bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The ‘Hungry Gap’: Twitter, local press reporting and urban agriculture activism
Authors: Reed Matt , Keech Daniel 
Published: October 2017

AbstractThis paper is concerned with how urban food activists related to the media during 2015, when Bristol was the European Green Capital (EGC), how they represented themselves and how others represented their agenda. Our intention is to inform the debates on urban agriculture (UA) and, more specifically, to contribute to discussions about ‘scaling up’ UA. To achieve this, we adopt a form of analysis that rests on Castells’ insights about contemporary protest movements, the media and the role of communication technologies in constituting social power. By using Bristol, a city with a well-developed and studied urban agriculture movement, we suggest new areas for consideration that focus on the importance of communication in the development of the movement. Our study relied only on publicly available data; newspaper reports about the EGC and a sample of the social media used by the urban food networks in the city. We found that the mass media was mainly concerned with reporting topics other than food and that urban food was not a salient issue in their coverage. The Twitter network we analyzed was a loose constellation of different communities, which shared materials that were mostly concerned with creating a shared, normative picture of urban food. By considering the structure of these forms of media, we can observe the assembly of the forms of communication and their content. The paper concludes that the self-representation of urban food networks at that time reveals a narrow focus of interest. This emphasis may have contributed to the lack of connection within the city between potential allies. Our conclusion supports similar research findings in neighboring communities, which have observed the limited connections of urban food networks to the circuits of power and influence.
The updated ICRC Commentary on the Second Geneva Convention: Demystifying the law of armed conflict at sea
Authors: Demeyere Bruno , Henckaerts Jean-Marie , Hiemstra Heleen , Nohle Ellen 
Published: October 2017

AbstractSince their publication in the 1950s and 1980s respectively, the Commentaries on the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols of 1977 have become a major reference for the application and interpretation of those treaties. The International Committee of the Red Cross, together with a team of renowned experts, is currently updating these Commentaries in order to document developments and provide up-to-date interpretations of the treaty texts. Following a brief overview of the methodology and process of the update as well as a historical background to the Second Geneva Convention, this article addresses the scope of applicability of the Convention, the type of vessels it protects (in particular hospital ships and coastal rescue craft), and its relationship with other sources of international humanitarian law and international law conferring protection to persons in distress at sea. It also outlines differences and commonalities between the First and the Second Conventions, including how these have been reflected in the updated Commentary on the Second Convention. Finally, the article highlights certain substantive obligations under the Convention and how the updated Commentary addresses some of the interpretive questions they raise.
Spatial scale of receptive fields in the visual sector of the cat thalamic reticular nucleus
Authors: Soto-Sánchez Cristina , Wang Xin , Vaingankar Vishal , Sommer Friedrich T. , Hirsch Judith A. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractInhibitory projections from the visual sector of the thalamic reticular nucleus to the lateral geniculate nucleus complete the earliest feedback loop in the mammalian visual pathway and regulate the flow of information from retina to cortex. There are two competing hypotheses about the function of the thalamic reticular nucleus. One regards the structure as a thermostat that uniformly regulates thalamic activity through negative feedback. Alternatively, the searchlight hypothesis argues for a role in focal attentional modulation through positive feedback, consistent with observations that behavioral state influences reticular activity. Here, we address the question of whether cells in the reticular nucleus have receptive fields small enough to provide localized feedback by devising methods to quantify the size of these fields across visual space. Our results show that reticular neurons in the cat operate over discrete spatial scales, at once supporting the searchlight hypothesis and a role in feature selective sensory processing.
Zeeman splitting via spin-valley-layer coupling in bilayer MoTe2
Authors: Jiang Chongyun , Liu Fucai , Cuadra Jorge , Huang Zumeng , Li Ke , Rasmita Abdullah , Srivastava Ajit , Liu Zheng , Gao Wei-Bo 
Published: October 2017

