bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Discriminative and prognostic potential of cerebrospinal fluid phosphoTau/tau ratio and neurofilaments for frontotemporal dementia subtypes
Authors: Pijnenburg Yolande A.L. , Verwey Nicolaas A. , van der Flier Wiesje M. , Scheltens Philip , Teunissen Charlotte E. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractIntroductionA decreased cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) p‐Tau181 to total tau ratio (p/t‐tau) is a biomarker for frontotemporal lobar degeneration with TDP43 inclusions (FTLD‐TDP) and for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). CSF light chain neurofilaments (NfL) are increased in ALS. We examined whether CSF p/t‐tau and NfL are related to ALS status in FTLD‐TDP.MethodsWe compared CSF p/t‐tau and NfL levels between patients with FTLD‐TDP with ALS (n = 15), FTLD‐TDP without ALS (n = 17), FTLD‐Tau (n = 6), Alzheimer's disease (AD; n = 25), and subjective memory complaints (SMC, n = 24).ResultsApart from FTLD‐Tau, all groups differed significantly with increasing p/t‐tau ratios from FTLD‐TDP with ALS to FTLD‐TDP without ALS to AD and SMC. CSF NfL was very high in FTLD‐TDP with ALS followed by FTLD‐TDP without ALS, AD, and SMC. Both biomarkers correlated with survival.DiscussionCSF p/t‐tau ratio and NfL levels are strongly driven by ALS status. These markers, therefore, appear to be more of prognostic than diagnostic significance.
Clinician attendance and delivery practices at hospital‐based vaginal deliveries in Western Kenya
Authors: Patel Suha J. , Bogaert Kelly , Gachuno Onesmus W. , Kibore Minnie W. , Unger Jennifer , Walker Dilys M. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractObjectiveTo characterize delivery practices and factors associated with respectful, evidence‐based care at a referral hospital in Western Kenya.MethodsAn exploratory observational study used a standardized birth‐observation form to record information on patient characteristics and healthcare practitioner behaviors during uncomplicated vaginal deliveries between June 30, 2014 and July 17, 2014. All deliveries were monitored for whether healthcare staff performed six specific evidence‐based practices (three maternal and three neonatal practices).ResultsIn total, 75 vaginal deliveries were observed. In 48 (64%) deliveries, nursing students were the only practitioners present. The mean number of evidence‐based practices performed at each delivery was 3.58. The number of evidence‐based practices performed by junior practitioners was higher when a nurse educator was assessing their performance (4.47 vs 3.36, P < 0.001). Lower mean respectful‐care scores were recorded when delivery teams comprised three or more practitioners (1.38; 95% confidence interval 0.93–1.84 vs 2.74; 95% confidence interval 2.16–3.31, P = 0.002).ConclusionThe present study found low rates of evidence‐based practice and respectful maternity care; this could serve as a deterrent for women seeking care at the study facility. These findings emphasize the need for a comprehensive approach in increasing the quality of patient care to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes.
We Built This City: Public Participation in Land Use Decisions in Singapore
Authors: LEE Jack Tsen-Ta 
Published: December 2015

AbstractThis article considers the extent to which the legal framework for making land use decisions in Singapore allows for public participation. It examines the issue from two angles: the creation and preservation of the built environment, and the transient use of public space. The first angle is discussed primarily from a heritage law viewpoint, focusing on planning law, compulsory acquisition law, and the legal regime for creating national monuments. As for the second angle, the article looks at how the use of common spaces for assemblies and processions is regulated. The foregoing are examined in the context of Edward Soja’s assertion in Seeking Spatial Justice (2010) that the equitable distribution of resources, services, and access in cities is an important right.
Cold War in the Countryside: Conflict in Guerrero, Mexico
Authors: Blacker O'Neill 
Published: December 2015

“Our struggle has its inspirational roots in [our] national history and reality: our flag . . . is the same raised by Hidalgo, Morelos and Guerrero, Juarez, Zapata and Villa.”
Genaro Vazquez Rojas, La Asociacion Civica Nacional Revolucionaria, 1968
Demographic factors associated with loss to follow up in the management of chronic otitis media: case–control study
Authors: Nash R , Fox R , Srinivasan R , Majithia A , Singh A 
Published: December 2015

