bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
THE BLUFF: THE POWER OF INSINCERE ACTIONS
Authors: Ferzan Kimberly Kessler 
Published: December 2017

ABSTRACTIn addition to normative powers by which we alter our rights and duties, we can also forfeit rights. Culpable aggression forfeits the aggressor's right against the victim's use of defensive force. So, what happens when an aggressor “fakes it”? If a culpable aggressor is simply bluffing, has he still forfeited his rights? Because there is no threat, leading accounts of self-defense deny that there is forfeiture.This paper argues that individuals alter their rights and duties through insincere acts. Specifically, when one person culpably causes another person to believe that a normative power has been exercised or a right forfeited, that normative power is in fact exercised or the right is forfeited. An insincere promise counts as a promise; insincere consent counts as consent; and insincere abandonment counts as abandonment. And, the insincere threat forfeits the bluffer's rights to the same extent as a real threat would.
Impact of point sources on antibiotic resistance genes in the natural environment: a systematic review of the evidence
Authors: Bueno Irene , Williams-Nguyen Jessica , Hwang Haejin , Sargeant Jan M. , Nault André J. , Singer Randall S. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThere is a growing concern about the role of the environment in the dissemination of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARG). In this systematic review, we summarize evidence for increases of ARG in the natural environment associated with potential sources of ARB and ARG such as agricultural facilities and wastewater treatment plants. A total of 5247 citations were identified, including studies that ascertained both ARG and ARB outcomes. All studies were screened for relevance to the question and methodology. This paper summarizes the evidence only for those studies with ARG outcomes (n= 24). Sixteen studies were at high (n= 3) or at unclear (n= 13) risk of bias in the estimation of source effects due to lack of information or failure to control for confounders. Statistical methods were used in nine studies; three studies assessed the effect of multiple sources using modeling approaches, and none reported effect measures. Most studies reported higher ARG concentration downstream/near the source, but heterogeneous findings hindered making any sound conclusions. To quantify increases of ARG in the environment due to specific point sources, there is a need for studies that emphasize analytic or design control of confounding, and that provide effect measure estimates.
A model of emerging intelligence in Universe
Authors: Zak Michail 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe paper proposes a scenario of origin and emerging of intelligent life in Universe based upon the mathematical discovery of a new class of dynamical systems described by ordinary differential equation (ODE) coupled with their Liouville equation. These systems called self-controlled since the role of actuators is played by the probability produced by the Liouville equation. Following the Madelung equation that belongs to this class, non-Newtonian and quantum-like properties such as randomness, entanglement and probability interference typical for quantum systems have been described. At the same time, these systems expose properties of livings: decomposition into motor and mental dynamics, the capability of self-identification and self-awareness, as well as self-supervision. But the most surprising discovery is the existence of a special sub-class, in which the dynamical systems can violate the second law of thermodynamics, and that makes them different from both Newtonian and quantum physics. This sub-class should be associated with intelligent livings due to capability to move from disorder to order without external help. Based upon the mathematical discovery described above, one can assume that there are good chances that similar dynamical systems representing intelligent livings exist in real physical world. This provides a reason for a ‘rehabilitation’ of the Maxwell demon and put it into physics of intelligent systems. Indeed, the Maxwell demon is implemented by the feedback from the Liouville equation to the original ODE, while this feedback is capable to rearrange the probability distribution against the second law of thermodynamics. In addition to that, the same feedback removes the entropy paradox by explaining high order in our surrounding by ‘intelligent life support’. Two-steps transition: from the Newtonian physics to the linear model of life, and from the latter to the model of intelligent life are analysed. The first transition is triggered by the Hadamard instability of the Newtonian physics with respect to small random disturbances in linear terms of the Liouville feedback. The second transition is triggered by instability of linear model of life with respect to small random disturbances of non-linear terms of Liouville feedback. This transition could be implemented by such physical phenomena as shock waves or negative diffusion in probability space. Both transitions can be associated with catastrophe theory, in which sudden shifts in behaviour arises from small changes in parameters of the model. In view of the proposed model, possible competition between artificial and human intelligence are discussed.
