bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
International Knowledge Flows and the Role of Proximity
Authors: Gui Qinchang , Liu Chengliang , Du Debin 
Published: April 2018

AbstractInternational knowledge flows have become increasingly common and more frequent and are a key driving force promoting the development of global science. However, little attention has been paid to the determinants of international scientific collaboration. Using co‐publication data from the Web of Science database in the period 2000–2014, this paper illustrates spatial patterns of international knowledge flows and estimates the impact of geographical, technological, social, and cultural proximity on the variation of inter‐country collaboration in science. Our findings demonstrate that the coefficients of the four dimensions of proximity are positive and significant in panel estimates and cross‐section estimates—international knowledge flows are facilitated by geographical, technological, social, and cultural proximity. We also find that the effect of geographical and cultural proximity have waned over time, while the impact of social and technological proximity have strengthened.
Judicial Independence and Cash Flow: Evidence from a Natural Experiment in China
Authors: Qian Xianhang 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThis paper supplements studies on the economic consequences of judicial independence from the perspective of cash flow. It explores the rotation of local judges as an exogenous shock that increases local judicial independence in China and analyses the impact of rotation on provincial cash inflow using data from China's high‐value payment system. The difference‐in‐difference estimates indicate that the rotation of the judges can attract more outside cash inflow, including amount and average size. This effect persists even after controlling for the endogeneity concern and the effect of disaster. The results of the dynamic effects show that the impact of the rotation of the judges on cash inflow mostly originates in the second and third years after the rotation. We further find that judicial independence can promote more foreign direct investment, venture capital's investment, and bank loans and clarify the impacting mechanisms of judicial independence on cash inflow.
Influence of chemical composition on mechanical properties of spark plasma sintered boron carbide monoliths
Authors: Réjasse Florian , Georges Mathias , Pradeilles Nicolas , Antou Guy , Maître Alexandre 
Published: April 2018

AbstractFully dense boron carbide monoliths exhibiting fine microstructure (i.e., submicrometric grain size) are sintered by Spark Plasma Sintering. Two different commercial powder batches, exhibiting different stoichiometries (i.e., B/C ratio and oxygen content) and various amounts of secondary phases (i.e., boric acid and free carbon), are used. Their chemical composition is well‐defined by coupling different methods (Transmission Electron Microscopy associated with XRD analyses, and Instrumental Gas Analysis), and are correlated with their mechanical properties, characterized from meso‐ to macro‐scopic scales by nano‐indentation and ultrasonic pulse echography. The presence of secondary phases (graphite and boric acid) is evidenced in various proportions in each powder batch. If the boric acid disappears during sintering, the graphite remains. However, for the considered amounts of graphite (lower than 1 wt%), the low variations in graphite content have no significant effect on hardness and elasticity values. At the opposite, the presence of oxygen in boron carbide lattice, leading to a boron oxycarbide phase, induces a decrease in both hardness and elasticity properties.
High hardness cubic boron nitride with nanograin microstructure produced by high‐energy milling
Authors: Semenic Tadej , Hu Jerry , Kraemer Stephan , Housley Robert , Sudre Olivier 
Published: April 2018

AbstractHigh‐energy shaker milling of hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) powders was used to produce powders rich in sp3 bonding. The powders contained up to 68% sp3 bonding and were found to nucleate nanosize cBN grains during consolidation at 5.5 GPa and 1400°C. The effect of hBN starting particle size, milling time, and powder‐to‐milling ball ratio were studied. The amount of sp3 bonding for milled hBN powders was determined, using 11B solid‐state NMR. The milled material was also analyzed by XRD, Raman spectroscopy, and HRTEM. The results indicate that the material has a nanosized microstructure comprised of a disordered hBN matrix and cBN nuclei in the form of sp3‐rich domains. Eight different milled powders were produced and consolidated at pressures of either 5.5 or 6.5 GPa and temperatures of either 1400°C or 1450°C into 12 mm diameter and 5 mm thick pellets. Consolidated pellets formed from milled hBN with 68% sp3 bonding had Vickers hardness of 42 ± 1 GPa and fracture toughness 3.8 ± 0.1 MPa.m1/2. Vickers hardness of 49 ± 1 GPa and fracture toughness of 4.6 ± 0.1 MPa.m1/2 was achieved with a precursor that contained milled hBN and 50 vol. % of 0.5 μm diameter cBN crystals.
The roles of dispersal and mass extinction in shaping palm diversity across the Caribbean
Authors: Cano Ángela , Bacon Christine D. , Stauffer Fred W. , Antonelli Alexandre , Serrano‐Serrano Martha L. , Perret Mathieu 
Published: April 2018

