bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nitric oxide has contrasting age-dependent effects on the functionality of murine hematopoietic stem cells
Authors: Jalnapurkar Sapana , Singh Shweta , Devi Moirangthem Ranjita , Limaye Lalita , Kale Vaijayanti 
Published: November 2016

Abstract
Background
The success of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation is dependent on the quality of the donor HSCs. Some sources of HSCs display reduced engraftment efficiency either because of inadequate number (e.g., fetal liver and cord blood), or age-related dysfunction (e.g. in older individuals). Therefore, use of pharmacological compounds to improve functionality of HSCs is a forefront research area in hematology.

Methods
Lineage negative (Lin−) cells isolated from murine bone marrow or sort-purified Lin−Sca-1+c-Kit+CD34− (LSK-CD34−) were treated with a nitric oxide donor, sodium nitroprusside (SNP). The cells were subjected to various phenotypic and functional assays.

Results
We found that SNP treatment of Lin− cells leads to an increase in the numbers of LSK-CD34+ cells in them. Using sort-purified LSK CD34− HSCs, we show that this is related to acquisition of CD34 expression by LSK-CD34− cells, rather than proliferation of LSK-CD34+ cells. Most importantly, this upregulated expression of CD34 had age-dependent contrasting effects on HSC functionality. Increased CD34 expression significantly improved the engraftment of juvenile HSCs (6–8 weeks); in sharp contrast, it reduced the engraftment of adult HSCs (10–12 weeks). The molecular mechanism behind this phenomenon involved nitric oxide (NO)-mediated differential induction of various transcription factors involved in commitment with regard to self-renewal in adult and juvenile HSCs, respectively. Preliminary experiments performed on cord blood-derived and mobilized peripheral blood-derived cells revealed that NO exerts age-dependent contrasting effects on human HSCs as well.

Conclusions
This study demonstrates novel age-dependent contrasting effects of NO on HSC functionality and suggests that HSC age may be an important parameter in screening of various compounds for their use in manipulation of HSCs.
Xpf suppresses the mutagenic consequences of phagocytosis in Dictyostelium
Authors: Pontel Lucas B. , Langenick Judith , Rosado Ivan V. , Zhang Xiao-Yin , Traynor David , Kay Robert R. , Patel Ketan J. 
Published: November 2016

ABSTRACT
As time passes, mutations accumulate in the genomes of all living organisms. These changes promote genetic diversity, but also precipitate ageing and the initiation of cancer. Food is a common source of mutagens, but little is known about how nutritional factors cause lasting genetic changes in the consuming organism. Here, we describe an unusual genetic interaction between DNA repair in the unicellular amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum and its natural bacterial food source. We found that Dictyostelium deficient in the DNA repair nuclease Xpf (xpf−) display a severe and specific growth defect when feeding on bacteria. Despite being proficient in the phagocytosis and digestion of bacteria, over time, xpf− Dictyostelium feeding on bacteria cease to grow and in many instances die. The Xpf nuclease activity is required for sustained growth using a bacterial food source. Furthermore, the ingestion of this food source leads to a striking accumulation of mutations in the genome of xpf− Dictyostelium. This work therefore establishes Dictyostelium as a model genetic system to dissect nutritional genotoxicity, providing insight into how phagocytosis can induce mutagenesis and compromise survival fitness.
An unconventional interaction between Dis1/TOG and Mal3/EB1 in fission yeast promotes the fidelity of chromosome segregation
Authors: Matsuo Yuzy , Maurer Sebastian P. , Yukawa Masashi , Zakian Silva , Singleton Martin R. , Surrey Thomas , Toda Takashi 
Published: November 2016