Implication of 4E-BP1 protein dephosphorylation and accumulation in pancreatic cancer cell death induced by combined gemcitabine and TRAIL
Authors: Elia Androulla , Henry-Grant Ricky , Adiseshiah Charlotte , Marboeuf Catherine , Buckley Rebecca J , Clemens Michael J , Mudan Satvinder , Pyronnet Stéphane 
Published: December 2017

AbstractPancreatic cancer cells show varying sensitivity to the anticancer effects of gemcitabine. However, as a chemotherapeutic agent, gemcitabine can cause intolerably high levels of toxicity and patients often develop resistance to the beneficial effects of this drug. Combination studies show that use of gemcitabine with the pro-apoptotic cytokine TRAIL can enhance the inhibition of survival and induction of apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cells. Additionally, following combination treatment there is a dramatic increase in the level of the hypophosphorylated form of the tumour suppressor protein 4E-BP1. This is associated with inhibition of mTOR activity, resulting from caspase-mediated cleavage of the Raptor and Rictor components of mTOR. Use of the pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK indicates that the increase in level of 4E-BP1 is also caspase-mediated. ShRNA-silencing of 4E-BP1 expression renders cells more resistant to cell death induced by the combination treatment. Since the levels of 4E-BP1 are relatively low in untreated pancreatic cancer cells these results suggest that combined therapy with gemcitabine and TRAIL could improve the responsiveness of tumours to treatment by elevating the expression of 4E-BP1.
PAX7 target genes are globally repressed in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy skeletal muscle
Authors: Banerji Christopher R. S. , Panamarova Maryna , Hebaishi Husam , White Robert B. , Relaix Frédéric , Severini Simone , Zammit Peter S. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractFacioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is a prevalent, incurable myopathy, linked to hypomethylation of D4Z4 repeats on chromosome 4q causing expression of the DUX4 transcription factor. However, DUX4 is difficult to detect in FSHD muscle biopsies and it is debatable how robust changes in DUX4 target gene expression are as an FSHD biomarker. PAX7 is a master regulator of myogenesis that rescues DUX4-mediated apoptosis. Here, we show that suppression of PAX7 target genes is a hallmark of FSHD, and that it is as major a signature of FSHD muscle as DUX4 target gene expression. This is shown using meta-analysis of over six FSHD muscle biopsy gene expression studies, and validated by RNA-sequencing on FSHD patient-derived myoblasts. DUX4 also inhibits PAX7 from activating its transcriptional target genes and vice versa. Furthermore, PAX7 target gene repression can explain oxidative stress sensitivity and epigenetic changes in FSHD. Thus, PAX7 target gene repression is a hallmark of FSHD that should be considered in the investigation of FSHD pathology and therapy.
RNA degradation by the plant RNA exosome involves both phosphorolytic and hydrolytic activities
Authors: Sikorska Natalia , Zuber Hélène , Gobert Anthony , Lange Heike , Gagliardi Dominique 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe RNA exosome provides eukaryotic cells with an essential 3′–5′ exoribonucleolytic activity, which processes or eliminates many classes of RNAs. Its nine-subunit core (Exo9) is structurally related to prokaryotic phosphorolytic exoribonucleases. Yet, yeast and animal Exo9s have lost the primordial phosphorolytic capacity and rely instead on associated hydrolytic ribonucleases for catalytic activity. Here, we demonstrate that Arabidopsis Exo9 has retained a distributive phosphorolytic activity, which contributes to rRNA maturation processes, the hallmark of exosome function. High-density mapping of 3′ extremities of rRNA maturation intermediates reveals the intricate interplay between three exoribonucleolytic activities coordinated by the plant exosome. Interestingly, the analysis of RRP41 protein diversity across eukaryotes suggests that Exo9’s intrinsic activity operates throughout the green lineage, and possibly in some earlier-branching non-plant eukaryotes. Our results reveal a remarkable evolutionary variation of this essential RNA degradation machine in eukaryotes.
