bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Afro-Catholic Baptism and The Articulation of a Merchant Community, Agoué 1840–1860
Authors: Parés Luis Nicolau 
Published: May 2015

AbstractThis paper analyzes the “Southern” Afro-Brazilian Catholicism which was brought to West Africa by former slaves from Brazil prior to the expansion of the “Northern” European Catholic missions. In examining two significant mass baptisms held in the town of Agoué in 1846 and 1855, this paper explores the religious history of the Aguda or Afro-Brazilian freed slaves, and how they built a network of ethnic, commercial, and affective relationships by means of Catholic baptism and godparenting. The Aguda’s Catholic affiliation (rather than conversion), beyond being coextensive with Brazilian identity, served to produce a merchant community whose main activity, in the early period, was the slave trade. The paper also discusses the methodological potential of cross referencing and fertilizing West African data with Bahian data in order to elucidate how the returnees’ appropriation of Catholic ritual was shaped by their previous Brazilian experience.
Electron Probe Microanalysis: A Review of the Past, Present, and Future
Authors: Rinaldi Romano , Llovet Xavier 
Published: May 2015

AbstractThe 50th anniversary of the application of electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) to the Earth Sciences provides an opportunity for an assessment of the state-of-the-art of the technique. Stemming from the introduction of the first automated instruments, the latest developments of EPMA and some typical applications are reviewed with an eye to the future. The most noticeable recent technical achievements such as the field-emission electron gun, the latest generation of energy and wavelength dispersive spectrometers, and the development of analytical methods based on new sets of first principle data obtained by the use of sophisticated computer codes, allow for the extension of the method to the analysis of trace elements, ultra-light elements (down to Li), small particles, and thin films, with a high degree of accuracy and precision and within a considerably reduced volume of interaction. A number of working examples and a thorough list of references provide the reader with a working knowledge of the capabilities and limitations of EPMA today.
Natural resources and global value chains: What role for the WTO?
Authors: Smith Fiona 
Published: May 2015

AbstractNatural resources are critical to global value chains as minerals, good climate and fertile soil are commonly required for the beginning of the chain, with the consequence that any interruption in their supply threatens the chain's continued integrity. Trade in such resources provides a valuable source of income for resource-rich states. Yet exploitation of natural resources can result in their exhaustion and biodiversity loss, while their extraction can lead to environmental damage and human rights abuses, with the result that any positive contribution to sustainable development for resource-rich states is quickly undermined. Effective regulation is critical to maximise benefits and minimise potential harm. The WTO's rules seem ideally suited to allow the state to impose measures that militate against the overexploitation of the resource by corporations, whilst simultaneously ensuring that that regulation does not unnecessarily impede the flow of resources within the value chain. However, this paper will show that applying the WTO's rules to natural resource use in global value chains presents both substantive and normative challenges.
Anammox Planctomycetes have a peptidoglycan cell wall
Authors: van Teeseling Muriel C.F. , Mesman Rob J. , Kuru Erkin , Espaillat Akbar , Cava Felipe , Brun Yves V. , VanNieuwenhze Michael S. , Kartal Boran , van Niftrik Laura 
Published: May 2015

