bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Same process, different meaning: /ε/ lowering over time in Louisiana Regional French
Authors: BLAINEY DARCIE 
Published: August 2015

ABSTRACTThis paper examines /ɛ/ lowering before /r/ in Louisiana Regional French (e.g.,père, /pɛr/ → [pær], [pɛr] ‘father’) between 1977 and 2011 in a small geographic region. The analysis of 436 tokens from 32 speakers shows that /ɛ/ lowering has changed through time from a generational to a geographical boundary marker. This explains differing /ɛ/ lowering rates reported in the literature (Guilbeau, 1950; Dubois, 2005; Salmon, 2009). Results confirm that sociolinguistic factors play an active role in Louisiana Regional French, despite its endangered status (Dajko, 2009; Dubois, 2005), underscoring the need to better control for diatopic factors in future research.
A matter of good taste: investigating preferences for in-house water treatment in peri-urban communities in Cambodia
Authors: Jeuland Marc , Orgill Jennifer , Shaheed Ameer , Revell Geoff , Brown Joe 
Published: August 2015

AbstractLow demand for safe water may partly result from a perceived distaste towards or the inconvenience of treatment methods. This paper analyzes preferences for water quality improvements in peri-urban Phnom Penh. The authors first analyze data from a discrete choice experiment in which respondents selected their preferred alternative from generic options varying in cost, taste acceptability, effectiveness against diarrhea and quantity of water treated. The choice patterns suggest that demand for water treatment is highly dependent on taste acceptability. The authors also use double-blinded taste tests to show that respondents are sensitive to one common taste in treated drinking water, that stemming from chlorine disinfection. While many compounds (natural and anthropogenic) may contribute to taste problems in drinking water, the lack of alignment between household preferences for taste and water safety may play a role in the low use of household water treatment methods in many settings.
Diluvian Clustering: A Fast, Effective Algorithm for Clustering Compositional and Other Data
Authors: Ritchie Nicholas W. M. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractDiluvian Clustering is an unsupervised grid-based clustering algorithm well suited to interpreting large sets of noisy compositional data. The algorithm is notable for its ability to identify clusters that are either compact or diffuse and clusters that have either a large number or a small number of members. Diluvian Clustering is fundamentally different from most algorithms previously applied to cluster compositional data in that its implementation does not depend upon a metric. The algorithm reduces in two-dimensions to a case for which there is an intuitive, real-world parallel. Furthermore, the algorithm has few tunable parameters and these parameters have intuitive interpretations. By eliminating the dependence on an explicit metric, it is possible to derive reasonable clusters with disparate variances like those in real-world compositional data sets. The algorithm is computationally efficient. While the worst case scales asO(N2) most cases are closer toO(N) whereNis the number of discrete data points. On a mid-range 2014 vintage computer, a typical 20,000 particle, 30 element data set can be clustered in a fraction of a second.
Regulatory Differences in the Approval of GMOs: Extent and Development over Time
Authors: DE FARIA ROSANE NUNES , WIECK CHRISTINE 
Published: August 2015

AbstractConsidering the regulatory approval developments for cotton, maize, and soybean within the time period 2000–2013, this paper assesses the extent of asymmetry in the authorizations of new genetically modified organism (GMO) events between importing and exporting countries. The results show an increase in the asynchronous approval across the majority of country pairs. However, focusing only on commercialized events and considering only regulatory approval differences in which the importers are more stringent than the exporters, the asynchronous approval is considerably lower, and the result indicates that the major trade leaders have synchronized their approval status for GMOs over time. Some countries, such as Norway, Switzerland, Thailand, and Turkey seem to face the highest potential for trade disruption, while the opposite holds for Japan and South Korea.
THE MORTE: A GALANT VOICE-LEADING SCHEMA AS EMBLEM OF LAMENT AND COMPOSITIONAL BUILDING-BLOCK
Authors: RICE JOHN A. 
Published: August 2015

