bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Political control and policy-making uncertainty in executive orders: the implementation of environmental justice policy
Authors: Provost Colin , Gerber Brian J. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractEnvironmental justice (EJ) has represented an important equity challenge in policymaking for decades. President Clinton’s executive order (EO) 12898 in 1994 represented a significant federal action, requiring agencies to account for EJ issues in new rulemakings. We examine the impact of EO 12898 within the larger question of how EO are implemented in complex policymaking. We argue that presidential preferences will affect bureaucratic responsiveness and fire alarm oversight. However, EJ policy complexity produces uncertainty leading to bureaucratic risk aversion, constraining presidential efforts to steer policy. We utilise an original data set of nearly 2,000 final federal agency rules citing EO 12898 and find significant variation in its utilisation across administrations. Uncertainty over the nature of the order has an important influence on bureaucratic responsiveness. Our findings are instructive for the twin influences of political control and policy-making uncertainty and raise useful questions for future EJ and policy implementation research.
Morbidity, mortality and long-term sequelae of West Nile virus disease in Québec
Authors: Ouhoumanne N. , Lowe A-M. , Fortin A. , Kairy D. , Vibien A. , K-Lensch J. , Tannenbaum T-N. , Milord F. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractWe aimed to describe the clinical characteristics of West Nile patients reported in Québec in 2012 and 2013 and to document physical, mental and functional status 24 months after symptom onset according to illness severity. The cases were recruited by a public health professional. Data were collected from public health files, medical records and two standardised phone questionnaires: the Short Form-36 and the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living. In all, 92 persons participated in the study (25 had West Nile fever (WNF), 18 had meningitis and 49 had encephalitis). Encephalitis participants were older, had more underlying medical conditions, more neurological symptoms, worse hospital course and higher lethality than meningitis or WNF participants. Nearly half of the surviving hospitalised encephalitis patients required extra support upon discharge. At 24-month follow-up, encephalitis and meningitis patients had a lower score in two domains of the mental component: mental health and social functioning (P = 0.0025 and 0.0297, respectively) compared with the norms based on age- and sex-matched Canadians. Physical status was not affected by West Nile virus (WNV) infection. In addition, 5/36 (15%) of encephalitis, 1/17 (6%) of meningitis and 1/23 (5%) of WNF participants had new functional limitations 24 months after symptom onset. In summary, mental and functional sequelae in encephalitis patients are likely to represent a source of long-term morbidity. Preventive measures should target patients at higher risk of severe illness after WNV infection.
The Gospel of Reform: The Social Gospel and Health Care Reform Attitudes
Authors: McDaniel Eric L. , Miller Kenneth M. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractMost research on the social gospel, a religious interpretation that obliges people to care for the less fortunate and correct social inequalities, has focused on elite rhetoric. However, it is not clear the extent to which members of the public also adhere to this socioreligious philosophy. The moralistic tone of the 2010 health care reform debate has led many to argue that there is a revival of the social gospel. To what extent has this debate gained traction among citizens writ large? Which individuals will be most likely to be influenced by elite discourse that draws social gospel? Using two unique surveys and an experiment, we demonstrate that Social Gospel adherents have distinctive political attitudes. Specifically, they are more attentive to social policy issues and are more supportive of expanding the social safety net. Second, we demonstrate that elite rhetoric that draws from the Social Gospel tradition can influence policy preferences.
Instability of expanding bacterial droplets
Authors: Sokolov Andrey , Rubio Leonardo Dominguez , Brady John F. , Aranson Igor S. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractSuspensions of motile bacteria or synthetic microswimmers, termed active matter, manifest a remarkable propensity for self-organization, and formation of large-scale coherent structures. Most active matter research deals with almost homogeneous in space systems and little is known about the dynamics of strongly heterogeneous active matter. Here we report on experimental and theoretical studies on the expansion of highly concentrated bacterial droplets into an ambient bacteria-free fluid. The droplet is formed beneath a rapidly rotating solid macroscopic particle inserted in the suspension. We observe vigorous instability of the droplet reminiscent of a violent explosion. The phenomenon is explained in terms of continuum first-principle theory based on the swim pressure concept. Our findings provide insights into the dynamics of active matter with strong density gradients and significantly expand the scope of experimental and analytic tools for control and manipulation of active systems.