Evolution of sequence-specific anti-silencing systems in Arabidopsis
Authors: Hosaka Aoi , Saito Raku , Takashima Kazuya , Sasaki Taku , Fu Yu , Kawabe Akira , Ito Tasuku , Toyoda Atsushi , Fujiyama Asao , Tarutani Yoshiaki , Kakutani Tetsuji 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe arms race between parasitic sequences and their hosts is a major driving force for evolution of gene control systems. Since transposable elements (TEs) are potentially deleterious, eukaryotes silence them by epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation. Little is known about how TEs counteract silencing to propagate during evolution. Here, we report behavior of sequence-specific anti-silencing proteins used by Arabidopsis TEs and evolution of those proteins and their target sequences. We show that VANC, a TE-encoded anti-silencing protein, induces extensive DNA methylation loss throughout TEs. Related VANC proteins have evolved to hypomethylate TEs of completely different spectra. Targets for VANC proteins often form tandem repeats, which vary considerably between related TEs. We propose that evolution of VANC proteins and their targets allow propagation of TEs while causing minimal host damage. Our findings provide insight into the evolutionary dynamics of these apparently “selfish” sequences. They also provide potential tools to edit epigenomes in a sequence-specific manner.
Growth Associated Protein 43 (GAP-43) as a Novel Target for the Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention of Epileptogenesis
Authors: Nemes Ashley D. , Ayasoufi Katayoun , Ying Zhong , Zhou Qi-Gang , Suh Hoonkyo , Najm Imad M. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractWe previously showed increased growth associated protein 43 (GAP-43) expression in brain samples resected from patients with cortical dysplasia (CD), which was correlated with duration of epilepsy. Here, we used a rat model of CD to examine the regulation of GAP-43 in the brain and serum over the course of epileptogenesis. Baseline GAP-43 expression was higher in CD animals compared to control non-CD rats. An acute seizure increased GAP-43 expression in both CD and control rats. However, GAP-43 expression decreased by day 15 post-seizure in control rats, which did not develop spontaneous seizures. In contrast, GAP-43 remained up-regulated in CD rats, and over 50% developed chronic epilepsy with increased GAP-43 levels in their serum. GAP-43 protein was primarily located in excitatory neurons, suggesting its functional significance in epileptogenesis. Inhibition of GAP-43 expression by shRNA significantly reduced seizure duration and severity in CD rats after acute seizures with subsequent reduction in interictal spiking. Serum GAP-43 levels were significantly higher in CD rats that developed spontaneous seizures. Together, these results suggest GAP-43 as a key factor promoting epileptogenesis, a possible therapeutic target for treatment of progressive epilepsy and a potential biomarker for epilepsy progression in CD.
Safety and Efficacy of Losartan 50 mg in Reducing Blood Pressure among Patients with Post-Dialysis Euvolemic Hypertension: A Randomized Control Trial
Authors: Aftab Raja Ahsan , Khan Amer Hayat , Adnan Azreen Syazril , Sulaiman Syed Azhar Syed , Khan Tahir Mehmood 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe aim of current study was to assess the effectiveness of losartan 50 mg in reducing blood pressure among post-dialysis euvolemic hypertensive patients, observing their survival trends and adverse events during the course of study. A multicentre, prospective, randomised, single-blind trial was conducted to assess the effect of losartan 50 mg every other day (EOD), once a morning (OM) among post-dialysis euvolemic hypertensive patients. Post-dialysis euvolemic assessment was done by a body composition monitor (BCM). Covariate Adaptive Randomization was used for allocation of participants to the standard or intervention arm. Of the total 229 patients, 96 (41.9%) were identified as post-dialysis euvolemic hypertensive. Final samples of 88 (40.1%) patients were randomized into standard and intervention arms. After follow-up of 12 months’ pre-dialysis systolic (p < 0.001) and diastolic (p 0.01), intradialysis diastolic (p 0.02), post-dialysis systolic (p < 0.001) and diastolic (p < 0.001) blood pressure was reduced from the baseline among intervention-arm patients Compared to only pre-dialysis systolic blood pressure (p 0.003) among standard arm patients after 12 months of follow. Total of six deaths were reported among standard-arm patients compared to 2 deaths among the intervention arm. Losartan 50 mg achieve an overall significant decline in blood pressure among post-dialysis euvolemic hypertensive patients.
