bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Central–Local Relations: Recentralization and Environmental Governance in China
Authors: Kostka Genia , Nahm Jonas 
Published: August 2017

AbstractRecent literature on environmental governance in China frequently ascribes blame for China's environmental problems to sub-national governments' lax environmental enforcement. Such research implicitly assumes that more central control would lead to better results but, as yet, the role of the centre in environmental governance remains underresearched. In the context of the current phase of recentralization, this article studies central and local interests, capacities and interactions across policy issues and government agencies. By “bringing the centre back” into the study of central–local relations in China, we examine both where such recentralization has in fact occurred and whether such recentralization efforts have improved environmental outcomes. We argue that centralization does not improve outcomes in every case. Further, central and local levels of governance are not as different as they might seem. Indeed, there are significant areas of overlapping interests and similar patterns of behaviour, both positive (enforcement) and negative (shirking), between central and local administrations. The results draw an empirically and theoretically rich picture of central–local relations that highlights the innate complexity of China's environmental governance patterns during the current phase of recentralization.
Tumor cell senescence response produces aggressive variants
Authors: Yang Leixiang , Fang Jia , Chen Jiandong 
Published: August 2017

AbstractTumors often respond favorably to initial chemotherapy but eventually relapse with drug resistance and increased metastatic potential. Cellular senescence is a major therapeutic outcome of cancer chemotherapy, which leads to tumor stasis or regression through immune clearance of senescent cells. However, senescent tumor cells have been shown to resume proliferation at low frequency. We found that subjecting arrested senescent tumor cells to cytotoxic treatments stimulates the clonogenic proliferation of remaining survivors. The senescence revertants showed a reduced rate of proliferation but increased migration and invasion potential in vitro, and increased tumorigenic potential in vivo. Gene expression profiling showed that the senescence revertants are distinct from both parental and senescent cells. A subset of senescence-activated genes remains active in the revertants. These genes are implicated in regulating cell motility, invasion, and metastasis, which may collectively contribute to the aggressiveness of the revertants. The findings suggest that although therapy-induced senescence has short-term benefits, the response also causes reprogramming of gene expression and activates invasion-related genes that accelerate tumor progression.
An integrated bioinformatics platform for investigating the human E3 ubiquitin ligase-substrate interaction network
Authors: Li Yang , Xie Ping , Lu Liang , Wang Jian , Diao Lihong , Liu Zhongyang , Guo Feifei , He Yangzhige , Liu Yuan , Huang Qin , Liang Han , Li Dong , He Fuchu 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThe ubiquitination mediated by ubiquitin activating enzyme (E1), ubiquitin conjugating enzyme (E2), and ubiquitin ligase (E3) cascade is crucial to protein degradation, transcription regulation, and cell signaling in eukaryotic cells. The high specificity of ubiquitination is regulated by the interaction between E3 ubiquitin ligases and their target substrates. Unfortunately, the landscape of human E3-substrate network has not been systematically uncovered. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a high-throughput and efficient strategy to identify the E3-substrate interaction. To address this challenge, we develop a computational model based on multiple types of heterogeneous biological evidence to investigate the human E3-substrate interactions. Furthermore, we provide UbiBrowser as an integrated bioinformatics platform to predict and present the proteome-wide human E3-substrate interaction network (http://ubibrowser.ncpsb.org).
Decidualisation and placentation defects are a major cause of age-related reproductive decline
Authors: Woods Laura , Perez-Garcia Vicente , Kieckbusch Jens , Wang Xiaoqiu , DeMayo Francesco , Colucci Francesco , Hemberger Myriam 
Published: August 2017

AbstractMammalian reproductive performance declines rapidly with advanced maternal age. This effect is largely attributed to the exponential increase in chromosome segregation errors in the oocyte with age. Yet many pregnancy complications and birth defects that become more frequent in older mothers, in both humans and mice, occur in the absence of karyotypic abnormalities. Here, we report that abnormal embryonic development in aged female mice is associated with severe placentation defects, which result from major deficits in the decidualisation response of the uterine stroma. This problem is rooted in a blunted hormonal responsiveness of the ageing uterus. Importantly, a young uterine environment can restore normal placental as well as embryonic development. Our data highlight the pivotal, albeit under-appreciated, impact of maternal age on uterine adaptability to pregnancy as major contributor to the decline in reproductive success in older females.
Energetics of Baird aromaticity supported by inversion of photoexcited chiral [4n]annulene derivatives
Authors: Ueda Michihisa , Jorner Kjell , Sung Young Mo , Mori Tadashi , Xiao Qi , Kim Dongho , Ottosson Henrik , Aida Takuzo , Itoh Yoshimitsu 
Published: August 2017