High temperature measurements and condensed matter analysis of the thermo-physical properties of ThO2
Authors: Pavlov T. R. , Wangle T. , Wenman M. R. , Tyrpekl V. , Vlahovic L. , Robba D. , Van Uffelen P. , Konings R. J. M. , Grimes R. W. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractValues are presented for thermal conductivity, specific heat, spectral and total hemispherical emissivity of ThO2 (a potential nuclear fuel material) in a temperature range representative of a nuclear accident - 2000 K to 3050 K. For the first time direct measurements of thermal conductivity have been carried out on ThO2 at such high temperatures, clearly showing the property does not decrease above 2000 K. This could be understood in terms of an electronic contribution (arising from defect induced donor/acceptor states) compensating the degradation of lattice thermal conductivity. The increase in total hemispherical emissivity and visible/near-infrared spectral emissivity is consistent with the formation of donor/acceptor states in the band gap of ThO2. The electronic population of these defect states increases with temperature and hence more incoming photons (in the visible and near-infrared wavelength range) can be absorbed. A solid state physics model is used to interpret the experimental results. Specific heat and thermal expansion coefficient increase at high temperatures due to the formation of defects, in particular oxygen Frenkel pairs. Prior to melting a gradual increase to a maximum value is predicted in both properties. These maxima mark the onset of saturation of oxygen interstitial sites.
HIV-exposure, early life feeding practices and delivery mode impacts on faecal bacterial profiles in a South African birth cohort
Authors: Claassen-Weitz Shantelle , Gardner-Lubbe Sugnet , Nicol Paul , Botha Gerrit , Mounaud Stephanie , Shankar Jyoti , Nierman William C , Mulder Nicola , Budree Shrish , Zar Heather J. , Nicol Mark P. , Kaba Mamadou 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThere are limited data on meconium and faecal bacterial profiles from African infants and their mothers. We characterized faecal bacterial communities of infants and mothers participating in a South African birth cohort. Stool and meconium specimens were collected from 90 mothers and 107 infants at birth, and from a subset of 72 and 36 infants at 4–12 and 20–28 weeks of age, respectively. HIV-unexposed infants were primarily exclusively breastfed at 4–12 (49%, 26/53) and 20–28 weeks (62%, 16/26). In contrast, HIV-exposed infants were primarily exclusively formula fed at 4–12 (53%; 10/19) and 20–28 weeks (70%, 7/10). Analysis (of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequences of the V4 hypervariable region) of the 90 mother-infant pairs showed that meconium bacterial profiles [dominated by Proteobacteria (89%)] were distinct from those of maternal faeces [dominated by Firmicutes (66%) and Actinobacteria (15%)]. Actinobacteria predominated at 4–12 (65%) and 20–28 (50%) weeks. HIV-exposed infants had significantly higher faecal bacterial diversities at both 4–12 (p = 0.026) and 20–28 weeks (p = 0.002). HIV-exposed infants had lower proportions ofBifidobacterium(p = 0.010) at 4–12 weeks. Maternal faecal bacterial profiles were influenced by HIV status, feeding practices and mode of delivery. Further longitudinal studies are required to better understand how these variables influence infant and maternal faecal bacterial composition.
Identification of the functional pathways altered by placental cell exposure to high glucose: lessons from the transcript and metabolite interactome
Authors: Hulme C. H. , Stevens A. , Dunn W. , Heazell A. E. P. , Hollywood K. , Begley P. , Westwood M. , Myers J. E. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe specific consequences of hyperglycaemia on placental metabolism and function are incompletely understood but likely contribute to poor pregnancy outcomes associated with diabetes mellitus (DM). This study aimed to identify the functional biochemical pathways perturbed by placental exposure to high glucose levels through integrative analysis of the trophoblast transcriptome and metabolome. The human trophoblast cell line, BeWo, was cultured in 5 or 25 mM glucose, as a model of the placenta in DM. Transcriptomic analysis using microarrays, demonstrated 5632 differentially expressed gene transcripts (≥± 1.3 fold change (FC)) following exposure to high glucose. These genes were used to generate interactome models of transcript response using BioGRID (non-inferred network: 2500 nodes (genes) and 10541 protein-protein interactions). Ultra performance-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (MS) and gas chromatography-MS analysis of intracellular extracts and culture medium were used to assess the response of metabolite profiles to high glucose concentration. The interactions of altered genes and metabolites were assessed using the MetScape interactome database, resulting in an integrated model of systemic transcriptome (2969 genes) and metabolome (41 metabolites) response within placental cells exposed to high glucose. The functional pathways which demonstrated significant change in response to high glucose included fatty acid β-oxidation, phospholipid metabolism and phosphatidylinositol phosphate signalling.
