bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Worker replacement and cost-benefit analysis of life-saving health care programs, a precautionary note
Authors: Tessier Philippe , Sultan-Taïeb Hélène , Barnay Thomas 
Published: January 2014

AbstractThe assumption according to which ill individuals can be replaced at work that underpins the ‘friction cost method’ (FCM) to value productivity costs has been primarily discussed within the framework of cost-utility analysis. This paper investigates the consequences of this assumption for cost-benefit analysis (CBA). It makes three contributions. First, it provides the first analytical account of the overall consequences of ill worker replacement on social welfare and it analyzes the associated compensation effects within a CBA framework. Second, it highlights a double counting problem that arises when ill worker replacement is assumed in the CBA of life-saving health care programs. To the best of our knowledge, no satisfactory solution to this problem has yet been provided in the literature. Third, this paper suggests and discusses two original ways to address this double counting issue. One consists in adjusting value of a statistical life estimations for the well-being provided by future incomes. Another possibility lies in the estimation of marginal rates of substitution between health and wealth so as to directly monetize the value of life over and above consumption. We show that both solutions raise unresolved questions that should be addressed in future research to enable appropriate use of the FCM in CBA.
THE QUANTIFIED ARGUMENT CALCULUS
Authors: BEN-YAMI HANOCH 
Published: January 2014

AbstractI develop a formal logic in which quantified arguments occur in argument positions of predicates. This logic also incorporates negative predication, anaphora and converse relation terms, namely, additional syntactic features of natural language. In these and additional respects, it represents the logic of natural language more adequately than does any version of Frege’s Predicate Calculus. I first introduce the system’s main ideas and familiarize it by means of translations of natural language sentences. I then develop a formal system built on these principles, the Quantified Argument Calculus or Quarc. I provide a truth-value assignment semantics and a proof system for the Quarc. I next demonstrate the system’s power by a variety of proofs; I prove its soundness; and I comment on its completeness. I then extend the system to modal logic, again providing a proof system and a truth-value assignment semantics. I proceed to show how the Quarc versions of the Barcan formulas, of their converses and of necessary existence come out straightforwardly invalid, which I argue is an advantage of the modal Quarc over modal Predicate Logic as a system intended to capture the logic of natural language.
Fecal microbiota imbalance in Mexican children with type 1 diabetes
Authors: Mejía-León María Esther , Petrosino Joseph F. , Ajami Nadim Jose , Domínguez-Bello María Gloria , de la Barca Ana María Calderón 
Published: January 2014

AbstractDysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota affecting the gut barrier could be triggering Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), the second most frequent autoimmune disease in childhood. This study compared the structure of the fecal microbiota in 29 mestizo children aged 7–18 years, including 8 T1D at onset, 13 T1D after 2 years treatment and 8 healthy controls. Clinical information was collected, predisposing haplotypes were determined; the fecal DNA was extracted, the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene amplified and 454-pyrosequenced. The newly diagnosed T1D cases had high levels of the genus Bacteroides (p < 0.004), whereas the control group had a gut microbiota dominated by Prevotella. Children with T1D treated for ≥2 years had levels of Bacteroides and Prevotella compared to those of the control group. The gut microbiota of newly diagnosed T1D cases is altered, but whether it is involved in disease causation or is a consequence of host selection remains unclear.
Layered SiC Sheets: A Potential Catalyst for Oxygen Reduction Reaction
Authors: Zhang P. , Xiao B. B. , Hou X. L. , Zhu Y. F. , Jiang Q. 
Published: January 2014

AbstractThe large-scale practical application of fuel cells cannot come true if the high-priced Pt-based electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) cannot be replaced by other efficient, low-cost and stable electrodes. Here, based on density functional theory (DFT), we exploited the potentials of layered SiC sheets as a novel catalyst for ORR. From our DFT results, it can be predicted that layered SiC sheets exhibit excellent ORR catalytic activity without CO poisoning, while the CO poisoning is the major drawback in conventional Pt-based catalysts. Furthermore, the layered SiC sheets in alkaline media has better catalytic activity than Pt(111) surface and have potential as a metal-free catalyst for ORR in fuel cells.
Prostatic ischemia induces ventral prostatic hyperplasia in the SHR; possible mechanism of development of BPH
Authors: Saito Motoaki , Tsounapi Panagiota , Oikawa Ryo , Shimizu Shogo , Honda Masashi , Sejima Takehiro , Kinoshita Yukako , Tomita Shuhei 
Published: January 2014

