bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Derechos laborales en la economía mundial. ¿Podrían los nuevos acuerdos comerciales y de inversión de los Estados Unidos promover las normas internacionales del trabajo en Bangladesh?
Authors: BROWN Ronald C. 
Published: December 2016

ResumenEl gran potencial de los acuerdos internacionales de libre comercio y de inversión para mejorar las condiciones de trabajo está lejos de materializarse. Las disposiciones laborales del reciente acuerdo entre los Estados Unidos y la República de Corea suponen una clara mejora respecto de anteriores acuerdos, pero serán ineficaces, según el autor, porque hacen referencia a derechos enmarcados en la Declaración de la OIT de 1998 y no en los convenios fundamentales en que esta se basa. Los mecanismos de control del cumplimiento también son cuestionables. El autor examina alternativas para que estos acuerdos contribuyan verdaderamente a mejorar las condiciones de trabajo en todo el mundo.
Disposiciones laborales en acuerdos comerciales de la UE. Potencial para canalizar la creación de capacidad relativa a las normas del trabajo
Authors: EBERT Franz Christian 
Published: December 2016

ResumenLas disposiciones laborales de los acuerdos comerciales de la UE son de eficacia limitada como medio de hacer cumplir normas del trabajo en las jurisdicciones de las partes, pero, según el autor, pueden servir otros fines al respecto, en concreto si se utilizan como marco para canalizar actividades de creación de capacidad en relación con las normas del trabajo a través de los instrumentos de cooperación para el desarrollo de la Unión. Se examinan alternativas para aumentar la eficacia potencial de las disposiciones laborales a dicho efecto modificando su diseño y, en particular, reduciendo la discreción de las partes en lo que respecta a las modalidades de aplicación.
Changing survival of people with myeloma and end stage kidney disease: A cohort study using Australian and New Zealand dialysis and transplant registry 1963–2013
Authors: Webster Angela C , Irish Ashley B , Kelly Patrick J 
Published: December 2016

AbstractBackgroundIt is unclear whether recent advances in myeloma therapy have improved survival for all those with myeloma and end stage kidney disease (ESKD).MethodsPopulation‐based registry cohort study using Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry data 1963–2013. We measured survival of people with myeloma and other plasma cell dyscrasias and ESKD over time, and investigated prognostic factors for improved survival using survival analysis (results expressed as hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals).ResultsWe included 65 940 people (207 595 person‐years); 1067 people (1.6%) with myeloma and 572 (0.9%) with other plasma cell dyscrasia. Myeloma ESKD rose from 0.8% before 1994 to 2.2% in 2004 and remained stable. People with myeloma were older, and age increased over time, from 62.5 before 1994 to 70.1 years from 2010, but the non‐myeloma group age increased more steeply (52.0 before 1994; 62.2 from 2010). In myeloma patients, survival improved (P < 0.001) with recent predicted 5 year survival of 27.5% aged <55, 32.2% aged 55–64, 16.3% for 65–74 and 12.7% aged ≥75 years. Survival did not improve for plasma cell dyscrasia patients (P = 0.70). Myeloma patients on peritoneal dialysis had improved survival compared with those on haemodialysis (HR 0.7, CI 0.6–0.9), but those aged ≥65 had poorer survival (65–74 years HR 1.5, CI1.2–1.9; ≥75 HR 1.7, CI1.3–2.1), as did diabetics (HR 1.3, CI1.1–1.6).ConclusionsThe proportion of people with myeloma and ESKD remains stable, but their survival has progressively improved in Australia and New Zealand. On starting ESKD treatment with myeloma, a 59 year old without diabetes on peritoneal dialysis can expect a 45% 5 year survival, where a 75‐year‐old diabetic on haemodialysis has 9% 5 year survival.
Hedging, Strategic Partnership, and Taiwan's Relations with Japan Under the Ma Ying‐jeou Administration
Authors: Leng Tse‐Kang , Chang Liao Nien‐chung 
Published: December 2016