AbstractAtomically thin monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides possess coupling of spin and valley degrees of freedom. The chirality is locked to identical valleys as a consequence of spin–orbit coupling and inversion symmetry breaking, leading to a valley analog of the Zeeman effect in presence of an out-of-plane magnetic field. Owing to the inversion symmetry in bilayers, the photoluminescence helicity should no longer be locked to the valleys. Here we show that the Zeeman splitting, however, persists in 2H-MoTe2 bilayers, as a result of an additional degree of freedom, namely the layer pseudospin, and spin–valley-layer locking. Unlike monolayers, the Zeeman splitting in bilayers occurs without lifting valley degeneracy. The degree of circularly polarized photoluminescence is tuned with magnetic field from −37% to 37%. Our results demonstrate the control of degree of freedom in bilayer with magnetic field, which makes bilayer a promising platform for spin-valley quantum gates based on magnetoelectric effects.
Transmembrane Segment XI of the Na+/H+ Antiporter of S. pombe is a Critical Part of the Ion Translocation Pore
Authors: Dutta Debajyoti , Shin Kyungsoo , Rainey Jan K. , Fliegel Larry 
Published: October 2017

AbstractThe Na+/H+ exchanger of the plasma membrane of S. pombe (SpNHE1) removes intracellular sodium in exchange for an extracellular proton. We examined the structure and functional role of amino acids 360–393 of putative transmembrane (TM) segment XI of SpNHE1. Structural analysis suggested that it had a helical propensity over amino acids 360–368, an extended region from 369–378 and was helical over amino acids 379–386. TM XI was sensitive to side chain alterations. Mutation of eight amino acids to alanine resulted in loss of one or both of LiCl or NaCl tolerance when re-introduced into SpNHE1 deficient S. pombe. Mutation of seven other amino acids had minor effects. Analysis of structure and functional mutations suggested that Glu361 may be involved in cation coordination on the cytoplasmic face of the protein with a negative charge in this position being important. His367, Ile371 and Gly372 were important in function. Ile371 may have important hydrophobic interactions with other residues and Gly372 may be important in maintaining an extended conformation. Several residues from Val377 to Leu384 are important in function possibly involved in hydrophobic interactions with other amino acids. We suggest that TM XI forms part of the ion translocation core of this Na+/H+ exchanger.
Experimental testing of reciprocal effects of nutrition and parasitism in wild black capuchin monkeys
Authors: Agostini Ilaria , Vanderhoeven Ezequiel , Di Bitetti Mario S. , Beldomenico Pablo M. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractNutritional stress may predispose individuals to infection, which in turn can have further detrimental effects on physical condition, thus creating an opportunity for reciprocal effects between nutrition and parasitism. Little experimental investigation has been conducted on this “vicious circle” hypothesis in wild animals, especially under natural conditions. We evaluated the reciprocal effects of nutritional status and parasitism using an experimental approach in two groups of wild black capuchin monkeys (Sapajus nigritus). Across two consecutive winters, we collected faecal samples from identified capuchins to determine presence and load of gastrointestinal helminthes, and measured individual body mass as a proxy of physical condition. Food availability was manipulated by provisioning monkeys with bananas, and parasite burdens by applying antiparasitic drugs to selected individuals. We found no effect of antiparasitic drugs on physical condition, but parasite loads decreased in response to high levels of food availability. Our results represent the first experimental evidence that the nutritional status may drive parasite dynamics in a primate.
Outcomes of 23- and 24-weeks gestation infants in Wellington, New Zealand: A single centre experience
Authors: Berry Mary Judith , Saito-Benz Maria , Gray Clint , Dyson Rebecca Maree , Dellabarca Paula , Ebmeier Stefan , Foley David , Elder Dawn Elizabeth , Richardson Vaughan Francis 
Published: October 2017

AbstractOptimal perinatal care of infants born less than 24 weeks gestation remains contentious due to uncertainty about the long-term neurodevelopment of resuscitated infants. Our aim was to determine the short-term mortality and major morbidity outcomes from a cohort of inborn infants born at 23 and 24 weeks gestation and to assess if these parameters differed significantly between infants born at 23 vs. 24 weeks gestation. We report survival rates at 2-year follow-up of 22/38 (58%) at 23 weeks gestation and 36/60 (60%) at 24 weeks gestation. Neuroanatomical injury at the time of discharge (IVH ≥ Grade 3 and/or PVL) occurred in in 3/23 (13%) and 1/40 (3%) of surviving 23 and 24 weeks gestation infants respectively. Rates of disability at 2 years corrected postnatal age were not different between infants born at 23 and 24 weeks gestation. We show evidence that with maximal perinatal care in a tertiary setting it is possible to achieve comparable rates of survival free of significant neuroanatomical injury or severe disability at age 2 in infants born at 23-week and 24-weeks gestation.
Structure-Activity Relationship Studies of β-Lactam-azide Analogues as Orally Active Antitumor Agents Targeting the Tubulin Colchicine Site
Authors: Fu Dong-Jun , Fu Ling , Liu Ying-Chao , Wang Jun-Wei , Wang Yu-Qing , Han Bing-Kai , Li Xiao-Rui , Zhang Chuang , Li Feng , Song Jian , Zhao Bing , Mao Ruo-Wang , Zhao Ruo-Han , Zhang Sai-Yang , Zhang Li , Zhang Yan-Bing , Liu Hong-Min 
Published: October 2017