AbstractIn the light of increasing evidence that benign prostatic hyperplasia is associated with cardiovascular disease, we have investigated the relationship between prostatic blood flow and prostatic hyperplasia in the spontaneously-hypertensive-rat (SHR). Twelve-week-old male SHRs were treated with nicorandil for six weeks. Wistar-Kyoto rats were used as controls. Six weeks after nicorandil treatment, blood pressure and the prostatic blood flow were estimated and tissue levels of malondialdehyde, HIF-1α, TGF-β1, bFGF, dihydrotestosterone and α-SMA were measured. SHRs showed significant increases in blood pressure, tissue levels of malondialdehyde, HIF-1α, TGF-β1, bFGF, α-SMA and a significant decrease in the prostatic blood flow. Although treatment with nicorandil failed to alter the blood-pressure and α-SMA, it significantly ameliorated the increased levels of malondialdehyde, HIF-1α, TGF-β1 and bFGF. There were no significant differences in tissue levels of dihydrotestosterone among any groups. These data indicate that development of prostatic hyperplasia may be associated with prostatic hypoxia, which nicorandil prevents via its effect to increase the blood flow.
Decrease in cytochrome c oxidase reserve capacity diminishes robustness of Drosophila melanogaster and shortens lifespan
Authors: Klichko Vladimir , Sohal Barbara H. , Radyuk Svetlana N. , Orr William C. , Sohal Rajindar S. 
Published: January 2014

The phenotypic effects of under- and over-expression of CcO (cytochrome c oxidase) regulatory subunits IV and Vb were examined in Drosophila melanogaster in order to test further the hypothesis that suppression of the activities of mitochondrial ETC (electron-transport chain) oxidoreductases retards the aging process and extends lifespan. Underexpression of both CcO subunits, induced by RNAi, resulted in decreases in the respective mRNA and protein levels, CcO holoenzyme activity, rate of mitochondrial respiration, walking speed and the lifespan of fruitflies. Overexpression of CcO IV or Vb in young fruitflies increased the amount of mRNA, but had no effect on the protein level or CcO catalytic activity. On the other hand, in older fruitflies, overexpression of CcO Vb, but not CcO IV, elevated the mRNA and protein amounts as well as the CcO holoenzyme activity, thereby preventing the typical age-related decline in CcO activity. Nevertheless, lifespans of the fruitflies overexpressing CcO IV or Vb were neither extended nor shortened. Our results demonstrate that: (i) the suppression of CcO function exerts deleterious rather than benign effects on fitness and survival, and (ii) the structure/function of CcO, an ETC oxidoreductase, can be ‘re-engineered’ in vivo.
GdCl3 reduces hyperglycaemia through Akt/FoxO1-induced suppression of hepatic gluconeogenesis in Type 2 diabetic mice
Authors: Wang Qian , Wang Ning , Dong Mei , Chen Fang , Li Zhong , Chen Yuanyuan 
Published: January 2014

GdCl3 (gadolinium chloride) has been shown to reduce blood glucose; however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Liver gluconeogenesis is an important pathway involved in the maintenance of glucose homoeostasis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of GdCl3 in hepatic gluconeogenesis and explore the precise molecular mechanism. Animals from a classical Type 2 diabetic mouse model, created by exposing C57BL/6J mice to a high-fat diet for 4 months, were treated with GdCl3 or saline. Body weight, blood glucose and insulin sensitivity were monitored. It was observed that GdCl3 significantly reduced blood glucose levels and improved insulin sensitivity. A pyruvate tolerance test showed further that GdCl3 suppressed gluconeogenesis in diabetic mice. In the livers of GdCl3-treated mice, the expression of Pepck (phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase) and G6pase (glucose-6-phosphatase), the key enzymes in gluconeogenesis, were dramatically reduced. Furthermore, experiments in hepatocarcinoma cells revealed that GdCl3 activated the Akt pathway to promote the phosphorylation of FoxO1 (forkhead box O1), leading to the suppression of gluconeogenesis by reducing the expression of PEPCK and G6Pase and resulting in decreased cellular production of glucose. Comparable results were observed in the livers of GdCl3-treated mice. In addition, we have shown that GdCl3 augmented the role of insulin to control hepatic glucose production. We conclude that GdCl3 reduces hyperglycaemia via the Akt/FoxO1-induced suppression of hepatic gluconeogenesis, both in Type 2 diabetic mice (in vivo) and in hepatocarcinoma cells (in vitro), suggesting that GdCl3 may be a potential therapeutic agent for diabetes.
Ultra‐wideband power divider using three parallel‐coupled lines and one shunt stub
Authors: Dang Trung‐Sinh , Kim Chang‐Woo , Yoon Sang‐Woong 
Published: January 2014