ABSTRACT
Dynamic microtubule plus-ends interact with various intracellular target regions such as the cell cortex and the kinetochore. Two conserved families of microtubule plus-end-tracking proteins, the XMAP215, ch-TOG or CKAP5 family and the end-binding 1 (EB1, also known as MAPRE1) family, play pivotal roles in regulating microtubule dynamics. Here, we study the functional interplay between fission yeast Dis1, a member of the XMAP215/TOG family, and Mal3, an EB1 protein. Using an in vitro microscopy assay, we find that purified Dis1 autonomously tracks growing microtubule ends and is a bona fide microtubule polymerase. Mal3 recruits additional Dis1 to microtubule ends, explaining the synergistic enhancement of microtubule dynamicity by these proteins. A non-canonical binding motif in Dis1 mediates the interaction with Mal3. X-ray crystallography shows that this new motif interacts in an unconventional configuration with the conserved hydrophobic cavity formed within the Mal3 C-terminal region that typically interacts with the canonical SXIP motif. Selectively perturbing the Mal3–Dis1 interaction in living cells demonstrates that it is important for accurate chromosome segregation. Whereas, in some metazoans, the interaction between EB1 and the XMAP215/TOG family members requires an additional binding partner, fission yeast relies on a direct interaction, indicating evolutionary plasticity of this critical interaction module.
Peripheral refraction with different designs of progressive soft contact lenses in myopes
Authors: Allinjawi Kareem , Sharanjeet-Kaur Sharanjeet-Kaur , Akhir Saadah Mohamed , Mutalib Haliza Abdul 
Published: November 2016

Aim: The purpose of this study was to compare the changes in relative peripheral refractive error produced by two different designs of progressive soft contact lenses in myopic schoolchildren. Methods: Twenty-seven myopic schoolchildren age between 13 to 15 years were included in this study. The measurements of central and peripheral refraction were made using a Grand-Seiko WR-5100K open-field autorefractometer without correction (baseline), and two different designs of progressive contact lenses (PCLs) (Multistage from SEED & Proclear from Cooper Vision) with an addition power of +1.50 D. Refractive power was measured at center and at eccentricities between 35º temporal to 35º nasal visual field (in 5º steps). Results: Both PCLs showed a reduction in hyperopic defocus at periphery. However, this reduction was only significant for the Multistage PCL (p= 0.015), (Proclear PCL p= 0.830). Conclusion: Multistage PCLs showed greater reduction in peripheral retinal hyperopic defocus among myopic schoolchildren in comparison to Proclear PCLs.
Identification of smart specialisations in Polish regions in the context of the EU's new financial perspective 2014-2020
Authors: Kogut-Jaworska Magdalena 
Published: November 2016

The smart specialisation is a new EU’s concept towards the regions. It assumes upgrading of innovation and competitiveness basing on endogenic potential, in particular, in already existing branches of economy. Smart specialisations should, by definition concentrate economic resources on chosen priorities. Having a smart specialisation will be a pre-condition for access to the UE’s funds in the new financial perspective 2014-2020. Smart specialisation need to be clearly defined and only then can they contribute into economic growth combined with proper management over public financial means. The necessary pre-condition is to understand the very concept and to recognize the mechanism of identification and implementation. The expected pre-conditions also include a proper legal framework and its smart implementation through able application of administrative tools. The objective of the paper is to introduce and characterise assumptions for smart specialisations and to indicate at the progress of implementation and the necessary conditions required in Polish regions. Moreover, the paper reviews and analyses major European and national documents exposing the question of smart specialisations. The empiric part deals with identification and assessment of progress in the implementation of the concept into Polish regions.
Effect of forest composition on bird species abundance in tropical dry deciduous forest: A case of Bhimbandh Wildlife Sanctuary, India
Authors: KHAN MOHD SHAHNAWAZ 
Published: November 2016

Abstract. Khan MS. 2017. Effect of forest composition on bird species abundance in tropical dry deciduous forest: A case of Bhimbandh Wildlife Sanctuary, India. Biodiversitas 18: 78-85. The tropical dry deciduous forest (TDDF) with 38.2% of total forest cover in India forms the largest forest type of India. TDDF have been managed for centuries in the Indian subcontinent. However, so far it is not clear how different forest compositions and structures inï¬‚uence the abundance and the distribution patterns of faunal species vice versa. To provide further insights in this respect, we analysed how different habitat variables inï¬‚uence the abundance and diversity of forest birds. The difference in relative species abundances and habitat separation between forest specialist and generalist birds was also investigated. Different classes of bird density were discriminated with habitat variables. In general, it was found that higher bird densities were concentrated in the lower tree and shrub densities and diversities, however, high grass density and diversity with low tree density and diversity favoured the overall high bird density. Results further indicate the positive association of relative density of specialist bird species with the high grass density and diversity and low tree density and diversity. Specialists occurred in the lower relative densities (0.75Â±0.68) than that of generalists (0.86Â±0.69) and were found restricted to dense, pristine woody forest patches with high tree diversity.
Keywords: Bhimbandh Wildlife Sanctuary, birds, Forest Composition, India, Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest
Precocious labrish: The girl-child narrative voice as short story poetics in the works of Marie Lily Cerat, Pamela Mordecai and Jennifer Rahim
Authors: Bailey Carol 
Published: November 2016