AbstractWe have synthesized a series of new β-lactam-azide derivatives as orally active anti-tumor agents by targeting tubulin colchicine binding site and examined their structure activity relationship (SAR). Among them, compound 28 exhibited the most potent antiproliferative activity against MGC-803 cells with an IC50 value of 0.106 μM by induction of G2/M arrest and apoptosis and inhibition of the epithelial to mesenchymal transition. 28 acted as a novel inhibitor of tubulin polymerization by its binding to the colchicine site. SAR analysis revealed that a hydrogen atom at the C-3 position of the β-lactam was required for the potent antiproliferative activity of β-lactam-azide derivatives. Oral administration of compound 28 also effectively inhibited MGC-803 xenograft tumor growth in vivo in nude mice without causing significant loss of body weight. These results suggested that compound 28 is a promising orally active anticancer agent with potential for development of further clinical applications.
Brain atrophy in the visual cortex and thalamus induced by severe stress in animal model
Authors: Yoshii Takanobu , Oishi Naoya , Ikoma Kazuya , Nishimura Isao , Sakai Yuki , Matsuda Kenichi , Yamada Shunji , Tanaka Masaki , Kawata Mitsuhiro , Narumoto Jin , Fukui Kenji 
Published: October 2017

AbstractPsychological stress induces many diseases including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); however, the causal relationship between stress and brain atrophy has not been clarified. Applying single-prolonged stress (SPS) to explore the global effect of severe stress, we performed brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) acquisition and Voxel-based morphometry (VBM). Significant atrophy was detected in the bilateral thalamus and right visual cortex. Fluorescent immunohistochemistry for Iba-1 as the marker of activated microglia indicates regional microglial activation as stress-reaction in these atrophic areas. These data certify the impact of severe psychological stress on the atrophy of the visual cortex and the thalamus. Unexpectedly, these results are similar to chronic neuropathic pain rather than PTSD clinical research. We believe that some sensitisation mechanism from severe stress-induced atrophy in the visual cortex and thalamus, and the functional defect of the visual system may be a potential therapeutic target for stress-related diseases.
An extinct vertebrate preserved by its living hybridogenetic descendant
Authors: Dubey Sylvain , Dufresnes Christophe 
Published: October 2017