AbstractObjective:The likelihood of a patient attending regular follow up can affect decision making when planning and performing tympanomastoid surgery. This study investigated whether demographic factors were associated with loss to follow up.Methods:A database of patients who had been investigated and treated for chronic otitis media was searched. Patients lost to follow up and a matching sample of patients who were formally discharged were identified. The demographic factors of age, sex and postcode were compared between the two groups. The information collected was also used to provide measures of deprivation.Results:Fifty patients in each group were identified. Patients lost to follow up were significantly younger than patients formally discharged (p< 0.02), and were more likely to live in an area of education and training deprivation (p< 0.05).Conclusion:Younger patient age, and living in an area of education and training deprivation, are associated with a higher incidence of loss to follow up.
Scepticism about Scepticism
Authors: Zangwill Nick 
Published: December 2015

AbstractI argue that once we prioritize epistemic dependence and cast scepticism in those terms, rather than in modal terms, it is clear that skeptical arguments are no good. Skeptical arguments necessarily make dogmatic assumptions about what makes for knowledge or justification, or about what makes for lack of knowledge or justification. A dogmatist asserts an epistemic dependence relation at some level or other that something makes for knowledge or justification. But the skeptical assertion that something makes for the lack of knowledge or the lack of justification is then asserted dogmatically by the skeptic, and asserting that is as dogmatic as a non-skeptical assertion. Even if it is then said that both positive and negative epistemic views are not justified then we have a negative meta-epistemic dogmatic assertion. Wherever we draw the line, epistemic making relations are assumed. Both skeptical assertions and skeptical arguments assume such dependence claims. Dogmatism is our fate.
The limits of metrical segmentation: intonation modulates infants' extraction of embedded trochees
Authors: ZAHNER KATHARINA , SCHÖNHUBER MUNA , BRAUN BETTINA 
Published: December 2015

AbstractWe tested German nine-month-olds’ reliance on pitch and metrical stress for segmentation. In a headturn-preference paradigm, infants were familiarized with trisyllabic words (weak–strong–weak (WSW) stress pattern) in sentence-contexts. The words were presented in one of three naturally occurring intonation conditions: one in which high pitch was aligned with the stressed syllable and two misalignment conditions (with high pitch preceding vs. following the stressed syllable). Infants were tested on the SW unit of the WSW carriers. Experiment 1 showed recognition only when the stressed syllable was high-pitched. Intonation of test items (similar vs. dissimilar to familiarization) had no influence (Experiment 2). Thus, German nine-month-olds perceive stressed syllables as word onsets only when high-pitched, although they already generalize over different pitch contours. Different mechanisms underlying this pattern of results are discussed.
Free mate choice enhances conservation breeding in the endangered giant panda
Authors: Martin-Wintle Meghan S. , Shepherdson David , Zhang Guiquan , Zhang Hemin , Li Desheng , Zhou Xiaoping , Li Rengui , Swaisgood Ronald R. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractConservation breeding programmes have become an increasingly important tool to save endangered species, yet despite the allocation of significant resources, efforts to create self-sustaining populations have met with limited success. The iconic giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) embodies the struggles associated with ex situ species conservation. Here we show that behavioural mate preferences in giant pandas predict reproductive outcomes. Giant pandas paired with preferred partners have significantly higher copulation and birth rates. Reproductive rates increase further when both partners show mutual preference for one another. If managers were to incorporate mate preferences more fully into breeding management, the production of giant panda offspring for China’s reintroduction programme might be greatly expedited. When extended to the increasing numbers of species dependent on ex situ conservation breeding to avoid extinction, our findings highlight that mate preference and other aspects of informed behavioural management could make the difference between success and failure of these programmes.
Tracking molecular resonance forms of donor–acceptor push–pull molecules by single-molecule conductance experiments
Authors: Lissau Henriette , Frisenda Riccardo , Olsen Stine T. , Jevric Martyn , Parker Christian R. , Kadziola Anders , Hansen Thorsten , van der Zant Herre S. J. , Brøndsted Nielsen Mogens , Mikkelsen Kurt V. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractThe ability of molecules to change colour on account of changes in solvent polarity is known as solvatochromism and used spectroscopically to characterize charge-transfer transitions in donor–acceptor molecules. Here we report that donor–acceptor-substituted molecular wires also exhibit distinct properties in single-molecule electronics under the influence of a bias voltage, but in absence of solvent. Two oligo(phenyleneethynylene) wires with donor–acceptor substitution on the central ring (cruciform-like) exhibit remarkably broad conductance peaks measured by the mechanically controlled break-junction technique with gold contacts, in contrast to the sharp peak of simpler molecules. From a theoretical analysis, we explain this by different degrees of charge delocalization and hence cross-conjugation at the central ring. Thus, small variations in the local environment promote the quinoid resonance form (off), the linearly conjugated (on) or any form in between. This shows how the conductance of donor–acceptor cruciforms is tuned by small changes in the environment.
Staphylococcus aureus forms spreading dendrites that have characteristics of active motility
Authors: Pollitt Eric J. G. , Crusz Shanika A. , Diggle Stephen P. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractStaphylococcus aureus is historically regarded as a non-motile organism. More recently it has been shown that S. aureus can passively move across agar surfaces in a process called spreading. We re-analysed spreading motility using a modified assay and focused on observing the formation of dendrites: branching structures that emerge from the central colony. We discovered that S. aureus can spread across the surface of media in structures that we term ‘comets’, which advance outwards and precede the formation of dendrites. We observed comets in a diverse selection of S. aureus isolates and they exhibit the following behaviours: (1) They consist of phenotypically distinct cores of cells that move forward and seed other S. aureus cells behind them forming a comet ‘tail’; (2) they move when other cells in the comet tail have stopped moving; (3) the comet core is held together by a matrix of slime; and (4) the comets etch trails in the agar as they move forwards. Comets are not consistent with spreading motility or other forms of passive motility. Comet behaviour does share many similarities with a form of active motility known as gliding. Our observations therefore suggest that S. aureus is actively motile under certain conditions.
Protein phosphatase 4 (PP4) functions as a critical regulator in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-induced hepatic insulin resistance
Authors: Zhao Hongye , Huang Xiuqing , Jiao Juan , Zhang Hangxiang , Liu Jin , Qin Weiwei , Meng Xiangyu , Shen Tao , Lin Yajun , Chu Jiaojiao , Li Jian 
Published: December 2015