Abstract
This article analyses short stories by Pamela Mordecai (Jamaica), Jennifer Rahim (Trinidad) and Marie Lily Cerat (Haiti) to theorize ‘precocious labrish’ as the most significant stylistic trend in short story writing among Caribbean women. Precocious labrish encapsulates the dominant presence of the prepubescent and pubescent girl, as well as the young woman as the narrative voice, critic and commentator, and in some instances consciousness, in her stories. The article harnesses the positive connotation of ‘Precocious’ and recovers the Jamaican vernacular term ‘labrish’, to characterize the loquaciousness of young girls in these works as an affirmative inscription of a decidedly subversive female presence. Always with an interrogative turn, the girl narrators in the stories considered here confront some pressing questions that emerge about Caribbean culture and social imperatives. In that way, the writers extend an established stylistic element of short story writing to tackle fresh questions and offer heightened attention to others initiated earlier, and to extend a poetics of short story writing established by writers such as Olive Senior and Jamaica Kincaid.
Lusotropicalism, ‘girl-butterflies’ and ‘the fact of blackness’: A neo-Fanonian reading of Esmeralda Ribeiro’s ‘À Procura de uma borboleta preta’
Authors: Minto Deonne N. 
Published: November 2016

Abstract
Within the last decade Caribbean theorists have come to acknowledge Brazil as part of what Immanuel Wallerstein refers to as the ‘extended Caribbean’. In placing Brazil in comparative relation to other areas of the Caribbean, such theorists have noted similar patterns of slave economies and convergences of race and class. Yet, not as much attention has been paid to the issue of gender, which plays a crucial role in the Lusotropicalist myth of a Brazilian racial democracy. Engaging Frantz Fanon’s psychoanalytical interpretations of black women and what he terms ‘the fact of blackness’ in relation to the search for recognition from the nation, I analyse Esmeralda Ribeiro’s ‘A Procura de uma borboleta preta’ while considering the following questions about the status of black women in contemporary Brazil: How do black women manoeuver the Lusotropicalist space of Brazil? What are the stakes for them? How do they confirm, oppose and complicate Fanon’s rendering of black women in relation to white men and the larger nation? What psychopathologies become evident in Afro-Brazilian women when the ideals of a racial democracy fail to align themselves with ‘the fact of blackness’? By examining these questions, I seek to enlarge the scope of present approaches to the extended Caribbean, specifically, and to the Americas more broadly.
Rewriting the history of computerized media in China, 1990s–today
Authors: Bahroun Allan 
Published: November 2016

Abstract
This article presents a semiological understanding of mediation to trace the mutations in everyday communication in China through the development of computerized media. The guiding line of the history invites to write circles around the idea that computerized media have intensely redistributed the powers of writing and reading. This article offers several entry points into the material reality of computerized media. By ‘rewriting history’ it wishes to establish writing as a new category of interpretation for the study of computerized media. Ultimately, it calls for a renewed analysis of computerized media capitalism to enrich the political economic approach of communication in China and beyond.
O Preconceito Linguístico no Brasil
Authors: Oliveira Maria do Carmo Leite de , Beserra Theóphilo Michel Alvares Cabral 
Published: November 2016

Este artigo tem por objetivo discutir o preconceito linguístico no Brasil. Percebe-se que ainda é uma prática dominante no país, onde há uma diversidade cultural muito grande. Pretende-se ainda refletir sobre os aspectos históricos e os mitos descritos por que Bagno, me sua obra intitulada Preconceito Línguístico, tentando um paralelo com a realidade escolar. Os resultados denotam uma língua não homogênea, com domíniod de todos os nativos brasileiros e, cujas variantes culturais não dificultam a compreensão das mensagens.
Ciências, culturas e educação: reflexões acerca do “eu” e do “outro” em um processo formativo docente
Authors: Brito Maria Camila De Lima , Jesus Yasmin Lima de , Lopes Edinéia Tavares 
Published: November 2016