ABSTRACTEighteenth-century composers wrote many passages in which a treble line rises from scale degrees 1 or 3 up to 5, while the bass descends chromatically from 1 down to 5. The diverging lines reach an octave by way of an augmented-sixth interval. These passages represent a voice-leading schema analogous to those introduced by Robert O. Gjerdingen in his bookMusic in the Galant Style. Following Gjerdingen's use of Italian words to refer to some of his schemata, I propose the word ‘Morte’ for this schema and survey its use by musicians, who relied on it not only as an intensely expressive gesture that could effectively enhance the most tragic moments of a work but also as a compositional building-block: an ornate half cadence that they found especially useful in transitional passages and development sections.
Caspase-independent apoptosis in infected macrophages triggered by sulforaphane via Nrf2/p38 signaling pathways
Authors: Bonay M , Roux A-L , Floquet J , Retory Y , Herrmann J-L , Lofaso F , Deramaudt TB 
Published: August 2015

AbstractMycobacterium abscessus (Mabs), a non-tuberculous mycobacterium, is an emerging and rapidly growing opportunistic pathogen that is frequently found in patients with cystic fibrosis and in immunosuppressed patients. Its high tolerance to antibiotics is of great concern for public health. In this study, our results showed that human THP-1-derived macrophages infected with M. abscessus presented an increase in ROS production and cell necrosis. In addition, M. abscessus infection triggered activation of the Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway, and the induction of HO-1 and NQO1 expression levels. Interestingly, pretreatment of macrophages with sulforaphane (SFN), an activator of the antioxidant key regulator Nrf2, followed by M. abscessus infection significantly decreased mycobacterial burden. We demonstrated that this reduction in mycobacterial growth was due to an activation in cell apoptosis in SFN-pretreated and M. abscessus-infected macrophages. Pretreatment with specific MAPK inhibitors, PD98059, SP600125, and SB203580 to ERK, JNK, and p38 respectively, failed to inhibit induction of Nrf2 expression, suggesting that Nrf2 signaling pathway was upstream of MAPK signaling. Activation of cell apoptosis was caspase 3/7 independent but p38 MAPK dependent. Moreover, p38 MAPK induction was abolished in macrophages transfected with Nrf2 siRNA. In addition, p38 inhibitor abolished Nrf2-dependent apoptosis in infected macrophages. Taken together, our results indicate that modulation of the Nrf2 signaling using Nrf2 activators may help potentiate the actual drug therapies used to treat mycobacterial infection.
The MDM2 small-molecule inhibitor RG7388 leads to potent tumor inhibition in p53 wild-type neuroblastoma
Authors: Lakoma A , Barbieri E , Agarwal S , Jackson J , Chen Z , Kim Y , McVay M , Shohet J M , Kim E S 
Published: August 2015

AbstractNeuroblastoma is an aggressive pediatric malignancy which is >98% p53 wild-type at diagnosis. As a primary repressor of p53 activity and part of a p53-activated negative feedback loop, targeting of mouse double minute 2 homolog (MDM2) is an attractive therapeutic approach to reactivation of p53. Since development of the first selective MDM2 inhibitor, Nutlin-3a, newer compounds have been developed for increased potency and improved bioavailability. Herein, we sought to determine the efficacy and specificity of a second-generation MDM2 inhibitor, RG7388, in neuroblastoma cell lines and xenografts and examine its effect on the p53-independent pathway of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α)/vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Cell viability and apoptosis studies were performed on the neuroblastoma cell lines, NGP, SH-SY5Y, LAN-5, LAN-5 si-p53 (p53 silenced), and SK-N-AS (p53 null). RG7388 potently decreased cell proliferation and activated p53-dependent apoptosis. Tumor-bearing mice treated with RG7388 demonstrated significant tumor inhibition by 59% in NGP (P=0.003), 67% in SH-SY5Y (P=0.006), and 75% in LAN-5 (P=0.0019) p53 wild-type xenograft tumors, but no inhibitory effect on LAN-5 si-p53 or SK-N-AS p53-silenced/null xenograft tumors. Moreover, RG7388 was found to inhibit the p53-independent pathway of HIF-1α/VEGF with decreased gene expression and alteration of angiogenesis. Our study supports the further evaluation of RG7388 as a novel treatment option in p53 wild-type neuroblastoma at diagnosis and relapse.
A chameleon-inspired stretchable electronic skin with interactive colour changing controlled by tactile sensing
Authors: Chou Ho-Hsiu , Nguyen Amanda , Chortos Alex , To John W.F. , Lu Chien , Mei Jianguo , Kurosawa Tadanori , Bae Won-Gyu , Tok Jeffrey B.-H. , Bao Zhenan 
Published: August 2015

