bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Molecular characterization and expression profile of an alternate proliferating cell nuclear antigen homolog PbPCNA2 in Plasmodium berghei
Authors: Pradhan Sabyasachi , Kalia Inderjeet , Roy Sourav Singha , Singh Om P. , Adak Tridibes , Singh Agam P. , Dhar Suman K. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractProliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) is the processivity factor for various DNA polymerases and it functions in response to DNA damage in eukaryotic system. Plasmodium falciparum contains two PCNAs, while PCNA1 has been attributed to DNA replication, the role of PCNA2 has been assigned to DNA damage response in erythrocytic developmental stages. Although a recent transposon mediated knockout strategy qualified pcna2 as a nonessential gene in Plasmodium berghei, a conventional homologous recombination‐based knockout strategy has not been employed for this gene yet. Moreover, the cellular dynamics of PCNA2 in extraerythrocytic stages still remain elusive in Plasmodium. We attempted multiple times to knock out PbPCNA2 from the parasite genome using homologous recombination strategy without much success. However, we were able to generate PbPCNA2‐GFP tagged transgenic parasites confirming that the pcna2 locus is amenable to genetic manipulation. The GFP‐tagged parasites showed similar growth phenotype, compared to wild‐type parasites, in both erythrocytic and sporogonic cycle, suggesting that tagging had no effect on parasite physiology. PbPCNA2 expression was also observed during the sporogonic cycle in midgut oocyst and salivary gland sporozoites. The PbPCNA2 expression was upregulated in the presence of DNA damaging agents like hydroxyurea and methyl methanesulphonate. Our inability to knock out PCNA2 suggested its essentiality in the parasite development and elevated expression during DNA damaging condition hint at a critical role of the protein in parasite physiology. © 2019 IUBMB Life, 71(9):1293–1301, 2019
Preliminary investigation of honey‐doped electrospun scaffolds to delay wound closure
Authors: Hilliard Genevieve , DeClue Cory E. , Minden‐Birkenmaier Benjamin A. , Dunn Andrew J. , Sell Scott A. , Shornick Laurie P. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractManuka honey is an ancient remedy to improve wound healing; however, an effective delivery system is needed to facilitate extended release of honey into wounds. We developed an electrospun dermal regeneration template consisting of a poly (ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) scaffold embedded with 1%, 5%, 10%, or 20% manuka honey. In vitro studies demonstrated that honey PCL scaffolds were not toxic to macrophages, and they allowed for macrophage infiltration into the scaffolds. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a marker of angiogenesis, was released by macrophages cultured with scaffolds and macrophage/scaffold conditioned media promoted endothelial cell tube formation in an angiogenesis assay. In a full thickness murine wound model, the scaffolds prevented rapid wound contraction. In vivo, cells infiltrated the scaffolds by post‐wounding day 7, but the honey scaffolds did not affect collagen deposition at that time. In summary, preliminary studies investigating the effect of honey on tissue repair show that scaffolds prevent rapid wound contraction, allow for cell infiltration, and promote angiogenesis. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 107B:2620–2628, 2019.
