bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Toward a Postmodern Bioethics
Authors: GIBSON DAVID 
Published: February 2015

Abstract:In this article, postmodernism is presented as posing a challenge to the role of philosophy within bioethics. It is argued that any attempt to develop a postmodern bioethics must respond to arguments concerning power, relational responsibility, and violence. Contemporary work on the topic of relational autonomy and naturalized bioethics is interpreted as engaging with the postmodern challenge. This article proposes that the role of philosophy in bioethics should be not to provide moral guidance but rather to adopt a critical approach to the possible consequences of privileging any position or understanding over others.
The Grand Leap of the Whale up the Niagara Falls
Authors: HOLM SØREN 
Published: February 2015

Abstract:This article analyzes a neat conjuring trick employed in bioethics, that is, the immediate conversion of a philosophical conclusion into a policy prescription, and compares it to the “grand leap of the whale up the Niagara Falls” mentioned by Benjamin Franklin. It is shown that there is no simple and easy way to achieve the conversion, by considering arguments falling under four headings: (1) reasonable disagreement about values and theories, (2) general jurisprudential arguments, (3) the differences between policymaking and philosophy, and (4) the messy world of implementation. The particular issue used to illustrate the difficulties in moving from philosophical conclusion to policy description is infanticide of healthy infants, but the analysis is general, and the conclusion that the immediate move to policy is illegitimate is quite general.
Why Is Therapeutic Misconception So Prevalent?
Authors: LIDZ CHARLES W. , ALBERT KAREN , APPELBAUM PAUL , DUNN LAURA B. , OVERTON EVE , PIVOVAROVA EKATERINA 
Published: February 2015

Abstract:Therapeutic misconception (TM)—when clinical research participants fail to adequately grasp the difference between participating in a clinical trial and receiving ordinary clinical care—has long been recognized as a significant problem in consent to clinical trials. We suggest that TM does not primarily reflect inadequate disclosure or participants’ incompetence. Instead, TM arises from divergent primary cognitive frames. The researchers’ frame places the clinical trial in the context of scientific designs for assessing intervention efficacy. In contrast, most participants have a cognitive frame that is personal and focused primarily on their medical problems. To illustrate this, we draw on interview material from both clinical researchers and participants in clinical trials. We suggest that reducing TM requires encouraging subjects to adjust their frame, not just add information to their existing frame. What is necessary is ascientific reframingof participation in a clinical trial.
Assessment of a government-subsidized supermarket in a high-need area on household food availability and children’s dietary intakes
Authors: Elbel Brian , Moran Alyssa , Dixon L Beth , Kiszko Kamila , Cantor Jonathan , Abrams Courtney , Mijanovich Tod 
Published: February 2015

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the impact of a new government-subsidized supermarket in a high-need area on household food availability and dietary habits in children.DesignA difference-in-difference study design was utilized.SettingTwo neighbourhoods in the Bronx, New York City. Outcomes were collected in Morrisania, the target community where the new supermarket was opened, and Highbridge, the comparison community.SubjectsParents/caregivers of a child aged 3–10 years residing in Morrisania or Highbridge. Participants were recruited via street intercept at baseline (pre-supermarket opening) and at two follow-up periods (five weeks and one year post-supermarket opening).ResultsAnalysis is based on 2172 street-intercept surveys and 363 dietary recalls from a sample of predominantly low-income minorities. While there were small, inconsistent changes over the time periods, there were no appreciable differences in availability of healthful or unhealthful foods at home, or in children’s dietary intake as a result of the supermarket.ConclusionsThe introduction of a government-subsidized supermarket into an underserved neighbourhood in the Bronx did not result in significant changes in household food availability or children’s dietary intake. Given the lack of healthful food options in underserved neighbourhoods and need for programmes that promote access, further research is needed to determine whether healthy food retail expansion, alone or with other strategies, can improve food choices of children and their families.
RELATIVE CATEGORICITY AND ABSTRACTION PRINCIPLES
Authors: WALSH SEAN , EBELS-DUGGAN SEAN 
Published: February 2015

