bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Entrapped in Multidimensional Exclusion: The Perpetuation of Poverty among Conflict-induced Migrants in an İstanbul Neighborhood
Authors: Yılmaz Bediz 
Published: October 2015

AbstractIn order to analyze the interdependent vicious circles of social exclusion and spatial relegation, this article will discuss the findings of fieldwork in the inner-city neighborhood of Tarlabaşı, İstanbul. The introductory section revolves around the concepts of poverty and exclusion, followed by a brief historical background of this locality. The core of the article is devoted to an analysis of different dimensions of exclusion—namely, economic, social, political, spatial and discursive dimensions. In the neighborhood of Tarlabaşı, it is possible to trace the signs of a transformation leading to the creation of a new type of urban poverty based on exclusion. This inner-city area, a territory of urban relegation par excellence, illustrates that informal activities no longer suffice to integrate socially; that the neighborhood is increasingly becoming polarized along lines of class, religion and ethnicity; that inner-city slums are no longer transitory places for rural-to-urban migrants, but perpetual spaces of relegation; and that the conflict-induced migrant Kurds are the primary candidates to become Turkey's “underclass.”
Persistence of impaired health status of Q fever patients 4 years after the first Dutch outbreak
Authors: LIMONARD G. J. M. , PETERS J. B. , BESSELINK R. , GROOT C. A. R. , DEKHUIJZEN P. N. R. , VERCOULEN J. H. , NABUURS-FRANSSEN M. H. 
Published: October 2015

SUMMARYA significant proportion of Q fever patients from the first Dutch Q fever outbreak in 2007 showed impairment in health status up to 1 year after infection. Interested in whether this decrease in health status persisted, we set out to determine the health status in the same cohort of patients, 4 years after primary infection and to compare health status scores at the individual patient level between 1 and 4 years follow-up. Health status was assessed with the Nijmegen Clinical Screening Instrument (NCSI). Patients were serologically tested to exclude patients with possible, probable or proven chronic Q fever. Results on the NCSI sub-domains at group level [2008 (n = 54) and 2011 (n = 46)] showed a persistent significant percentage of patients exhibiting clinically relevant (‘severe’) scores for all NCSI sub-domains. After 4 years, undue fatigue was present in 46% and exactly half of all patients experienced a severely impaired general quality of life. Patients with NCSI scores available in both 2008 and 2011 (n = 37) showed no difference in all sub-domain scores, except for a small decrease in dyspnoea emotions in 2011. In this group, a significant proportion of patients either improved or worsened in one or more sub-domains of health status. We conclude that at the group level, health status of Q fever patients remained impaired 4 years after primary infection. At the individual patient level, health status may change.
Emergent Oscillations in Mathematical Model of the Human Menstrual Cycle
Authors: Rasgon Natalie L. , Pumphrey Lara , Prolo Paolo , Elman Shana , Negrao Andre B. , Licinio Julio , Garfinkel Alan 
Published: October 2015

ABSTRACTBackground:The aim of this study was to develop a mathematical model of the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis that would reflect available data in humans.Methods:A model of hormonal relationships at the early follicular and midluteal phases of the human menstrual cycle is proposed.Findings:Two distinct temporal patterns of oscillatory behavior have been demonstrated for both pituitary and gonadal steroids in the early follicular phase: first, rapid oscillations in gonadotropin releasing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone (Q∼1 hour) that were an immediate consequence of the programmed equations. Second, there were slower, undulating, emergent rhythms in luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone, and also in estrogen, having oscillatory periods of 2–12 hours. There was also a longer-period (Q2–3 days) emergent rhythm in progesterone. In the mid-luteal phase, estrogen and progesterone rhythms were correlated, and all hormones showed an ∼6-hour periodicity.Conclusion:To our knowledge, the oscillatory behavior of peripheral sex steroids in the follicular phase has not been previously noted.
Delegation and the Crisis-Induced Political Development of Bailout Institutions: The Case of Japan Between 1992 and 2003
Authors: SEBŐK MIKLÓS 
Published: October 2015