Esta investigação foi desenvolvida junto às ações dos programas PIBID/ PRODOCÊNCIA/CAPES da área de Química/Ciências- UFS do Campus Itabaiana. As ações de ensino, pesquisa e extensão desse subprojeto foram desenvolvidas em seis colégios estaduais sergipanos, durante os anos de 2012 à 2014. O objetivo deste trabalho é analisar, a partir dos contatos e convívio com uma comunidade quilombola, as reflexões de duas bolsistas pibidianas acerca do “eu” e do “outro”. A perspectiva etnográfica e o relato autobiográfico constituem a metodologia do trabalho. Os métodos de coleta de dados foram o diário de campo e as observações. Assim, este trabalho possibilitou uma reflexão acerca das opiniões e visões das pesquisadoras/bolsistas sobre à cultura afro-brasileira, mais especificamente, das visões acerca de “nós” e dos “outros”, conforme exposto por Candau, buscando uma reflexão acerca da construção, histórica e culturalmente situada, da identidade docente.
Adenophora liliifolia: Condition of its Populations in Central Europe
Authors: Prausová Romana , Marečková Lucie , Kapler Adam , Majeský L’uboš , Farkas Tünde , Indreica Adrian , Šafářová Lenka , Kitner Miloslav 
Published: November 2016

Abstract
This study deals with populations of the European-South-Siberian geoelement Adenophora liliifolia (L.) A. DC. in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Poland, where this species has its European periphery distribution. We studied the population size, genetic variability, site conditions, and vegetation units in which A. liliifolia grows. Recent and historical localities of A. liliifolia were ranked into six vegetation units of both forest and non-forest character. A phytosociological survey showed differences in the species composition among localities. Only a weak pattern of population structure was observed (only 22% of total genetic variation present at the interpopulation level, AMOVA analysis), with moderate values for gene diversity (Hj = 0.141) and polymorphism (P = 27.6%). Neighbor-joining and Bayesian clusterings suggest a similar genetic background for most of the populations from Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Poland, contrary to the populations from Hungary, Romania, as well as two populations from Central and South Slovakia. This might be explained by a relatively recent fragmentation of the A. liliifolia populations in Central Europe. Nevertheless, it seems that several populations in Romania, South Hungary, and Slovakia were isolated for a longer period of time and their genetic differentiation is more evident.
A sharp companion of Ostrowski’s inequality for the Riemann–Stieltjes integral and applications
Authors: Alomari Mohammad W. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractA sharp companion of Ostrowski’s inequality for the Riemann-Stieltjes integral $\int_a^b {f(t)\;du(t)} $, where f is assumed to be of r-H-Hölder type on [a, b] and u is of bounded variation on [a, b], is proved. Applications to the approximation problem of the Riemann-Stieltjes integral in terms of Riemann-Stieltjes sums are also pointed out.
Coupling de novo protein folding with subunit exchange into pre-formed oligomeric protein complexes: the ‘heritable template’ hypothesis
Authors: McMurray Michael A. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractDespite remarkable advances in synthetic biology, the fact remains that it takes a living cell to make a new living cell. The information encoded in the genome is necessary to direct assembly of all cellular components, but it may not be sufficient. Some components (e.g. mitochondria) cannot be synthesizedde novo, and instead require pre-existing templates, creating a fundamental continuity of life: if the template information is ever lost, the genomic code cannot suffice to ensure proper biogenesis. One type of information only incompletely encoded in the genome is the structures of macromolecular assemblies, which emerge from the conformations of the constituent molecules coupled with the ways in which these molecules interact. For many, if not most proteins, gene sequence is not the sole determinant of native conformation, particularly in the crowded cellular milieu. A partial solution to this problem lies in the functions of molecular chaperones, encoded by nearly all cellular genomes. Chaperones effectively restrict the ensemble of conformations sampled by polypeptides, promoting the acquisition of native, functional forms, but multiple proteins have evolved ways to achieve chaperone independence, perhaps by coupling folding with higher-order assembly. Here, I propose the existence of another solution: a novel mechanism ofde novofolding in which the folding of specific proteins is templated by pre-folded molecules of a partner protein whose own folding also required similar templating. This hypothesis challenges prevailing paradigms by predicting that, in order to achieve a functional fold, some non-prion proteins require a seed passed down through generations.
Ukraine: Facing Default Under Conditions of Global Uncertainty
Authors: Pavlo Zhuk 
Published: November 2016