AbstractAimThe rich flora of the Caribbean islands and surrounding mainland evolved in a context of isolation alternated with phases of terrestrial connectivity between landmasses, climatic fluctuations and episodes of mass extinctions during the Cenozoic. We explored how these events affected the evolution of the sister palm tribes Cryosophileae and Sabaleae, and how continent‐island exchanges, endemic radiations and mass extinction shaped their extant diversity.LocationThe American continent including the Caribbean region.MethodsWe reconstructed a time‐calibrated phylogeny of the palm tribes Cryosophileae and Sabaleae using 84% of the known species. We inferred ancestral distribution and tested the effect of island colonization and mass extinction on extant diversity.ResultsOur results indicate that Cryosophileae and Sabaleae originated c. 77 Ma most probably in Laurasia, and their extant species started to diversify between 56–35 Ma and 19–10 Ma respectively. Biogeographical state reconstruction estimated that Cryosophileae dispersed to South America between 56–35 Ma, then dispersed to North‐Central America between 39–25 Ma and the Caribbean islands between 34–21 Ma. We detected a possible signature of a mass extinction event at the end of the Eocene, affecting the diversification of Cryosophileae and Sabaleae and we did not detect a diversification rate shift related to the colonization of the Caribbean islands.Main conclusionsSpecies of Cryosophileae in the Caribbean islands are probably derived from a single Oligocene dispersal event that likely occurred overwater from North‐Central America rather than through the hypothesized GAARlandia land bridge. Contrastingly, three independent Miocene dispersal events from North‐Central America explain the occurrence of Sabaleae in the Caribbean islands. Contrary to our expectations, island colonization did not trigger increased diversification. Instead, we find that diversification patterns in this clade, and its disappearance from northernmost latitudes, could be the signature of a mass extinction triggered by the global temperature decline at the end of the Eocene.
SUZ12 is a novel putative oncogene promoting tumorigenesis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Wu Yaping , Hu Huijun , Zhang Wei , Li Zhongwu , Diao Pengfei , Wang Dongmiao , Zhang Wei , Wang Yanling , Yang Jianrong , Cheng Jie 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe suppressor of zest 12 (SUZ12), one of the core polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) components, has increasingly appreciated as a key mediator during human tumorigenesis. However, its expression pattern and oncogenic roles in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remain largely unexplored yet. Here, we sought to determine its expression pattern, clinicopathological significance and biological roles in HNSCC. Through data mining and interrogation from multiple publicly available databases, our bioinformatics analyses revealed that SUZ12 mRNA was significantly overexpressed in multiple HNSCC patient cohorts. Moreover, SUZ12 protein was markedly up‐regulated in primary HNSCC samples from our patient cohort as assessed by immunohistochemical staining and its overexpression significantly associated with cervical node metastasis and reduced overall and disease‐free survival. In the 4‐nitroquinoline 1‐oxide (4NQO)‐induced HNSCC mouse model, increased SUZ12 immunostaining was observed along with disease progression from epithelial hyperplasia to squamous cell carcinoma in tongue. Furthermore, shRNA‐mediated SUZ12 knock‐down significantly inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion in HNSCC cells, and resulted in compromised tumour growth in vivo. Collectively, our data reveal that SUZ12 might serve as a putative oncogene by promoting cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and also a novel biomarker with diagnostic and prognostic significance for HNSCC.
PHAP1 promotes glioma cell proliferation by regulating the Akt/p27/stathmin pathway
Authors: Xie Manyi , Ji Zhe , Bao Yaxing , Zhu Yufu , Xu Yang , Wang Lei , Gao Shangfeng , Liu Zhiyi , Tian Zilu , Meng Qingming , Shi Hengliang , Yu Rutong 
Published: April 2018

