bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A sensitive single-enzyme assay system using the non-ribosomal peptide synthetase BpsA for measurement of L-glutamine in biological samples
Authors: Brown Alistair S. , Robins Katherine J. , Ackerley David F. 
Published: January 2017

AbstractThe ability to rapidly, economically and accurately measure L-glutamine concentrations in biological samples is important for many areas of research, medicine or industry, however there is room for improvement on existing methods. We describe here how the enzyme BpsA, a single-module non-ribosomal peptide synthetase able to convert L-glutamine into the blue pigment indigoidine, can be used to accurately measure L-glutamine in biological samples. Although indigoidine has low solubility in aqueous solutions, meaning direct measurements of indigoidine synthesis do not reliably yield linear standard curves, we demonstrate that resolubilisation of the reaction end-products in DMSO overcomes this issue and that spontaneous reduction to colourless leuco-indigoidine occurs too slowly to interfere with assay accuracy. Our protocol is amenable to a 96-well microtitre format and can be used to measure L-glutamine in common bacterial and mammalian culture media, urine, and deproteinated plasma. We show that active BpsA can be prepared in high yield by expressing it in the apo-form to avoid the toxicity of indigoidine to Escherichia coli host cells, then activating it to the holo-form in cell lysates prior to purification; and that BpsA has a lengthy shelf-life, retaining >95% activity when stored at either −20 °C or 4 °C for 24 weeks.
Combination of cephalosporins with vancomycin or teicoplanin enhances antibacterial effect of glycopeptides against heterogeneous vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (hVISA) and VISA
Authors: Lai Chih-Cheng , Chen Chi-Chung , Chuang Yin-Ching , Tang Hung-Jen 
Published: January 2017

AbstractEight heterogeneous vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus (h-VISA) and seven VISA clinical isolates confirmed by the population analysis profile/area under the curve ratio (PAP/AUC) were collected. We further performed the PAP/AUC, time-killing methods and MIC tests using vancomycin/teicoplanin alone or combination with susceptible breakpoint concentrations of cefazolin, cefmetazole, cefotaxime, and cefepime for these isolates. The PAP/AUC MIC curve shifted left after addition of cephalosporins with vancomycin or teicoplanin for both h-VISA and VISA isolates. With the combination of different cephalosporins with vancomycin or teicoplanin, the AUC/Mu3 AUC ratio decreased to <0.9 for the standard Mu3 isolate which are compatible with the definition of vancomycin susceptible S. aureus. These decreases ranged between 1.81–2.02 and 2.37–2.85-fold for h-VISA treated with cephalosporins and vancomycin or teicoplanin, and 2.05–4.59, and 2.93–4,89-fold for VISA treated with cephalosporins with vancomycin or teicoplanin. As measured by time-killing assays, the combinations of different cephalosporins with vancomycin concentrations at 1/2 and 1/4 MIC, exhibited a bactericidal and bacteriostatic effect in VISA. The mean fold of MIC decline for vancomycin base combinations ranged from 1.81–3.83 and 2.71–9.33 for h-VISA and VISA, respectively. Overall, this study demonstrated the enhanced antibacterial activity of vancomycin/teicoplanin after adding cephalosporins against clinical h-VISA/VISA isolates.
“Baker's Cyst”–Induced Above-Knee Amputation
Authors: Liebensteiner Michael , Auckenthaler Thomas , Frech Andreas , Posch Lydia , Fraedrich Gustav , Ferlic Peter 
Published: January 2017

We report a 65-year-old man who presented with a necrotic fifth toe, incipient phlegmon and hypesthesia of the right foot, a swollen lower leg, and a palpable popliteal mass. An occlusion of the popliteal artery secondary to a Baker's cyst was found to have caused protracted ischemia and the abovementioned symptoms. Despite several endovascular and open-surgery procedures to restore perfusion of the limb, the patient eventually had to undergo above-knee amputation.It might be speculated whether earlier surgery would have preserved the patient's limb. Whereas the traditional procedure of open resection of the Baker's cyst has been associated with high recurrence rates, the condition can be treated effectively and safely today by means of arthroscopic surgery. We believe that arthroscopic interventions should at least be performed in the following instances: (1) in patients with recurrent symptoms of a Baker's cyst after previous treatment of the intra-articular pathology and previous aspiration of the cyst and (2) in patients with incipient sequelae that indicate relevant compression of neurovascular structures of the popliteal fossa (pseudothrombophlebitis, intermittent claudication, neuropathy).
Evidence that the rate of strong selective sweeps increases with population size in the great apes
Authors: Nam Kiwoong , Munch Kasper , Mailund Thomas , Nater Alexander , Greminger Maja Patricia , Krützen Michael , Marquès-Bonet Tomàs , Schierup Mikkel Heide 
Published: January 2017