AbstractThis article examines Taiwan's new hedging policy toward China and its evolving relations with Japan. Taiwan under President Ma Ying‐jeou focused on hedging its bets against China's rise through engagement, accommodation, and soft balancing. Meanwhile, Taipei and Tokyo are also forging a strategic partnership as they cautiously achieve low‐commitment agreements for deeper cooperation, including signing an important fisheries agreement. Nevertheless, both international and domestic challenges may constrain the flexibility of Taipei's hedging strategy. Given the uncertainty and complexity in East Asia, Taipei will continue its hedging strategy as a way to expand its external cooperation in the region.
Multidimensional cognitive impairment in unipolar and bipolar depression and the moderator effect of adverse childhood experiences
Authors: Poletti Sara , Aggio Veronica , Brioschi Silvia , Dallaspezia Sara , Colombo Cristina , Benedetti Francesco 
Published: December 2016

AimStudies have demonstrated neuropsychological deficits across a variety of cognitive domains in depression. These deficits are observable both in major depressive disorder (MDD) and in bipolar disorder (BD) and are present in each phase of the illness, including euthymia. Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) have been associated with an increased risk of developing psychiatric disorders and cognitive deficits. The aim of this study was to assess neuropsychological performances in a sample of MDD and BD patients during a depressive episode compared to healthy controls (HC) and, to investigate if ACE affect the cognitive profiles in the three groups.MethodsSeventy‐six BD patients, 57 MDD patients, and 57 HC underwent neuropsychological assessment for cognitive performances through the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test.ResultsBoth BD and MDD patients obtained significantly lower domain scores across the entire battery compared to HC. Splitting the sample according to exposure to ACE (high and low), the differences observed in the whole sample persisted only in the subsample of those patients exposed to high ACE.ConclusionThis study confirms that cognitive impairment is present both in MDD and BD, albeit in different degrees of severity, and highlights the importance of early stress as a moderator factor when investigating cognitive functions in mood disorders.
Public/Private Pension Mix, Income Inequality and Poverty among the Elderly in Europe: An Empirical Analysis Using New and Revised OECD Data
Authors: Been Jim , Caminada Koen , Goudswaard Kees , van Vliet Olaf 
Published: December 2016

AbstractPrior studies have suggested that higher public pensions are associated with lower income inequality among the elderly, whereas the reverse is true for private pensions. Van Vliet et al. () empirically test whether relative shifts from public to private pension schemes entail higher levels of income inequality among the elderly using panel data from the OECD SOCX and the EU‐SILC databases. Contrasting earlier empirical studies using either cross‐sectional or time‐series data, they do not find evidence that shifts from public to private pension provision are associated with higher levels of income inequality or poverty among the elderly. The aim of the current article is to extend the analysis of Van Vliet et al. by: (1) adding additional countries; (2) adding additionally available years; and (3) using revised OECD SOCX data. In contrast to Van Vliet et al., we find that a greater relative importance of private pensions is associated with higher levels of income inequality and poverty among the elderly. A central explanation of the difference in conclusions stems from the revision of OECD SOCX data.
Geographically weighted regression‐based determinants of malaria incidences in northern China
Authors: Ge Yong , Song Yongze , Wang Jinfeng , Liu Wei , Ren Zhoupeng , Peng Junhuan , Lu Binbin 
Published: December 2016

AbstractGeographically weighted regression (GWR) is an important local method to explore spatial non‐stationarity in data relationships. It has been repeatedly used to examine spatially varying relationships between epidemic diseases and predictors. Malaria, a serious parasitic disease around the world, shows spatial clustering in areas at risk. In this article, we used GWR to explore the local determinants of malaria incidences over a 7‐year period in northern China, a typical mid‐latitude, high‐risk malaria area. Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), land surface temperature (LST), temperature difference, elevation, water density index (WDI) and gross domestic product (GDP) were selected as predictors. Results showed that both positively and negatively local effects on malaria incidences appeared for all predictors except for WDI and GDP. The GWR model calibrations successfully depicted spatial variations in the effect sizes and levels of parameters, and also showed substantially improvements in terms of goodness of fits in contrast to the corresponding non‐spatial ordinary least squares (OLS) model fits. For example, the diagnostic information of the OLS fit for the 7‐year average case is R2 = 0.243 and AICc = 837.99, while significant improvement has been made by the GWR calibration with R2 = 0.800 and AICc = 618.54.
Enhanced efficiencies of sludge dewatering and domestic wastewater treatment by using the bioflocculant from rice stover
Authors: Guo Junyuan , Du Jiali , Chen Peilan , Tan Xiandong , Huang Xinyi , Gan Pengfei , Fu Lin 
Published: December 2016