A highly efficient Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)2 photocathode without a hetero-materials overlayer for solar-hydrogen production
Authors: Kim Byungwoo , Park Gi-Soon , Chae Sang Youn , Kim Min Kyu , Oh Hyung-Suk , Hwang Yun Jeong , Kim Woong , Min Byoung Koun 
Published: March 2018

AbstractSurface modification of a Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)2 (CIGSSe) absorber layer is commonly required to obtain high performance CIGSSe photocathodes. However, surface modifications can cause disadvantages such as optical loss, low stability, the use of toxic substances and an increase in complexity. In this work, we demonstrate that a double-graded bandgap structure (top-high, middle-low and bottom-high bandgaps) can achieve high performance in bare CIGSSe photocathodes without any surface modifications via a hetero-materials overlayer that have been fabricated in a cost-effective solution process. We used two kinds of CIGSSe film produced by different precursor solutions consisting of different solvents and binder materials, and both revealed a double-graded bandgap structure composed of an S-rich top layer, Ga- and S-poor middle layer and S- and Ga-rich bottom layer. The bare CIGSSe photocathode without surface modification exhibited a high photoelectrochemical activity of ~6 mA·cm−2 at 0 V vs. RHE and ~22 mA·cm−2 at −0.27 V vs. RHE, depending on the solution properties used in the CIGSSe film preparation. The incorporation of a Pt catalyst was found to further increase their PEC activity to ~26 mA·cm−2 at −0.16 V vs. RHE.
TRPM7 in CHBP-induced renoprotection upon ischemia reperfusion-related injury
Authors: Liu Aifen , Wu Jing , Yang Cheng , Wu Yuanyuan , Zhang Yufang , Zhao Fengbo , Wang Hui , Yuan Li , Song Lirui , Zhu Tongyu , Fan Yaping , Yang Bin 
Published: March 2018

AbstractTransient receptor potential melastatin 7 (TRPM7) is a membrane ion channel and kinase. TRPM7 was abundantly expressed in the kidney, and up-regulated by ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury. Our previous studies showed that cyclic helix B peptide (CHBP) improved renal IR-related injury, but its underlying mechanism is not well defined. IR-related injury was established in renal tubular epithelial cells (TCMK-1 and HK-2) via 12 to 24-h hypoxia (H) followed by 2-24 h reoxygenation (R), and in mouse kidneys subjected to 30-min ischemia and 12-h to 7-day reperfusion. TRPM7-like current in TCMK-1 cells, TRPM7 mRNA and protein in the in vitro and in vivo models were increased, but reversed by CHBP. TRPM7 was also positively associated with LDH, HMGB1, caspase-3, Bax/Bcl-2, inflammation, apoptosis, tubulointerstitial damage and renal function respectively. Furthermore, silencing TRPM7 improved injury parameters, renal histology and function in the both models. Specific TRPM7 agonist, bradykinin, exaggerated HR induced injury in TCMK-1 cells, and partially blocked the renoprotection of CHBP as well. In conclusion, TRPM7 is involved not only in IR-related injury, but also CHBP-induced renoprotection, which are through its ion channel and subsequent affects inflammation and apoptosis. Therefore, TRPM7 could be a potential biomarker for IR-induced acute kidney injury.