AbstractThis paper argues for a reappraisal of extant scholarship on delegation in the domain of financial regulation. Through an examination of Japan's experience with financial regulation between 1992 and 2003, it is demonstrated that crisis-induced institutional development entails a shift toward a more flexible, trustee-type bureaucratic structure. While the logic presented in this paper is far from a universally applicable theory of institutional change, it calls into question the relevance of more conventional approaches to the origins of delegation of authority, notably the approach that uses unified and divided government as a key variable. A renewed emphasis on the role of extra-political sources of transfers of authority inside the executive, and also between the legislature and the executive, therefore, is in order.
From KISS to TASS Modeling: A Preliminary Analysis of the Segregation Model Incorporated with Spatial Data on Chicago
Authors: ITO GAKU , YAMAKAGE SUSUMU 
Published: October 2015

AbstractThe ‘keep it simple, stupid’ slogan, or the KISS principle has been the basic guideline in agent-based modeling (ABM). While the KISS principle or parsimony is vital in modeling attempts, conventional agent-based models remain abstract and are rarely incorporated or validated with empirical data, leaving the links between theoretical models and empirical phenomena rather loose. This article reexamines the KISS principle and discusses the recent modeling attempts that incorporate and validate agent-based models with spatial (geo-referenced) data, moving beyond the KISS principle. This article also provides a working example of such time and space specified (TASS) agent-based models that incorporates Schelling's (1971) classic model of residential segregation with detailed geo-referenced demographic data on the city of Chicago derived from the US Census 2010.
US – COOL (Article 21.5 – Canada and Mexico), DS384/DS386
Authors: Carlson Geoffrey 
Published: October 2015

These compliance proceedings under Article 21.5 of the DSU concerned measures adopted by the United States to comply with the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) recommendations and rulings inUS – COOL. InUS – COOL, the DSB found that a certain US country-of-origin labelling (COOL) measure regarding muscle cuts of meat (the Original COOL Measure), and the administration of that measure, were inconsistent with certain aspects of the TBT Agreement and the GATT 1994. The United States' measure taken to comply with the recommendations and rulings of the DSB consisted of an amendment to the Original COOL Measure (the 2013 Final Rule). In these compliance proceedings, the Panel and Appellate Body referred to the 2013 Final Rule, together with the Original COOL Measure, as the Amended COOL Measure. The Amended COOL Measure was the focus of these compliance proceedings.
Construction and Validation of the Community and Socio-Political Participation Scale (SCAP)
Authors: Moreno-Jiménez M. Pilar , Ríos Rodríguez M. Luisa , Martín Macarena Vallejo 
Published: October 2015

AbstractThis article describes the development and validation of a new instrument, the scale (SCAP) which measures community participation (CP) and socio-political participation (SPP). The sample consists of 756 participants in Málaga, residents whose average age is 38.78 years old (SD= 13.96) and of whom 58.5% are women. The results endorse the psychometric qualities of the instrument. We present descriptive analysis of the items, the dimensionality of the scale and its internal consistency. The external evidence of validity shows positive and statistically significant correlations with sense of community and empowerment, variables theoretically related to participation. A confirmatory factor analysis confirms the two-dimensional structure (CP and SPP). Further analysis show a higher CP in women. This instrument extends the quantitative research on citizen participation.
Evaluation of low doses BPA-induced perturbation of glycemia by toxicogenomics points to a primary role of pancreatic islets and to the mechanism of toxicity
Authors: Carchia E , Porreca I , Almeida P J , D'Angelo F , Cuomo D , Ceccarelli M , De Felice M , Mallardo M , Ambrosino C 
Published: October 2015