Significance
The rate of genomic adaptation is determined by the rate of environmental change, the availability of beneficial mutations, and the efficiency of positive selection. The relative importance of these factors has been actively discussed. We address the questions using whole genome sequences of great apes, which have very different population sizes whereas their genomic architectures are highly similar. We infer that the impact of selection on the genomic diversity of a species increases with the effective population size, most likely due to the differential influx rate of beneficial mutations. This explanation is, among other possibilities, expected if adaptive evolution is limited by the waiting time for new favorable mutations in great apes.
The impact of bilingualism on brain reserve and metabolic connectivity in Alzheimer's dementia
Authors: Perani Daniela , Farsad Mohsen , Ballarini Tommaso , Lubian Francesca , Malpetti Maura , Fracchetti Alessandro , Magnani Giuseppe , March Albert , Abutalebi Jubin 
Published: January 2017

Significance
Recent epidemiological studies report that lifelong bilingualism may delay dementia onset. However, the underlying neural mechanism of these protective effects is largely unknown. Using fluorodeoxyglucose and PET to investigate brain metabolism and neural connectivity in individuals with Alzheimer’s dementia, we unravel the neural mechanism responsible for the bilingual individuals’ ability to cope better with Alzheimer’s dementia. These findings foster the view that lifelong bilingualism contributes to brain cognitive reserve.
Differentiation of human telencephalic progenitor cells into MSNs by inducible expression of Gsx2 and Ebf1
Authors: Faedo Andrea , Laporta Angela , Segnali Alice , Galimberti Maura , Besusso Dario , Cesana Elisabetta , Belloli Sara , Moresco Rosa Maria , Tropiano Marta , Fucà Elisa , Wild Stefan , Bosio Andreas , Vercelli Alessandro E. , Biella Gerardo , Cattaneo Elena 
Published: January 2017

Significance
We established human embryonic stem (hES) cell-inducible lines to express specific transcription factors [GS Homeobox 2 (Gsx2) and Early B-cell factor 1 (Ebf1)] to improve medium spiny neuron (MSN) differentiation and to study human striatal development in vitro. We also used a nonintegrating system, by utilizing modified mRNAs to transiently overexpress Gsx2 and Ebf1 in a different hES cell line. These data can help to improve the differentiation protocols that aim to produce high-quality cell preparation suitable for cell transplantation in animal models of Huntington’s disease. Finally, we show that hES-derived striatal progenitors can be transplanted in the striatum of animal models and can differentiate and integrate into the host, extending fibers over a long distance (including the substantia nigra, a striatal target).
Holocene peatland and ice-core data constraints on the timing and magnitude of CO2emissions from past land use
Authors: Stocker Benjamin David , Yu Zicheng , Massa Charly , Joos Fortunat 
Published: January 2017

SignificanceTiming, extent, and impacts of preindustrial agricultural expansion are uncertain, yet crucial for understanding the role of humans in the Earth’s environmental history. The buildup of northern peatlands, initiated after ice-age conditions, was a major carbon sink and could have compensated large CO2emissions from land use, given timing matches. We present observation- and model-based reconstructions of past peatland carbon and land-use CO2emission estimates based on all published scenarios. Our analyses of the terrestrial carbon balance reveal a large nonpeatland land carbon source after the Mid-Holocene climate optimum, not explained by land use, and we find that previously suggested links between CO2and population and land-use history are not supported.
DYRK1A regulates Hap1–Dcaf7/WDR68 binding with implication for delayed growth in Down syndrome
Authors: Xiang Jianxing , Yang Su , Xin Ning , Gaertig Marta A. , Reeves Roger H. , Li Shihua , Li Xiao-Jiang 
Published: January 2017