AbstractHybridogenesis is a special mode of hybrid reproduction where one parental genome is eliminated and the other is transmitted clonally. We propose that this mechanism can perpetuate the genome of extinct species, based on new genetic data fromPelophylaxwater frogs. We characterized the genetic makeup of Italian hybridogenetic hybrids (P. kl.hispanicusandesculentus) and identified a new endemic lineage of Eastern-Mediterranean origin as one parental ancestor ofP. kl.hispanicus. This taxon is nowadays extinct in the wild but its germline subsists through its hybridogenetic descendant, which can thus be considered as a “semi living fossil”. Such rare situation calls for realistic efforts of de-extinction through selective breeding without genetic engineering, and fuels the topical controversy of reviving long extinct species. “Ghost” species hidden by taxa of hybrid origin may be more frequent than suspected in vertebrate groups that experienced a strong history of hybridization and semi-sexual reproduction.
Evidence of mixotrophic carbon-capture by n-butanol-producer Clostridium beijerinckii
Authors: Sandoval-Espinola W. J. , Chinn M. S. , Thon M. R. , Bruno-Bárcena J. M. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractRecent efforts to combat increasing greenhouse gas emissions include their capture into advanced biofuels, such as butanol. Traditionally, biobutanol research has been centered solely on its generation from sugars. Our results show partial re-assimilation of CO2 and H2 by n-butanol-producer C. beijerinckii. This was detected as synchronous CO2/H2 oscillations by direct (real-time) monitoring of their fermentation gasses. Additional functional analysis demonstrated increased total carbon recovery above heterotrophic values associated to mixotrophic assimilation of synthesis gas (H2, CO2 and CO). This was further confirmed using 13C-Tracer experiments feeding 13CO2 and measuring the resulting labeled products. Genome- and transcriptome-wide analysis revealed transcription of key C-1 capture and additional energy conservation genes, including partial Wood-Ljungdahl and complete reversed pyruvate ferredoxin oxidoreductase / pyruvate-formate-lyase-dependent (rPFOR/Pfl) pathways. Therefore, this report provides direct genetic and physiological evidences of mixotrophic inorganic carbon-capture by C. beijerinckii.
Disordered Supersolids in the Extended Bose-Hubbard Model
Authors: Lin Fei , Maier T. A. , Scarola V. W. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractThe extended Bose-Hubbard model captures the essential properties of a wide variety of physical systems including ultracold atoms and molecules in optical lattices, Josephson junction arrays, and certain narrow band superconductors. It exhibits a rich phase diagram including a supersolid phase where a lattice solid coexists with a superfluid. We use quantum Monte Carlo to study the supersolid part of the phase diagram of the extended Bose-Hubbard model on the simple cubic lattice. We add disorder to the extended Bose-Hubbard model and find that the maximum critical temperature for the supersolid phase tends to be suppressed by disorder. But we also find a narrow parameter window in which the supersolid critical temperature is enhanced by disorder. Our results show that supersolids survive a moderate amount of spatial disorder and thermal fluctuations in the simple cubic lattice.
Is Long-term Exposure to Air Pollution Associated with Episodic Memory? A Longitudinal Study from Northern Sweden
Authors: Oudin Anna , Forsberg Bertil , Lind Nina , Nordin Steven , Oudin Åström Daniel , Sundström Anna , Nordin Maria 
Published: October 2017

AbstractAssociations between long-term exposure to ambient air pollution and cognitive function have been observed in a few longitudinal studies. Our aim was to investigate the association between long-term exposure to air pollution and episodic memory, a marker of early cognitive decline. We used data from the Betula study in Northern Sweden, and included participants 60 to 85 of age at inclusion, 1,469 persons in total. The participants were followed for up to 22 years, five years apart between 1988 and 2010. A composite of five tasks was used as a measure of episodic memory measure (EMM), and the five-year change in EMM score (ΔEMM) was calculated such that a participant could contribute with up to four measurement pairs. A Land Use Regression Model was used to estimate cumulative annual mean of NOx at the residential address of the participants (a marker for long-term exposure to traffic-related air pollution). There did not seem to be any association between exposure to traffic air pollution and episodic memory change, with a ΔEMM estimate of per 1 µg/m3 increase in NOx of 0.01 (95% Confidence Interval: −0.02,0.03). This is in contrast to a growing body of evidence suggesting associations between air pollution and cognitive function.
Performance and consistency of a fluorescence-based high-throughput screening assay for use in Babesia drug screening in mice
Authors: Rizk Mohamed Abdo , El-Sayed Shimaa Abd El-Salam , AbouLaila Mahmoud , Eltaysh Rasha , Yokoyama Naoaki , Igarashi Ikuo 
Published: October 2017