AbstractPHAP1 (Putative HLA‐DR‐associated protein 1), also termed acidic leucine‐rich nuclear phosphoprotein 32A (ANP32A), Phosphoprotein 32 (pp32) or protein phosphatase 2A inhibitor (I1PP2A), is a multifunctional protein aberrantly expressed in multiple types of human cancers. However, its expression pattern and clinical relevance in human glioma remain unknown. In this study, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry analysis demonstrated PHAP1 protein was highly expressed in glioma patients, especially in those with high‐grade disease. Publicly available data also revealed high levels of PHAP1 were associated with poor prognosis in glioma patients. The functional studies showed that knock‐down of PHAP1 suppressed the proliferation of glioma cells, while overexpression of PHAP1 facilitated it. The iTRAQ proteomic analysis suggested that stathmin might be a potential downstream target of PHAP1. Consistently, PHAP1 knock‐down significantly decreased the expression of stathmin, while overexpression of PHAP1 increased it. Also, the upstream negative regulator, p27, expression levels increased upon PHAP1 knock‐down and decreased when PHAP1 was overexpressed. As a result, the phosphorylated Akt (S473), an upstream regulator of p27, expression levels decreased upon silencing of PHAP1, but elevated after PHAP1 overexpression. Importantly, we demonstrate the p27 down‐regulation, stathmin up‐regulation and cell proliferation acceleration induced by PHAP1 overexpression were dependent on Akt activation. In conclusion, the above results suggest that PHAP1 expression is elevated in glioma patients, which may accelerate the proliferation of glioma cells by regulating the Akt/p27/stathmin pathway.
Trajectories of psychopathology in extremely low birth weight survivors from early adolescence to adulthood: a 20‐year longitudinal study
Authors: Van Lieshout Ryan J. , Ferro Mark A. , Schmidt Louis A. , Boyle Michael H. , Saigal Saroj , Morrison Katherine M. , Mathewson Karen J. 
Published: April 2018

BackgroundIndividuals born extremely preterm are exposed to significant perinatal stresses that are associated with an increased risk of psychopathology. However, a paucity of longitudinal studies has prevented the empirical examination of long‐term, dynamic effects of perinatal adversity on mental health. Here, internalizing and externalizing problems from adolescence through adulthood were compared in individuals born at extremely low birth weight (ELBW; <1,000 g) and normal birth weight (NBW; >2,500 g).MethodsInternalizing and externalizing data were collected over 20 years in three waves, during adolescence, young adulthood, and adulthood. Growth models were used to compare longitudinal trajectories in a geographically based sample of 151 ELBW survivors and 137 NBW control participants born between 1977 and 1982 matched for age, sex, and socioeconomic status at age 8.ResultsAfter adjusting for sex, socioeconomic and immigrant status, and family functioning, ELBW survivors failed to show the normative, age‐related decline in internalizing problems over time relative to their NBW peers (β = .21; p < .01). Both groups exhibited small declines in externalizing problems over the same period. Self‐esteem (but not physical health, IQ, or maternal mood) partially mediated the association between ELBW status and internalizing problems.ConclusionsExtremely low birth weight survivors experienced a blunting of the expected improvement in depression and anxiety from adolescence to adulthood. These findings suggest that altered physiological regulatory systems supporting emotional and cognitive processing may contribute to the maintenance of internalizing problems in this population.
Economic influence activities
Authors: Raiha Davin 
Published: April 2018

AbstractFirms frequently make operational and strategy decisions to gain political influence. They locate plants, expand workforces, or choose suppliers, with the aim of affecting the economy and the electoral success of politicians. This behavior constitutes a nontraditional form of influence, which I refer to as economic influence activities (EIA). In this paper, I show how such activities influence policymaking and why firms may prefer it to more traditional influence activities such as campaign contributions. What distinguishes EIA is that a firm's strategy choices affects the state of a local economy and, in turn, the evaluations that voters make of the performance of an officeholder. I show how firms can use this capability to extract subsidies and policy favors from incumbent officeholders.
Impairments in Hemodynamic Responses to Orthostasis Associated with Frailty: Results from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA)
Authors: O'Connell Matthew DL , Savva George M , Finucane Ciarán , Romero‐Ortuno Roman , Fan Chie Wei , Kenny Rose Anne 
Published: April 2018