AbstractPotential of a bioflocculant from rice stover was studied in sludge dewatering and domestic wastewater treatment. Production of this bioflocculant showed good correspondence to cell growth, after fermentation for 60 h, the fermentation liquor was obtained, from 1.0 L of which a value of 2.37 g bioflocculant can be extracted, and the main backbone of this bioflocculant was polysaccharides. Without adjusting the sludge's initial pH value of 6.5, when incubated with 18 mg/L of this bioflocculant, dry solids (DS) and specific resistance to filtration (SRF) of the typical wastewater activated sludge reached 18.5% and 4.7 × 1012 m/kg, respectively, which was better than the ones achieved by Al2(SO4)3 and FeCl3 flocculants. For domestic wastewater treatment, after treated by 12 mg/L of this bioflocculant at pH value of 7.5, removal efficiencies of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and turbidity can reach 91.8 and 89.7%, respectively, which were better than the ones achieved by the traditional flocculants such as Al2(SO4)3, FeCl3, and polyaluminum chloride (PAC). This study suggested that the bioflocculant from rice stover has great potentials as an alternative flocculant to conventional flocculants in sludge dewatering and domestic wastewater treatment.
Effects of early and delayed initiation of exercise training on cardiac and haemodynamic function after spinal cord injury
Authors: Popok David W. , West Christopher R. , McCracken Laura , Krassioukov Andrei V. 
Published: December 2016

New Findings
What is the central question of this study?
How does early versus delayed initiation of passive hindlimb cycling, as well as detraining, affect cardiac function and blood pressure control in a rodent model of spinal cord injury?

What is the main finding and its importance?
Early or delayed initiation of hindlimb cycling improves cardiac and haemodynamic function in spinal cord injury, although the benefits of early administration are more pronounced. We also demonstrate the need for exercise to be maintained, because detraining rapidly reverses the cardiac and haemodynamic benefits.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) reduces physical activity and alters descending supraspinal cardiovascular control, predisposing this population to early onset of cardiovascular disease. We used a T3 SCI rodent model to investigate the effect of early versus delayed passive hindlimb cycling (PHLC), as well as the effect of detraining on cardiac dysfunction and blood pressure control, including autonomic dysreflexia (AD). Twenty male Wistar rats were divided into an early PHLC initiation group followed by a period of detraining (PHLC starting day 6 post‐SCI, for 4 weeks, followed by 4 weeks of detraining; ‘early PHLC/detraining’ group) and a delayed PHLC intervention group (no PHLC for first 5 weeks post‐SCI, followed by PHLC for 4 weeks; ‘no PHLC/delayed PHLC’ group). At 5 weeks post‐SCI, the no PHLC/delayed PHLC group exhibited a decline in almost all cardiac indices (all P < 0.029), which was maintained in the early PHLC/detraining group. Also, the severity of induced AD was reduced in the early PHLC/detraining versus no PHLC/delayed PHLC group (all P < 0.0279). At 9 weeks post‐SCI, no PHLC/delayed PHLC animals exhibited a reversal of cardiac dysfunction such that all indices were not different from pre‐SCI, whereas early PHLC/detraining rats exhibited a reduction in all cardiac indices relative to pre‐SCI (all P < 0.049), except ejection fraction. Between weeks 7 and 9 post‐SCI, the no PHLC/delayed PHLC rats exhibited fewer spontaneous AD events than the early PHLC/detraining rats (P < 0.01). We show, for the first time, that delayed exercise promotes similar improvements in cardiac and haemodynamic function to those observed with early initiation. Furthermore, exercise needs to be maintained, because detraining reduces these cardiohaemodynamic benefits.
Fermentative Production of Cysteine by Pantoea ananatis
Authors: Takumi Kazuhiro , Ziyatdinov Mikhail Kharisovich , Samsonov Viktor , Nonaka Gen 
Published: December 2016

