bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Influence of temporal variation and host condition on helminth abundance in the lizard Tropidurus hispidus from north-eastern Brazil
Authors: Filho J.A. Araujo , Brito S.V. , Lima V.F. , Pereira A.M.A. , Mesquita D.O. , Albuquerque R.L. , Almeida W.O. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractEcological characteristics and environmental variation influence both host species composition and parasite abundance. Abiotic factors such as rainfall and temperature can improve parasite development and increase its reproduction rate. The comparison of these assemblages between different environments may give us a more refined analysis of how environment affects the variation of helminth parasite abundance. The aim of the present study was to evaluate how temporal variation, host size, sex and reproduction affect helminth abundance in the Tropidurus hispidus lizard in Caatinga, Restinga and Atlantic Forest environments. Overall, larger-sized lizards showed higher helminth abundance. We found a monthly variation in the helminth species abundance in all studied areas. In the Caatinga area, monoxenic and heteroxenic parasites were related to the rainy season and to the reproductive period of lizards. In Restinga, monoxenic and heteroxenic helminth species were more abundant during the driest months. In the Atlantic Forest, the rainy and host reproductive season occurred continuously throughout the year, so parasite abundance was relatively constant. Nevertheless, heteroxenic species were more abundant in this area. The present results showed that the temporal variation, body size, sex, reproductive period and habitat type influence the abundance and composition of helminth species in T. hispidus.
The Unexpected Power of Informal Workers in the Public Square: A Comparison of Mexican and US Organizing Models
Authors: Sarmiento Hugo , Tilly Chris , de la Garza Toledo Enrique , Gayosso Ramírez José Luis 
Published: April 2016

AbstractStreet vendors in Mexico and day laborers in the United States, both groups of informal workers who labor in public space, face formidable structural obstacles to securing their rights as workers. Despite their apparent vulnerability, these informal workers have built perhaps the most powerful informal worker organizations in their countries. In this article, we explore and explain to the extent possible the sources, forms, and limits of this unexpected power. We explore organizational and strategic commonalities as well as differences and seek to explain both.
The TUC and the Failure of Labour's Postwar Social Agenda
Authors: Oude Nijhuis Dennie 
Published: April 2016

AbstractThis article illustrates the crucial role played by the Trades Union Congress and its occupationally organized union affiliates in the failure of Labour's postwar social agenda. It has been widely recognized that Labour's inability to improve the social insurance system and construct an effective floor under wages during the first decades of the postwar period was of crucial importance to the continual underdevelopment of the British welfare state and the emergence of a dual welfare system in the United Kingdom. Yet that Labour's inability to do so was to a large extent the result of union opposition has largely been neglected. This article shows that Labour's postwar social agenda had strong consequences for the distribution of earnings among different groups of workers and that these consequences were fiercely resisted by unions representing privileged workers. In doing so, this article illustrates the limited political feasibility of government measures to provide adequate earnings and security against labor market risks for all workers in countries where privileged workers largely organize along occupational lines.
Precarious Labor, South and North: An Introduction
Authors: Mosoetsa Sarah , Stillerman Joel , Tilly Chris 
Published: April 2016

AbstractThis special issue on precarious labor in global perspective includes analyses of precarious work in South Africa, Mexico, the United States, China and India. The key strengths of the contributions to this issue are that they demonstrate precarious workers’ capacity for collective action, the hidden forms of work that are not tracked by states, long-term historical continuities of precarious work, and differences between precarious work in the Global North and South. This introduction explores the challenges of conceptualizing precarious work; the history of precarious labor; its variations in the Global North and South; possible differences across sectors of precarious work; and the intersections between precarious work and categories of gender, race, and citizenship status. We conclude with a summary of the articles included in the issue.
Sibling eating behaviours and parental feeding practices with siblings: similar or different?
Authors: Berge Jerica M , Tate Allan D , Trofholz Amanda , Conger Katherine , Neumark-Sztainer Dianne 
Published: April 2016