AbstractFor the concept of aromaticity, energetic quantification is crucial. However, this has been elusive for excited-state (Baird) aromaticity. Here we report our serendipitous discovery of two nonplanar thiophene-fused chiral [4n]annulenes
Th4
COT
Saddle
and
Th6
CDH
Screw
, which by computational analysis turned out to be a pair of molecules suitable for energetic quantification of Baird aromaticity. Their enantiomers were separable chromatographically but racemized thermally, enabling investigation of the ring inversion kinetics. In contrast to
Th6
CDH
Screw
, which inverts through a nonplanar transition state, the inversion of
Th4
COT
Saddle
, progressing through a planar transition state, was remarkably accelerated upon photoexcitation. As predicted by Baird’s theory, the planar conformation of
Th4
COT
Saddle
is stabilized in the photoexcited state, thereby enabling lower activation enthalpy than that in the ground state. The lowering of the activation enthalpy, i.e., the energetic impact of excited-state aromaticity, was quantified experimentally to be as high as 21–22 kcal mol–1.
Regulation of RIPK1 activation by TAK1-mediated phosphorylation dictates apoptosis and necroptosis
Authors: Geng Jiefei , Ito Yasushi , Shi Linyu , Amin Palak , Chu Jiachen , Ouchida Amanda Tomie , Mookhtiar Adnan Kasim , Zhao Heng , Xu Daichao , Shan Bing , Najafov Ayaz , Gao Guangping , Akira Shizuo , Yuan Junying 
Published: August 2017

AbstractStimulation of TNFR1 by TNFα can promote three distinct alternative mechanisms of cell death: necroptosis, RIPK1-independent and -dependent apoptosis. How cells decide which way to die is unclear. Here, we report that TNFα-induced phosphorylation of RIPK1 in the intermediate domain by TAK1 plays a key role in regulating this critical decision. Using phospho-Ser321 as a marker, we show that the transient phosphorylation of RIPK1 intermediate domain induced by TNFα leads to RIPK1-independent apoptosis when NF-κB activation is inhibited by cycloheximide. On the other hand, blocking Ser321 phosphorylation promotes RIPK1 activation and its interaction with FADD to mediate RIPK1-dependent apoptosis (RDA). Finally, sustained phosphorylation of RIPK1 intermediate domain at multiple sites by TAK1 promotes its interaction with RIPK3 and necroptosis. Thus, absent, transient and sustained levels of TAK1-mediated RIPK1 phosphorylation may represent distinct states in TNF-RSC to dictate the activation of three alternative cell death mechanisms, RDA, RIPK1-independent apoptosis and necroptosis.
Construction and in vivo assembly of a catalytically proficient and hyperthermostable de novo enzyme
Authors: Watkins Daniel W. , Jenkins Jonathan M. X. , Grayson Katie J. , Wood Nicola , Steventon Jack W. , Le Vay Kristian K. , Goodwin Matthew I. , Mullen Anna S. , Bailey Henry J. , Crump Matthew P. , MacMillan Fraser , Mulholland Adrian J. , Cameron Gus , Sessions Richard B. , Mann Stephen , Anderson J. L. Ross 
Published: August 2017

AbstractAlthough catalytic mechanisms in natural enzymes are well understood, achieving the diverse palette of reaction chemistries in re-engineered native proteins has proved challenging. Wholesale modification of natural enzymes is potentially compromised by their intrinsic complexity, which often obscures the underlying principles governing biocatalytic efficiency. The maquette approach can circumvent this complexity by combining a robust de novo designed chassis with a design process that avoids atomistic mimicry of natural proteins. Here, we apply this method to the construction of a highly efficient, promiscuous, and thermostable artificial enzyme that catalyzes a diverse array of substrate oxidations coupled to the reduction of H2O2. The maquette exhibits kinetics that match and even surpass those of certain natural peroxidases, retains its activity at elevated temperature and in the presence of organic solvents, and provides a simple platform for interrogating catalytic intermediates common to natural heme-containing enzymes.
Corrosion of high entropy alloys
Authors: Qiu Yao , Thomas Sebastian , Gibson Mark A. , Fraser Hamish L. , Birbilis Nick 
Published: August 2017