An ultra‐wideband power divider with out‐of‐band filtering and DC blocking functions is presented. The divider consists of three parallel‐coupled lines, a short‐circuited shunt stub and a resistor. The divider was implemented in a two‐layer printed circuit board with a high dielectric constant. The measurements show a minimum insertion loss of −0.4 dB in the middle band and a rejection of −17 to −18 dBc at 1.5 and 11.5 GHz, respectively.
Quasi‐chipless wireless temperature sensor based on harmonic radar
Authors: Kubina B. , Romeu J. , Mandel C. , Schüßler M. , Jakoby R. 
Published: January 2014

A novel passive wireless temperature sensor is presented, which aims at operating in harsh environments. For this purpose, the tag is designed quasi‐chipless and it uses a harmonic radar sensing principle: it combines the backscattering on the first harmonic of the transmitted frequency with frequency‐position encoding of the measured value. The harmonic radar approach brings significant advantages for the wireless readout, since it isolates the undesired radar clutter from the useful tag signal. The tag signal carries the desired temperature information encoded in the position of a resonance transmission peak. The tag is built up planar and consists of two patch antennas, a temperature‐dependent bandpass filter and a diode‐based harmonic generator. It works at 1.59 GHz and backscatters at 3.18 GHz. Wireless indoor measurements have proven the concept. The sensor has shown a temperature sensitivity of 1.2 MHz/K in the range of 22–109 °C.
Enhanced electrical and optoelectrical properties of cadmium selenide nanobelts by chlorine doping
Authors: Zhang Lijie , Yu Hongfei , Cao Wei , Zou Chao , Dong Youqing , Zhu Da‐Ming , Huang Shaoming 
Published: January 2014

Single‐crystalline chlorine‐doped cadmium selenide (CdSe) nanobelts (NBs) with a wurtzite structure were synthesised by using CdSe and InCl3 powder as sources via a co‐evaporation approach. The investigation of the performance of the field‐effect transistors fabricated from Cl‐doped NBs shows n ‐type conduction behaviour and enhanced conductivity (1–70 S/cm). Furthermore, it is found that the photoconductivity (illuminated by a white light with a power density of 1.3 mW/cm2) increases with the enhancement of the conductivity. Photoconductive analysis reveals that the Cl‐doped NBs show excellent photoresponse properties, with responsivity of 8.87 × 105AW−1 and a corresponding external quantum efficiency of 1.74 × 106 when illuminated under a 650 nm light and biased 1 V. In addition, the electrical properties of the Cl‐doped NBs can be influenced by changing the ambiance, which is caused by their surface states.
Solvothermal fabrication and luminescent properties of nanoLuAG:Ce phosphors
Authors: Xing Lin , Qu Lianghui , He Qing , Tang Tong B. , Yang Linfeng 
Published: January 2014

Nanosized Ce‐doped lutetium aluminium garnet (LuAG:Ce) phosphors have been synthesised by a solvothermal method using ethylenediamine as the solvent and metal nitrates as the starting materials. The phase development, the morphology and the luminescent properties of the prepared phosphors were investigated with X‐ray diffractometry, transmission electron microscopy and photoluminescence spectra, which showed that phosphors of high phase purity resulted after heating for 8 h at a low temperature of 230oC. This powder possesses good dispersivity, suffers little or no aggregation and has an average grain size of 220 nm with narrow size distribution, hence, it may be exploited for the fabrication of LuAG:Ce optical ceramics. Its excitation and emission spectra have also been examined, which confirms the transitions between the 4f and the 5d states of the Ce3+ ions as the photoluminescence mechanism. The photoluminescence decay showed almost identical components compared with the LuAG:Ce single crystal, which further proves that the obtained nanosized phosphors have been well crystallised.
Toxin Kid uncouples DNA replication and cell division to enforce retention of plasmid R1 in
Escherichia coli
cells
Authors: Pimentel Belén , Nair Radhika , Bermejo-Rodríguez Camino , Preston Mark A. , Agu Chukwuma A. , Wang Xindan , Bernal Juan A. , Sherratt David J. , de la Cueva-Méndez Guillermo 
Published: January 2014

