bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Reenacting ethnic cleansing: people's history and elitist nationalism in contemporary Poland
Authors: Pasieka Agnieszka 
Published: January 2016

AbstractThis article addresses the problem of the present‐day historical discourse in Poland by taking under scrutiny one specific event: the historical re‐enactment of the ethnic cleansing of Polish villagers by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, staged in a small town in southeastern Poland, Radymno, in the summer of 2013. It is based on research, carried out by the author and a group of students in Radymno and its surroundings in the period preceding and following the performance, as well as on content analysis of the press. The comparison of the top‐down political and mass media discourse with local responses to the idea of re‐enactment and, more broadly, local understandings of Polish–Ukrainian relations, reveal many contradictions. In attempting to understand them, the article discusses broader ramifications of the ‘democratization of history’: the political contestation, class rhetoric and societal tensions that are tangled up in historical debates.
Definitions of Turkish in‐group boundaries: national participation and essentialism as predictors of inter‐group attitudes in Turkey
Authors: Taşdemİr Nagİhan , Öner‐Özkan Bengİ 
Published: January 2016

AbstractThe present research investigates how definitions of national in‐group boundaries predict inter‐group attitudes in Turkey. In Study 1, we explore definitions of Turkish in‐group boundaries as well as perceptions of the Turkish in‐group's relations with other groups among 64 university students. In Study 2, conducted among 324 university students, exploratory factor analyses reveal two dimensions of Turkish in‐group boundaries: national participation (a more civic definition) and national essentialism (a more ethnic definition). They also reveal four dimensions of the relations with others. Regression analyses show that national participation predicts more negative inter‐group attitudes. However, national essentialism is not found to predict the inter‐group attitudes. These results are compared with those of previous studies, mostly conducted in Western countries. The comparison suggests that conclusions about the positive role of Civic and the negative role of Ethnic/Cultural definitions in intergroup relations may be less general than is previously thought.
Effect of genetic background and postinfectious stress on visceral sensitivity in Citrobacter rodentium‐infected mice
Authors: Mondelaers S. U. , Theofanous S. A. , Florens M. V. , Perna E. , Aguilera‐Lizarraga J. , Boeckxstaens G. E. , Wouters M. M. 
Published: January 2016

AbstractBackgroundInfectious gastroenteritis is a major risk factor to develop postinfectious irritable bowel syndrome (PI‐IBS). It remains unknown why only a subgroup of infected individuals develops PI‐IBS. We hypothesize that immunogenetic predisposition is an important risk factor. Hence, we studied the effect of Citrobacter rodentium infection on visceral sensitivity in Th1‐predominant C57BL/6 and Th2‐predominant Balb/c mice.MethodsEight‐week‐old mice were gavaged with C. rodentium, followed by 1 h of water avoidance stress (WAS) at 5 weeks PI. At 10, 14 days, and 5 weeks PI, samples were assessed for histology and inflammatory gene expression by RT‐qPCR. Visceral sensitivity was evaluated by visceromotor response recordings (VMR) to colorectal distension.Key ResultsCitrobacter rodentium evoked a comparable colonic inflammatory response at 14 days PI characterized by increased crypt length and upregulation of Th1/Th17 cytokine mRNA levels (puncorrected < 0.05) in both C57BL/6 and Balb/c mice. At 5 weeks PI, inflammatory gene mRNA levels returned to baseline in both strains. The VMR was maximal at 14 days PI in C57BL/6 (150 ± 47%; p = 0.02) and Balb/c mice (243 ± 52%; p = 0.03). At 3 weeks PI, the VMR remained increased in Balb/c (176 ± 23%; p = 0.02), but returned to baseline in C57BL/6 mice. At 5 weeks PI, WAS could not re‐introduce visceral hypersensitivity (VHS).Conclusions & InferencesCitrobacter rodentium infection induces transient VHS in C57BL/6 and Balb/c mice, which persisted 1 week longer in Balb/c mice. Although other strain‐related differences may contribute, a Th2 background may represent a risk factor for prolonged PI‐VHS. As PI‐VHS is transient, other factors are crucial for persistent VHS development as observed in PI‐IBS.
Placing Sanctuaries in Their Socio‐Political Landscapes: A Diachronic Approach to the Late Iron Age Communities in South‐East Iberia (Fourth–Second Centuries BC)
Authors: López‐Mondéjar Leticia 
Published: January 2016