AbstractHigh entropy alloys represent a unique class of metal alloys, comprising nominally five or more elements in near equiatomic proportions. High entropy alloys have gained significant interest on the basis that the high configurational entropy of such alloy systems is purported to result in a single-phase solid solution structure. While such a single-phase structure can occur in unique systems, it is now appreciated that the definition of high entropy alloys can be broader, with systems comprising only four elements possible of forming single phases, and most five (or more) element systems actually being multi (>2) phases. To this end, the notion of compositionally complex alloys is a more general description, with the concise review herein focusing on the corrosion of compositionally complex alloys (inclusive of high entropy alloys). It is noted that generally, in spite of complex compositions and in many cases complicated microstructural heterogeneity, compositionally complex alloys are nominally corrosion-resistant. This is discussed and aspects of the status and needs are presented.
Purple spot damage dynamics investigated by an integrated approach on a 1244 A.D. parchment roll from the Secret Vatican Archive
Authors: Migliore Luciana , Thaller Maria Cristina , Vendittozzi Giulia , Mejia Astrid Yazmine , Mercuri Fulvio , Orlanducci Silvia , Rubechini Alessandro 
Published: August 2017

AbstractAncient parchments are commonly attacked by microbes, producing purple spots and detachment of the superficial layer. Neither standard cultivation nor molecular methods (DGGE) solved the issue: causative agents and colonization model are still unknown. To identify the putative causal agents, we describe the 16 S rRNA gene analysis (454-pyrosequencing) of the microbial communities colonizing a damaged parchment roll dated 1244 A.D. (A.A. Arm. I-XVIII 3328, Vatican Secret Archives). The taxa in damaged or undamaged areas of the same document were different. In the purple spots, marine halotolerant Gammaproteobacteria, mainly Vibrio, were found; these microorganisms are rare or absent in the undamaged areas. Ubiquitous and environmental microorganisms were observed in samples from both damaged and undamaged areas. Pseudonocardiales were the most common, representing the main colonizers of undamaged areas. We hypothesize a successional model of biodeterioration, based on metagenomic data and spectroscopic analysis of pigments, which help to relate the damage to a microbial agent. Furthermore, a new method (Light Transmitted Analysis) was utilized to evaluate the kind and entity of the damage to native collagen. These data give a significant advance to the knowledge in the field and open new perspectives to remediation activity on a huge amount of ancient document.
Evolution of risk preference is determined by reproduction dynamics, life history, and population size
Authors: Kolodny Oren , Stern Caitlin 
Published: August 2017

AbstractAlternative behavioral strategies typically differ in their associated risks, meaning that a different variance in fitness-related outcomes characterizes each behavior. Understanding how selection acts on risk preference is crucial to interpreting and predicting behavior. Despite much research, most theoretical frameworks have been laid out as optimization problems from the individual’s perspective, and the influence of population dynamics has been underappreciated. We use agent-based simulations that implement competition between two simple behavioral strategies to illuminate effects of population dynamics on risk-taking. We explore the effects of inter-generational reproduction dynamics, population size, the number of decisions throughout an individual’s life, and simple alternate distributions of risk. We find that these factors, very often ignored in empirical and theoretical studies of behavior, can have significant and non-intuitive impacts on the selection of alternative behavioral strategies. Our results demonstrate that simple rules regarding predicted risk preference do not hold across the complete range of each of the factors we studied; we propose intuitive interpretations for the dynamics within each regime. We suggest that studies of behavioral strategies should explicitly take into account the species’ life history and the ecological context in which selection acted on the risk-related behavior of the organism of interest.
Loss of function of Arabidopsis microRNA-machinery genes impairs fertility, and has effects on homologous recombination and meiotic chromatin dynamics
Authors: Oliver Cecilia , Pradillo Mónica , Jover-Gil Sara , Cuñado Nieves , Ponce María Rosa , Santos Juan Luis 
Published: August 2017