AbstractPlanctomycetes are intriguing microorganisms that apparently lack peptidoglycan, a structure that controls the shape and integrity of almost all bacterial cells. Therefore, the planctomycetal cell envelope is considered exceptional and their cell plan uniquely compartmentalized. Anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing (anammox) Planctomycetes play a key role in the global nitrogen cycle by releasing fixed nitrogen back to the atmosphere as N2. Here using a complementary array of state-of-the-art techniques including continuous culturing, cryo-transmission electron microscopy, peptidoglycan-specific probes and muropeptide analysis, we show that the anammox bacterium Kuenenia stuttgartiensis contains peptidoglycan. On the basis of the thickness, composition and location of peptidoglycan in K. stuttgartiensis, we propose to redefine Planctomycetes as Gram-negative bacteria. Our results demonstrate that Planctomycetes are not an exception to the universal presence of peptidoglycan in bacteria.
Widespread seasonal gene expression reveals annual differences in human immunity and physiology
Authors: Dopico Xaquin Castro , Evangelou Marina , Ferreira Ricardo C. , Guo Hui , Pekalski Marcin L. , Smyth Deborah J. , Cooper Nicholas , Burren Oliver S. , Fulford Anthony J. , Hennig Branwen J. , Prentice Andrew M. , Ziegler Anette-G. , Bonifacio Ezio , Wallace Chris , Todd John A. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractSeasonal variations are rarely considered a contributing component to human tissue function or health, although many diseases and physiological process display annual periodicities. Here we find more than 4,000 protein-coding mRNAs in white blood cells and adipose tissue to have seasonal expression profiles, with inverted patterns observed between Europe and Oceania. We also find the cellular composition of blood to vary by season, and these changes, which differ between the United Kingdom and The Gambia, could explain the gene expression periodicity. With regards to tissue function, the immune system has a profound pro-inflammatory transcriptomic profile during European winter, with increased levels of soluble IL-6 receptor and C-reactive protein, risk biomarkers for cardiovascular, psychiatric and autoimmune diseases that have peak incidences in winter. Circannual rhythms thus require further exploration as contributors to various aspects of human physiology and disease.
External stimulation-controllable heat-storage ceramics
Authors: Tokoro Hiroko , Yoshikiyo Marie , Imoto Kenta , Namai Asuka , Nasu Tomomichi , Nakagawa Kosuke , Ozaki Noriaki , Hakoe Fumiyoshi , Tanaka Kenji , Chiba Kouji , Makiura Rie , Prassides Kosmas , Ohkoshi Shin-ichi 
Published: May 2015

AbstractCommonly available heat-storage materials cannot usually store the energy for a prolonged period. If a solid material could conserve the accumulated thermal energy, then its heat-storage application potential is considerably widened. Here we report a phase transition material that can conserve the latent heat energy in a wide temperature range, T<530 K and release the heat energy on the application of pressure. This material is stripe-type lambda-trititanium pentoxide, λ-Ti3O5, which exhibits a solid–solid phase transition to beta-trititanium pentoxide, β-Ti3O5. The pressure for conversion is extremely small, only 600 bar (60 MPa) at ambient temperature, and the accumulated heat energy is surprisingly large (230 kJ L−1). Conversely, the pressure-produced beta-trititanium pentoxide transforms to lambda-trititanium pentoxide by heat, light or electric current. That is, the present system exhibits pressure-and-heat, pressure-and-light and pressure-and-current reversible phase transitions. The material may be useful for heat storage, as well as in sensor and switching memory device applications.
Cells change their sensitivity to an EGF morphogen gradient to control EGF-induced gene expression
Authors: van Zon Jeroen Sebastiaan , Kienle Simone , Huelsz-Prince Guizela , Barkoulas Michalis , van Oudenaarden Alexander 
Published: May 2015