Role of microRNA‐145 in protection against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in mice by regulating expression of GZMK with the treatment of sevoflurane
Authors: Qi Zheng , Li Shushan , Su Yu , Zhang Ji , Kang Yu , Huang Yunli , Jin Feng , Xing Qinghe 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThis study aims to investigate the role of microRNA‐145 (miR‐145) in protection against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in mice by regulating expression of granzyme K (GZMK) with the treatment of sevoflurane. The mice model of myocardial I/R injury was established by left coronary artery ligation. The expression of miR‐145 and GZMK in myocardial tissues of mice was detected by Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis. The changes of the cardiac function and hemodynamics, pathological changes of myocardial tissues, the ultrastructure of cardiomyocytes, myocardial infarction area, and cardiomyocyte apoptosis were observed. The expression of the apoptosis‐related protein cleaved‐caspase‐3, Bax, and Bcl‐2 was detected by western blot analysis. The levels of malondialdehyde, myeloperoxidase, superoxide dismutase in myocardial tissues were detected by spectrophotometric colorimetry. The levels of interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β), IL‐6, and tumor necrosis factor‐α in the serum of mice were detected by the enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. The level of oxidative stress and the expression of inflammatory factors increased in mice with myocardial I/R injury. Sevoflurane postconditioning could reduce myocardial I/R injury in mice. Sevoflurane postconditioning may protect myocardial I/R injury through miR‐145‐regulation of GZMK in mice. Inhibition of miR‐145 expression could reduce the protective effect of sevoflurane posttreatment on myocardial I/R injury in mice. Low expression of GZMK could attenuate the inhibitory effect of miR‐145 on myocardial I/R injury after sevoflurane treatment in mice. Our study suggests that sevoflurane postconditioning may protect against myocardial I/R injury by upregulating miR‐145 expression and downregulating GZMK expression.
Coupling of VAMPERS within iLOVECLIM: experiments during the LGM and Last Deglaciation
Authors: Kitover Danielle C. , Renssen Hans , van Balen Ronald , Vandenberghe Jef , Roche Didier M. 
Published: March 2019

ABSTRACTThe VAMPERS (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Permafrost Snow Model) has been coupled within iLOVECLIM, an earth system model. This advancement allows the thermal coupling between permafrost and climate to be examined from a millennial timescale using equilibrium experiments during the Last Glacial Maximum (21 ka) and transient experiments for the subsequent deglaciation period (21–11 ka). It appears that the role of permafrost during both stable and transitional (glacial–interglacial) climate periods is seasonal, resulting in cooler summers and warmer winters by approximately ±2 °C maximum. This conclusion reinforces the importance of including the active layer within climate models. In addition, the coupling of VAMPERS also yields a simulation of transient permafrost conditions, not only for estimating areal changes in extent but also total permafrost gain/loss.
Magnitude‐intrinsic water–fat ambiguity can be resolved with multipeak fat modeling and a multipoint search method
Authors: Triay Bagur Alexandre , Hutton Chloe , Irving Benjamin , Gyngell Michael L. , Robson Matthew D. , Brady Michael 
Published: March 2019

PurposeTo develop a postprocessing algorithm for multiecho chemical‐shift encoded water–fat separation that estimates proton density fat fraction (PDFF) maps over the full dynamic range (0‐100%) using multipeak fat modeling and multipoint search optimization. To assess its accuracy, reproducibility, and agreement with state‐of‐the‐art complex‐based methods, and to evaluate its robustness to artefacts in abdominal PDFF maps.MethodsWe introduce MAGO (MAGnitude‐Only), a magnitude‐based reconstruction that embodies multipeak liver fat spectral modeling and multipoint optimization, and which is compatible with asymmetric echo acquisitions. MAGO is assessed first for accuracy and reproducibility on publicly available phantom data. Then, MAGO is applied to N = 178 UK Biobank cases, in which its liver PDFF measures are compared using Bland‐Altman analysis with those from a version of the hybrid iterative decomposition of water and fat with echo asymmetry and least squares estimation (IDEAL) algorithm, LiverMultiScan IDEAL (LMS IDEAL, Perspectum Diagnostics Ltd, Oxford, UK). Finally, MAGO is tested on a succession of high field challenging cases for which LMS IDEAL generated artefacts in the PDFF maps.ResultsPhantom data showed accurate, reproducible MAGO PDFF values across manufacturers, field strengths, and acquisition protocols. Moreover, we report excellent agreement between MAGO and LMS IDEAL for 6‐echo, 1.5 tesla human acquisitions (bias = −0.02% PDFF, 95% confidence interval = ±0.13% PDFF). When tested on 12‐echo, 3 tesla cases from different manufacturers, MAGO was shown to be more robust to artefacts compared to LMS IDEAL.ConclusionMAGO resolves the water–fat ambiguity over the entire fat fraction dynamic range without compromising accuracy, therefore enabling robust PDFF estimation where phase data is inaccessible or unreliable and complex‐based and hybrid methods fail.