ObjectivesTo characterize the relationships between orthostatic blood pressure (BP) and heart rate recovery and frailty in an older population.DesignCross‐sectional study.SettingTwo health centers in the Republic of Ireland.ParticipantsThe Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing participants aged 50 and older (N=4,334).MeasurementsContinuous noninvasive BP responses during active standing were captured using digital photoplethysmography. Frailty was assessed using the Cardiovascular Health Study criteria. Linear mixed models (random intercept) with piecewise splines were used to model differences in rate of BP and heart rate recovery.ResultsNinety‐three (2.2%) participants were frail, and 1,366 (31.5%) were prefrail. Adjusting for age and sex, frailty was associated with a slower rate of systolic BP recovery 10 to 20 seconds after standing (frailty by time = –4.12, 95% confidence interval=–5.53 to –2.72) and with subsequent deficits in BP 20 to 50 seconds after standing. Similar results were seen for diastolic BP and heart rate. Further adjustment for health behaviors, morbidities, and medications reduced, but did not attenuate, these associations. Of the 5 frailty criteria, only slow gait speed was consistently related to impaired BP and heart rate responses in the full model.ConclusionFrailty, particularly slow gait speed, was associated with slower rate of BP and heart rate recovery after active standing. Impaired BP recovery may be a marker of physiological frailty.
The political ecology of rice intensification in south India: Putting SRI in its places
Authors: Taylor Marcus , Bhasme Suhas 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe system of rice intensification (SRI) has been promoted across Asia as a means to improve rice yields while decreasing water use and external inputs. It is argued to be a generalisable means by which to revalidate smallholder livelihoods and improve food security across the region. Current debates about SRI, however, remain predominantly technical in scope, focusing on field‐level outcomes. To more adequately understand the potential of SRI for smallholder farmers, we argue that it is necessary to situate SRI within a political ecology framework that addresses how the adoption and practice of SRI is shaped by uneven access to key assets including labour, water, and extension networks. Fieldwork conducted in Mahabubnagar district in Telangana, south India—where SRI had been widely disadopted despite the achievement of higher yields—is used to illustrate why agronomic analysis must engage directly with the complex social contexts in which farmers operate.
Empowering leadership and employee creativity: A dual‐mechanism perspective
Authors: Zhang Shuxia , Ke Xudong , Frank Wang Xiao‐Hua , Liu Jun 
Published: April 2018

Integrating empowerment and creativity theories, this study simultaneously explores the context‐specific (i.e., access to resources [AR] and access to information [AI]) and actor‐related (i.e., organization‐based self‐esteem [OBSE]) mechanisms in the relationship between empowering leadership and employee creativity. Furthermore, drawing on the interactionist perspective of creativity, it examines how AR and AI may interact with OBSE to influence creativity. Multisource data were collected from 217 employees and their supervisors using a three‐wave, time‐lagged research design. The results reveal that OBSE and AR mediate the relationship between empowering leadership and creativity. Moreover, AR moderates the relationship between OBSE and creativity, such that this relationship is significant only when AR is high. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.Practitioner points

Empowering leaders may stimulate creativity by impacting their employees' OBSE and access to resources.

A possible way for leaders to facilitate creativity is to simultaneously promote employees' OBSE and provide them with the necessary resources
Dynamics and evolution of Turgay‐type vegetation in Western Siberia throughout the early Oligocene to earliest Miocene—a study based on diversity of plant functional types in the carpological record
Authors: Popova Svetlana , Utescher Torsten , Gromyko Dmitry , Mosbrugger Volker , François Louis 
Published: April 2018