AbstractHow cells in developing organisms interpret the quantitative information contained in morphogen gradients is an open question. Here we address this question using a novel integrative approach that combines quantitative measurements of morphogen-induced gene expression at single-mRNA resolution with mathematical modelling of the induction process. We focus on the induction of Notch ligands by the LIN-3/EGF morphogen gradient during vulva induction in Caenorhabditis elegans. We show that LIN-3/EGF-induced Notch ligand expression is highly dynamic, exhibiting an abrupt transition from low to high expression. Similar transitions in Notch ligand expression are observed in two highly divergent wild C. elegans isolates. Mathematical modelling and experiments show that this transition is driven by a dynamic increase in the sensitivity of the induced cells to external LIN-3/EGF. Furthermore, this increase in sensitivity is independent of the presence of LIN-3/EGF. Our integrative approach might be useful to study induction by morphogen gradients in other systems.
High-speed multiple-mode mass-sensing resolves dynamic nanoscale mass distributions
Authors: Olcum Selim , Cermak Nathan , Wasserman Steven C. , Manalis Scott R. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractSimultaneously measuring multiple eigenmode frequencies of nanomechanical resonators can determine the position and mass of surface-adsorbed proteins, and could ultimately reveal the mass tomography of nanoscale analytes. However, existing measurement techniques are slow (<1 Hz bandwidth), limiting throughput and preventing use with resonators generating fast transient signals. Here we develop a general platform for independently and simultaneously oscillating multiple modes of mechanical resonators, enabling frequency measurements that can precisely track fast transient signals within a user-defined bandwidth that exceeds 500 Hz. We use this enhanced bandwidth to resolve signals from multiple nanoparticles flowing simultaneously through a suspended nanochannel resonator and show that four resonant modes are sufficient for determining their individual position and mass with an accuracy near 150 nm and 40 attograms throughout their 150-ms transit. We envision that our method can be readily extended to other systems to increase bandwidth, number of modes, or number of resonators.
CD11c-mediated deletion of Flip promotes autoreactivity and inflammatory arthritis
Authors: Huang Qi-Quan , Perlman Harris , Birkett Robert , Doyle Renee , Fang Deyu , Haines G. Kenneth , Robinson William , Datta Syamal , Huang Zan , Li Quan-Zhen , Phee Hyewon , Pope Richard M. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractDendritic cells (DCs) are critical for immune homeostasis. To target DCs, we generated a mouse line with Flip deficiency in cells that express cre under the CD11c promoter (CD11c-Flip-KO). CD11c-Flip-KO mice spontaneously develop erosive, inflammatory arthritis, resembling rheumatoid arthritis, which is dramatically reduced when these mice are crossed with Rag−/− mice. The CD8α+ DC subset is significantly reduced, along with alterations in NK cells and macrophages. Autoreactive CD4+ T cells and autoantibodies specific for joint tissue are present, and arthritis severity correlates with the number of autoreactive CD4+ T cells and plasmablasts in the joint-draining lymph nodes. Reduced T regulatory cells (Tregs) inversely correlate with arthritis severity, and the transfer of Tregs ameliorates arthritis. This KO line identifies a model that will permit in depth interrogation of the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis, including the role of CD8α+ DCs and other cells of the immune system.
Type II spiral ganglion afferent neurons drive medial olivocochlear reflex suppression of the cochlear amplifier
Authors: Froud Kristina E. , Wong Ann Chi Yan , Cederholm Jennie M. E. , Klugmann Matthias , Sandow Shaun L. , Julien Jean-Pierre , Ryan Allen F. , Housley Gary D. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractThe dynamic adjustment of hearing sensitivity and frequency selectivity is mediated by the medial olivocochlear efferent reflex, which suppresses the gain of the ‘cochlear amplifier’ in each ear. Such efferent feedback is important for promoting discrimination of sounds in background noise, sound localization and protecting the cochleae from acoustic overstimulation. However, the sensory driver for the olivocochlear reflex is unknown. Here, we resolve this longstanding question using a mouse model null for the gene encoding the type III intermediate filament peripherin (Prph). Prph(−/−) mice lacked type II spiral ganglion neuron innervation of the outer hair cells, whereas innervation of the inner hair cells by type I spiral ganglion neurons was normal. Compared with Prph(+/+) controls, both contralateral and ipsilateral olivocochlear efferent-mediated suppression of the cochlear amplifier were absent in Prph(−/−) mice, demonstrating that outer hair cells and their type II afferents constitute the sensory drive for the olivocochlear efferent reflex.
Planctomycetes do possess a peptidoglycan cell wall
Authors: Jeske Olga , Schüler Margarete , Schumann Peter , Schneider Alexander , Boedeker Christian , Jogler Mareike , Bollschweiler Daniel , Rohde Manfred , Mayer Christoph , Engelhardt Harald , Spring Stefan , Jogler Christian 
Published: May 2015