Significance
Postnatal growth retardation is a Down syndrome (DS) phenotype, but its mechanism is unknown. Our previous studies have shown that Huntingtin-associated protein 1 (Hap1) is important for the postnatal growth of mice. Here we report that Hap1 binds DDB1- and CUL4-associated factor 7 (Dcaf7) competitively in the cytoplasm with dual-specificity tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated kinase 1A (DYRK1A), a protein implicated in DS. Loss of Hap1 in the hypothalamus, which can impair postnatal growth, is associated with increased levels of DYRK1A. Transgenic DS mice overexpressing DYRK1A show reduced Hap1–Dcaf7 association in the hypothalamus. Furthermore, the overexpression of DYRK1A in the hypothalamus led to delayed growth in postnatal mice, suggesting that DYRK1A regulates the Hap1–Dcaf7 interaction and postnatal growth and that targeting Hap1 or Dcaf7 may ameliorate growth retardation in DS.
Entirely plasmid-based reverse genetics system for rotaviruses
Authors: Kanai Yuta , Komoto Satoshi , Kawagishi Takahiro , Nouda Ryotaro , Nagasawa Naoko , Onishi Misa , Matsuura Yoshiharu , Taniguchi Koki , Kobayashi Takeshi 
Published: January 2017

Significance
Rotaviruses (RVs) are a group of viruses that cause severe gastroenteritis in infants and young children. Until now, no strategy has been developed to generate infectious RVs entirely from cloned cDNAs. The absence of a reliable reverse genetics platform has been a major roadblock in the RV field, precluding numerous studies of RV replication and pathogenesis and hampering efforts to develop the next generation of RV vaccines. Here, we developed a plasmid-based reverse genetics system that is free from helper viruses and independent of any selection for RV. This technology will accelerate studies of RV pathobiology, allow rational design of RV vaccines, and yield RVs suitable for screening small molecules as potential antivirals.
Interleukin-37 suppresses the osteogenic responses of human aortic valve interstitial cells in vitro and alleviates valve lesions in mice
Authors: Zeng Qingchun , Song Rui , Fullerton David A. , Ao Lihua , Zhai Yufeng , Li Suzhao , Ballak Dov B. , Cleveland Joseph C. , Reece T. Brett , McKinsey Timothy A. , Xu Dingli , Dinarello Charles A. , Meng Xianzhong 
Published: January 2017

Significance
Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is a chronic inflammatory and osteogenic condition with unknown underlying mechanism and unavailable pharmacological therapy. The present study shows that lower levels of IL-37 expression in aortic valve interstitial cells (AVICs) of diseased valves play a role in the elevated valvular osteogenic activity associated with CAVD. IL-37 inhibits NF-κB and ERK1/2 to suppress AVIC osteogenic responses, and recombinant IL-37 has a greater effect on AVICs of diseased valves. Moreover, expression of IL-37 in mice attenuates aortic valve thickening following a prolonged exposure to endotoxin or high fat diet. Thus, IL-37 is antiosteogenic in human AVICs and has the potential for limitation of CAVD progression.
Endothelium-targeted overexpression of heat shock protein 27 ameliorates blood–brain barrier disruption after ischemic brain injury
Authors: Shi Yejie , Jiang Xiaoyan , Zhang Lili , Pu Hongjian , Hu Xiaoming , Zhang Wenting , Cai Wei , Gao Yanqin , Leak Rehana K. , Keep Richard F. , Bennett Michael V. L. , Chen Jun 
Published: January 2017

Significance
Blood–brain barrier (BBB) breakdown is a catastrophic event in the pathogenesis of various neurological disorders, including stroke. Here we report that overexpressing heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) specifically within microvascular endothelial cells protects the BBB in models of ischemic stroke. HSP27 achieves this protection through a previously unexplored mechanism—the inhibition of actin polymerization—that suppresses early structural changes within endothelial cells that appear to initiate the BBB breach. Furthermore, intravenous delivery of a cell membrane-permeable TAT-HSP27 protein after postischemic reperfusion boosts endothelial HSP27 and improves BBB integrity and long-term functional outcomes. Thus, HSP27 has translational potential as a therapeutic agent to ameliorate BBB disruption, reduce the progression of brain injury, and improve long-term neurological outcomes in stroke victims.
Alterations of p11 in brain tissue and peripheral blood leukocytes in Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Green Holly , Zhang Xiaoqun , Tiklova Katarina , Volakakis Nikolaos , Brodin Lovisa , Berg Louise , Greengard Paul , Perlmann Thomas , Svenningsson Per 
Published: January 2017