AbstractSome animals, such as the chameleon and cephalopod, have the remarkable capability to change their skin colour. This unique characteristic has long inspired scientists to develop materials and devices to mimic such a function. However, it requires the complex integration of stretchability, colour-changing and tactile sensing. Here we show an all-solution processed chameleon-inspired stretchable electronic skin (e-skin), in which the e-skin colour can easily be controlled through varying the applied pressure along with the applied pressure duration. As such, the e-skin’s colour change can also be in turn utilized to distinguish the pressure applied. The integration of the stretchable, highly tunable resistive pressure sensor and the fully stretchable organic electrochromic device enables the demonstration of a stretchable electrochromically active e-skin with tactile-sensing control. This system will have wide range applications such as interactive wearable devices, artificial prosthetics and smart robots.
Rhomboid domain containing 1 promotes colorectal cancer growth through activation of the EGFR signalling pathway
Authors: Song Wei , Liu Wenjie , Zhao Hong , Li Shangze , Guan Xin , Ying Jianming , Zhang Yefan , Miao Fei , Zhang Mengmeng , Ren Xiaoxia , Li Xiaolu , Wu Fan , Zhao Yuechao , Tian Yuanyuan , Wu Wenming , Fu Jun , Liang Junbo , Wu Wei , Liu Changzheng , Yu Jia , Zong Shudong , Miao Shiying , Zhang Xiaodong , Wang Linfang 
Published: August 2015

AbstractRhomboid proteins perform a wide range of important functions in a variety of organisms. Recent studies have revealed that rhomboid proteins are involved in human cancer progression; however, the underlying molecular mechanism remains largely unclear. Here we show that RHBDD1, a rhomboid intramembrane serine protease, is highly expressed and closely associated with survival in patients with colorectal cancer. We observe that inactivation of RHBDD1 decreases tumor cell growth. Further studies show that RHBDD1 interacts with proTGFα and induces the ADAM-independent cleavage and secretion of proTGFα. The secreted TGFα further triggers the activation of the EGFR/Raf/MEK/ERK signalling pathway. Finally, the positive correlation of RHBDD1 expression with the EGFR/Raf/MEK/ERK signalling pathway is further corroborated in a murine model of colitis-associated colorectal cancer. These findings provide evidence of a growth-promoting role for RHBDD1 in colorectal cancer and may aid the development of tumor biomarkers or antitumor therapeutics.
Electrical detection of ortho–para conversion in fullerene-encapsulated water
Authors: Meier Benno , Mamone Salvatore , Concistrè Maria , Alonso-Valdesueiro Javier , Krachmalnicoff Andrea , Whitby Richard J. , Levitt Malcolm H. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractWater exists in two spin isomers, ortho and para, that have different nuclear spin states. In bulk water, rapid proton exchange and hindered molecular rotation obscure the direct observation of two spin isomers. The supramolecular endofullerene H2O@C60 provides freely rotating, isolated water molecules even at cryogenic temperatures. Here we show that the bulk dielectric constant of this substance depends on the ortho/para ratio, and changes slowly in time after a sudden temperature jump, due to nuclear spin conversion. The attribution of the effect to ortho–para conversion is validated by comparison with nuclear magnetic resonance and quantum theory. The change in dielectric constant is consistent with an electric dipole moment of 0.51±0.05 Debye for an encapsulated water molecule, indicating the partial shielding of the water dipole by the encapsulating cage. The dependence of bulk dielectric constant on nuclear spin isomer composition appears to be a previously unreported physical phenomenon.
Obesity and carotid artery remodeling
Authors: Kozakova M , Palombo C , Morizzo C , Højlund K , Hatunic M , Balkau B , Nilsson P M , Ferrannini E ,   on behalf of the RISC Investigators
Published: August 2015

Abstract
Background/Objective:
The present study tested the hypothesis that obesity-related changes in carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) might represent not only preclinical atherosclerosis but an adaptive remodeling meant to preserve circumferential wall stress (CWS) in altered hemodynamic conditions characterized by body size-dependent increase in stroke volume (SV) and blood pressure (BP).