Structure and piezo-ferroelectricity relationship study of (K0.5Na0.5)0.985La0.005NbO3 epitaxial films deposited on SrTiO3 by sputtering
Authors: H´Mŏk H´Linh , Martínez-Aguilar E. , Gervacio-Arciniega J. J. , Vendrell X. , Siqueiros-Beltrones J. M. , Raymond-Herrera O. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThis work demonstrates that the rf-sputtering technique, combined with appropriate heat treatments, is potentially effective to develop new materials and devices based on oxide-interface and strain engineering. We report a study of the structural-physical properties relationship of high crystalline quality, highly oriented and epitaxial thin films of the lead-free (K0.5Na0.5)0.985La0.005NbO3 (KNNLa) compound which were successfully deposited on Nb-doped SrTiO3 substrates, with orientations [100] (NSTO100) and [110] (NSTO110). The crystalline growth and the local ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties were evaluated by piezoresponse force microscopy combined with transmission electron microscopy and texture analysis by X-ray diffraction. Conditioned by the STO surface parameters, in the KNNLa films on NSTO100 coexist a commensurate [001]-tetragonal phase and two incommensurate [010]-monoclinic phases; while on NSTO110 the KNNLa films grew only in an incommensurate [101]-monoclinic phase. Both samples show excellent out-of-plane polarization switching patterns consistent with 180° domains walls; while for KNNLa/NSTO100 ferroelectric domains grow with the polarization pointing down, for KNNLa/NSTO110 they prefer to grow with the polarization pointing up. Comparing with previous reports on epitaxial KNN films, we find our samples to be of very high quality regarding their crystalline growth with highly ordered ferroelectric domains arrangements and, consequently, great potential for domain engineering.
Mechanically stable solvent-free lipid bilayers in nano- and micro-tapered apertures for reconstitution of cell-free synthesized hERG channels
Authors: Tadaki Daisuke , Yamaura Daichi , Araki Shun , Yoshida Miyu , Arata Kohei , Ohori Takeshi , Ishibashi Ken-ichi , Kato Miki , Ma Teng , Miyata Ryusuke , Tozawa Yuzuru , Yamamoto Hideaki , Niwano Michio , Hirano-Iwata Ayumi 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe self-assembled bilayer lipid membrane (BLM) is the basic component of the cell membrane. The reconstitution of ion channel proteins in artificially formed BLMs represents a well-defined system for the functional analysis of ion channels and screening the effects of drugs that act on them. However, because BLMs are unstable, this limits the experimental throughput of BLM reconstitution systems. Here we report on the formation of mechanically stable solvent-free BLMs in microfabricated apertures with defined nano- and micro-tapered edge structures. The role of such nano- and micro-tapered structures on the stability of the BLMs was also investigated. Finally, this BLM system was combined with a cell-free synthesized human ether-a-go-go-related gene channel, a cardiac potassium channel whose relation to arrhythmic side effects following drug treatment is well recognized. Such stable BLMs as these, when combined with a cell-free system, represent a potential platform for screening the effects of drugs that act on various ion-channel genotypes.
Isolation and pathogenicity of Xylella fastidiosa associated to the olive quick decline syndrome in southern Italy
Authors: Saponari M. , Boscia D. , Altamura G. , Loconsole G. , Zicca S. , D’Attoma G. , Morelli M. , Palmisano F. , Saponari A. , Tavano D. , Savino V. N. , Dongiovanni C. , Martelli G. P. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractIn autumn 2013, the presence of Xylella fastidiosa, a xylem-limited Gram-negative bacterium, was detected in olive stands of an area of the Ionian coast of the Salento peninsula (Apulia, southern Italy), that were severely affected by a disease denoted olive quick decline syndrome (OQDS). Studies were carried out for determining the involvement of this bacterium in the genesis of OQDS and of the leaf scorching shown by a number of naturally infected plants other than olive. Isolation in axenic culture was attempted and assays were carried out for determining its pathogenicity to olive, oleander and myrtle-leaf milkwort. The bacterium was readily detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in all diseased olive trees sampled in different and geographically separated infection foci, and culturing of 51 isolates, each from a distinct OQDS focus, was accomplished. Needle-inoculation experiments under different environmental conditions proved that the Salentinian isolate De Donno belonging to the subspecies pauca is able to multiply and systemically invade artificially inoculated hosts, reproducing symptoms observed in the field. Bacterial colonization occurred in prick-inoculated olives of all tested cultivars. However, the severity of and timing of symptoms appearance differed with the cultivar, confirming their differential reaction.