Significance
No disease-modifying drugs to slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease (PD) are available at present. A deeper understanding of the pathological changes occurring in this disease will suggest novel drug targets and help identify biomarkers for diagnostic and prognostic outcomes. The involvement of p11 in depression and the response to antidepressants is well documented. Up to 35% of patients with PD suffer from comorbid depression. We have found that p11 levels are reduced in PD patients, and, specifically, that peripheral leukocyte p11 levels are altered in PD patients both with depression and without depression in a cell-specific manner. These data provide insight into the pathological alterations occurring centrally and peripherally in PD.
The challenge of reset
Authors: Belova Oksana 
Published: January 2017

Abstract
In this contribution, Obama’s reset in U.S. – Russian relations is viewed in terms of Laclau and Mouffe’s discourse theory. To link the macro-level of discourse theory to the micro-level of linguistic analysis, the empirical study implements the analysis of indexicality (Chilton 2004) and assumptions (Fairclough 2003) as applied in critical discourse analysis. Obama’s first term representations of Russia were examined in four contexts: global nuclear nonproliferation; Iran and North Korea; the New START Treaty; European ABM system and NATO – Russian relations. Articulations in the first and second contexts exhibited Obama’s strategies to construct Russia as partner in his hegemonic project of global nuclear nonproliferation. Articulations in the third context demonstrated Obama’s strategies of creating different discursive Russias to achieve the ratification of START, whereas no strategies proved successful in mitigating the issue of missile defense. In all four contexts, Obama’s construction of Russia was, to various degrees, permeated by ambiguity.
Reproduction of Lake Trout Morphotypes at Isle Royale in Northern Lake Superior
Authors: Goetz Frederick , Sitar Shawn , Jasonowicz Andy , Seider Michael 
Published: January 2017

AbstractThe reproductive biology of male and female lean, siscowet, redfin, and humper Lake Trout Salvelinus namaycush was assessed by measuring the gonadosomatic index (GSI) and by histological analysis of the gonads over 2 years from spring to fall at sites surrounding Isle Royale National Park, Lake Superior. Whole livers, otoliths, and ovaries were also collected to measure hepatosomatic index (HSI), age, and fecundity. In general, GSIs increased from spring to summer in male and female siscowets, leans, redfins, and humpers, and this was accompanied by a large increase in the number of vitellogenic (>2.0 mm) follicles in females. Postspawned ovaries and regressing testes were predominant in all morphotypes by October but were also observed in September, indicating that some spawning occurred at least by September. Further, preovulatory siscowet females (GSIs > 10) and siscowet males with fully mature and even regressing testes were observed in the spring and summer, indicating that spawning occurs at least in the spring and fall in siscowets at Isle Royale. For all morphotypes, average male HSIs were significantly lower than female HSIs. Absolute fecundity was positively related to size and age for all morphotypes. Humpers had the lowest absolute fecundity. Leans, redfins, and siscowets had similar fecundity relationships. The results conclusively demonstrate that deepwater siscowet Lake Trout reproduce at least during the spring and fall at Isle Royale and that leans, humpers, and redfins reproduce during the fall. In lakes that exhibit sympatric populations of deepwater and shallow‐water ecotypes of Arctic Char Salvelinus alpinus, the deepwater form also spawns in both spring and fall. Our data and those on Arctic Char suggest that there is an adaptive strategy for maintaining alternative spawning times in the deepwater ecotypes in these populations.Received June 20, 2016; accepted November 2, 2016 Published online January 31, 2017
Price Asymmetry in the U.S. Pork Marketing Channel
Authors: Boyd Milton S. , Brorsen B. Wade 
Published: January 2017

AbstractThis paper tests the existence of price asymmetry within the U.S. pork marketing channel using an asymmetric pricing model. Asymmetry is tested both for the sum of price adjustments and the speed of price adjustments. Results show that wholesale (packer) prices respond similarly to farm price decreases and increases. Also, there is no significant difference between retailers' response to wholesale price increases and their response to wholesale price decreases.
Radiation hydrodynamic simulations of a super-Eddington accretor as a model for ultra-luminous sources
Authors: Ogawa Takumi , Mineshige Shin , Kawashima Tomohisa , Ohsuga Ken , Hashizume Katsuya 
Published: January 2017