AbstractObjectiveLittle is known about whether siblings have similar or different eating behaviours or whether parents tailor their feeding practices to different siblings. The main objectives of the present study were to examine similarities and differences in child eating behaviours and parental feeding practices with siblings and to determine whether child eating behaviours and parental feeding practices differ depending on sibling concordant (i.e. both siblings overweight or healthy weight) or discordant (i.e. one sibling overweight and one sibling healthy weight) weight status.DesignCross-sectional, mixed-methods study.SettingIn-home visits were conducted by research staff. Surveys were conducted with parents and anthropometry was collected on parents and siblings.SubjectsChildren (n 88) aged 6–12 years (mean age 9 (sd 2) years), their parents (mean age 34 (sd 7) years) and near-age siblings (mean age 9 (sd 4) years) from diverse racial/ethnic and low-income households participated.ResultsResults indicated that siblings with higher BMI engaged in higher levels of emotional eating compared with siblings with lower BMI. Additionally, results indicated that when families had sibling dyads discordant on weight status, the sibling who was overweight had higher food enjoyment and lower levels of food satiety. Additionally, within siblings with discordant weight status, parents were more likely to use restrictive feeding practices with the overweight sibling and pressure-to-eat and encouragement-to-eat feeding practices with the healthy-weight sibling.ConclusionsFamily-based childhood obesity interventions may need to assess for sibling weight status when researching the home environment and intervene with parents to avoid using restriction or pressure-to-eat feeding practices when siblings are discordant on weight status.
Geschlechtsbezogene Analyse des Tabakkonsums bei Auszubildenden in Pflegeberufen
Authors: Bühler Anneke , Schulze Katrin , Rustler Christa , Scheifhacken Sabine , Schweizer Ines , Bonse-Rohmann Mathias 
Published: April 2016

Zusammenfassung. Fragestellung: Raucher- und Frauenanteil sind in der Gruppe der Pflegeberufe überproportional hoch. Es wird überprüft, ob sich Pflegeschüler und Pflegeschülerinnen in Rauchverhalten, rauchbezogenen Risikofaktoren und Einstellung gegenüber verhältnis- und verhaltensbezogenen Maßnahmen voneinander unterscheiden. Zudem interessiert, ob der Raucheranteil bereits zu Beginn der Ausbildung erhöht ist. Methode: Querschnittliche Daten von 357 Auszubildenden aus bundesweit zehn Pflegeschulen wurden ausgewertet. Ergebnisse: Es zeigten sich Geschlechtsunterschiede in einigen Risikofaktoren, weniger im Rauchverhalten oder der Veränderungsbereitschaft. In der Widerstandsgewissheit wiesen Frauen höhere Werte auf als Männer. Rauchende Männer hatten eine weniger riskante deskriptive aber tendenziell riskantere injunktive Normerwartung und äußerten sich eher bereit zur Teilnahme an einem Rauchstoppgruppenkurs. Der hohe Raucheranteil war unter Auszubildenden mit 52,8 % etwa 1,5 Mal so hoch als unter bereits beschäftigten Pflegekräften. Schlussfolgerungen: Eine vorsichtige Interpretation ist angesichts der anfallenden Stichprobe angezeigt. Es besteht ein Bedarf für Tabakentwöhnung sowohl unter Pflegeschülern als auch Pflegeschülerinnen, da viele schon zu Ausbildungsbeginn rauchen. Eine Intervention muss sowohl verhaltens- als auch verhältnisbezogene Elemente beinhalten. Ihre Implementation steht vor der Herausforderung eines Ausbildungskontextes, dessen soziale Norm als rauchfreundlich zu bezeichnen ist.
Polycomb repressive complex 2 structure with inhibitor reveals a mechanism of activation and drug resistance
Authors: Brooun Alexei , Gajiwala Ketan S. , Deng Ya-Li , Liu Wei , Bolaños Ben , Bingham Patrick , He You-Ai , Diehl Wade , Grable Nicole , Kung Pei-Pei , Sutton Scott , Maegley Karen A. , Yu Xiu , Stewart Al E. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractPolycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) mediates gene silencing through chromatin reorganization by methylation of histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27). Overexpression of the complex and point mutations in the individual subunits of PRC2 have been shown to contribute to tumorigenesis. Several inhibitors of the PRC2 activity have shown efficacy in EZH2-mutated lymphomas and are currently in clinical development, although the molecular basis of inhibitor recognition remains unknown. Here we report the crystal structures of the inhibitor-bound wild-type and Y641N PRC2. The structures illuminate an important role played by a stretch of 17 residues in the N-terminal region of EZH2, we call the activation loop, in the stimulation of the enzyme activity, inhibitor recognition and the potential development of the mutation-mediated drug resistance. The work presented here provides new avenues for the design and development of next-generation PRC2 inhibitors through establishment of a structure-based drug design platform.
Trapping mammalian protein complexes in viral particles
Authors: Eyckerman Sven , Titeca Kevin , Van Quickelberghe Emmy , Cloots Eva , Verhee Annick , Samyn Noortje , De Ceuninck Leentje , Timmerman Evy , De Sutter Delphine , Lievens Sam , Van Calenbergh Serge , Gevaert Kris , Tavernier Jan 
Published: April 2016