SummaryThis paper explores the relationship between the historical dynamics and the transformations observed in pre‐Roman cult places in eastern Iberia between the fourth and second centuries BC. These are analysed through a case study: the sanctuary of La Luz (Murcia), located in the Segura Valley, in south‐east Iberia. Three main religious changes are discussed from this perspective: the development of the sanctuary in the fourth century BC, the changes observed in its archaeological record in the third century BC, and finally its destruction in the second century BC. These offer a diachronic view of the transformations, and illustrate the different levels at which they were expressed, from the archaeological record to the landscape. The work aims to provide a different perspective from previous studies in this area and a new view of the cult places in south‐east Iberia within their socio‐political landscape and the Mediterranean historical context.
†Kinzelbachilla ellenbergeri – a new ancestral species, genus and family of Strepsiptera (Insecta)
Authors: POHL HANS , BEUTEL ROLF G. 
Published: January 2016

Abstract.A single male specimen of a new species (†Kinzelbachilla ellenbergeri gen. et sp.n.) of a new family of the endoparasitic Strepsiptera (†Kinzelbachillidae fam.n.) from Burmese amber is described and evaluated with respect to its systematic placement. Its features come very close to the presumptive groundplan of the order suggested in recent studies. Preserved plesiomorphic features are the following: fully sclerotized head with long coronal suture, small ommatidia not separated by chitinous bridges, absence of microtrichia between ommatidia, eight antennomeres, robust mandibles with dicondylic articulation, galea distinctly developed, free pro‐ and mesotrochanters, slender five‐segmented tarsi without adhesive soles, and equally sclerotized abdominal tergites and sternites. An important character that is not recognizable due to damage is the shape of the metapostnotum. This structure is transverse in the groundplan of Strepsiptera and in †Protoxenos, but elongated and shield‐like in all other known strepsipterans. In a cladistic analyses of 82 characters of adult males and additional characters for females and immatures (scored as unknown for all included fossils) †Kinzelbachilla is placed as sister group of all remaining strepsipterans except for †Protoxenos, followed by †Cretostylops and †Mengea as the third and fourth branches in the stem group, respectively. The position of †Protoxenos as first branch is suggested by three unambiguous apomorphic features of all remaining Strepsiptera, the reduced size of less than 6 mm, mandibles distinctly narrowing distad the basalmost part, and fan‐shaped hindwings which are broader than they are long. The hitherto known fossil stem group strepsipterans do not distinctly narrow the large morphological gap separating this order from its sister group, the Coleoptera.This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:07554C01-DEC3-4080-A337-B1F46BC9070F.
Teaching Critical Thinking without (Much) Writing: Multiple‐Choice and Metacognition
Authors: Bassett Molly H. 
Published: January 2016

AbstractIn this essay, I explore an exam format that pairs multiple‐choice questions with required rationales. In a space adjacent to each multiple‐choice question, students explain why or how they arrived at the answer they selected. This exercise builds the critical thinking skill known as metacognition, thinking about thinking, into an exam that also engages students in the methods of the academic study of religion by asking them to compare familiar excerpts and images. As a form of assessment, the exam provides a record of students' knowledge and their thought processes, and as a learning strategy, it encourages students to examine the thought processes they use to understand religion(s) and its many manifestations.
Species Distribution Modelling of Aedes aegypti in two dengue‐endemic regions of Pakistan
Authors: Fatima Syeda Hira , Atif Salman , Rasheed Syed Basit , Zaidi Farrah , Hussain Ejaz 
Published: January 2016

AbstractObjectivesStatistical tools are effectively used to determine the distribution of mosquitoes and to make ecological inferences about the vector‐borne disease dynamics. In this study, we utilised species distribution models to understand spatial patterns of Aedes aegypti in two dengue‐prevalent regions of Pakistan, Lahore and Swat. Species distribution models can potentially indicate the probability of suitability of Ae. aegypti once introduced to new regions like Swat, where invasion of this species is a recent phenomenon.MethodsThe distribution of Ae. aegypti was determined by applying the MaxEnt algorithm on a set of potential environmental factors and species sample records. The ecological dependency of species on each environmental variable was analysed using response curves. We quantified the statistical performance of the models based on accuracy assessment and spatial predictions.ResultsOur results suggest that Ae. aegypti is widely distributed in Lahore. Human population density and urban infrastructure are primarily responsible for greater probability of mosquito occurrence in this region. In Swat, Ae. aegypti has clumped distribution, where urban patches provide refuge to the species in an otherwise hostile heterogeneous environment and road networks are assumed to have facilitated in passive‐mediated dispersal of species.ConclusionsIn Pakistan, Ae. aegypti is expanding its range northwards; this could be associated with rapid urbanisation, trade and travel. The main implication of this expansion is that more people are at risk of dengue fever in the northern highlands of Pakistan.
MicroRNA‐targeted transcription factor gene RDD1 promotes nutrient ion uptake and accumulation in rice
Authors: Iwamoto Masao , Tagiri Akemi 
Published: January 2016