Subjects/Methods:
Common carotid artery (CCA) luminal diameter (LD), IMT and CWS were measured in three different populations in order to study: (A) cross-sectional associations between SV, BP, anthropometric parameters and CCA LD (266 healthy subjects with wide range of body weight (24–159 kg)); (B) longitudinal associations between CCA LD and 3-year IMT progression rate (ΔIMT; 571 healthy non-obese subjects without increased cardiovascular (CV) risk); (C) the impact of obesity on CCA geometry and CWS (88 obese subjects without CV complications and 88 non-obese subjects matched for gender and age).

Results:
CCA LD was independently associated with SV that was determined by body size. In the longitudinal study, baseline LD was an independent determinant of ΔIMT, and ΔIMT of subjects in the highest LD quartile was significantly higher (28±3 μm) as compared with those in the lower quartiles (8±3, 16±4 and 16±3 μm, P=0.001, P<0.05 and P=0.01, respectively). In addition, CCA CWS decreased during the observational period in the highest LD quartile (from 54.2±8.6 to 51.6±7.4 kPa, P<0.0001). As compared with gender- and age-matched lean individuals, obese subjects had highly increased CCA LD and BP (P<0.0001 for both), but only slightly higher CWS (P=0.05) due to a significant increase in IMT (P=0.005 after adjustment for confounders).

Conclusions:
Our findings suggest that in obese subjects, the CCA wall thickens to compensate the luminal enlargement caused by body size-induced increase in SV, and therefore, to normalize the wall stress. CCA diameter in obesity could represent an additional biomarker, depicting the impact of altered hemodynamics on arterial wall.
Differential expression of hypothalamic, metabolic and inflammatory genes in response to short-term calorie restriction in juvenile obese- and lean-prone JCR rats
Authors: Diane A , Pierce W D , Mangat R , Borthwick F , Nelson R , Russell J C , Heth C D , Jacobs R L , Vine D F , Proctor S D 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
Background:
Childhood obesity is an important early predictor of adult obesity and associated comorbidities. Common forms of obesity are underpinned by both environmental and genetic factors. However, the rising prevalence of obesity in genetically stable populations strongly suggests that contemporary lifestyle is a premier factor to the disease. In pediatric population, the current treatment/prevention options for obesity are lifestyle interventions such as caloric restriction (CR) and increase physical activity. In obese individuals, CR improves many metabolic parameters in peripheral tissues. Little is known about the effect of CR on the hypothalamus. This study aimed to assess the effect of CR on hypothalamic metabolic gene expression of young obese- and lean-prone animals.

Methods:
Male juvenile JCR:LA-cp obese-prone rats were freely fed (Obese-FF) or pair fed (Obese-FR) to lean-prone, free-feeding animals (Lean-FF). A group of lean-prone rats (Lean-FR) were matched for relative average degree of CR to Obese-FR rats.

Results:
In free-feeding conditions, obese-prone rats consumed more energy than lean-prone rats (P<0.001) and showed greater increases in body weight, fat mass, plasma glucose, insulin and lipids (P<0.01). These metabolic differences were associated with alterations of feeding-related neuropeptides expression in the hypothalamus, as well as pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress markers. When submitted to the same degree of CR, the two genotypes responded differently; hypothalamic inflammatory and oxidative stress gene expression was improved in Obese-FR, while it was worsened in Lean-FR rats.