AbstractCell lysis is an inevitable step in classical mass spectrometry–based strategies to analyse protein complexes. Complementary lysis conditions, in situ cross-linking strategies and proximal labelling techniques are currently used to reduce lysis effects on the protein complex. We have developed Virotrap, a viral particle sorting approach that obviates the need for cell homogenization and preserves the protein complexes during purification. By fusing a bait protein to the HIV-1 GAG protein, we show that interaction partners become trapped within virus-like particles (VLPs) that bud from mammalian cells. Using an efficient VLP enrichment protocol, Virotrap allows the detection of known binary interactions and MS-based identification of novel protein partners as well. In addition, we show the identification of stimulus-dependent interactions and demonstrate trapping of protein partners for small molecules. Virotrap constitutes an elegant complementary approach to the arsenal of methods to study protein complexes.
An essential malaria protein defines the architecture of blood-stage and transmission-stage parasites
Authors: Absalon Sabrina , Robbins Jonathan A. , Dvorin Jeffrey D. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractBlood-stage replication of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum occurs via schizogony, wherein daughter parasites are formed by a specialized cytokinesis known as segmentation. Here we identify a parasite protein, which we name P. falciparum Merozoite Organizing Protein (PfMOP), as essential for cytokinesis of blood-stage parasites. We show that, following PfMOP knockdown, parasites undergo incomplete segmentation resulting in a residual agglomerate of partially divided cells. While organelles develop normally, the structural scaffold of daughter parasites, the inner membrane complex (IMC), fails to form in this agglomerate causing flawed segmentation. In PfMOP-deficient gametocytes, the IMC formation defect causes maturation arrest with aberrant morphology and death. Our results provide insight into the mechanisms of replication and maturation of malaria parasites.
Imaging large-scale cellular activity in spinal cord of freely behaving mice
Authors: Sekiguchi Kohei J. , Shekhtmeyster Pavel , Merten Katharina , Arena Alexander , Cook Daniela , Hoffman Elizabeth , Ngo Alexander , Nimmerjahn Axel 
Published: April 2016

AbstractSensory information from mechanoreceptors and nociceptors in the skin plays key roles in adaptive and protective motor behaviours. To date, very little is known about how this information is encoded by spinal cord cell types and their activity patterns, particularly under freely behaving conditions. To enable stable measurement of neuronal and glial cell activity in behaving mice, we have developed fluorescence imaging approaches based on two- and miniaturized one-photon microscopy. We show that distinct cutaneous stimuli activate overlapping ensembles of dorsal horn neurons, and that stimulus type and intensity is encoded at the single-cell level. In contrast, astrocytes show large-scale coordinated calcium responses to intense but not weak sensory inputs. Sensory-evoked activity is potently suppressed by anaesthesia. By revealing the cellular and computational logic of spinal cord networks under behaving conditions, our approach holds promise for better understanding of healthy and aberrant spinal cord processes.
The structural basis of chicken, swine and bovine CD8αα dimers provides insight into the co-evolution with MHC I in endotherm species
Authors: Liu Yanjie , Li Xin , Qi Jianxun , Zhang Nianzhi , Xia Chun 
Published: April 2016