AbstractMicroRNAs (miRNAs) are ~22-nt single-stranded noncoding RNAs with regulatory roles in a wide range of cellular functions by repressing eukaryotic gene expression at a post-transcriptional level. Here, we analyzed the effects on meiosis and fertility of hypomorphic or null alleles of the HYL1, HEN1, DCL1, HST and AGO1 genes, which encode miRNA-machinery components in Arabidopsis. Reduced pollen and megaspore mother cell number and fertility were shown by the mutants analyzed. These mutants also exhibited a relaxed chromatin conformation in male meiocytes at the first meiotic division, and increased chiasma frequency, which is likely to be due to increased levels of mRNAs from key genes involved in homologous recombination. The hen1-13 mutant was found to be hypersensitive to gamma irradiation, which mainly causes double-strand breaks susceptible to be repaired by homologous recombination. Our findings uncover a role for miRNA-machinery components in Arabidopsis meiosis, as well as in the repression of key genes required for homologous recombination. These genes seem to be indirect miRNA targets.
Microstructure-based constitutive model of coronary artery with active smooth muscle contraction
Authors: Chen H. , Kassab G. S. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractCurrently, there is no full three-dimensional (3D) microstructural mechanical model of coronary artery based on measured microstructure including elastin, collagen and smooth muscle cells. Many structural models employ mean values of vessel microstructure, rather than continuous distributions of microstructure, to predict the mechanical properties of blood vessels. Although some models show good agreements on macroscopic vessel responses, they result in a lower elastin stiffness and earlier collagen recruitment. Hence, a full microstructural constitutive model is required for better understanding vascular biomechanics in health and disease. Here, a 3D microstructural model that accounts for all constituent microstructure is proposed to predict macroscopic and microscopic responses of coronary arteries. Coronary artery microstructural parameters were determined based on previous statistical measurements while mechanical testing of arteries (n = 5) were performed in this study to validate the computational predictions. The proposed model not only provides predictions of active and passive stress distributions of vessel wall, but also enables reliable estimations of material parameters of individual fibers and cells and thus predicts microstructural stresses. The validated microstructural model of coronary artery sheds light on vascular biomechanics and can be extend to diseased vessels for better understanding of initiation, progression and clinical treatment of vascular disease.
Social support helps protect against perinatal bonding failure and depression among mothers: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Ohara Masako , Okada Takashi , Aleksic Branko , Morikawa Mako , Kubota Chika , Nakamura Yukako , Shiino Tomoko , Yamauchi Aya , Uno Yota , Murase Satomi , Goto Setsuko , Kanai Atsuko , Masuda Tomoko , Nakatochi Masahiro , Ando Masahiko , Ozaki Norio 
Published: August 2017

AbstractCausal relationships between perinatal bonding failure, depression, and social support among mothers remain unclear. A total of 494 women (mean age 32.4 ± 4.5 years) completed the Mother-Infant Bonding Questionnaire (MIBQ), the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and the Japanese version of the Social Support Questionnaire in early pregnancy before week 25 (T1) and 1 month after delivery (T2). Our model of recursive structured equation modeling (SEM) showed acceptable fit (CMIN/df = 2.2, CFI = 0.97, and RMSEA = 0.05). It was revealed that: (1) a lower number of supportive persons at T1 significantly predicted both MIBQ and EPDS scores at T1 and T2; (2) at T1, poorer satisfaction with the social support received significantly predicted EPDS scores; (3) both MIBQ and EPDS scores at T1 significantly predicted their respective scores at T2. Out cohort study indicates that the number of individuals who are available to provide social support and the degree of satisfaction with the level of social support received during pregnancy have a great influence on bonding failure and depression in the postpartum period. These findings suggest that psychosocial interventions that focus on these two aspects of social support during pregnancy are effective in preventing bonding failure and depression in the postpartum period.
An aldo-keto reductase is responsible for Fusarium toxin-degrading activity in a soil Sphingomonas strain
Authors: He Wei-Jie , Zhang Limin , Yi Shu-Yuan , Tang Xue-Ling , Yuan Qing-Song , Guo Mao-Wei , Wu Ai-Bo , Qu Bo , Li He-Ping , Liao Yu-Cai 
Published: August 2017