Significance
Many plasmids disseminating antibiotic resistance in bacteria encode toxin-antitoxin (TA) pairs, which are generally assumed to function as postsegregational killing (PSK) systems. A shortage of antibiotic alternatives and the link of TA pairs to PSK have stimulated the opinion that premature toxin activation could be used to kill these recalcitrant organisms in the clinic. Following previous observations, we confirm here that toxin Kid (killing determinant) and antitoxin Kis (killing suppressor) function as a rescue system that enforces the retention of plasmid R1 by host cells, and not as a PSK system. Because the rescue system is conserved in clinically worrisome plasmids, our findings advise against the activation of this TA pair as an antibiotic strategy to fight pathogens carrying these extrachromosomal DNAs.
Comparison of the isomerization mechanisms of human melanopsin and invertebrate and vertebrate rhodopsins
Authors: Rinaldi Silvia , Melaccio Federico , Gozem Samer , Fanelli Francesca , Olivucci Massimo 
Published: January 2014

Significance
In this work, ab initio multiconfigurational quantum chemical computations are used to understand how light sensitivity is controlled in biological photoreceptors. The authors focus on melanopsin: the recently discovered nonvisual retina pigment responsible for the regulation of unconscious visual reflexes and the synchronization of endogenous physiological responses to the dawn/dusk cycle (circadian rhythms). The investigation indicates that the light-induced isomerization of melanopsin is up to several tens of femtoseconds faster than the analogue isomerization of invertebrate and vertebrate visual pigments. It is also revealed that its thermal isomerization is controlled by an energy barrier higher than the barrier of dim-light visual pigments. These properties support the hypothesis of an extreme light sensitivity of melanopsins.
Parameterizing cell-to-cell regulatory heterogeneities via stochastic transcriptional profiles
Authors: Bajikar Sameer S. , Fuchs Christiane , Roller Andreas , Theis Fabian J. , Janes Kevin A. 
Published: January 2014

Significance
Cell-to-cell variations in gene regulation occur in a number of biological contexts, such as development and cancer. Discovering regulatory heterogeneities in an unbiased manner is difficult owing to the population averaging that is required for most global molecular methods. Here, we show that we can infer single-cell regulatory states by mathematically deconvolving global measurements taken as averages from small groups of cells. This averaging-and-deconvolution approach allows us to quantify single-cell regulatory heterogeneities while avoiding the measurement noise of global single-cell techniques. Our method is particularly relevant to solid tissues, where single-cell dissociation and molecular profiling is especially problematic.
Gene-centric approach to integrating environmental genomics and biogeochemical models
Authors: Reed Daniel C. , Algar Christopher K. , Huber Julie A. , Dick Gregory J. 
Published: January 2014

Significance
Modern molecular tools provide an invaluable window into the marine microbial world by identifying organisms and their metabolisms through the analysis of genetic material. Microbial communities are ubiquitous throughout the oceans and exert great influence over ocean chemistry, yet they are rarely included explicitly in models of marine biogeochemistry, such as those used to predict the response of the oceans to environmental problems (e.g., climate change). Here, we present a unique way of integrating genetic data from state-of-the-art molecular tools into biogeochemical models to improve their predictive power, better constrain geochemical processes—especially those that are not apparent from chemical measurements—and gain a deeper insight into ocean chemistry and microbiology.
Elevated expression of TANK-binding kinase 1 enhances tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer
Authors: Wei Congwen , Cao Yuan , Yang Xiaoli , Zheng Zirui , Guan Kai , Wang Qiang , Tai Yanhong , Zhang Yanhong , Ma Shengli , Cao Ye , Ge Xiaoxing , Xu Changzhi , Li Jia , Yan Hui , Ling Youguo , Song Ting , Zhu Lin , Zhang Buchang , Xu Quanbin , Hu Chengjin , Bian Xiu-wu , He Xiang , Zhong Hui 
Published: January 2014

Significance
We investigated the possible role of TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) protein in tamoxifen resistance and found that phosphorylation by TBK1 at the Ser-305 site stabilized estrogen receptor α (ERα) and modulated its transcriptional activity. Ectopic expression of TBK1 rendered breast cancer cells resistant to tamoxifen. TBK1 inhibition sensitized breast cancer cells to tamoxifen-induced cell death. The expression of TBK1 was increased in subjects with breast cancer and was positively correlated with ERα, ERα Ser-305, and cyclin D1 expression. Subjects with tumors that highly expressed TBK1 had poor responsiveness to tamoxifen treatment. Therefore, TBK1 is potentially a unique predictive marker of tamoxifen resistance and a potential therapeutic target for breast cancer.
Femtosecond pump-probe microscopy generates virtual cross-sections in historic artwork
Authors: Villafana Tana Elizabeth , Brown William P. , Delaney John K. , Palmer Michael , Warren Warren S. , Fischer Martin C. 
Published: January 2014