Abstract
Ukraine faces a threat of full-fledged default and deep financial and political crisis. The current deep recession is the country's second major economic crisis in ten years. Ukraine was severely affected by the global financial crisis in 2008, with its economy shrinking by 15% in 2009. The economy remained weak in the aftermath, as former government caused the business climate worsening. The lack of reforms limited growth of GDP to just 0.3% in 2012 and remained static in 2013. By the end of 2013, Ukraine was already on the brink of collapse. The conflict in the eastern part of the country has further exacerbated the recession. Today the sources of economic growth in Ukraine have been exhausted, and the country is strongly increasing its debts trying to attract foreign investment. The government’s reform efforts have so far failed to significantly improve the country’s business climate. Ukraine is ranked 83rd out of 189 countries in the latest World Bank's ‘Doing Business’ 2016 index. This score is the second worst in Europe. Ukraine is still considered the most corrupt country in Europe as well (rated at number 142 out of 175 by Transparency International in 2014). The persistent state of war has disrupted industrial production, which is mainly located in the eastern part. The article elucidates recent events in Ukraine as well as gives a brief historical overview. The influence of misleading governance of economic situation is revealed. The positive scenario, in which Ukraine overcomes default, is unlikely to happen unless the firm measures are to be taken.
Atlas of the Baltic Languages: Thematic Groups of Vocabulary
Authors: Stafecka Anna 
Published: November 2016

Abstract
Latvian and Lithuanian share a large number of related lexical items in their standard varieties, but even more so in their dialects. Even though the traditional regional dialects are relatively well-preserved both in Latvia and Lithuania, nowadays they are disappearing. For this reason, a project called Atlas of the Baltic languages was initiated in 2006, with the aim to study both Baltic languages from a geolinguistic point of view. Altogether, five volumes are planned for the Atlas of the Baltic Languages, presenting the dialectal vocabulary in thematic groups: flora-related vocabulary; fauna-related vocabulary; human physical qualities and kinship terminology; housing and settlement; natural phenomena, time, weather, etc. The selection of the lexical items for the Atlas of the Baltic Languages is based not only on words of common origin in Latvian and Lithuanian, but also on related semantics, therefore all volumes will include semantic maps as well.
Secondary Types of Pitch Accents of the Northern Aukštaitian Dialect of Panevėžys of the Lithuanian Language
Authors: Kačiuškienė Genovaitė 
Published: November 2016

Abstract
The Baltic languages remain of special interest for linguists because they contain many archaic features essential for the comparative research of Indo-European languages and reconstruction of the Proto-Indo-European (Mikić 2014: 39). The Lithuanian prosodic system is characterized by free accent and two types of syllable accents (or tones) in the long stressed syllables. The stress is inherited from Indo-European and can fall on any syllable of a word, i. e. last, penultimate, antepenultimate etc. (Stundžia 2014: 12).
In the Northern Aukštaitian dialect of Panevėžys of the Lithuanian Language, four types of syllable accents are possible in the long stressed syllables (more clearly heard in the diphthongs, less in the monophthongs): acute, circumflex, neoacute, neocircumflex (Garšva 1982: 65 ff.). These accents are positional allotones of two types of syllable accents: acute and circumflex. Two more types of accents are possible in strong syllables consisting of two central sounds: typical and atypical. Typical acute and circumflex accents are characteristic of verbs of non-iterative action and of “barytone” denominative words, atypical accents, with an emphasis on the second part of the stressed component, are characteristic of verbs of iterative action and of “oxytonic” denominative words (Kačiuškienė 2009: 34).
The article focuses on results of the auditory and instrumental experiment and demonstrates different auditory and acoustic properties of the secondary types of pitch accents of the Northern Aukštaitian Dialect of Panevėžys of the Lithuanian Language.