AbstractIn this study, we evaluated the validity of a fluorescence-based assay using SYBR Green I (SG I) stain for screening antibabesial compounds against B. microti in mice. Two different hematocrits (HCTs; 2.5% and 5%) were used. Correlating relative fluorescence units (RFUs) with parasitemia showed significant linear relationships with R2 values of 0.97 and 0.99 at HCTs of 2.5% and 5%, respectively. Meanwhile, the Z′ factors in a high-throughput screening (HTS) assay were within the permissible limit (≥0.5) at 2.5% HCT and lower than this value at 5% HCT. Taken together, the highest signal-to-noise (S/N) ratios were obtained at 2.5% HCT; therefore, we concluded that 2.5% was the best HCT for applying fluorescence assay in antibabesial drug screening in mice. Additionally, positive control mice and those treated with diminazene aceturate, pyronaridine tetraphosphate, and an allicin/diminazene aceturate combination showed peak parasitemia and fluorescence values on the same day post-inoculation. Moreover, using different concentrations of SG I revealed that the optimal concentration was 2x. In summary, considering that all experiments were applied under optimal laboratory conditions, fluorescence assay at 2.5% HCT using 2x SG I for B. microti parasite offers a novel approach for drug screening in mice.
Towards remote assessment and screening of acute abdominal pain using only a smartphone with native accelerometers
Authors: Myers David R. , Weiss Alexander , Rollins Margo R. , Lam Wilbur A. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractSmartphone-based telehealth holds the promise of shifting healthcare from the clinic to the home, but the inability for clinicians to conduct remote palpation, or touching, a key component of the physical exam, remains a major limitation. This is exemplified in the assessment of acute abdominal pain, in which a physician’s palpation determines if a patient’s pain is life-threatening requiring emergency intervention/surgery or due to some less-urgent cause. In a step towards virtual physical examinations, we developed and report for the first time a “touch-capable” mHealth technology that enables a patient’s own hands to serve as remote surrogates for the physician’s in the screening of acute abdominal pain. Leveraging only a smartphone with its native accelerometers, our system guides a patient through an exact probing motion that precisely matches the palpation motion set by the physician. An integrated feedback algorithm, with 95% sensitivity and specificity, enabled 81% of tested patients to match a physician abdominal palpation curve with <20% error after 6 attempts. Overall, this work addresses a key issue in telehealth that will vastly improve its capabilities and adoption worldwide.
Multilayer pixel super-resolution lensless in-line holographic microscope with random sample movement
Authors: Wang Mingjun , Feng Shaodong , Wu Jigang 
Published: October 2017

AbstractWe report a multilayer lensless in-line holographic microscope (LIHM) with improved imaging resolution by using the pixel super-resolution technique and random sample movement. In our imaging system, a laser beam illuminated the sample and a CMOS imaging sensor located behind the sample recorded the in-line hologram for image reconstruction. During the imaging process, the sample was moved by hand randomly and the in-line holograms were acquired sequentially. Then the sample image was reconstructed from an enhanced-resolution hologram obtained from multiple low-resolution in-line holograms by applying the pixel super-resolution (PSR) technique. We studied the resolution enhancement effects by using the U.S. Air Force (USAF) target as the sample in numerical simulation and experiment. We also showed that multilayer pixel super-resolution images can be obtained by imaging a triple-layer sample made with the filamentous algae on the middle layer and microspheres with diameter of 2 μm on the top and bottom layers. Our pixel super-resolution LIHM provides a compact and low-cost solution for microscopic imaging and is promising for many biomedical applications.
Conformations and molecular interactions of poly-γ-glutamic acid as a soluble microbial product in aqueous solutions
Authors: Wang Ling-Ling , Chen Jian-Tao , Wang Long-Fei , Wu Sha , Zhang Guang-zhao , Yu Han-Qing , Ye Xiao-dong , Shi Qing-Shan 
Published: October 2017

AbstractSoluble microbial products (SMPs) are of significant concern in the natural environment and in engineered systems. In this work, poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA), which is predominantly produced by Bacillus sp., was investigated in terms of pH-induced conformational changes and molecular interactions in aqueous solutions; accordingly, its sedimentation coefficient distribution and viscosity were also elucidated. Experimental results indicate that pH has a significant impact on the structure and molecular interactions of γ-PGA. The conformation of the γ-PGA acid form (γ-PGA-H) is rod-like while that of the γ-PGA sodium form (γ-PGA-Na) is sphere-like. The transformation from α-helix to random coil in the γ-PGA secondary structure is primarily responsible for this shape variation. The intramolecular hydrogen bonds in the γ-PGA-H structure decrease and intramolecular electrostatic repulsion increases as pH increases; however, the sedimentation coefficient distributions of γ-PGA are dependent on intermolecular interactions rather than intramolecular interactions. Concentration has a more substantial effect on intermolecular electrostatic repulsion and chain entanglement at higher pH values. Consequently, the sedimentation coefficient distributions of γ-PGA shift significantly at pH 8.9 from 0.1 to 1.0 g/L, and the viscosity of γ-PGA (5% w/v) significantly increases as pH increases from 2.3 to 6.0.