AbstractIt is unclear how the pivotal molecules of the adaptive immune system (AIS) maintain their inherent characteristics and relationships with their co-receptors over the course of co-evolution. CD8α, a fundamental but simple AIS component with only one immunoglobulin variable (IgV) domain, is a good example with which to explore this question because it can fold correctly to form homodimers (CD8αα) and interact with peptide-MHC I (p/MHC I) with low sequence identities between different species. Hereby, we resolved the crystal structures of chicken, swine and bovine CD8αα. They are typical homodimers consisting of two symmetric IgV domains with distinct species specificities. The CD8αα structures indicated that a few highly conserved residues are important in CD8 dimerization and in interacting with p/MHC I. The dimerization of CD8αα mainly depends on the pivotal residues on the dimer interface; in particular, four aromatic residues provide many intermolecular forces and contact areas. Three residues on the surface of CD8α connecting cavities that formed most of the hydrogen bonds with p/MHC I were also completely conserved. Our data propose that a few key conserved residues are able to ensure the CD8α own structural characteristics despite the great sequence variation that occurs during evolution in endotherms.
Complete genomes of Hairstreak butterflies, their speciation and nucleo-mitochondrial incongruence
Authors: Cong Qian , Shen Jinhui , Borek Dominika , Robbins Robert K. , Otwinowski Zbyszek , Grishin Nick V. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractComparison of complete genomes of closely related species enables research on speciation and how phenotype is determined by genotype. Lepidoptera, an insect order of 150,000 species with diverse phenotypes, is well-suited for such comparative genomics studies if new genomes, which cover additional Lepidoptera families are acquired. We report a 729 Mbp genome assembly of the Calycopis cecrops, the first genome from the family Lycaenidae and the largest available Lepidoptera genome. As detritivore, Calycopis shows expansion in detoxification and digestion enzymes. We further obtained complete genomes of 8 Calycopis specimens: 3 C. cecrops and 5 C. isobeon, including a dry specimen stored in the museum for 30 years. The two species differ subtly in phenotype and cannot be differentiated by mitochondrial DNA. However, nuclear genomes revealed a deep split between them. Genes that can clearly separate the two species (speciation hotspots) mostly pertain to circadian clock, mating behavior, transcription regulation, development and cytoskeleton. The speciation hotspots and their function significantly overlap with those we previously found in Pterourus, suggesting common speciation mechanisms in these butterflies.
High-resolution analytical imaging and electron holography of magnetite particles in amyloid cores of Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Plascencia-Villa Germán , Ponce Arturo , Collingwood Joanna F. , Arellano-Jiménez M. Josefina , Zhu Xiongwei , Rogers Jack T. , Betancourt Israel , José-Yacamán Miguel , Perry George 
Published: April 2016

AbstractAbnormal accumulation of brain metals is a key feature of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Formation of amyloid-β plaque cores (APC) is related to interactions with biometals, especially Fe, Cu and Zn, but their particular structural associations and roles remain unclear. Using an integrative set of advanced transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques, including spherical aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (Cs-STEM), nano-beam electron diffraction, electron holography and analytical spectroscopy techniques (EDX and EELS), we demonstrate that Fe in APC is present as iron oxide (Fe3O4) magnetite nanoparticles. Here we show that Fe was accumulated primarily as nanostructured particles within APC, whereas Cu and Zn were distributed through the amyloid fibers. Remarkably, these highly organized crystalline magnetite nanostructures directly bound into fibrillar Aβ showed characteristic superparamagnetic responses with saturated magnetization with circular contours, as observed for the first time by off-axis electron holography of nanometer scale particles.
PTIR: Predicted Tomato Interactome Resource
Authors: Yue Junyang , Xu Wei , Ban Rongjun , Huang Shengxiong , Miao Min , Tang Xiaofeng , Liu Guoqing , Liu Yongsheng 
Published: April 2016

AbstractProtein-protein interactions (PPIs) are involved in almost all biological processes and form the basis of the entire interactomics systems of living organisms. Identification and characterization of these interactions are fundamental to elucidating the molecular mechanisms of signal transduction and metabolic pathways at both the cellular and systemic levels. Although a number of experimental and computational studies have been performed on model organisms, the studies exploring and investigating PPIs in tomatoes remain lacking. Here, we developed a Predicted Tomato Interactome Resource (PTIR), based on experimentally determined orthologous interactions in six model organisms. The reliability of individual PPIs was also evaluated by shared gene ontology (GO) terms, co-evolution, co-expression, co-localization and available domain-domain interactions (DDIs). Currently, the PTIR covers 357,946 non-redundant PPIs among 10,626 proteins, including 12,291 high-confidence, 226,553 medium-confidence and 119,102 low-confidence interactions. These interactions are expected to cover 30.6% of the entire tomato proteome and possess a reasonable distribution. In addition, ten randomly selected PPIs were verified using yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) screening or a bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assay. The PTIR was constructed and implemented as a dedicated database and is available at http://bdg.hfut.edu.cn/ptir/index.html without registration.
Screening of efficient siRNA carriers in a library of surface-engineered dendrimers
Authors: Liu Hongmei , Chang Hong , Lv Jia , Jiang Cong , Li Zhenxi , Wang Fei , Wang Hui , Wang Mingming , Liu Chongyi , Wang Xinyu , Shao Naimin , He Bingwei , Shen Wanwan , Zhang Qiang , Cheng Yiyun 
Published: April 2016