Influence of intrauterine administration of Lactobacillus buchneri on reproductive performance and pro-inflammatory endometrial mRNA expression of cows with subclinical endometritis
Authors: Peter S. , Gärtner M. A. , Michel G. , Ibrahim M. , Klopfleisch R. , Lübke-Becker A. , Jung M. , Einspanier R. , Gabler C. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractPotential beneficial effects of lactic acid bacteria on the genital health of cows become of particular interest when considering the importance of an optimal uterine health status for the success of breeding in dairy farming. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to analyse the influence of an intrauterine administration of the Lactobacillus buchneri DSM 32407 on reproductive performance, uterine health status, endometrial mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory factors of cows with signs of subclinical endometritis (SCE). L. buchneri DSM 32407 (n = 56; [LAC]) or a placebo (n = 60; [PLA]) was administered on day 24–30 postpartum. Endometrial cytobrush samples of cows with SCE were taken before the administration and at three following weeks (n = 16 cows each for LAC/SCE and PLA/SCE). A higher proportion of cows of the LAC and LAC/SCE group was pregnant after the first service and median days to conception for cows pregnant on day 200 pp were shorter. Three weeks after the administration, the endometrial mRNA expression of CXCL1/2, CXCL3, CXCR2, IL1B, IL8 and PTPRC was lower in the LAC/SCE group compared with the PLA/SCE group. These findings suggest that the presence of L. buchneri DSM 32407 contributes to a uterine environment that results in a better reproductive performance.
Mechanism of action of the third generation benzopyrans and evaluation of their broad anti-cancer activity in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Stevenson Alexander J. , Ager Eleanor I. , Proctor Martina A. , Škalamera Dubravka , Heaton Andrew , Brown David , Gabrielli Brian G. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractSuccessive rounds of chemical modification in three generations of benzopyran molecules have shown to select for different mechanisms of actions and progressive increases in anti-cancer activity. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of action of the third-generation benzopyran compounds, TRX-E-002-1 and TRX-E-009-1. High-content screening of a panel of 240 cancer cell lines treated with TRX-E-009-1 demonstrated it has broad anti-cancer potential. Within this screen, melanoma cell lines showed a range of sensitivities and subsequently a second independent panel of 21 melanoma 3D spheroid lines were assessed for their responses to both TRX-E-002-1 and TRX-E-009-1 compounds. Time-lapse microscopy illustrated both of these compounds caused mitotic delays in treated cells, resulting in either mitotic slippage or apoptosis. This finding along with immunostaining, in vitro polymerization assays, and animal experiments in both athymic and immunocompetent mice, demonstrates that these third-generation benzopyran compounds are potent tubulin polymerization inhibitors in vitro and in vivo, and this is the molecular basis of their anti-cancer activity in melanoma. These findings indicate these BP compounds may offer a novel anti-microtubule strategy for cancer intervention and provides the basis for further investigation into biomarkers of clinical sensitivity.
Glucose-regulated protein 78 substrate-binding domain alters its conformation upon EGCG inhibitor binding to nucleotide-binding domain: Molecular dynamics studies
Authors: Gurusinghe K. R. D. Sagara N. S. , Mishra Aanchal , Mishra Seema 
Published: March 2018

AbstractGlucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), is overexpressed in glioblastoma, other tumors and during viral and bacterial infections, and so, it is postulated to be a key drug target. EGCG, an ATP-competitive natural inhibitor, inhibits GRP78 effect in glioblastoma. Structural basis of its action on GRP78 nucleotide-binding domain and selectivity has been investigated. We were interested in exploring the large-scale conformational movements travelling to substrate-binding domainvialinker region. Conformational effects of EGCG inhibitor as well as ATP on full length GRP78 protein were studied using powerful MD simulations. Binding of EGCG decreases mobility of residues in SBDα lid region as compared to ATP-bound state and similar to apo state. The decreased mobility may prevent its opening and closing over SBDβ. This hindrance to SBDα subdomain movement, in turn, may reduce the binding of substrate peptide to SBDβ. EGCG binding folds the protein stably as opposed to ATP binding. Several results from EGCG binding simulations are similar to that of the apo state. Key insights from these results reveal that after EGCG binding upon competitive inhibition with ATP, GRP78 conformation may revert to that of inactive, apo state. Further, SBD may adopt a semi-open conformation unable to facilitate association of substrates.