AbstractProtein phosphatase 4 (PP4) was shown to participate in multiple cellular processes, including DNA damage response, cell cycle and embryo development. Recent studies demonstrated a looming role of PP4 in glucose metabolism. However, whether PP4 is involved in hepatic insulin resistance remains poorly understood. The objective of this study was to estimate the role of PP4 in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-induced hepatic insulin resistance. db/db mice and TNF-α-treated C57BL/6J mice were used as hepatic insulin resistance animal models. In vitro models were established in both HepG2 cells and primary hepatocytes by TNF-α treatment. We found that increased expression and activity of PP4 occurred in the livers of db/db mice and TNF-α-induced hepatic insulin resistance both in vitro and in vivo. Actually, PP4 silencing and suppression of PP4 activity ameliorated TNF-α-induced hepatic insulin resistance, whereas over-expression of PP4 caused insulin resistance. We then further investigated the prodiabetic mechanism of PP4 in TNF-α-induced insulin resistance. We found that PP4 formed a complex with IRS-1 to promote phosphorylation of IRS-1 on serine 307 via JNK activation and reduce the expression of IRS-1. Thus, PP4 is an important regulator in inflammatory related insulin resistance.
Manipulation of Dirac Cones in Mechanical Graphene
Authors: Kariyado Toshikaze , Hatsugai Yasuhiro 
Published: December 2015

AbstractRecently, quantum Hall state analogs in classical mechanics attract much attention from topological points of view. Topology is not only for mathematicians but also quite useful in a quantum world. Further it even governs the Newton’s law of motion. One of the advantages of classical systems over solid state materials is its clear controllability. Here we investigate mechanical graphene, which is a spring-mass model with the honeycomb structure as a typical mechanical model with nontrivial topological phenomena. The vibration spectrum of mechanical graphene is characterized by Dirac cones serving as sources of topological nontriviality. We find that the spectrum has dramatic dependence on the spring tension at equilibrium as a natural control parameter, i.e., creation and annihilation of the Dirac particles are realized as the tension increases. Just by rotating the system, the manipulated Dirac particles lead to topological transition, i.e., a jump of the “Chern number” occurs associated with flipping of propagating direction of chiral edge modes. This is a bulk-edge correspondence governed by the Newton’s law. A simple observation that in-gap edge modes exist only at the fixed boundary, but not at the free one, is attributed to the symmetry protection of topological phases.
Variants and haplotypes in Flap endonuclease 1 and risk of gallbladder cancer and gallstones: a population-based study in China
Authors: Jiao Xingyuan , Wu Ying , Zhou Liansuo , He Jinyun , Yang Chonghua , Zhang Peng , Hu Ronglin , Luo Canqiao , Du Jun , Fu Jian , Shi Jinsen , He Rui , Li Dongming , Jun Wang 
Published: December 2015

