bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors controlling the release of metals and a metalloid from the tailings of a gold mine in Thailand
Authors: Boonsrang Arjaree , Srilert Chotpantarat  , Sutthirat Chakkaphan
Published: August 2017

This study focused on assessing the release potential of various metals and a metalloid (arsenic; As) leached from gold mine tailings under three different degrees of acidity (pH 2, 4 and 6.5) using a synthetic precipitation leaching procedure (SPLP). Tailings were collected from four pits from 0 to 16 m depth, approximately. The samples were divided into the three types, based on their position in the tailings and on other physical characteristics, of the sulphide (
c.
5 m depth), mixing (
c.
1 m depth) and oxide (
c.
10 m depth) zones. This study was primarily concerned with the concentrations of As and Mn, which were found to exceed the Thailand Industrial Effluent Standard (TIES) in the tailings from all zones. Principal component analysis revealed that the release of metals and As from the tailings under acidic conditions, as well as the metals and As mobility, was mainly controlled by the pH and redox conditions. Moreover, the first principal component had high positive loadings of Mn, Pb, Co and Ni (R
2
 > 0.80), indicating that these four metals are either released into the environment from a common source or/and their geochemical behaviour in the aqueous phase is similar.

Supplementary material:
Concentration of metals and As leached from the sulphide mixing and oxide zones at differing pHs are available at
https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.3840154
Induced cortical oscillations in turtle cortex are coherent at the mesoscale of population activity, but not at the microscale of the membrane potential of neurons
Authors: Hoseini Mahmood S. , Pobst Jeff , Wright Nathaniel , Clawson Wesley , Shew Woodrow , Wessel Ralf
Published: August 2017

Bursts of oscillatory neural activity have been hypothesized to be a core mechanism by which remote brain regions can communicate. Such a hypothesis raises the question to what extent oscillations are coherent across spatially distant neural populations. To address this question, we obtained local field potential (LFP) and membrane potential recordings from the visual cortex of turtle in response to visual stimulation of the retina. The time-frequency analysis of these recordings revealed pronounced bursts of oscillatory neural activity and a large trial-to-trial variability in the spectral and temporal properties of the observed oscillations. First, local bursts of oscillations varied from trial to trial in both burst duration and peak frequency. Second, oscillations of a given recording site were not autocoherent; i.e., the phase did not progress linearly in time. Third, LFP oscillations at spatially separate locations within the visual cortex were more phase coherent in the presence of visual stimulation than during ongoing activity. In contrast, the membrane potential oscillations from pairs of simultaneously recorded pyramidal neurons showed smaller phase coherence, which did not change when switching from black screen to visual stimulation. In conclusion, neuronal oscillations at distant locations in visual cortex are coherent at the mesoscale of population activity, but coherence is largely absent at the microscale of the membrane potential of neurons.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Coherent oscillatory neural activity has long been hypothesized as a potential mechanism for communication across locations in the brain. In this study we confirm the existence of coherent oscillations at the mesoscale of integrated cortical population activity. However, at the microscopic level of neurons, we find no evidence for coherence among oscillatory membrane potential fluctuations. These results raise questions about the applicability of the communication through coherence hypothesis to the level of the membrane potential.
Regulation of Corticosteroidogenic Genes by MicroRNAs
Authors: Robertson Stacy , Diver Louise A. , Alvarez-Madrazo Samantha , Livie Craig , Ejaz Ayesha , Fraser Robert , Connell John M. , MacKenzie Scott M. , Davies Eleanor
Published: August 2017

The loss of normal regulation of corticosteroid secretion is important in the development of cardiovascular disease. We previously showed that microRNAs regulate the terminal stages of corticosteroid biosynthesis. Here, we assess microRNA regulation across the whole corticosteroid pathway. Knockdown of microRNA using Dicer1 siRNA in H295R adrenocortical cells increased levels of CYP11A1, CYP21A1, and CYP17A1 mRNA and the secretion of cortisol, corticosterone, 11-deoxycorticosterone, 18-hydroxycorticosterone, and aldosterone. Bioinformatic analysis of genes involved in corticosteroid biosynthesis or metabolism identified many putative microRNA-binding sites, and some were selected for further study. Manipulation of individual microRNA levels demonstrated a direct effect of miR-125a-5p and miR-125b-5p on CYP11B2 and of miR-320a-3p levels on CYP11A1 and CYP17A1 mRNA. Finally, comparison of microRNA expression profiles from human aldosterone-producing adenoma and normal adrenal tissue showed levels of various microRNAs, including miR-125a-5p to be significantly different. This study demonstrates that corticosteroidogenesis is regulated at multiple points by several microRNAs and that certain of these microRNAs are differentially expressed in tumorous adrenal tissue, which may contribute to dysregulation of corticosteroid secretion. These findings provide new insights into the regulation of corticosteroid production and have implications for understanding the pathology of disease states where abnormal hormone secretion is a feature.
The Association between Bone Quality and Atherosclerosis: Results from Two Large Population-Based Studies
Authors: Lange V. , Dörr M. , Schminke U. , Völzke H. , Nauck M. , Wallaschofski H. , Hannemann A.
Published: August 2017