AbstractMany recent writers in the philosophy of mathematics have put great weight on the relative categoricity of the traditional axiomatizations of our foundational theories of arithmetic and set theory (Parsons, 1990; Parsons, 2008, sec. 49; McGee, 1997; Lavine, 1999; Väänänen & Wang, 2014). Another great enterprise in contemporary philosophy of mathematics has been Wright’s and Hale’s project of founding mathematics on abstraction principles (Hale & Wright, 2001; Cook, 2007). In Walsh (2012), it was noted that one traditional abstraction principle, namely Hume’s Principle, had a certain relative categoricity property, which here we termnatural relative categoricity. In this paper, we show that most other abstraction principles arenotnaturally relatively categorical, so that there is in fact a large amount of incompatibility between these two recent trends in contemporary philosophy of mathematics. To better understand the precise demands of relative categoricity in the context of abstraction principles, we compare and contrast these constraints to (i) stability-like acceptability criteria on abstraction principles (cf. Cook, 2012), (ii) the Tarski-Sher logicality requirements on abstraction principles studied by Antonelli (2010b) and Fine (2002), and (iii) supervaluational ideas coming out of the work of Hodes (1984, 1990, 1991).
Muscle-specific Drp1 overexpression impairs skeletal muscle growth via translational attenuation
Authors: Touvier T , De Palma C , Rigamonti E , Scagliola A , Incerti E , Mazelin L , Thomas J-L , D'Antonio M , Politi L , Schaeffer L , Clementi E , Brunelli S 
Published: February 2015

AbstractMitochondrial fission and fusion are essential processes in the maintenance of the skeletal muscle function. The contribution of these processes to muscle development has not been properly investigated in vivo because of the early lethality of the models generated so far. To define the role of mitochondrial fission in muscle development and repair, we have generated a transgenic mouse line that overexpresses the fission-inducing protein Drp1 specifically in skeletal muscle. These mice displayed a drastic impairment in postnatal muscle growth, with reorganisation of the mitochondrial network and reduction of mtDNA quantity, without the deficiency of mitochondrial bioenergetics. Importantly we found that Drp1 overexpression activates the stress-induced PKR/eIF2α/Fgf21 pathway thus leading to an attenuated protein synthesis and downregulation of the growth hormone pathway. These results reveal for the first time how mitochondrial network dynamics influence muscle growth and shed light on aspects of muscle physiology relevant in human muscle pathologies.
Neuritin 1 promotes retinal ganglion cell survival and axonal regeneration following optic nerve crush
Authors: Sharma T P , Liu Y , Wordinger R J , Pang I-H , Clark A F 
Published: February 2015

AbstractNeuritin 1 (Nrn1) is an extracellular glycophosphatidylinositol-linked protein that stimulates axonal plasticity, dendritic arborization and synapse maturation in the central nervous system (CNS). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the neuroprotective and axogenic properties of Nrn1 on axotomized retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in vitro and on the in vivo optic nerve crush (ONC) mouse model. Axotomized cultured RGCs treated with recombinant hNRN1 significantly increased survival of RGCs by 21% (n=6–7, P<0.01) and neurite outgrowth in RGCs by 141% compared to controls (n=15, P<0.05). RGC transduction with AAV2-CAG–hNRN1 prior to ONC promoted RGC survival (450%, n=3–7, P<0.05) and significantly preserved RGC function by 70% until 28 days post crush (dpc) (n=6, P<0.05) compared with the control AAV2-CAG–green fluorescent protein transduction group. Significantly elevated levels of RGC marker, RNA binding protein with multiple splicing (Rbpms; 73%, n=5–8, P<0.001) and growth cone marker, growth-associated protein 43 (Gap43; 36%, n=3, P<0.01) were observed 28 dpc in the retinas of the treatment group compared with the control group. Significant increase in Gap43 (100%, n=5–6, P<0.05) expression was observed within the optic nerves of the AAV2–hNRN1 group compared to controls. In conclusion, Nrn1 exhibited neuroprotective, regenerative effects and preserved RGC function on axotomized RGCs in vitro and after axonal injury in vivo. Nrn1 is a potential therapeutic target for CNS neurodegenerative diseases.
Mitochondrial DNA copy number is regulated by DNA methylation and demethylation of POLGA in stem and cancer cells and their differentiated progeny
Authors: Lee W , Johnson J , Gough D J , Donoghue J , Cagnone G L M , Vaghjiani V , Brown K A , Johns T G , St. John J C 
Published: February 2015

AbstractMitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number is strictly regulated during differentiation so that cells with a high requirement for ATP generated through oxidative phosphorylation have high mtDNA copy number, whereas those with a low requirement have few copies. Using immunoprecipitation of DNA methylation on 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), which distinguish between de novo DNA methylation and demethylation, respectively, we set out to determine whether DNA methylation at exon 2 of the human mtDNA-specific polymerase (DNA polymerase gamma A (POLGA)) regulates cell-specific mtDNA copy number in highly proliferative and terminally differentiated cells. Highly proliferative cancer and pluripotent and multipotent cells possessed low mtDNA copy number and were highly methylated at exon 2 of POLGA in contrast to post-mitotic cells. Unlike neural stem cells, cancer cells were unable to differentiate and remained extensively DNA methylated at exon 2 of POLGA. However, mtDNA depletion of cancer cells reduced DNA methylation at exon 2 of POLGA as they replenished mtDNA to form tumours in mice. Glioblastoma cells treated with the DNA demethylation agent 5-azacytidine over 28 days of astrocyte-induced differentiation demethylated exon 2 of POLGA leading to increased mtDNA copy number and expression of the astrocyte endpoint marker glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). However, the demethylation agent vitamin C (VitC) was unable to sustain increased mtDNA copy number and differentiation, as was the case when VitC was withdrawn after short-term treatment. These data demonstrate that DNA demethylation of POLGA is an essential regulator of mtDNA copy number and cellular fate and that cancer cells are only able to modulate DNA methylation of POLGA and mtDNA copy number in the presence of a DNA demethylation agent that inhibits de novo methyltransferase 1 activity.
Akt phosphorylates Prohibitin 1 to mediate its mitochondrial localization and promote proliferation of bladder cancer cells
Authors: Jiang L , Dong P , Zhang Z , Li C , Li Y , Liao Y , Li X , Wu Z , Guo S , Mai S , Xie D , Liu Z , Zhou F 
Published: February 2015

AbstractBladder cancer (BC) is very common and associated with significant morbidity and mortality, though the molecular underpinnings of its origination and progression remain poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrate that Prohibitin 1 (PHB) was overexpressed in human BC tissues and that PHB upregulation was associated with poor prognosis. We also found that PHB was necessary and sufficient for BC cell proliferation. Interestingly, the overexpressed PHB was primarily found within mitochondria, and we provide the first direct evidence that phosphorylation by Akt at Thr258 of PHB induces this mitochondrial localization. Inhibiton of Akt reverses these effects and inhibited the proliferation of BC cells. Finally, the phosphorylation of PHB was required for BC cell proliferation, further implicating the importance of the Akt in BC. Taken together, these findings identify the Akt/PHB signaling cascade as a novel mechanism of cancer cell proliferation and provide the scientific basis for the establishment of PHB as a new prognostic marker and treatment target for BC.
Complement C1q-induced activation of β-catenin signalling causes hypertensive arterial remodelling
Authors: Sumida Tomokazu , Naito Atsuhiko T. , Nomura Seitaro , Nakagawa Akito , Higo Tomoaki , Hashimoto Akihito , Okada Katsuki , Sakai Taku , Ito Masamichi , Yamaguchi Toshihiro , Oka Toru , Akazawa Hiroshi , Lee Jong-Kook , Minamino Tohru , Offermanns Stefan , Noda Tetsuo , Botto Marina , Kobayashi Yoshio , Morita Hiroyuki , Manabe Ichiro , Nagai Toshio , Shiojima Ichiro , Komuro Issei 
Published: February 2015

AbstractHypertension induces structural remodelling of arteries, which leads to arteriosclerosis and end-organ damage. Hyperplasia of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and infiltration of immune cells are the hallmark of hypertensive arterial remodelling. However, the precise molecular mechanisms of arterial remodelling remain elusive. We have recently reported that complement C1q activates β-catenin signalling independent of Wnts. Here, we show a critical role of complement C1-induced activation of β-catenin signalling in hypertensive arterial remodelling. Activation of β-catenin and proliferation of VSMCs were observed after blood-pressure elevation, which were prevented by genetic and chemical inhibition of β-catenin signalling. Macrophage depletion and C1qa gene deletion attenuated the hypertension-induced β-catenin signalling, proliferation of VSMCs and pathological arterial remodelling. Our findings unveil the link between complement C1 and arterial remodelling and suggest that C1-induced activation of β-catenin signalling becomes a novel therapeutic target to prevent arteriosclerosis in patients with hypertension.
A highly conspicuous mineralized composite photonic architecture in the translucent shell of the blue-rayed limpet
Authors: Li Ling , Kolle Stefan , Weaver James C. , Ortiz Christine , Aizenberg Joanna , Kolle Mathias 
Published: February 2015