A Fast and Economical Sample Preparation Protocol for Interaction Proteomics Analysis
Authors: Gonzalez‐Lozano Miguel A. , Koopmans Frank , Paliukhovich Iryna , Smit August B. , Li Ka Wan 
Published: March 2019

AbstractA simple and fast immunoprecipitation (IP) protocol is designed with the sample preparation incorporated, applicable to both low and high throughput. This new protocol combines two procedures based on magnetic beads in 96‐well plate format. Protein complexes are captured by antibodies and magnetic beads conjugated with protein A. Proteins are washed and on‐bead digested by using Single‐Pot solid‐phase sample preparation (SP3). The whole IP‐SP3 approach can be completed in one day, which is considerably faster compared to the classical approach. No major quantitative differences are found between SP3 and FASP (filter‐aided sample preparation) or a longer incubation protocol. Taken together, the IP‐SP3 protocol is a fast and economical approach easily applicable for large‐scale protein interactome analysis.
Nanomechanical and nanotribological characterization of multilayer self‐lubricating Ti/MoS2/Si/MoS2 nanocoating on aluminium‐silicon substrate
Authors: Banday Summèra , Wàňi M.F. 
Published: March 2019

Ti/MoS2/Si/MoS2 multilayer coating was fabricated by a pulse laser deposition method from a titanium, molybdenum disulphide, and silicon targets, and the coating was deposited in layers on aluminium‐silicon substrates, at room temperature. The structural analysis and surface morphology of multilayer Ti/MoS2/Si/MoS2 coating were analysed using X‐ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy integrated with energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy. Nanomechanical tests were performed on Ti/MoS2/Si/MoS2 coating at small loads of 2000 to 6000 μN to study the effect of load on hardness and Young's modulus. Nanoscratch and nanowear tests were conducted on Ti/MoS2/Si/MoS2 coating at a low load of 1000 to 5000 μN and 100 to 500 μN, respectively, to study deformation and failure behaviours of coating/substrate system and also their nanotribological properties. The results show that hardness and Young's modulus of Ti/MoS2/Si/MoS2 coating decrease with increase in load. A low friction coefficient of 0.09 to 0.16 was observed, which proves that the Ti/MoS2/Si/MoS2 coating possesses self‐lubricating property. The wear rate of Ti/MoS2/Si/MoS2 coating increases 3.3 × 10−10 to 7.8 × 10−10 mm3/Nm with increase in load. Ti/MoS2/Si/MoS2 multilayer coating shows a smooth wear track with no cracks and debris on the surface, which attributed plastic flow of softer coating material around the wear track.
Geopolitical jockeying: Economic nationalism and multinational strategy in historical perspective
Authors: Lubinski Christina , Wadhwani R. Daniel 
Published: March 2019

Research SummaryWe explore multinational strategy formation in the context of rising economic nationalism. Specifically, we examine how firms develop strategies to capitalize on the historical and aspirational attributes of national identity. Analyzing the histories of two German multinationals in late colonial India, we find that these firms engaged in “geopolitical jockeying” to delegitimize rival multinationals and position themselves as complementary to the economic and political goals of the host nation. Toward that end they employed “aspirational political practices,” addressing the inherently future‐oriented character of nationalism, and invested in the development of political capabilities to gather information and shape perceptions of national contexts. The paper contributes to a more robust conceptualization of nations and nationalism and their role in the formation of international competition and strategy.Managerial SummaryRising economic nationalism can create political and economic opportunities as well as threats for multinational firms. Through a historical analysis of the emerging strategy of two German companies—Siemens and Bayer—in late colonial India, we show how firms can engage in “geopolitical jockeying” to delegitimize rival multinationals and position themselves as complementary to the economic and political goals of host nations. To do so the companies engaged in “aspirational political practices,” addressing the inherently future or goal‐oriented aspects of nations, and created political capabilities designed to both gather intelligence on and shape the nationalist movements. The paper uses history as a mirror for reflecting on the causes and consequences of economic nationalism for international strategy in our own time.
