series of poems that became the Discours des Misères de ce Temps. Finally, Ronsard is noteworthy for his interest in the emerging media of print. His collected works were published for the first time in 1560, and he continued to edit and republish them throughout his life. In addition, Ronsard published new poems in separate volumes, and he would then revise and re-publish them within his complete works. Ronsard’s practices in safeguarding his poetic legacy thus paint a fascinating picture of the development of printing and editing in the 16th century.
Economics of Fisheries
Authors: Squires Dale , Vestergaard Niels
Published: May 2016

“Economics of fisheries” is a field of economic research that has developed since the mid-1950s. The core of the research in its early stage was to find conditions for optimal exploitation of fish stocks over time. The purpose is to inform policymakers about harvest levels that maximize net present value of the fish stock. At the same time, the fundamental insight was developed that in absence of effective regulation or collective control over harvest behavior the fish stocks tend to be overexploited from both a biological and economical point of view. In many instances, the fish stock is a common-pool resource with lack of well-defined property rights over the in situ resource. In the open access fishery, in which there are not any enforceable property rights, the competition will lead to a zero rent situation. So, development of regulation theory and application hereof has been a central research theme. Another important topic has been the expansion of the one-species, one-fleet approach to expand the number of other dimensions such as multispecies, shared stocks of more than one country, risk and uncertainty, and the marine environment. This development has been driven by both theoretical developments in the science of economics and fishery economics as well as political needs.
Emotions
Authors: Ross Andrew A. G.
Published: May 2016

Over the past fifteen years, scholars in international relations (IR) have set out to understand the vexing role of emotions in international and global politics. Research on this topic runs the full gamut from studies of individual leaders to the emotions associated with states and other collectivities. The nationalist conflicts of the post–Cold War period, coupled with the dramatic terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, provide the historical context for this affective turn, but its intellectual roots extend into longer-standing scholarly interest in emotion and affect within adjacent disciplines such as psychology, social psychology, neuroscience, sociology, and cultural theory. In demanding attention to research across these many disciplines, the study of emotion in IR has proved a tough nut to crack, and more disagreement than consensus continues to be found on how to study emotion and what its politically significant effects might be. One persistent schism exists between those who approach the study of emotion through social constructivism—as an aspect or by-product of discourses, identities, and norms—and those who approach it from a psychological perspective—as a personality trait or cause of misperception and bias. Nevertheless, agreement is wide on the fundamental claim that traditional approaches to the study of international and global politics have either neglected or marginalized the role of emotions. Current research on the topic is now setting out to discern the distinctive properties of emotion and the specific impact they have in specific topical areas—from nationalism, war, and ethnic conflict to diplomacy, conflict management, and transnational advocacy.
Ida B. Wells
Authors: Royster Jacqueline
Published: May 2016

Ida Bell Wells (b. 1862–d. 1931) gained prominence in the 19th century as a journalist and social activist. She began her professional career, however, as a teacher in the rural schools near Holly Springs, Mississippi, where she was born, and then in the Shelby County Schools in Memphis, Tennessee. In Memphis, she joined a lyceum, an intellectually vibrant group of African American professionals, and she became editor of the lyceum’s newspaper, the Evening Star. During this time period, racially oppressive Jim Crow practices were taking hold in the South, and Wells fell victim to its effects. She was forcibly evicted from the ladies’ car of the Chesapeake, Ohio and Southwestern Railroad Company, and she refused to ride in the segregated smoking car. She won a lawsuit against the company in the circuit court, but lost in the Tennessee Supreme Court (1887). She wrote about the experience in another paper, the Living Way, in which she became a regular contributor, with articles syndicated in periodicals in other cities as well. By 1889 she was a co-owner and editor of The Free Speech, writing bold editorials related to freedom and justice for African Americans. Her editorials that protested educational inequities and that exposed an interracial affair of a school board member factored significantly in her being fired from the public schools. By 1891 she had become a full-time journalist and was building a reputation as an astute businesswoman, an insightful investigator, and a courageous advocate for civil and human rights. Her anti-lynching campaign began with an editorial, written on 21 May 1892, about the lynching of three friends who were store owners in Memphis. She called for an evidence-based recognition of lynching as a lawless act of injustice, economic oppression, and terrorism. This editorial catapulted her to fame as a crusading journalist, public speaker, and leading woman activist. The full scope of her leadership and activism included other reform interests as well (women’s suffrage, the Black Clubwomen’s movement, and the settlement house movement) and the cofounding of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. After her 1895 marriage to Chicago-based lawyer and fellow journalist Ferdinand L. Barnett, Wells went into “limited retirement” but kept working for justice. Before her death in 1931, she saw that public awareness of her was disappearing and began writing her autobiography. It was left for her daughter, Alfreda M. Duster, to finish the work and get the work published, which happened in 1970.
Western Sahara
Authors: Correale Francesco
Published: May 2016