AbstractDegradation of toxins by microorganisms is a promising approach for detoxification of agricultural products. Here, a bacterial strain, Sphingomonas S3-4, that has the ability to degrade the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) was isolated from wheat fields. Incubation of Fusarium-infected wheat grains with S3-4 completely eliminated DON. In S3-4 DON is catabolized into compounds with no detectable phytotoxicity, 3-oxo-DON and 3-epi-DON, via two sequential reactions. Comparative analysis of genome sequences from two DON-degrading strains, S3-4 and Devosia D17, and one non-DON-degrading strain, Sphingobium S26, combined with functional screening of a S3-4 genomic BAC library led to the discovery that a novel aldo/keto reductase superfamily member, AKR18A1, is responsible for oxidation of DON into 3-oxo-DON. DON-degrading activity is completely abolished in a mutant S3-4 strain where the AKR18A1 gene is disrupted. Recombinant AKR18A1 protein expressed in Escherichia coli catalyzed the reversible oxidation/reduction of DON at a wide range of pH values (7.5 to 11) and temperatures (10 to 50 °C). The S3-4 strain and recombinant AKR18A1 also catabolized zearalenone and the aldehydes glyoxal and methyglyoxal. The S3-4 strain and the AKR18A1 gene are promising agents for the control of Fusarium pathogens and detoxification of mycotoxins in plants and in food/feed products.
mHealth Intervention is Effective in Creating Smoke-Free Homes for Newborns: A Randomized Controlled Trial Study in China
Authors: Yu Shaohua , Duan Zongshuan , Redmon Pamela B. , Eriksen Michael P. , Koplan Jeffrey P. , Huang Cheng 
Published: August 2017

AbstractMobile-phone-based smoking cessation intervention has been shown to increase quitting among smokers. However, such intervention has not yet been applied to secondhand smoke (SHS) reduction programs that target smoking parents of newborns. This randomized controlled trial, undertaken in Changchun, China, assessed whether interventions that incorporate traditional and mobile-phone-based education will help create smoke-free homes for infants and increase quitting among fathers. The results showed that the abstinence rates of the fathers at 6 months (adjusted OR: 3.60, 95% CI: 1.41–9.25; p = 0.008) and 12 months (adjusted OR: 2.93, 95% CI: 1.24–6.94; p = 0.014) were both significantly increased in the intervention group compared to the control. Mothers of the newborns in the intervention group also reported reduced exposure to SHS at 12 months (adjusted OR: 0.53, 95% CI: 0.29–0.99; p = 0.046). The findings suggest that adding mHealth interventions to traditional face-to-face health counseling may be an effective way to increase male smoking cessation and reduce mother and newborn SHS exposure in the home.
Genome-wide association study of bronchopulmonary dysplasia: a potential role for variants near the CRP gene
Authors: Mahlman Mari , Karjalainen Minna K. , Huusko Johanna M. , Andersson Sture , Kari M. Anneli , Tammela Outi K. T. , Sankilampi Ulla , Lehtonen Liisa , Marttila Riitta H. , Bassler Dirk , Poets Christian F. , Lacaze-Masmonteil Thierry , Danan Claude , Delacourt Christophe , Palotie Aarno , Muglia Louis J. , Lavoie Pascal M. , Hadchouel Alice , Rämet Mika , Hallman Mikko 
Published: August 2017

AbstractBronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), the main consequence of prematurity, has a significant heritability, but little is known about predisposing genes. The aim of this study was to identify gene loci predisposing infants to BPD. The initial genome-wide association study (GWAS) included 174 Finnish preterm infants of gestational age 24–30 weeks. Thereafter, the most promising single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with BPD were genotyped in both Finnish (n = 555) and non-Finnish (n = 388) replication cohorts. Finally, plasma CRP levels from the first week of life and the risk of BPD were assessed. SNP rs11265269, flanking theCRPgene, showed the strongest signal in GWAS (odds ratio [OR] 3.2,p = 3.4 × 10−6). This association was nominally replicated in Finnish and French African populations. A number of other SNPs in theCRPregion, including rs3093059, had nominal associations with BPD. During the first week of life the elevated plasma levels of CRP predicted the risk of BPD (OR 3.4,p = 2.9 × 10–4) and the SNP rs3093059 associated nominally with plasma CRP levels. Finally, SNP rs11265269 was identified as a risk factor of BPD (OR 1.8,p = 5.3 × 10−5), independently of the robust antenatal risk factors. As such, in BPD, a potential role for variants nearCRPgene is proposed.