Rethinking water insecurity, inequality and infrastructure through an embodied urban political ecology
Authors: Truelove Yaffa 
Published: March 2019

In recent years, emerging scholarship has advanced embodied approaches to urban water in/security, inequality and infrastructure. This new literature is broadly informed by political ecology studies of water, which critique depoliticized approaches to water scarcity, insecurity and inequality and give attention to the socially differentiated experiences of the urban waterscape. Recent interventions to bring feminist and embodied approaches to water's urban political ecology analyze the site and scale of the body as critical for understanding everyday urban water access and inequality. Drawing from these frameworks, I summarize three contributions of an embodied urban political ecology approach for addressing water in/security. These include analytical approaches that give attention to (1) the scale of the body within multi‐scalar approaches to water, (2) intersectionality and gender/class/race/ethno‐religious relations in shaping patterns of water inequality and insecurity, and (3) everyday practices and politics, in relation to both governance and citizens, which reveal under‐theorized dimensions of water insecurity and inequality. Embodied approaches to urban water insecurity are poised to expand and deepen work on the everyday politics and lived experiences of insufficient, insecure, and unequal water that profoundly shape urban life for city‐dwellers.This article is categorized under:Engineering Water > Planning WaterHuman Water > Water GovernanceHuman Water > Rights to Water
A proteomic signature for dementia with Lewy bodies
Authors: O'Bryant Sid E. , Ferman Tanis J. , Zhang Fan , Hall James , Pedraza Otto , Wszolek Zbigniew K. , Como Tori , Julovich David , Mattevada Sravan , Johnson Leigh A. , Edwards Melissa , Hall James , Graff‐Radford Neill R. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractIntroductionWe sought to determine if a proteomic profile approach developed to detect Alzheimer's disease would distinguish patients with Lewy body disease from normal controls, and if it would distinguish dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) from Parkinson's disease (PD).MethodsStored plasma samples were obtained from 145 patients (DLB n = 57, PD without dementia n = 32, normal controls n = 56) enrolled from patients seen in the Behavioral Neurology or Movement Disorders clinics at the Mayo Clinic, Florida. Proteomic assays were conducted and analyzed as per our previously published protocols.ResultsIn the first step, the proteomic profile distinguished the DLB‐PD group from controls with a diagnostic accuracy of 0.97, sensitivity of 0.91, and specificity of 0.86. In the second step, the proteomic profile distinguished the DLB from PD groups with a diagnostic accuracy of 0.92, sensitivity of 0.94, and specificity of 0.88.DiscussionThese data provide evidence of the potential utility of a multitiered blood‐based proteomic screening method for detecting DLB and distinguishing DLB from PD.
Will the Establishment of Circuit Tribunals Break Up the Circular Reforms in the Chinese Judiciary?
Authors: WANG Zhiqiong June , CHEN Jianfu 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThis article examines the objectives for the establishment of circuit tribunals of the Supreme People’s Court of China and the politico-legal functions of such tribunals in the context of judicial reforms that were first launched in 1999. It starts with an analysis of the fundamental problems and difficulties that impeded judicial reforms in the last two decades. It then provides a careful analysis of the establishment of circuit tribunals and examines the political barriers to fundamental reforms towards genuine, though limited, independent adjudication in China. Although we do not believe that the circuit tribunals will be a breakaway force in the Chinese polity, the present reforms do have the potential to break up certain circular reforms and break through some fundamental barriers to deep reform. Further, while judicial independence, in the sense of the judiciary being an independent force in the political and constitutional scheme of checks and balances, is not attainable in the political environment in China today or indeed in the near future, it is hoped that the present reforms might grant the Chinese judiciary some limited, but much needed, autonomy within the Chinese political system.