Enhancing doping contrast and optimising quantification in the scanning electron microscope by surface treatment and Fermi level pinning
Authors: Chee Augustus K. W. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractRecent advances in two-dimensional dopant profiling in the scanning electron microscope have enabled a high throughput, non-contact process diagnostics and failure analysis solution for integrated device manufacturing. The routine (electro)chemical etch processes to obtain contamination-free, hydrogen-terminated silicon surfaces is industrially important in ULSI microfabrication, though doping contrast, which is the basis for quantitative dopant profiling, will be strongly altered. We show herein that ammonium-fluoride treatment not only enabled doping contrast to be differentiated mainly by surface band-bending, but it enhanced the quality of linear quantitative calibration through simple univariate analysis for SE energies as low as 1 eV. Energy-filtering measurements reveal that the linear analytical model broached in the literature (c.f. Kazemian et al., 2006 and Kazemian et al., 2007) is likely to be inadequate to determine the surface potential across semiconductor p-n junctions without suitable deconvolution methods. Nevertheless, quantification trends suggest that energy-filtering may not be crucial if patch fields and contamination are absolutely suppressed by the appropriate edge termination and passivation.
Dimer Interface of the Human Serotonin Transporter and Effect of the Membrane Composition
Authors: Periole Xavier , Zeppelin Talia , Schiøtt Birgit 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe oligomeric state of membrane proteins has recently emerged in many cases as having an effect on their function. However, the intrinsic dynamics of their spatial organization in cells and model systems makes it challenging to characterize. Here we use molecular dynamics (MD) simulations at multiple resolutions to determine the dimer conformation of the human serotonin transporter (hSERT). From self-assembly simulations we predict dimer candidates and subsequently quantify their relative strength. We use umbrella sampling (US) replica exchange MD simulations for which we present extensive analysis of their efficiency and improved sampling compared to regular US MD simulations. The data shows that the most stable hSERT dimer interface is symmetrical and involves transmembrane helix 12 (TM12), similar to the crystal structure of the bacterial homologue LeuT, but with a slightly different orientation. We also describe the supramolecular organization of hSERT from a 250 μs self-assembly simulation. Finally, the effects of the presence of phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate or cholesterol in the membrane model has been quantified for the TM12-TM12 predicted interface. Collectively, the presented data bring new insight to the area of protein and lipid interplay in biological membranes.
Ejection processes in the young open cluster NGC 2264
Authors: McGinnis P. , Dougados C. , Alencar S. H. P. , Bouvier J. , Cabrit S. 
Published: March 2018

Context. Statistical studies of the spectral signatures of jets and winds in young stars are crucial to characterize outflows and understand their impact on disk and stellar evolution. The young, open cluster NGC 2264 contains hundreds of well-characterized classical T Tauri stars (CTTS), being thus an ideal site for these statistical studies. Its slightly older age than star forming regions studied in previous works, such as Taurus, allows us to investigate outflows in a different phase of CTTS evolution.
Aims. We search for correlations between the [OI]λ6300 line, a well-known tracer of jets and winds in young stars, and stellar, disk and accretion properties in NGC 2264, aiming to characterize the outflow phenomena that occur within the circumstellar environment of young stars.
Methods. We analyzed FLAMES spectra of 184 stars, detecting the [OI]λ6300 line in 108 CTTSs and two Herbig AeBe stars. We identified the main features of this line: a high-velocity component (HVC), and a broad and narrow low-velocity components (BLVC and NLVC). We calculated luminosities and kinematic properties of these components, then compared them with known stellar and accretion parameters.
Results. The luminosity of the [OI]λ6300 line and its components correlate positively with the stellar and accretion luminosity. The HVC is only detected among systems with optically thick inner disks; the BLVC is most common among thick disk systems and rarer among systems with anemic disks and transition disks; and the NLVC is detected among systems with all types of disks, including transition disks. Our BLVCs present blueshifts of up to 50 km s−1 and widths consistent with disk winds originating between ~0.05 and ~0.5 au from the central object, while the NLVCs in our sample have widths compatible with an origin between ~0.5 and ~5 au, in agreement with previous studies in Taurus.
A comparison of [OI]λ6300 profiles with CoRoT light curves shows that the HVC is found most often among sources with irregular, aperiodic photometric variability, usually associated with CTTSs accreting in an unstable regime. No stellar properties (Teff, mass, rotation) appear to significantly influence any property of protosellar jets. We find jet velocities on average similar to those found in Taurus.
Conclusions. We confirm earlier findings in Taurus which favor an inner MHD disk wind as the origin of the BLVC, while there is no conclusive evidence that the NLVC traces photoevaporative disk winds. The [OI]λ6300 line profile shows signs of evolving as the disk disperses, with the HVC and BLVC disappearing as the inner disk becomes optically thin, in support of the scenario of inside-out gas dissipation in the inner disk.