AbstractPolymers are widely used as non-viral carriers for siRNA delivery, but concern has also arisen in their limited efficacy and inherent toxicity. Whilst many of previous efforts have been documented towards improving the performance of polymers via chemical modifications, the structure-activity relationships (SAR) of these ligand-modified polymers are not well understood. To address this issue, we systemically prepared a library of surface-engineered dendrimers (>300) as the screening pool to discover efficient siRNA carriers. The modified ligands include alkyls and fluoroalkyls, amino acids, benzene derivatives and heterocyclic compounds. Gene silencing results showed that the lead material shows excellent efficacy even in hard-to-transfect cells such as mesenchymal stem cells. The SAR studies revealed that ligands containing appropriate hydrophobicity, or ligands with both hydrophobic and functional atoms/groups are essential for polymers to achive efficient knockdown efficacy. A second-generation library designed based on the above principles further confirms the proposed design criteria. The results enable the future rational design of potent siRNA carriers.
Self-assembled Biodegradable Nanoparticles and Polysaccharides as Biomimetic ECM Nanostructures for the Synergistic effect of RGD and BMP-2 on Bone Formation
Authors: Wang Zhenming , Dong Li , Han Lu , Wang Kefeng , Lu Xiong , Fang Liming , Qu Shuxin , Chan Chun Wai 
Published: April 2016

AbstractProducing biomimetic extracellular matrix (ECM) is an effective approach to improve biocompatibility of medical devices. In this study, biomimetic ECM nanostructures are constructed through layer-by-layer self-assembling positively charged chitosan (Chi), negatively charged oxidized sodium alginate (OAlg), and positively charged bovine serum albumin (BSA)-based nanoparticles. The BSA-based nanoparticles in the self-assembled films not only result in porous nanostructures similar to natural ECM, but also preserve the activity and realize the sustained release of Bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2). The results of bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) culture demonstrate that the penta-peptide glycine-arginine-glycine-aspartate-serine (GRGDS) grafted Chi/OAlg films favor cell adhesion and proliferation. GRGDS and BMP-2 in biomimetic ECM nanostructures synergistically promote BMSC functions and new bone formation. The RGD and BMP incorporated biomimetic ECM coatings could be applied on a variety of biomedical devices to improve the bioactivity and biocompatibility.
Discovery of a novel glucose metabolism in cancer: The role of endoplasmic reticulum beyond glycolysis and pentose phosphate shunt
Authors: Marini Cecilia , Ravera Silvia , Buschiazzo Ambra , Bianchi Giovanna , Orengo Anna Maria , Bruno Silvia , Bottoni Gianluca , Emionite Laura , Pastorino Fabio , Monteverde Elena , Garaboldi Lucia , Martella Roberto , Salani Barbara , Maggi Davide , Ponzoni Mirco , Fais Franco , Raffaghello Lizzia , Sambuceti Gianmario 
Published: April 2016

AbstractCancer metabolism is characterized by an accelerated glycolytic rate facing reduced activity of oxidative phosphorylation. This “Warburg effect” represents a standard to diagnose and monitor tumor aggressiveness with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose whose uptake is currently regarded as an accurate index of total glucose consumption. Studying cancer metabolic response to respiratory chain inhibition by metformin, we repeatedly observed a reduction of tracer uptake facing a marked increase in glucose consumption. This puzzling discordance brought us to discover that 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose preferentially accumulates within endoplasmic reticulum by exploiting the catalytic function of hexose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase. Silencing enzyme expression and activity decreased both tracer uptake and glucose consumption, caused severe energy depletion and decreased NADPH content without altering mitochondrial function. These data document the existence of an unknown glucose metabolism triggered by hexose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase within endoplasmic reticulum of cancer cells. Besides its basic relevance, this finding can improve clinical cancer diagnosis and might represent potential target for therapy.