AbstractThe role of FEN1 genetic variants on gallstone and gallbladder cancer susceptibility is unknown. FEN1 SNPs were genotyped using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method in blood samples from 341 gallbladder cancer patients and 339 healthy controls. The distribution of FEN1-69G > A genotypes among controls (AA, 20.6%; GA, 47.2% and GG 32.2%) was significantly different from that among gallbladder cancer cases (AA, 11.1%; GA, 48.1% and GG, 40.8%), significantly increased association with gallbladder cancer was observed for subjects with both the FEN1-69G > A GA (OR = 1.73, 95% CI = 1.01–2.63) and the FEN1-69G > A GG (OR = 2.29, 95% CI = 1.31–3.9). The distribution of FEN1 -4150T genotypes among controls (TT, 21.8%;GT, 49.3% and GG 28.9%) was significantly different from that among gallbladder cancer cases (TT, 12.9%; GT, 48.4% and GG 38.7%), significantly increased association with gallbladder cancer was observed for subjects with both the FEN1-4150T GT(OR = 1.93, 95% CI = 1.04–2.91) and the FEN1-4150T GG(OR = 2.56, 95% CI = 1.37–5.39). A significant trend towards increased association with gallbladder cancer was observed with potentially higher-risk FEN1-69G > A genotypes (P < 0.001, χ2 trend test) and FEN14150G > T (P < 0.001, χ2 trend test) in gallstone presence but not in gallstone absence (P = 0.81, P = 0.89, respectively). In conclusion, this study revealed firstly that FEN1 polymorphisms and haplotypes are associated with gallbladder cancer risk.
Increased co-expression of genes harboring the damaging de novo mutations in Chinese schizophrenic patients during prenatal development
Authors: Wang Qiang , Li Miaoxin , Yang Zhenxing , Hu Xun , Wu Hei-Man , Ni Peiyan , Ren Hongyan , Deng Wei , Li Mingli , Ma Xiaohong , Guo Wanjun , Zhao Liansheng , Wang Yingcheng , Xiang Bo , Lei Wei , Sham Pak C , Li Tao 
Published: December 2015

AbstractSchizophrenia is a heritable, heterogeneous common psychiatric disorder. In this study, we evaluated the hypothesis that de novo variants (DNVs) contribute to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. We performed exome sequencing in Chinese patients (N = 45) with schizophrenia and their unaffected parents (N = 90). Forty genes were found to contain DNVs. These genes had enriched transcriptional co-expression profile in prenatal frontal cortex (Bonferroni corrected p < 9.1 × 10−3) and in prenatal temporal and parietal regions (Bonferroni corrected p < 0.03). Also, four prenatal anatomical subregions (VCF, MFC, OFC and ITC) have shown significant enrichment of connectedness in co-expression networks. Moreover, four genes (LRP1, MACF1, DICER1 and ABCA2) harboring the damaging de novo mutations are strongly prioritized as susceptibility genes by multiple evidences. Our findings in Chinese schizophrenic patients indicate the pathogenic role of DNVs, supporting the hypothesis that schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disease.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Modified box dimension and average weighted receiving time on the weighted fractal networks
Authors: Dai Meifeng , Sun Yanqiu , Shao Shuxiang , Xi Lifeng , Su Weiyi 
Published: December 2015