AbstractMany species rely on diverse selections of entirely organic photonic structures for the manipulation of light and the display of striking colours. Here we report the discovery of a mineralized hierarchical photonic architecture embedded within the translucent shell of the blue-rayed limpetPatella pellucida. The bright colour of the limpet’s stripes originates from light interference in a periodically layered zig-zag architecture of crystallographically co-oriented calcite lamellae. Beneath the photonic multilayer, a disordered array of light-absorbing particles provides contrast for the blue colour. This unique mineralized manifestation of a synergy of two distinct optical elements at specific locations within the continuum of the limpet’s translucent protective shell ensures the vivid shine of the blue stripes, which can be perceived under water from a wide range of viewing angles. The stripes’ reflection band coincides with the spectral range of minimal light absorption in sea water, raising intriguing questions regarding their functional significance.
Long-range epigenetic regulation is conferred by genetic variation located at thousands of independent loci
Authors: Lemire Mathieu , Zaidi Syed H.E. , Ban Maria , Ge Bing , Aïssi Dylan , Germain Marine , Kassam Irfahan , Wang Mike , Zanke Brent W. , Gagnon France , Morange Pierre-Emmanuel , Trégouët David-Alexandre , Wells Philip S. , Sawcer Stephen , Gallinger Steven , Pastinen Tomi , Hudson Thomas J. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractThe interplay between genetic and epigenetic variation is only partially understood. One form of epigenetic variation is methylation at CpG sites, which can be measured as methylation quantitative trait loci (meQTL). Here we report that in a panel of lymphocytes from 1,748 individuals, methylation levels at 1,919 CpG sites are correlated with at least one distal (trans) single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (P<3.2 × 10−13; FDR<5%). Thesetrans-meQTLs include 1,657 SNP–CpG pairs from different chromosomes and 262 pairs from the same chromosome that are >1 Mb apart. Over 90% of these pairs are replicated (FDR<5%) in at least one of two independent data sets. Genomic loci harbouringtrans-meQTLs are significantly enriched (P<0.001) for long non-coding transcripts (2.2-fold), known epigenetic regulators (2.3-fold), piwi-interacting RNA clusters (3.6-fold) and curated transcription factors (4.1-fold), including zinc-finger proteins (8.75-fold). Long-range epigenetic networks uncovered by this approach may be relevant to normal and disease states.
Highly Stable and Sensitive Fluorescent Probes (LysoProbes) for Lysosomal Labeling and Tracking
Authors: Yapici Nazmiye B. , Bi Yue , Li Pengfei , Chen Xin , Yan Xin , Mandalapu Srinivas Rao , Faucett Megan , Jockusch Steffen , Ju Jingfang , Gibson K. Michael , Pavan William J. , Bi Lanrong 
Published: February 2015

AbstractWe report the design, synthesis and application of several new fluorescent probes (LysoProbes I-VI) that facilitate lysosomal pH monitoring and characterization of lysosome-dependent apoptosis. LysoProbes are superior to commercially available lysosome markers since the fluorescent signals are both stable and highly selective and they will aid in characterization of lysosome morphology and trafficking. We predict that labeling of cancer cells and solid tumor tissues with LysoProbes will provide an important new tool for monitoring the role of lysosome trafficking in cancer invasion and metastasis.
Cardioprotective activity of iron oxide nanoparticles
Authors: Xiong Fei , Wang Hao , Feng Yidong , Li Yunman , Hua Xiaoqing , Pang Xingyun , Zhang Song , Song Lina , Zhang Yu , Gu Ning 
Published: February 2015