Significance
We show that a nonlinear microscopy technique (femtosecond pump-probe microscopy) allows for nondestructive 3D imaging of paintings with molecular and structural contrast. Until now, studying the layering structure of a painting has generally required the physical removal of a cross-section sample. Pump-probe imaging has previously been shown on biological tissue, but applications to cultural heritage are more challenging: the variety of pigments in the artist’s palate is enormous compared with the biological pigments present in skin. Nonetheless, we show virtual cross-sectioning capabilities in mockup paintings and nondestructive imaging on an intact 14th century painting. This work represents a comprehensive collaborative effort between laser and biomedical imaging experts and scientists and conservators in national museums.
Decision-related pupil dilation reflects upcoming choice and individual bias
Authors: de Gee Jan Willem , Knapen Tomas , Donner Tobias H. 
Published: January 2014

Significance
A number of studies reported that the pupil dilates (under constant illumination) during decision-making. Pupil dilation is also associated with the brain-wide release of modulatory neurotransmitters. It has remained unknown which specific elements of decision processes drive pupil dilation. Using a visual detection task, we here show that pupil dilation is primarily driven during, and not at the end of, a protracted decision. Further, pupil dilation differentiates between “yes” and “no” choices for conservative subjects deciding yes against their bias. Thus, pupil dilation reveals the content of the evolving decision and the decision maker’s attitude. These findings have important implications for interpreting decision-related brain activity. They also point to a possible role of neuromodulation in interacting with decision biases.
Highly sensitive electronic whiskers based on patterned carbon nanotube and silver nanoparticle composite films
Authors: Takei Kuniharu , Yu Zhibin , Zheng Maxwell , Ota Hiroki , Takahashi Toshitake , Javey Ali 
Published: January 2014

Significance
Whiskers are hairlike tactile sensors used by certain mammals and insects to monitor wind and navigate around local obstacles. Here, we demonstrate artificial electronic whiskers that can respond to pressures as low as 1 Pa with high sensitivity. The active component is based on composites of carbon nanotubes and silver nanoparticles that are painted on high-aspect-ratio fibers. The resistivity of the composite films is highly sensitive to mechanical strain and can be readily tuned by changing the composition ratio of the components. As a proof of concept, arrays of electronic whiskers are fabricated for real-time two- and three-dimensional gas-flow mapping with high accuracy. This work may enable a wide range of applications in advanced robotics and human–machine interfacing.
PIKEis essential for oligodendroglia development and CNS myelination
Authors: Chan Chi Bun , Liu Xia , Zhao Lixia , Liu Guanglu , Lee Chi Wai , Feng Yue , Ye Keiqang 
Published: January 2014

SignificanceAccumulation of a lipid-rich substance (myelin sheath) around the axon of neurons enables the nerve cells to transmit information faster. However, the molecular mechanism that controls this important process is not well understood. Here, we report that the GTPase phosphoinositide 3-kinase enhancer is a regulator of myelin sheath formation during development and myelin repair.
Characterization of the IL-15 niche in primary and secondary lymphoid organs in vivo
Authors: Cui Guangwei , Hara Takahiro , Simmons Szandor , Wagatsuma Keisuke , Abe Akifumi , Miyachi Hitoshi , Kitano Satsuki , Ishii Masaru , Tani-ichi Shizue , Ikuta Koichi 
Published: January 2014

Significance
IL-15 is a cytokine critical for development and maintenance of T lymphoid cells. However, the identity and distribution of IL-15–expressing cells in lymphoid organs are not well understood. The present study reveals, by using IL-15–CFP knock-in mice that IL-15 was expressed in subsets of thymic epithelial cells, bone marrow stromal cells, lymph node stromal cells, and blood endothelial cells, a unique perspective of IL-15 niche in immune microenvironment. Taken together with our previous observation on IL-7–producing cells, this study suggests that some stromal cells express IL-7 and IL-15 differentially. Thus, the immune microenvironment appears to be consisted of functionally distinct subsets of stromal cells, expressing different cytokines.