Excellent Rectifying Properties of the n-3C-SiC/p-Si Heterojunction Subjected to High Temperature Annealing for Electronics, MEMS, and LED Applications
Authors: Tanner Philip , Iacopi Alan , Phan Hoang-Phuong , Dimitrijev Sima , Hold Leonie , Chaik Kien , Walker Glenn , Dao Dzung Viet , Nguyen Nam-Trung 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThis work examines the stability of epitaxial 3C-SiC/Si heterojunctions subjected to heat treatments between 1000 °C and 1300 °C. Because of the potential for silicon carbide in high temperature and harsh environment applications, and the economic advantages of growing the 3C-SiC polytype on large diameter silicon wafers, its stability after high temperature processing is an important consideration. Yet recently, this has been thrown into question by claims that the heterojunction suffers catastrophic degradation at temperatures above 1000 °C. Here we present results showing that the heterojunction maintains excellent diode characteristics following heat treatment up to 1100 °C and while some changes were observed between 1100 °C and 1300 °C, diodes maintained their rectifying characteristics, enabling compatibility with a large range of device fabrication. The parameters of as-grown diodes were J0 = 1 × 10−11 A/mm2, n = 1.02, and +/−2V rectification ratio of 9 × 106. Capacitance and thermal current-voltage analysis was used to characterize the excess current leakage mechanism. The change in diode characteristics depends on diode area, with larger areas (1 mm2) having reduced rectification ratio while smaller areas (0.04 mm2) maintained excellent characteristics of J0 = 2 × 10−10 A/mm2, n = 1.28, and +/−2V ratio of 3 × 106. This points to localized defect regions degrading after heat treatment rather than a fundamental issue of the heterojunction.
iDTI-ESBoost: Identification of Drug Target Interaction Using Evolutionary and Structural Features with Boosting
Authors: Rayhan Farshid , Ahmed Sajid , Shatabda Swakkhar , Farid Dewan Md , Mousavian Zaynab , Dehzangi Abdollah , Rahman M. Sohel 
Published: December 2017

AbstractPrediction of new drug-target interactions is critically important as it can lead the researchers to find new uses for old drugs and to disclose their therapeutic profiles or side effects. However, experimental prediction of drug-target interactions is expensive and time-consuming. As a result, computational methods for predictioning new drug-target interactions have gained a tremendous interest in recent times. Here we present iDTI-ESBoost, a prediction model for identification of drug-target interactions using evolutionary and structural features. Our proposed method uses a novel data balancing and boosting technique to predict drug-target interaction. On four benchmark datasets taken from a gold standard data, iDTI-ESBoost outperforms the state-of-the-art methods in terms of area under receiver operating characteristic (auROC) curve. iDTI-ESBoost also outperforms the latest and the best-performing method found in the literature in terms of area under precision recall (auPR) curve. This is significant as auPR curves are argued as suitable metric for comparison for imbalanced datasets similar to the one studied here. Our reported results show the effectiveness of the classifier, balancing methods and the novel features incorporated in iDTI-ESBoost. iDTI-ESBoost is a novel prediction method that has for the first time exploited the structural features along with the evolutionary features to predict drug-protein interactions. We believe the excellent performance of iDTI-ESBoost both in terms of auROC and auPR would motivate the researchers and practitioners to use it to predict drug-target interactions. To facilitate that, iDTI-ESBoost is implemented and made publicly available at:http://farshidrayhan.pythonanywhere.com/iDTI-ESBoost/.