AbstractEpidemiologic and experimental studies have associated changes of blood glucose homeostasis to Bisphenol A (BPA) exposure. We took a toxicogenomic approach to investigate the mechanisms of low-dose (1 × 10−9M) BPA toxicity in ex vivo cultures of primary murine pancreatic islets and hepatocytes. Twenty-nine inhibited genes were identified in islets and none in exposed hepatocytes. Although their expression was slightly altered, their impaired cellular level, as a whole, resulted in specific phenotypic changes. Damage of mitochondrial function and metabolism, as predicted by bioinformatics analyses, was observed: BPA exposure led to a time-dependent decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential, to an increase of ROS cellular levels and, finally, to an induction of apoptosis, attributable to the bigger Bax/Bcl-2 ratio owing to activation of NF-κB pathway. Our data suggest a multifactorial mechanism for BPA toxicity in pancreatic islets with emphasis to mitochondria dysfunction and NF-κB activation. Finally, we assessed in vitro the viability of BPA-treated islets in stressing condition, as exposure to high glucose, evidencing a reduced ability of the exposed islets to respond to further damages. The result was confirmed in vivo evaluating the reduction of glycemia in hyperglycemic mice transplanted with control and BPA-treated pancreatic islets. The reported findings identify the pancreatic islet as the main target of BPA toxicity in impairing the glycemia. They suggest that the BPA exposure can weaken the response of the pancreatic islets to damages. The last observation could represent a broader concept whose consideration should lead to the development of experimental plans better reproducing the multiple exposure conditions.
Early Pliocene onset of modern Nordic Seas circulation related to ocean gateway changes
Authors: De Schepper Stijn , Schreck Michael , Beck Kristina Marie , Matthiessen Jens , Fahl Kirsten , Mangerud Gunn 
Published: October 2015

AbstractThe globally warm climate of the early Pliocene gradually cooled from 4 million years ago, synchronous with decreasing atmospheric CO2 concentrations. In contrast, palaeoceanographic records indicate that the Nordic Seas cooled during the earliest Pliocene, before global cooling. However, a lack of knowledge regarding the precise timing of Nordic Seas cooling has limited our understanding of the governing mechanisms. Here, using marine palynology, we show that cooling in the Nordic Seas was coincident with the first trans-Arctic migration of cool-water Pacific mollusks around 4.5 million years ago, and followed by the development of a modern-like Nordic Seas surface circulation. Nordic Seas cooling precedes global cooling by 500,000 years; as such, we propose that reconfiguration of the Bering Strait and Central American Seaway triggered the development of a modern circulation in the Nordic Seas, which is essential for North Atlantic Deep Water formation and a precursor for more widespread Greenland glaciation in the late Pliocene.
Torso-like mediates extracellular accumulation of Furin-cleaved Trunk to pattern the Drosophila embryo termini
Authors: Johnson Travis K. , Henstridge Michelle A. , Herr Anabel , Moore Karyn A. , Whisstock James C. , Warr Coral G. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractPatterning of the Drosophila embryonic termini is achieved by localized activation of the Torso receptor by the growth factor Trunk. Governing this event is the perforin-like protein Torso-like, which is localized to the extracellular space at the embryo poles and has long been proposed to control localized proteolytic activation of Trunk. However, a protease involved in terminal patterning remains to be identified, and the role of Torso-like remains unknown. Here we find that Trunk is cleaved intracellularly by Furin proteases. We further show that Trunk is secreted, and that levels of extracellular Trunk are greatly reduced in torso-like null mutants. On the basis of these and previous findings, we suggest that Torso-like functions to mediate secretion of Trunk, thus providing the mechanism for spatially restricted activation of Torso. Our data represent an alternative mechanism for the spatial control of receptor signalling, and define a different role for perforin-like proteins in eukaryotes.
Action of multiple intra-QTL genes concerted around a co-localized transcription factor underpins a large effect QTL
Authors: Dixit Shalabh , Kumar Biswal Akshaya , Min Aye , Henry Amelia , Oane Rowena H. , Raorane Manish L. , Longkumer Toshisangba , Pabuayon Isaiah M. , Mutte Sumanth K. , Vardarajan Adithi R. , Miro Berta , Govindan Ganesan , Albano-Enriquez Blesilda , Pueffeld Mandy , Sreenivasulu Nese , Slamet-Loedin Inez , Sundarvelpandian Kalaipandian , Tsai Yuan-Ching , Raghuvanshi Saurabh , Hsing Yue-Ie C. , Kumar Arvind , Kohli Ajay 
Published: October 2015