SummaryFertilizers are often potential environmental pollutants, therefore increasing productivity and the efficiency of nutrient uptake to boost crop yields without the risk of environmental pollution is a desirable goal. Here, we show that the transcription factor encoding gene RDD1 plays a role in improving the uptake and accumulation of various nutrient ions in rice. RDD1 was found to be targeted by the microRNA miR166. An RDD1 transgene driven by a strong constitutive promoter exhibited a diurnally oscillating expression similar to that of the endogenous RDD1, and nucleotide substitution within the miR166 recognition site to prevent miR166–RDD1 mRNA pairing resulted in constitutive RDD1 expression. The RDD1 protein was localized to vascular tissue because miR166 repressed RDD1 expression in the mesophyll. The overexpression of RDD1 induced the expression of genes associated with the transport of several nutrients such as NH4+, Na+, SO42−, Cl−, PO43− and sucrose, and the uptake and accumulation of various nutrient ions under low‐nutrient conditions. Moreover, the overexpression of RDD1 increased nitrogen responsiveness and grain productivity. Our results suggest that RDD1 can contribute to the increased grain productivity of rice via inducing the efficient uptake and accumulation of various nutrient ions.
Effect of preservative‐free tafluprost on intraocular pressure, pupil diameter, and anterior segment structures in normal canine eyes
Authors: Kwak Jiyoon , Kang Seonmi , Lee Eui Ri , Park Sangwan , Park Sungwon , Park Eunjin , Lim Jaegook , Seo Kangmoon 
Published: January 2016

AbstractObjectiveThis study was designed to evaluate the changes in intraocular pressure (IOP), pupil diameter (PD), and anterior segment parameters using ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) after instillation of preservative‐free (PF) tafluprost in normal dogs.ProceduresSix beagle dogs were used.PFtafluprost was instilled in one randomly selected eye, andPFartificial tear was instilled in the other eye (control).IOPandPDwere measured every 15 min for the first hour, every 2 h for the next 17 h, and at 24 h and 36 h postinstillation (PI). Anterior segment parameters including geometric iridocorneal angle (ICA), width of the entry of the ciliary cleft (CCW), length of the ciliary cleft, area of the ciliary cleft, and depth of the anterior chamber were measured withUBMbefore and afterPFtafluprost instillation.ResultsCompared with the control group,IOPwas significantly lower from 4 hPIto 24 hPIandPDwas significantly smaller from 30 minPIto 18 hPI(P< 0.05). AmongUBMparameters,ICAandCCWsignificantly decreased and increased afterPFtafluprost instillation, respectively (P< 0.05). Other parameters showed no significant changes.ConclusionsInstillation ofPFtafluprost loweredIOPand induced miosis in normal canine eyes. Alterations inICAandCCWoccurred simultaneously, which probably affected the outflow of aqueous humor.PFtafluprost could be considered an alternative prostaglandin analog in the treatment of canine glaucoma.
Evolution of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Antimicrobial Resistance and Fitness under Low and High Mutation Rates
Authors: Cabot Gabriel , Zamorano Laura , Moyà Bartolomé , Juan Carlos , Navas Alfonso , Blázquez Jesús , Oliver Antonio 
Published: January 2016