AbstractMost bacteria contain a peptidoglycan (PG) cell wall, which is critical for maintenance of shape and important for cell division. In contrast, Planctomycetes have been proposed to produce a proteinaceous cell wall devoid of PG. The apparent absence of PG has been used as an argument for the putative planctomycetal ancestry of all bacterial lineages. Here we show, employing multiple bioinformatic methods, that planctomycetal genomes encode proteins required for PG synthesis. Furthermore, we biochemically demonstrate the presence of the sugar and the peptide components of PG in Planctomycetes. In addition, light and electron microscopic experiments reveal planctomycetal PG sacculi that are susceptible to lysozyme treatment. Finally, cryo-electron tomography demonstrates that Planctomycetes possess a typical PG cell wall and that their cellular architecture is thus more similar to that of other Gram-negative bacteria. Our findings shed new light on the cellular architecture and cell division of the maverick Planctomycetes.
Single-molecule super-resolution imaging of chromosomes and in situ haplotype visualization using Oligopaint FISH probes
Authors: Beliveau Brian J. , Boettiger Alistair N. , Avendaño Maier S. , Jungmann Ralf , McCole Ruth B. , Joyce Eric F. , Kim-Kiselak Caroline , Bantignies Frédéric , Fonseka Chamith Y. , Erceg Jelena , Hannan Mohammed A. , Hoang Hien G. , Colognori David , Lee Jeannie T. , Shih William M. , Yin Peng , Zhuang Xiaowei , Wu Chao-ting 
Published: May 2015

AbstractFluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is a powerful single-cell technique for studying nuclear structure and organization. Here we report two advances in FISH-based imaging. We first describe the in situ visualization of single-copy regions of the genome using two single-molecule super-resolution methodologies. We then introduce a robust and reliable system that harnesses single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to visually distinguish the maternal and paternal homologous chromosomes in mammalian and insect systems. Both of these new technologies are enabled by renewable, bioinformatically designed, oligonucleotide-based Oligopaint probes, which we augment with a strategy that uses secondary oligonucleotides (oligos) to produce and enhance fluorescent signals. These advances should substantially expand the capability to query parent-of-origin-specific chromosome positioning and gene expression on a cell-by-cell basis.
Development of a Serological Assay for the Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus) Anellovirus, ZcAV
Authors: Fahsbender Elizabeth , Rosario Karyna , Cannon John P. , Gulland Frances , Dishaw Larry J. , Breitbart Mya 
Published: May 2015

AbstractNew diseases in marine animals are emerging at an increasing rate, yet methodological limitations hinder characterization of viral infections. Viral metagenomics is an effective method for identifying novel viruses in diseased animals; however, determining virus pathogenesis remains a challenge. A novel anellovirus (Zalophus californianus anellovirus, ZcAV) was recently reported in the lungs of captive California sea lions involved in a mortality event. ZcAV was not detected by PCR in the blood of these animals, creating the inability to assess the prevalence of ZcAV in live sea lions. This study developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect antibodies to ZcAV in sea lion serum. To assess ZcAV prevalence, paired serum and lung samples (n = 96) from wild sea lions that stranded along the California coast were tested through ELISA and PCR, respectively. Over 50% of the samples tested positive for ZcAV by ELISA (34%), PCR (29%), or both (11%) assays. ZcAV is prevalent in stranded wild sea lion populations and results suggest that PCR assays alone may grossly underestimate ZcAV exposure. This ELISA provides a tool for testing live sea lions for ZcAV exposure and is valuable for subsequent studies evaluating the potential pathogenicity of this anellovirus.
Tipping points and early warning signals in the genomic composition of populations induced by environmental changes
Authors: Aguirre Jacobo , Manrubia Susanna 
Published: May 2015