AbstractSub-QTLs and multiple intra-QTL genes are hypothesized to underpin large-effect QTLs. Known QTLs over gene families, biosynthetic pathways or certain traits represent functional gene-clusters of genes of the same gene ontology (GO). Gene-clusters containing genes of different GO have not been elaborated, except in silico as coexpressed genes within QTLs. Here we demonstrate the requirement of multiple intra-QTL genes for the full impact of QTL qDTY12.1 on rice yield under drought. Multiple evidences are presented for the need of the transcription factor ‘no apical meristem’ (OsNAM12.1) and its co-localized target genes of separate GO categories for qDTY12.1 function, raising a regulon-like model of genetic architecture. The molecular underpinnings of qDTY12.1 support its effectiveness in further improving a drought tolerant genotype and for its validity in multiple genotypes/ecosystems/environments. Resolving the combinatorial value of OsNAM12.1 with individual intra-QTL genes notwithstanding, identification and analyses of qDTY12.1has fast-tracked rice improvement towards food security.
Dietary fiber prevents obesity-related liver lipotoxicity by modulating sterol-regulatory element binding protein pathway in C57BL/6J mice fed a high-fat/cholesterol diet
Authors: Han Shufen , Jiao Jun , Zhang Wei , Xu Jiaying , Wan Zhongxiao , Zhang Weiguo , Gao Xiaoran , Qin Liqiang 
Published: October 2015

AbstractAdequate intake of dietary fibers has proven metabolic and cardiovascular benefits, molecular mechanisms remain still limited. This study was aimed to investigate the effects of cereal dietary fiber on obesity-related liver lipotoxicity in C57BL/6J mice fed a high-fat/cholesterol (HFC) diet and underlying mechanism. Forty-eight adult male C57BL/6J mice were randomly given a reference chow diet, or a high fat/choleserol (HFC) diet supplemented with or without oat fiber or wheat bran fiber for 24 weeks. Our results showed mice fed oat or wheat bran fiber exhibtied lower weight gain, lipid profiles and insulin resistance, compared with HFC diet. The two cereal dietary fibers potently decreased protein expressions of sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 and key factors involved in lipogenesis, including fatty acid synthase and acetyl-CoA carboxylase in target tissues. At molecular level, the two cereal dietary fibers augmented protein expressions of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha and gamma, liver X receptor alpha and ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 in target tissues. Our findings indicated that cereal dietary fiber supplementation abrogated obesity-related liver lipotoxicity and dyslipidemia in C57BL/6J mice fed a HFC diet. In addition, the efficacy of oat fiber is greater than wheat bran fiber in normalizing these metabolic disorders and pathological profiles.
M2-polarized macrophages in keratocystic odontogenic tumor: relation to tumor angiogenesis
Authors: Zhong Wen-Qun , Chen Gang , Zhang Wei , Xiong Xue-Peng , Zhao Yi , Liu Bing , Zhao Yi-Fang 
Published: October 2015

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the presence of M2-polarized macrophages and their relationships to angiogenesis in keratocystic odontogenic tumor (KCOT). M2-polarized macrophages were detected in KCOT samples by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. Meanwhile, microvessel density measured with antibody against CD31 was closely correlated with the presence of M2-polarized macrophages. In addition, macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) significantly contributed to the activation of M2-polarized macrophages. Moreover, the results of in vitro wound healing, cell migration and tube formation assays further revealed the pro-angiogenic function of M2-polarized macrophage-like cells. This function might be associated with secretion of angiogenic cytokines, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and matrix metalloprotein-9 (MMP-9). This study demonstrates for the first time that M2-polarized macrophages are prevalent in KCOT and their presence is dependent on M-CSF expression. More importantly, these tumor-supportive cells can also promote tumor angiogenesis by secreting angiogenic cytokines.
Analyzing large-scale samples confirms the association between the rs1051730 polymorphism and lung cancer susceptibility
Authors: Han Zhijie , Jiang Qinghua , Zhang Tianjiao , Wu Xiaoliang , Ma Rui , Wang Jixuan , Bai Yang , Wang Rongjie , Tan Renjie , Wang Yadong 
Published: October 2015