ABSTRACT

Pseudomonas aeruginosa
, a major cause of nosocomial and chronic infections, is considered a paradigm of antimicrobial resistance development. However, the evolutionary trajectories of antimicrobial resistance and the impact of mutator phenotypes remain mostly unexplored. Therefore, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was performed in lineages of wild-type and mutator (Δ
mutS
) strains exposed to increasing concentrations of relevant antipseudomonal agents. WGS provided a privileged perspective of the dramatic effect of mutator phenotypes on the accumulation of random mutations, most of which were transitions, as expected. Moreover, a frameshift mutagenic signature, consistent with error-prone DNA polymerase activity as a consequence of SOS system induction, was also seen. This effect was evidenced for all antibiotics tested, but it was higher for fluoroquinolones than for cephalosporins or carbapenems. Analysis of genotype versus phenotype confirmed expected resistance evolution trajectories but also revealed new pathways. Classical mechanisms included multiple mutations leading to AmpC overexpression (ceftazidime), quinolone resistance-determining region (QRDR) mutations (ciprofloxacin),
oprD
inactivation (meropenem), and efflux pump overexpression (ciprofloxacin and meropenem). Groundbreaking findings included gain-of-function mutations leading to the structural modification of AmpC (ceftazidime), novel DNA gyrase (GyrA) modification (ciprofloxacin), and the alteration of the β-lactam binding site of penicillin-binding protein 3 (PBP3) (meropenem). A further striking finding was seen in the evolution of meropenem resistance, selecting for specific extremely large (>250 kb) genomic deletions providing a growth advantage in the presence of the antibiotic. Finally, fitness and virulence varied within and across evolved antibiotic-resistant populations, but mutator lineages showed a lower biological cost for some antibiotics.
Polarity Alteration of a Calcium Site Induces a Hydrophobic Interaction Network and Enhances Cel9A Endoglucanase Thermostability
Authors: Wang Hsiu-Jung , Hsiao Yu-Yuan , Chen Yu-Pei , Ma Tien-Yang , Tseng Ching-Ping 
Published: January 2016

ABSTRACT

Structural calcium sites control protein thermostability and activity by stabilizing native folds and changing local conformations.
Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius
survives in thermal-acidic conditions and produces an endoglucanase Cel9A (AaCel9A) which contains a calcium-binding site (Ser465 to Val470) near the catalytic cleft. By superimposing the Ca
2+
-free and Ca
2+
-bounded conformations of the calcium site, we found that Ca
2+
induces hydrophobic interactions between the calcium site and its nearby region by driving a conformational change. The hydrophobic interactions at the high-B-factor region could be enhanced further by replacing the surrounding polar residues with hydrophobic residues to affect enzyme thermostability and activity. Therefore, the calcium-binding residue Asp468 (whose side chain directly ligates Ca
2+
), Asp469, and Asp471 of AaCel9A were separately replaced by alanine and valine. Mutants D468A and D468V showed increased activity compared with those of the wild type with 0 mM or 10 mM Ca
2+
added, whereas the Asp469 or Asp471 substitution resulted in decreased activity. The D468A crystal structure revealed that mutation D468A triggered a conformational change similar to that induced by Ca
2+
in the wild type and developed a hydrophobic interaction network between the calcium site and the neighboring hydrophobic region (Ala113 to Ala117). Mutations D468V and D468A increased 4.5°C and 5.9°C, respectively, in melting temperature, and enzyme half-life at 75°C increased approximately 13 times. Structural comparisons between AaCel9A and other endoglucanases of the GH9 family suggested that the stability of the regions corresponding to the AaCel9A calcium site plays an important role in GH9 endoglucanase catalysis at high temperature.
Genome Reconstruction from Metagenomic Data Sets Reveals Novel Microbes in the Brackish Waters of the Caspian Sea
Authors: Mehrshad Maliheh , Amoozegar Mohammad Ali , Ghai Rohit , Shahzadeh Fazeli Seyed Abolhassan , Rodriguez-Valera Francisco 
Published: January 2016