Conclusions:
We demonstrate in JCR rats that the metabolic and inflammatory response of the brain to CR is genotype dependent.
Methamphetamine Use in HIV-infected Individuals Affects T-cell Function and Viral Outcome during Suppressive Antiretroviral Therapy
Authors: Massanella Marta , Gianella Sara , Schrier Rachel , Dan Jennifer M. , Pérez-Santiago Josué , Oliveira Michelli F. , Richman Douglas D. , Little Susan J. , Benson Constance A. , Daar Eric S. , Dube Michael P. , Haubrich Richard H. , Smith Davey M. , Morris Sheldon R. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractWe investigated the associations between methamphetamine (meth) use, immune function and the dynamics of HIV and cytomegalovirus [CMV] in the blood and genital tract of HIV-infected ART-suppressed subjects. Self-reported meth use was associated with increased CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell proliferation (Ki67+, p < 0.005), CD4+ T-cell activation (CD45RA–CD38+, p = 0.005) and exhaustion (PD-1+, p = 0.0004) in blood, compared to non-meth users. Meth use was also associated with a trend towards higher blood HIV DNA levels (p = 0.09) and more frequent shedding of CMV in seminal plasma (p = 0.002). To explore possible mechanisms, we compared ex vivo spontaneous and antigen-specific proliferation in PBMC collected from subjects with and without positive meth detection in urine (Utox+ vs. Utox-). Despite higher levels of spontaneous proliferation, lymphocytes from Utox+ meth users had a significantly lower proliferative capacity after stimulation with a number of pathogens (CMV, candida, mycobacterium, toxoplasma, HIV, p < 0.04 in all cases), compared to Utox- participants. Our findings suggest that meth users have greater proliferation and exhaustion of the immune system. Meth use is also associated with a loss of control of CMV replication, which could be related to loss of immune response to pathogens. Future studies should consider meth use as a potential modulator of T-cell responses.
Investigation of Inhibition Mechanism of Chemokine Receptor CCR5 by Micro-second Molecular Dynamics Simulations
Authors: Salmas Ramin Ekhteiari , Yurtsever Mine , Durdagi Serdar 
Published: August 2015

AbstractChemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) belongs to G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) and plays an important role in treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection since HIV uses CCR5 protein as a co-receptor. Recently, the crystal structure of CCR5-bound complex with an approved anti-retroviral drug (maroviroc) was resolved. During the crystallization procedure, amino acid residues (i.e., Cys224, Arg225, Asn226 and Glu227) at the third intra-cellular loop were replaced by the rubredoxin for stability reasons. In the current study, we aimed to understand the impact of the incorporated rubredoxin on the conformations of TM domains of the target protein. For this reason, rubredoxin was deleted from the crystal structure and the missing amino acids were engineered. The resultant structure was subjected to long (μs) molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to shed light into the inhibitory mechanism. The derived model structure displayed a significant deviation in the cytoplasmic domain of TM5 and IC3 in the absence of rubredoxin. The principal component analyses (PCA) and MD trajectory analyses revealed important structural and dynamical differences at apo and holo forms of the CCR5.
Efficient Optical Energy Harvesting in Self-Accelerating Beams
Authors: Bongiovanni Domenico , Hu Yi , Wetzel Benjamin , Robles Raul A. , Mendoza González Gregorio , Marti-Panameño Erwin A. , Chen Zhigang , Morandotti Roberto 
Published: August 2015

AbstractWe report the experimental observation of energetically confined self-accelerating optical beams propagating along various convex trajectories. We show that, under an appropriate transverse compression of their spatial spectra, these self-accelerating beams can exhibit a dramatic enhancement of their peak intensity and a significant decrease of their transverse expansion, yet retaining both the expected acceleration profile and the intrinsic self-healing properties. We found our experimental results to be in excellent agreement with the numerical simulations. We expect further applications in such contexts where power budget and optimal spatial confinement can be important limiting factors.
Resin-acid derivatives as potent electrostatic openers of voltage-gated K channels and suppressors of neuronal excitability
Authors: Ottosson Nina E , Wu Xiongyu , Nolting Andreas , Karlsson Urban , Lund Per-Eric , Ruda Katinka , Svensson Stefan , Konradsson Peter , Elinder Fredrik 
Published: August 2015

AbstractVoltage-gated ion channels generate cellular excitability, cause diseases when mutated and act as drug targets in hyperexcitability diseases, such as epilepsy, cardiac arrhythmia and pain. Unfortunately, many patients do not satisfactorily respond to the present-day drugs. We found that the naturally occurring resin acid dehydroabietic acid (DHAA) is a potent opener of a voltage-gated K channel and thereby a potential suppressor of cellular excitability. DHAA acts via a non-traditional mechanism, by electrostatically activating the voltage-sensor domain, rather than directly targeting the ion-conducting pore domain. By systematic iterative modifications of DHAA we synthesized 71 derivatives and found 32 compounds more potent than DHAA. The most potent compound, Compound 77, is 240 times more efficient than DHAA in opening a K channel. This and other potent compounds reduced excitability in dorsal root ganglion neurons, suggesting that resin-acid derivatives can become the first members of a new family of drugs with the potential for treatment of hyperexcitability diseases.