Abstract
We perform two-dimensional radiation hydrodynamic (RHD) simulations of super-Eddington accretion flow and the accompanying outflow to investigate how they will be observed from various viewing directions. We consider gas flow around a 10 M⊙ black hole for mass injection rates of $\skew4\dot{M}_{\rm inj}/{\skew4\dot{M}_{\rm Edd}}=10^{2}$, 103, and 104 (in units of $\dot{M}_{\rm Edd}\equiv L_{\rm Edd}/c^2$, with LEdd and c being the Eddington luminosity and the speed of light, respectively), and solve gas dynamics and radiation transfer around the black hole, taking into account inverse Compton scattering. We confirm the tendency that the higher the mass accretion rate is, the larger the relative importance of outflow over accretion flow becomes. The observational appearance of the super-Eddington flow is distinct, depending on whether it is viewed from the edge-on direction or from the face-on direction. This is because nearly edge-on observers can only see the outer, cooler (∼106 K) surface of the inner, vertically inflated part of the flow. Observational properties are briefly discussed in the context of the ultra-luminous X-ray sources (ULXs), the extreme ULXs (E-ULXs), and the ultra-luminous supersoft sources (ULSs). We find that the extremely high luminosities of E-ULXs (L ∼ 1041 erg s−1) can be explained when the flow on to the black hole with ≳20 M⊙ with a very high accretion rate, ${\dot{m}}_{\,\rm acc} (\equiv {{\dot{M}}_{\,\rm acc}/ {\dot{M}}_{\,\rm Edd}}) \gtrsim {10^{3}}$, is observed from the nearly face-on direction. The high luminosity (∼1039 erg s−1) and the very soft blackbody-like spectra with temperatures around 0.1 keV, which are observed in the ULSs, can be explained if the super-Eddington flow with ${\dot{m}}_{\rm acc} \sim 10^{2}$–103 is viewed from large viewing angles, θ ≳ 30°.
The translation elongation cycle—capturing multiple states by cryo-electron microscopy
Authors: Frank Joachim 
Published: January 2017

During the work cycle of elongation, the ribosome, a molecular machine of vast complexity, exists in a large number of states distinguished by constellation of its subunits, its subunit domains and binding partners. Single-particle cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM), developed over the past 40 years, is uniquely suited to determine the structure of molecular machines in their native states. With the emergence, 10 years ago, of unsupervised clustering techniques in the analysis of single-particle data, it has been possible to determine multiple structures from a sample containing ribosomes equilibrating in different thermally accessible states. In addition, recent advances in detector technology have made it possible to reach near-atomic resolution for some of these states. With these capabilities, single-particle cryo-EM has been at the forefront of exploring ribosome dynamics during its functional cycle, along with single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer and molecular dynamics computations, offering insights into molecular architecture uniquely honed by evolution to capitalize on thermal energy in the ambient environment.This article is part of the themed issue ‘Perspectives on the ribosome’.
Drops forming in inkjet printing of flexible electronic circuits
Authors: Tomaszewski Grzegorz , Potencki Jerzy 
Published: January 2017

PurposeThis paper aims to study drop formation in piezoelectric industrial printheads during the inkjet printing processes. It presents how the piezoelectric printhead forms drops of nanoparticle ink and how the problems with different values of drop parameters may influence the printed pattern’ defects and quality.Design/methodology/approachA piezoelectric printhead with 128 nozzles was activated to operate in a controlled manner, and the droplets ejected from the nozzles were observed during falling and analysed in the printview system. The effect of varying the values of drop parameters on print quality and pattern defects has been analysed and discussed.FindingsThe obtained results allow the identification of the sources of the technological problems in obtaining repeatable performance drops with the desired properties, and indicate the importance of choosing the appropriate individually chosen strategy of controlling the printing for each individual application to get good-quality and free-from-defects patterns.Research limitations/implicationsBecause of the chosen research method (arbitrary selected printhead type and ink manufacturer), this study could have limited universality. Authors encourage the study of other kinds of piezoelectric heads or other conductive inks.Practical implicationsThis study includes practically useful applications for users to improve the inkjet print quality.Originality/valueThis study presents results of original empirical research works on problems of the drops forming in the inkjet printing process, and finally, it identifies problems that must be resolved to disseminate this technology.
Making the sale
Authors: Fox Robert 
Published: January 2017

Purpose
This study aims to explore the use of the conversion rate metric as well as A/B testing which is complimentary to that measurement for the improvement of exposing and increasing usage of library digital services.

Design/methodology/approach
This column is a viewpoint piece. A literature search was performed as well as ideas from cited books.

Findings
There are no findings to speak of.

Originality/value
The use of certain marketing techniques such as the conversion rate and the use of user experience testing such as A/B analysis has the potential to increase the ability of libraries to objectively measure the impact of their online services and increase the efficacy of those services.