ABSTRACT

We present here the findings from a study of the microbiome of the southern basin of the Caspian Sea, the largest water body on Earth disconnected from any ocean and a brackish inland sea. By high-throughput metagenomics, we were able to reconstruct the genomes of representative microbes. The gross community structure (at the phylum level) was different from the structure of typical marine and freshwater communities in temperate open oceans, with the Caspian Sea having freshwater-like amounts of
Actinobacteria
and
Alphaproteobacteria
, while
Gammaproteobacteria
and
Betaproteobacteria
were present at intermediate levels. We assembled the genomes of several groups and provide detailed descriptions of partial genomes from
Actinobacteria
,
Thaumarchaea
, and
Alphaproteobacteria
. Most belonged to hitherto unknown groups, although they were related to either marine or freshwater groups. The phylogenetic placement of the Caspian genomes indicates that the organisms have multiple and separate phylogenetic origins and that they are related to organisms with both freshwater and marine lineages. Comparative recruitment from global aquatic metagenomes indicated that most Caspian microbes are endemic. However, some Caspian genomes were recruited significantly from either marine water (a member of the
Alphaproteobacteria
) or freshwater (a member of the
Actinobacteria
). Reciprocally, some genomes of other origins, such as the marine thaumarchaeon “
Candidatus
Nitrosopelagicus” or the actinobacterium “
Candidatus
Actinomarina,” were recruited from the Caspian Sea, indicating some degree of overlap with the microbiota of other water bodies. Some of these microbes seem to have a remarkably widespread geographic and environmental distribution.
Three Novel Candidate Probiotic Strains with Prophylactic Properties in a Murine Model of Cow's Milk Allergy
Authors: Neau Elodie , Delannoy Johanne , Marion Candice , Cottart Charles-Henry , Labellie Chantal , Holowacz Sophie , Butel Marie-José , Kapel Nathalie , Waligora-Dupriet Anne-Judith 
Published: January 2016

ABSTRACT

Food allergies can have significant effects on morbidity and on quality of life. Therefore, the development of efficient approaches to reduce the risk of developing food allergies is of considerable interest. The aim of this study was to identify and select probiotic strains with preventive properties against allergies using a combination of
in vitro
and
in vivo
approaches. To that end, 31 strains of bifidobacteria and lactic acid bacteria were screened for their immunomodulatory properties in two cellular models, namely, human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and T helper 2 (Th2)-skewed murine splenocytes. Six strains inducing a high interleukin-10 (IL-10)/IL-12p70 ratio and a low secretion of IL-4 on the two cellular models were selected, and their protective impact was tested
in vivo
in a murine model of food allergy to β-lactoglobulin. Three strains showed a protective impact on sensitization, with a decrease in allergen-specific IgE, and on allergy, with a decrease in mast cell degranulation. Analysis of the impact of these three strains on the T helper balance revealed different mechanisms of action. The
Lactobacillus salivarius
LA307 strain proved to block Th1 and Th2 responses, while the
Bifidobacterium longum
subsp.
infantis
LA308 strain induced a pro-Th1 profile and the
Lactobacillus rhamnosus
LA305 strain induced pro-Th1 and regulatory responses. These results demonstrate that a combination of
in vitro
and
in vivo
screening is effective in probiotic strain selection and allowed identification of three novel probiotic strains that are active against sensitization in mice.
Comparative Analyses of the Lipooligosaccharides from Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae and Haemophilus haemolyticus Show Differences in Sialic Acid and Phosphorylcholine Modifications
Authors: Post Deborah M. B. , Ketterer Margaret R. , Coffin Jeremy E. , Reinders Lorri M. , Munson Robert S. , Bair Thomas , Murphy Timothy F. , Foster Eric D. , Gibson Bradford W. , Apicella Michael A. 
Published: January 2016

ABSTRACT

Haemophilus haemolyticus
and nontypeable
Haemophilus influenzae
(NTHi) are closely related upper airway commensal bacteria that are difficult to distinguish phenotypically. NTHi causes upper and lower airway tract infections in individuals with compromised airways, while
H. haemolyticus
rarely causes such infections. The lipooligosaccharide (LOS) is an outer membrane component of both species and plays a role in NTHi pathogenesis. In this study, comparative analyses of the LOS structures and corresponding biosynthesis genes were performed. Mass spectrometric and immunochemical analyses showed that NTHi LOS contained terminal sialic acid more frequently and to a higher extent than
H. haemolyticus
LOS did. Genomic analyses of 10 strains demonstrated that
H. haemolyticus
lacked the sialyltransferase genes
lic3A
and
lic3B
(9/10) and
siaA
(10/10), but all strains contained the sialic acid uptake genes
siaP
and
siaT
(10/10). However, isothermal titration calorimetry analyses of SiaP from two
H. haemolyticus
strains showed a 3.4- to 7.3-fold lower affinity for sialic acid compared to that of NTHi SiaP. Additionally, mass spectrometric and immunochemical analyses showed that the LOS from
H. haemolyticus
contained phosphorylcholine (ChoP) less frequently than the LOS from NTHi strains. These differences observed in the levels of sialic acid and ChoP incorporation in the LOS structures from
H. haemolyticus
and NTHi may explain some of the differences in their propensities to cause disease.