AbstractIn this paper a family of weighted fractal networks, in which the weights of edges have been assigned to different values with certain scale, are studied. For the case of the weighted fractal networks the definition of modified box dimension is introduced and a rigorous proof for its existence is given. Then, the modified box dimension depending on the weighted factor and the number of copies is deduced. Assuming that the walker, at each step, starting from its current node, moves uniformly to any of its nearest neighbors. The weighted time for two adjacency nodes is the weight connecting the two nodes. Then the average weighted receiving time (AWRT) is a corresponding definition. The obtained remarkable result displays that in the large network, when the weight factor is larger than the number of copies, the AWRT grows as a power law function of the network order with the exponent, being the reciprocal of modified box dimension. This result shows that the efficiency of the trapping process depends on the modified box dimension: the larger the value of modified box dimension, the more efficient the trapping process is.
Single particle optical extinction and scattering allows real time quantitative characterization of drug payload and degradation of polymeric nanoparticles
Authors: Potenza M. A. C. , Sanvito T. , Argentiere S. , Cella C. , Paroli B. , Lenardi C. , Milani P. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractThe behavior of nanoparticles in biological systems is determined by their dimensions, size distribution, shape, surface chemistry, density, drug loading and stability; the characterization of these parameters in realistic conditions and the possibility to follow their evolution in vitro and in vivo are, in most of the cases, far from the capabilities of the standard characterization technologies. Optical techniques such as dynamic light scattering (DLS) are, in principle, well suited for in line characterization of nanoparticle, however their fail in characterizing the evolution of nanoparticle in solution where change in particle dimension and density is present. Here we present an in-line optical technique based on single particle extinction and scattering (SPES) overcoming the limitations typical of DLS and allowing for the efficient characterization of nanoparticle polydispersity, index of refraction and degradation dynamics in solution. Using SPES, we characterized the evolution of PLGA nanoparticles with different structures and drug payloads in solution and we compared the results with DLS. Our results suggest that SPES could be used as a process analytical technology for pharmaceutical nanoparticle production.
Self-assembled honeycomb lattice in the monolayer of cyclic thiazyl diradical BDTDA (= 4,4′-bis(1,2,3,5-dithiadiazolyl)) on Cu(111) with a zero-bias tunneling spectra anomaly
Authors: Yamamoto Masayuki , Suizu Rie , Dutta Sudipta , Mishra Puneet , Nakayama Tomonobu , Sakamoto Kazuyuki , Wakabayashi Katsunori , Uchihashi Takashi , Awaga Kunio 
Published: December 2015

AbstractScanning tunneling microscopy (STM) observation reveals that a cyclic thiazyl diradical, BDTDA (= 4,4′-bis(1,2,3,5-dithiadiazolyl)), forms a well-ordered monolayer honeycomb lattice consisting of paramagnetic corners with unpaired electrons on a clean Cu(111) surface. This BDTDA lattice is commensurate with the triangular lattice of Cu(111), with the former being 3 × 3 larger than the latter. The formation of the BDTDA monolayer structure, which is significantly different from its bulk form, is attributed to an interaction with the metal surface as well as the intermolecular assembling forces. STM spectroscopy measurements on the BDTDA molecules indicate the presence of a characteristic zero-bias anomaly centered at the Fermi energy. The origin of this zero-bias anomaly is discussed in terms of the Dirac cones inherent to the honeycomb structure.
Identification of potential mitochondrial CLPXP protease interactors and substrates suggests its central role in energy metabolism
Authors: Fischer Fabian , Langer Julian D. , Osiewacz Heinz D. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractMaintenance of mitochondria is achieved by several mechanisms, including the regulation of mitochondrial proteostasis. The matrix protease CLPXP, involved in protein quality control, has been implicated in ageing and disease. However, particularly due to the lack of knowledge of CLPXP’s substrate spectrum, only little is known about the pathways and mechanisms controlled by this protease. Here we report the first comprehensive identification of potential mitochondrial CLPXP in vivo interaction partners and substrates using a combination of tandem affinity purification and differential proteomics. This analysis reveals that CLPXP in the fungal ageing model Podospora anserina is mainly associated with metabolic pathways in mitochondria, e.g. components of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex and the tricarboxylic acid cycle as well as subunits of electron transport chain complex I. These data suggest a possible function of mitochondrial CLPXP in the control and/or maintenance of energy metabolism. Since bioenergetic alterations are a common feature of neurodegenerative diseases, cancer and ageing, our data comprise an important resource for specific studies addressing the role of CLPXP in these adverse processes.