Marine Reservoir Corrections for the Brazilian Northern Coast Using Modern Corals
Authors: Oliveira Maria Isabela , Carvalho Carla , Macario Kita , Evangelista Heitor , Lamounier Saulo , Hammerschlag Izabela 
Published: March 2019

ABSTRACTThe Abrolhos bank, in southern Bahia State (BA), is the largest coral reef system in the southwestern Atlantic. It is highly influenced by the Brazil Current (BC), since it is located in the continental shelf. By contrast, Todos os Santos Bay (TSB), in Salvador, capital of Bahia State (BA) has an important coral biodiversity, located in a bay inlet with restricted water circulation. Coral cores were collected in those sites and were analyzed for density band counting and by Th/U dating to estimate growth rates and age. In this work, we present14C ages of some of these bands in order to evaluate the marine reservoir effect (MRE) to which the colonies were subjected during growth. It is the first study making use of coral skeleton samples for MRE determination for the Brazilian coast. ΔR was calculated to be –151±2314C yr, while that for the TSB was –107±5114C yr.
International Intervention and the Rule of Law after Civil War: Evidence from Liberia
Authors: Blair Robert A. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractWhat are the effects of international intervention on the rule of law after civil war? Rule of law requires not only that state authorities abide by legal limits on their power, but also that citizens rely on state laws and institutions to adjudicate disputes. Using an original survey and list experiment in Liberia, I show that exposure to the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) increased citizens’ reliance on state over nonstate authorities to resolve the most serious incidents of crime and violence, and increased nonstate authorities’ reliance on legal over illegal mechanisms of dispute resolution. I use multiple identification strategies to support a causal interpretation of these results, including an instrumental variables strategy that leverages plausibly exogenous variation in the distribution of UNMIL personnel induced by the killing of seven peacekeepers in neighboring Côte d'Ivoire. My results are still detectable two years later, even in communities that report no further exposure to peacekeepers. I also find that exposure to UNMIL did not mitigate and may in fact have exacerbated citizens’ perceptions of state corruption and bias in the short term, but that these apparently adverse effects dissipated over time. I conclude by discussing implications of these complex but overall beneficial effects.
E. J. Lowe on the modal ontological argument
Authors: EKLUND DAN-JOHAN 
Published: March 2019

AbstractE. J. Lowe has defended a modal ontological argument that draws upon Plantinga's version. Briefly, the argument is this: God is a necessary being; possibly, God exists; hence, God exists. In this article, I accept the validity of Lowe's modal ontological argument and focus on how he seeks to justify the argument's possibility claim in reference to his essence-based account of modal knowledge. I argue that here Lowe's defence fails. I have two complaints. I call them ‘the modified “perfect island” objection’ and ‘the conflicting possibilities objection’. Both of these refer to the concern that Lowe's modal epistemology is too permissive: it permits justification of possibility claims that question the acceptability of the underlying modal epistemology.
The resurgence of syphilis in high-income countries in the 2000s: a focus on Europe
Authors: Spiteri G. , Unemo M. , Mårdh O. , Amato-Gauci A. J. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractSyphilis can cause severe complications and sequelae. Following a decrease in reported cases in European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) and other high-income countries in the 1980s and 1990s as a result of the HIV epidemic and ensuing changes in sexual behaviour, trends started to increase in the 2000s in a number of EU/EEA Member States with higher rates among men and a large proportion of cases reported among men who have sex with men (MSM), particularly HIV-positive MSM. Trends in EU/EEA Member States vary however with some countries continuing to report decreases in the number of reported cases (mostly in the Eastern part of EU/EEA) whereas many Western European countries report increasing numbers of cases. Increasing rates among women, although still relatively low, have been observed in a number of countries leading to concerns around mother-to-child transmission of syphilis and congenital syphilis. Similar overall trends are observed in other high-income countries with the exception of Japan where rates among heterosexual men and women have been rising at alarming levels. Control of syphilis requires use of comprehensive, evidence-based strategies which take into account lessons learned from previous control efforts as well as consideration of biomedical interventions.