AbstractBased on ecospectra of 66 published carpofloras we study dynamics and evolution of Turgay vegetation in Western Siberia during the early Oligocene to earliest Miocene. The ecospectra are obtained using a Plant Functional Type (PFT) classification system comprising 26 herbaceous to arboreal PFTs. The carpofloras originate from seven floristic levels covering the time‐span from the Rupelian to early Aquitanian. Key elements of these levels are documented based on original collection materials. Although impacted by local edaphic conditions, the ecospectra can be interpreted in terms of changing vegetation. Our data show that warm temperate mesophytic, mixed conifer‐broad‐leaved deciduous forest assemblages persisted throughout the Oligocene and earliest Miocene in this core area of Turgai type vegetation. This is in line with comparatively stable climate conditions persisting in the studied time‐span, showing a minor temperature decline and coeval moderate increase in seasonality and precipitation. Concurrently, the reconstructed ecospectra contradict significant continental drying throughout the Oligocene and earliest Miocene. Spatial variability of the proportions of PFTs within the single floristic horizons primarily reflects local edaphic conditions. High diversities of PFTs characteristic for swamp vegetation are mainly confined to the early Oligocene and have a regional focus. Our results indicate that taxonomical diversity, particularly concerning mesic herbs and deciduous shrubs and trees, increased towards the end of the Oligocene. This increase in biodiversity probably can be attributed to an increase in rainfall and extension of terrestrial habitats after the final retreat of the Paratethys.
Blending genomes: distributive conjugal transfer in mycobacteria, a sexier form of HGT
Authors: Gray Todd A. , Derbyshire Keith M. 
Published: April 2018

SummaryThis review discusses a novel form of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) found in mycobacteria called Distributive Conjugal Transfer (DCT). While satisfying the criteria for conjugation, DCT occurs by a mechanism so distinct from oriT‐mediated conjugation that it could be considered a fourth category of HGT. DCT involves the transfer of chromosomal DNA between mycobacteria and, most significantly, generates transconjugants with mosaic genomes of the parental strains. Multiple segments of donor chromosomal DNA can be co‐transferred regardless of their location or the genetic selection and, as a result, the transconjugant genome contains many donor‐derived segments; hence the name DCT. This distinguishing feature of DCT separates it from the other known mechanisms of HGT, which generally result in the introduction of a single, defined segment of DNA into the recipient chromosome (Fig. ). Moreover, these mosaic progeny are generated from a single conjugal event, which provides enormous capacity for rapid adaptation and evolution, again distinguishing it from the three classical modes of HGT. Unsurprisingly, the unusual mosaic products of DCT are generated by a conjugal mechanism that is also unusual. Here, we will describe the unique features of DCT and contrast those to other mechanisms of HGT, both from a mechanistic and an evolutionary perspective. Our focus will be on transfer of chromosomal DNA, as opposed to plasmid mobilization, because DCT mediates transfer of chromosomal DNA and is a chromosomally encoded process.
Control of the ethylene signaling pathway prevents plant defenses during intracellular accommodation of the rhizobia
Authors: Berrabah Fathi , Balliau Thierry , Aït‐Salem El Hosseyn , George Jeoffrey , Zivy Michel , Ratet Pascal , Gourion Benjamin 
Published: April 2018

Summary

Massive intracellular populations of symbiotic bacteria, referred to as rhizobia, are housed in legume root nodules. Little is known about the mechanisms preventing the development of defense in these organs although genes such as SymCRK and DNF2 of the model legume Medicago truncatula are required for this control after rhizobial internalization in host nodule cells. Here we investigated the molecular basis of the symbiotic control of immunity.

Proteomic analysis was performed to compare functional (wild‐type) and defending nodules (symCRK). Based on the results, the control of plant immunity during the functional step of the symbiosis was further investigated by biochemical and pharmacological approaches as well as by transcript and histology analysis.

Ethylene was identified as a potential signal inducing plant defenses in symCRK nodules. Involvement of this phytohormone in symCRK and dnf2‐developed defenses and in the death of intracellular rhizobia was confirmed. This negative effect of ethylene depended on the M. truncatula sickle gene and was also observed in the legume Lotus japonicus.

Together, these data indicate that prevention of ethylene‐triggered defenses is crucial for the persistence of endosymbiosis and that the DNF2 and SymCRK genes are required for this process.