ABSTRACT

Cysteine is a commercially important amino acid; however, it lacks an efficient fermentative production method. Due to its cytotoxicity, intracellular cysteine levels are stringently controlled via several regulatory modes. Managing its toxic effects as well as understanding and deregulating the complexities of regulation are crucial for establishing the fermentative production of cysteine. The regulatory modes include feedback inhibition of key metabolic enzymes, degradation, efflux pumps, and the transcriptional regulation of biosynthetic genes by a master cysteine regulator, CysB. These processes have been extensively studied using
Escherichia coli
for overproducing cysteine by fermentation. In this study, we genetically engineered
Pantoea ananatis
, an emerging host for the fermentative production of bio-based materials, to identify key factors required for cysteine production. According to this and our previous studies, we identified a major cysteine desulfhydrase gene,
ccdA
(formerly PAJ_0331), involved in cysteine degradation, and the cysteine efflux pump genes
cefA
and
cefB
(formerly PAJ_3026 and PAJ_p0018, respectively), which may be responsible for downregulating the intracellular cysteine level. Our findings revealed that
ccdA
deletion and
cefA
and
cefB
overexpression are crucial factors for establishing fermentative cysteine production in
P. ananatis
and for obtaining a higher cysteine yield when combined with genes in the cysteine biosynthetic pathway. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of cysteine production in
P. ananatis
, which has fundamental implications for establishing overproduction in this microbe.

IMPORTANCE
The efficient production of cysteine is a major challenge in the amino acid fermentation industry. In this study, we identified cysteine efflux pumps and degradation pathways as essential elements and genetically engineered
Pantoea ananatis
, an emerging host for the fermentative production of bio-based materials, to establish the fermentative production of cysteine. This study provides crucial insights into the design and construction of cysteine-producing strains, which may play central roles in realizing commercial basis production.
Four Inserts within the Catalytic Domain Confer Extra Stability and Activity to Hyperthermostable Pyrolysin from Pyrococcus furiosus
Authors: Gao Xiaowei , Zeng Jing , Yi Huawei , Zhang Fang , Tang Bing , Tang Xiao-Feng 
Published: December 2016

ABSTRACT

Pyrolysin from the hyperthermophilic archaeon
Pyrococcus furiosus
is the prototype of the pyrolysin family of the subtilisin-like serine protease superfamily (subtilases). It contains four inserts (IS
147
, IS
29
, IS
27
, and IS
8
) of unknown function in the catalytic domain. We performed domain deletions and showed that three inserts are either essential (IS
147
and IS
27
) or important (IS
8
) for efficient maturation of pyrolysin at high temperatures, whereas IS
29
is dispensable. The large insert IS
147
contains Ca3 and Ca4, two calcium-binding Dx[DN]xDG motifs that are conserved in many pyrolysin-like proteases. Mutagenesis revealed that the Ca3 site contributes to enzyme thermostability and the Ca4 site is necessary for pyrolysin to fold into a maturation-competent conformation. Mature insert-deletion variants were characterized and showed that IS
29
and IS
8
contribute to enzyme activity and stability, respectively. In the presence of NaCl, pyrolysin undergoes autocleavage at two sites: one within IS
29
and the other in IS
27
. Disrupting the ion pairs in IS
27
and IS
8
induces autocleavage in the absence of salts. Interestingly, autocleavage products combine noncovalently to form an active, nicked enzyme that is resistant to SDS and urea denaturation. Additionally, a single mutation in IS
29
increases resistance to salt-induced autocleavage and further increases enzyme thermostability. Our results suggest that these extra structural elements play a crucial role in adapting pyrolysin to hyperthermal environments.

IMPORTANCE
Pyrolysin-like proteases belong to the subtilase superfamily and are characterized by large inserts and long C-terminal extensions; however, the role of the inserts in enzyme function is unclear. Our results demonstrate that four inserts in the catalytic domain of hyperthermostable pyrolysin contribute to the folding, maturation, stability, and activity of the enzyme at high temperatures. The modification of extra structural elements in pyrolysin-like proteases is a promising strategy for modulating global structure stability and enzymatic activity of this class of protease.
Characterization of Metarhizium viride Mycosis in Veiled Chameleons (Chamaeleo calyptratus), Panther Chameleons (Furcifer pardalis), and Inland Bearded Dragons (Pogona vitticeps)
Authors: Schmidt Volker , Klasen Linus , Schneider Juliane , Hübel Jens , Pees Michael 
Published: December 2016