AbstractIron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) are chemically inert materials and have been mainly used for imaging applications and drug deliveries. However, the possibility whether they can be used as therapeutic drugs themselves has not yet been explored. We reported here that Fe2O3 nanoparticles (NPs) can protect hearts from ischemic damage at the animal, tissue and cell level. The cardioprotective activity of Fe2O3 NPs requires the integrity of nanoparticles and is not dependent upon their surface charges and molecules that were integrated into nanoparticles. Also, Fe2O3 NPs showed no significant toxicity towards normal cardiomyocytes, indicative of their potential to treat cardiovascular diseases.
Multi-Fractal Hierarchy of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Hydrophobic Coatings
Authors: De Nicola Francesco , Castrucci Paola , Scarselli Manuela , Nanni Francesca , Cacciotti Ilaria , De Crescenzi Maurizio 
Published: February 2015

AbstractA hierarchical structure is an assembly with a multi-scale morphology and with a large and accessible surface area. Recent advances in nanomaterial science have made increasingly possible the design of hierarchical surfaces with specific and tunable properties. Here, we report the fractal analysis of hierarchical single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) films realized by a simple, rapid, reproducible and inexpensive filtration process from an aqueous dispersion, then deposited by drytransfer printing method on several substrates, at room temperature. Furthermore, by varying the thickness of carbon nanotube random networks, it is possible tailoring their wettability due to capillary phenomena in the porous films. Moreover, in order to describe the wetting properties of such surfaces, we introduce a two-dimensional extension of the Wenzel-Cassie-Baxter theory. The hierarchical surface roughness of SWCNT coatings coupled with their exceptional and tunable optical and electrical properties provide an ideal hydrophobic composite surface for a new class of optoelectronic and nanofluidic devices.
Polymorphism in glassy silicon: Inherited from liquid-liquid phase transition in supercooled liquid
Authors: Zhang Shiliang , Wang Li-Min , Zhang Xinyu , Qi Li , Zhang Suhong , Ma Mingzhen , Liu Riping 
Published: February 2015

AbstractCombining molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and Voronoi polyhedral analyses, we discussed the microstructure evolution in liquid and glassy silicon during cooling by focusing on the fraction of various clusters. Liquid-liquid phase transition (LLPT) is detected in supercooled liquid silicon However, freezing the high-density liquid (HDL) to the glassy state is not achieved as the quenching rate goes up to 1014 K/s. The polyamorphism in glassy silicon is found to be mainly associated with low-density liquid (LDL).
Manipulating Culture Conditions and Feed Quality to Increase the Survival of Larval Marble Goby Oxyeleotris marmorata
Authors: Loo Poh Leong , Chong Ving Ching , Ibrahim Shaliza , Sabaratnam Vikineswary 
Published: February 2015

Abstract
Fish stocking density, feed quality, and tank color were evaluated for their effects on survival of larval Marble Goby Oxyeleotris marmorata reared at 5-g/L salinity for 30 d. Feed quality was examined in terms of proximate composition and fatty acid profile. Fish larvae were given rotifers and brine shrimp Artemia spp. nauplii (R-A) that were fed condensed cells of the phototrophic bacterium Rhodovulum sulfidophilum (bPB) cultured in palm oil mill effluent (POME); under this feeding regime, fish stocked at a density of 15 larvae/L had significantly higher survival (42.0%) than those stocked at 20 larvae/L (33.5%) or 30 larvae/L (9.9%). At the best stocking density of 15 larvae/L, fish survival and growth were further improved when the larvae received either R-A that were fed the whole culture broth of unsettled bacteria (cPB; survival = 60.9%) or R-A that were fed POME (survival = 58.6%). Under similar rearing conditions, larvae reared in gray-colored tanks showed still further significant improvement in survival (79.0%) relative to larvae that were reared in black tanks (32.5%) or transparent tanks (0.7%). Thus, optimal culture conditions for larval survival (71.4–81.9%) included rearing in gray culture tanks, stocking at 15 larvae/L, and a diet of R-A that were fed cPB or bPB. Under those optimal conditions, survival during the critical larval period (first 10 d posthatch; 91.4–95.7%) was significantly improved. An approximate 2:2:1 dietary ratio of docosahexaenoic acid : eicosapentaenoic acid : arachidonic acid as compared to a fish tissue ratio of 7:2:1 is recommended to improve the survival and production of Marble Goby larvae.