AbstractWe live in an ever changing biosphere that faces continuous and often stressing environmental challenges. From this perspective, much effort is currently devoted to understanding how natural populations succeed or fail in adapting to evolving conditions. In a different context, many complex dynamical systems experience critical transitions where their dynamical behaviour or internal structure changes suddenly. Here we connect both approaches and show that in rough and correlated fitness landscapes, population dynamics shows flickering under small stochastic environmental changes, alerting of the existence of tipping points. Our analytical and numerical results demonstrate that transitions at the genomic level preceded by early-warning signals are a generic phenomenon in constant and slowly driven landscapes affected by even slight stochasticity. As these genomic shifts are approached, the time to reach mutation-selection equilibrium dramatically increases, leading to the appearance of hysteresis in the composition of the population. Eventually, environmental changes significantly faster than the typical adaptation time may result in population extinction. Our work points out several indicators that are at reach with current technologies to anticipate these sudden and largely unavoidable transitions.
Plasma Membrane Proteolipid 3 Protein Modulates Amphotericin B Resistance throughSphingolipid Biosynthetic Pathway
Authors: Bari Vinay K. , Sharma Sushma , Alfatah Md. , Mondal Alok K. , Ganesan K. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractInvasive opportunistic fungal infections of humans are common among those sufferingfrom impaired immunity and are difficult to treat resulting in high mortality.Amphotericin B (AmB) is one of the few antifungals available to treat suchinfections. The AmB resistance mechanisms reported so far mainly involve decrease inergosterol content or alterations in cell wall. In contrast, depletion ofsphingolipids sensitizes cells to AmB. Recently, overexpression of PMP3 gene,encoding plasma membrane proteolipid 3 protein, was shown to increase and itsdeletion to decrease, AmB resistance. Here we have explored the mechanistic basis ofPMP3 effect on AmB resistance. It was found that ergosterol content andcell wall integrity are not related to modulation of AmB resistance by PMP3.A few prominent phenotypes of PMP3 delete strain, namely, defective actinpolarity, impaired salt tolerance and reduced rate of endocytosis are also notrelated to its AmB-sensitivity. However, PMP3 overexpression mediatedincrease in AmB resistance requires a functional sphingolipid pathway. Moreover, AmBsensitivity of strains deleted in PMP3 can be suppressed by the addition ofphytosphingosine, a sphingolipid pathway intermediate, confirming the importance ofthis pathway in modulation of AmB resistance by PMP3.
Convertible MRI contrast: Sensing the delivery and release of anti-glioma nano-drugs
Authors: Zhang Liang , Zhang Zhongwei , Mason Ralph P. , Sarkaria Jann N. , Zhao Dawen 
Published: May 2015

AbstractThere is considerable interest in developing nanohybrids of imaging contrast agents and drugs for image-guided drug delivery. We have developed a strategy of utilizing manganese (Mn) to enhance the nano-encapsulation of arsenic trioxide (ATO). Formation of arsenite (As3+)-Mn precipitates in liposomes generates magnetic susceptibility effects, reflected as dark contrast on T2-weighted MRI. Intriguingly, following cell uptake, the As-Mn complex decomposes in response to low pH in endosome-lysosome releasing ionic As3+, the active form of ATO and Mn2+, the T1 contrast agent that gives a bright signal. Glioblastoma (GBM) is well known for its high resistance to chemotherapy, e.g., temozolomide (TMZ). Building upon the previously established phosphatidylserine (PS)-targeted nanoplatform that has excellent GBM-targeting specificity, we now demonstrate the effectiveness of the targeted nanoformulated ATO for treating TMZ-resistant GBM cells and the ability of the convertible Mn contrast as a surrogate revealing the delivery and release of ATO.
Systematic Review: Impact of Interferon-based Therapy on HCV-related Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Hsu Ching-Sheng , Chao You-Chen , Lin Hans Hsienhong , Chen Ding-Shinn , Kao Jia-Horng 
Published: May 2015

AbstractHepatitis C virus (HCV) is the leading cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and several antiviral agents are available for the treatment of chronic HCV infection. However, the impact of antiviral therapy on the long-term outcomes of HCV-related HCC patients remains inconclusive. We aimed to examine the impact of antiviral therapy on the long-term outcomes of HCV-related HCC patients. We conducted a systematic review using PRISMA guidelines to identify trials and English-language literature from PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, Scopus and the Cochrane Library database till August 2014. Randomized trials of antiviral treatments examining the effects of antiviral therapy on CHC patients and HCV-related HCC patients were screened and selected. We identified 6 trials evaluated the effectiveness of interferon (IFN)-alfa treatment, 3 studies examined pegylated interferon-alfa treatment and 2 studies examined IFN-beta treatment. IFN-based therapy may decrease HCC incidence in HCV cirrhotic patients after a >5-year follow-up, improve liver reserve, decrease HCC recurrence rate and increase survival rate in HCV-related HCC patients after curative HCC therapy. In conclusion, IFN-based therapy is beneficial and may be recommended in the management of HCV-related HCC patients who are IFN eligible.