AbstractThe early genome-wide association studies (GWAS) found a significant association between lung cancer and rs1051730 (15q25) polymorphism. However, the subsequent studies reported consistent and inconsistent results in different populations. Three meta-analysis studies were thus performed to reevaluate the association. But their results remain inconsistent. After that, some new GWAS studies reported conflicting results again. We think that the divergence of these results may be due to small-scale samples or heterogeneity among different populations. Therefore, we reevaluated the association by collecting more samples (N = 33,617 cases and 116,639 controls) from 31 studies, which incorporate 8 new studies and 23 previous studies used by one or more of the three meta-analysis studies. We observed a significant association between lung cancer and rs1051730 in pooled population by using allele (OR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.27–1.34, P  <  0.0001), dominant (OR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.29–1.55, P < 0.0001), recessive (OR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.42–1.65, P < 0.0001) and additive (OR = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.61–1.90, P < 0.0001) models. Through the subgroup analysis, we observed a significant heterogeneity only in East Asian population (P = 0.006, I2 = 66.9%) and the association is significant in all subgroups (OR = 1.2976, 95% CI = 1.2622–1.3339 (European ancestry), OR = 1.5025, 95% CI = 1.2465–1.8110 (African), OR = 1.7818, 95% CI = 1.3915–2.2815 (East Asian), P < 0.0001). We believe that these results will contribute to understanding the genetic mechanism of lung cancer.
Effect of Heat-Inactivated Clostridium sporogenes and Its Conditioned Media on 3-Dimensional Colorectal Cancer Cell Models
Authors: Bhave Madhura Satish , Hassanbhai Ammar Mansoor , Anand Padmaja , Luo Kathy Qian , Teoh Swee Hin 
Published: October 2015

AbstractTraditional cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy continue to have limited efficacy due to tumor hypoxia. While bacterial cancer therapy has the potential to overcome this problem, it comes with the risk of toxicity and infection. To circumvent these issues, this paper investigates the anti-tumor effects of non-viable bacterial derivatives of Clostridium sporogenes. These non-viable derivatives are heat-inactivated C. sporogenes bacteria (IB) and the secreted bacterial proteins in culture media, known as conditioned media (CM). In this project, the effects of IB and CM on CT26 and HCT116 colorectal cancer cells were examined on a 2-Dimensional (2D) and 3-Dimensional (3D) platform. IB significantly inhibited cell proliferation of CT26 to 6.3% of the control in 72 hours for the 2D monolayer culture. In the 3D spheroid culture, cell proliferation of HCT116 spheroids notably dropped to 26.2%. Similarly the CM also remarkably reduced the cell-proliferation of the CT26 cells to 2.4% and 20% in the 2D and 3D models, respectively. Interestingly the effect of boiled conditioned media (BCM) on the cells in the 3D model was less inhibitory than that of CM. Thus, the inhibitive effect of inactivated C. sporogenes and its conditioned media on colorectal cancer cells is established.
Antigenic sites on the HN domain of botulinum neurotoxin A stimulate protective antibody responses against active toxin
Authors: Vijayalakshmi Ayyar B. , Tajhya Rajeev B. , Beeton Christine , Zouhair Atassi M. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractBotulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are the most toxic substances known. BoNT intoxicates cells in a highly programmed fashion initiated by binding to the cell surface, internalization and enzymatic cleavage of substrate, thus, inhibiting synaptic exocytosis. Over the past two decades, immunological significance of BoNT/A C-terminal heavy chain (HC) and light chain (LC) domains were investigated extensively leading to important findings. In the current work, we explored the significance of BoNT/A heavy chain N-terminal (HN) region as a vaccine candidate. Mice were immunized with recombinant HN519–845 generating antibodies (Abs) that were found to be protective against lethal dose of BoNT/A. Immuno-dominant regions of HN519–845 were identified and individually investigated for antibody response along with synthetic peptides within those regions, using in vivo protection assays against BoNT/A. Results were confirmed by patch-clamp analysis where anti-HN antibodies were studied for the ability to block toxin-induced channel formation. This data strongly indicated that HN519–593 is an important region in generating protective antibodies and should be valuable in a vaccine design. These results are the first to describe and dissect the protective activity of the BoNT/A HN domain.