ABSTRACT

Metarhizium viride
has been associated with fatal systemic mycoses in chameleons, but subsequent data on mycoses caused by this fungus in reptiles are lacking. The aim of this investigation was therefore to obtain information on the presence of
M. viride
in reptiles kept as pets in captivity and its association with clinical signs and pathological findings as well as improvement of diagnostic procedures. Beside 18S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) (small subunit [SSU]) and internal transcribed spacer region 1 (ITS-1), a fragment of the large subunit (LSU) of 28S rDNA, including domain 1 (D1) and D2, was sequenced for the identification of the fungus and phylogenetic analysis. Cultural isolation and histopathological examinations as well as the pattern of antifungal drug resistance, determined by using agar diffusion testing, were additionally used for comparison of the isolates. In total, 20 isolates from eight inland bearded dragons (
Pogona vitticeps
), six veiled chameleons (
Chamaeleo calyptratus
), and six panther chameleons (
Furcifer pardalis
) were examined. Most of the lizards suffered from fungal glossitis, stomatitis, and pharyngitis or died due to visceral mycosis. Treatment with different antifungal drugs according to resistance patterns in all three different lizard species was unsuccessful. Sequence analysis resulted in four different genotypes of
M. viride
based on differences in the LSU fragment, whereas the SSU and ITS-1 were identical in all isolates. Sequence analysis of the SSU fragment revealed the first presentation of a valid large fragment of the SSU of
M. viride
. According to statistical analysis, genotypes did not correlate with differences in pathogenicity, antifungal susceptibility, or species specificity.
NS1 Protein Amino Acid Changes D189N and V194I Affect Interferon Responses, Thermosensitivity, and Virulence of Circulating H3N2 Human Influenza A Viruses
Authors: Nogales Aitor , Martinez-Sobrido Luis , Topham David J. , DeDiego Marta L. 
Published: December 2016

ABSTRACT
Influenza virus NS1 protein is a nonstructural, multifunctional protein that counteracts host innate immune responses, modulating virus pathogenesis. NS1 protein variability in subjects infected with H3N2 influenza A viruses (IAVs) during the 2010/2011 season was analyzed, and amino acid changes in residues 86, 189, and 194 were found. The consequences of these mutations for the NS1-mediated inhibition of IFN responses and the pathogenesis of the virus were evaluated, showing that NS1 mutations D189N and V194I impaired the ability of the NS1 protein to inhibit general gene expression, most probably because these mutations decreased the binding of NS1 to the cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor 30 (CPSF30). A recombinant A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (PR8) H1N1 virus encoding the H3N2 NS1-D189N protein was slightly attenuated, whereas the virus encoding the H3N2 NS1-V194I protein was further attenuated in mice. The higher attenuation of this virus could not be explained by differences in the ability of the two NS1 proteins to counteract host innate immune responses, indicating that another factor must be responsible. In fact, we showed that the virus encoding the H3N2 NS1-V194I protein demonstrated a temperature-sensitive (ts) phenotype, providing a most likely explanation for the stronger attenuation observed. As far as we know, this is the first description of a mutation in NS1 residue 194 conferring a ts phenotype. These studies are relevant in order to identify new residues important for NS1 functions and in human influenza virus surveillance to assess mutations affecting the pathogenicity of circulating viruses.

IMPORTANCE
Influenza viral infections represent a serious public health problem, with influenza virus causing a contagious respiratory disease that is most effectively prevented through vaccination. The multifunctional nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) is the main viral factor counteracting the host antiviral response. Therefore, influenza virus surveillance to identify new mutations in the NS1 protein affecting the pathogenicity of the circulating viruses is highly important. In this work, we evaluated amino acid variability in the NS1 proteins from H3N2 human seasonal viruses and the effect of the mutations on innate immune responses and virus pathogenesis. NS1 mutations D189N and V194I impaired the ability of the NS1 protein to inhibit general gene expression, and recombinant viruses harboring these mutations were attenuated in a mouse model of influenza infection. Interestingly, a virus encoding the H3N2 NS1-V194I protein demonstrated a temperature-sensitive phenotype, further attenuating the virus
in vivo
.