The Western Sahara (WS) is a 266,000 square kilometer area between North Africa and the Atlantic Ocean. In a conventional way, it is divided into two main regions: the northern Saguiat al-Hamra and the southern Wadi al-Dhahab (Río de Oro). Its borders (with Morocco to the north, Algeria to the east, and Mauritania to the east and south) were established by the colonial powers’ endorsement of French-Spanish agreements signed in the first decade of the 20th century. Its inhabitants, an Arabic-Berbers mélange, had a tribe-structure social organization, driven by a hierarchical principle (the warriors, the religious men, the artisans, etc.). They practiced nomadism throughout the entire western Saharan region. Currenty, Sahrawi people are divided into three main groups: those living in the refugee camps near the Algerian town of Tindouf (approximately 170,000 persons), those living in the territories occupied by Moroccan forces (approximately 65,000 persons), and the Sahrawi diaspora. The Western Sahara is the bigger African territory inscribed in the Non-Self-Governing Territories list recognized by the Special Political and Decolonization Committee of the UN General Assembly. It is actually disputed by both the Polisario Front, the nationalist movement of Sahrawi people created in May 1973 to fight against the Spanish domination, which declared its independence as the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) in February 1976 and today is established in 20 percent of the territory, and Morocco, occupying the Western Sahara from 1975. After the long lasting Spanish domination (1884–1976), in 1975 the Madrid Treaty was signed by the Spanish, Moroccan, and Mauritanian governments. This agreement divided WS into two parts, a solution opposed by the Polisario Front, who then started fighting against both Mauritania (until 1979) and Morocco (until 1991), supported by the Algerian and (for a time) Libyan governments. At present, Morocco occupies the 80 percent of the area it defines as “Southern Provinces.” The two parties are separated in a longitudinal sense by a military berm of some 2,700 kilometers from southern Morocco to the southern border with Mauritania. The Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara has never been recognized by any other national government. Instead, almost 80 countries have recognized the SADR since 1975. A self-determination referendum for the Sahrawi people has been endorsed by the UN since 1965 and was foreseen in the armistice treaty of 1991, but it remains unimplemented. The UN mission MINURSO monitors the observance of the cease-fire but its task is also to organize the referendum on self-determination.
Contribution of Contact Sampling in Increasing Sensitivity of Poliovirus Detection During A Polio Outbreak—Somalia, 2013
Authors: Moturi Edna , Mahmud Abdirahman , Kamadjeu Raoul , Mbaeyi Chukwuma , Farag Noha , Mulugeta Abraham , Gary Howard , Ehrhardt Derek
Published: May 2016

Background.  In May 2013, a wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) outbreak reported in Somalia provided an opportunity to examine the contribution of testing contacts to WPV detection.

Methods.  We reviewed acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) case-patients and linked contacts reported in the Somalia Surveillance Database from May 9 to December 31, 2013. We restricted our analysis to AFP case-patients that had ≥3 contacts and calculated the contribution of each contact to case detection.

Results.  Among 546 AFP cases identified, 328 AFP cases had ≥3 contacts. Among the 328 AFP cases with ≥3 contacts, 93 WPV1 cases were detected: 58 cases (62%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 52%–72%) were detected through testing stool specimens from AFP case-patients; and 35 cases (38%; 95% CI, 28%–48%) were detected through testing stool specimens from contacts, including 19 cases (20%; 95% CI, 14%–30%) from the first contact, 11 cases (12%; 95% CI, 7%–20%) from the second contact, and 5 cases (5%; 95% CI, 2%–12%) from the third contact. Among the 103 AFP cases with ≥4 contacts, 3 (6%; 95% CI, 2%–16%) of 52 WPV1 cases were detected by testing the fourth contact. No additional WPV1 cases were detected by testing >4 contacts.

Conclusions.  Stool specimens from 3 to 4 contacts of persons with AFP during polio outbreaks are needed to maximize detection of WPV cases.