Objective. It is highly debated whether associations between osteoporosis and atherosclerosis are independent of cardiovascular risk factors. We aimed to explore the associations between quantitative ultrasound (QUS) parameters at the heel with the carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT), the presence of carotid artery plaques, and the ankle-brachial index (ABI). Methods. The study population comprised 5680 men and women aged 20–93 years from two population-based cohort studies: Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP) and SHIP-Trend. QUS measurements were performed at the heel. The extracranial carotid arteries were examined with B-mode ultrasonography. ABI was measured in a subgroup of 3853 participants. Analyses of variance and linear and logistic regression models were calculated and adjusted for major cardiovascular risk factors. Results. Men but not women had significantly increased odds for carotid artery plaques with decreasing QUS parameters independent of diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. Beyond this, the QUS parameters were not significantly associated with IMT or ABI in fully adjusted models. Conclusions. Our data argue against an independent role of bone metabolism in atherosclerotic changes in women. Yet, in men, associations with advanced atherosclerosis, exist. Thus, men presenting with clinical signs of osteoporosis may be at increased risk for atherosclerotic disease.
Zanthoxylum heitzii Modulates Ferric Nitrilotriacetate‐Dependent Oxidative Alterations in Four Vital Organs: An In Vitro Organoprotective Model
Authors: Joël Essogo Jacques , Moukette Moukette Bruno , Tankeu Francine Nzufo , Nanfack Pauline , Pieme Constant Anatole
Published: August 2017

Ferric nitrilotriacetate (Fe‐NTA) is a highly reactive compound used to induce degenerative disorders through oxidative stress (OS). Zanthoxylum heitzii (Z. heitzii) is a spice used as a medicinal plant to treat a variety of illnesses. This study investigated the ability of extracts from the leaves, fruits, roots, and barks of Z. Heitzii to inhibit Fe‐NTA mediated oxidative damage in rats. The supernatant of rat liver homogenates was pretreated with the extracts for one hour before the induction of oxidative damage using a solution of Fe‐NTA (400 mM). The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and peroxidases were measured together with the marker of lipid peroxidation and the level of glutathione. The pretreated groups showed a significant increase in the activity of SOD, catalase, and peroxidases. The methanolic extract from the leaves of Z. heitzii (36.78 ± 3.30) and aqueous extract from the fruits (37.01 ± 2.52) showed the highest activities of SOD in the liver. The lowest concentration of MDA was found in the liver, and the glutathione was greater in the brain. Conclusively, these results suggest that Z. heitzii might be a chemoprotector which may be used in for prevention of distinct types of diseases induced by oxidative stress.
Traffic Flow Prediction with Rainfall Impact Using a Deep Learning Method
Authors: Jia Yuhan , Wu Jianping , Xu Ming
Published: August 2017

Accurate traffic flow prediction is increasingly essential for successful traffic modeling, operation, and management. Traditional data driven traffic flow prediction approaches have largely assumed restrictive (shallow) model architectures and do not leverage the large amount of environmental data available. Inspired by deep learning methods with more complex model architectures and effective data mining capabilities, this paper introduces the deep belief network (DBN) and long short-term memory (LSTM) to predict urban traffic flow considering the impact of rainfall. The rainfall-integrated DBN and LSTM can learn the features of traffic flow under various rainfall scenarios. Experimental results indicate that, with the consideration of additional rainfall factor, the deep learning predictors have better accuracy than existing predictors and also yield improvements over the original deep learning models without rainfall input. Furthermore, the LSTM can outperform the DBN to capture the time series characteristics of traffic flow data.
Spatial-Temporal Patterns and Controls of Evapotranspiration across the Tibetan Plateau (2000–2012)
Authors: Zhang Hao , Sun Jian , Xiong Junnan
Published: August 2017

Evapotranspiration (ET) is a key factor to further our understanding of climate change processes, especially on the Tibetan Plateau, which is sensitive to global change. Herein, the spatial patterns of ET are examined, and the effects of environmental factors on ET at different scales are explored from the years 2000 to 2012. The results indicated that a steady trend in ET was detected over the past decade. Meanwhile, the spatial distribution shows an increase of ET from the northwest to the southeast, and the rate of change in ET is lower in the middle part of the Tibetan Plateau. Besides, the positive effect of radiation on ET existed mainly in the southwest. Based on the environment gradient transects, the ET had positive correlations with temperature (R>0.85, p<0.0001), precipitation (R > 0.89, p < 0.0001), and NDVI (R > 0.75, p < 0.0001), but a negative correlation between ET and radiation (R = 0.76, p < 0.0001) was observed. We also found that the relationships between environmental factors and ET differed in the different grassland ecosystems, which indicated that vegetation type is one factor that can affect ET. Generally, the results indicate that ET can serve as a valuable ecological indicator.
Crash Risk Prediction Model of Lane-Change Behavior on Approaching Intersections
Authors: Li Yingshuai , Lu Jian , Xu Kuisheng
Published: August 2017

The driving tendency of drivers is one of the most important factors in lane-changing maneuvers. However, the heterogeneity of the characteristics of drivers’ lane-changing behaviors has not been adequately considered. The primary objective of the present study is to explore the risk level of the lane-changing implementation process under different driving tendencies upon approaching signalized intersections in an urban area. This paper defines the Integrated Conflict Risk Index (ICRI), which takes into account the probability and severity of risk. Using the index as the dependent variable, the risk prediction model of implementing the lane-change process is established. A series of experiments, which included a questionnaire, a number of tests, and on-road experiments, was conducted to identify the driving tendencies of the participants. A combination of video recording and instrumented vehicles was used to collect lane-changing trajectory data of different driving tendencies. The parameters of the model were calibrated, and the results indicate that driving tendency has a significant effect on the risk level of lane-changing execution. More specifically, the more aggressive the driving tendency, the higher the risk level. The quantitative results of the study can provide the basis for conflict risk assessment in the existing lane-changing models.
Geospatial Analysis of Extreme Weather Events in Nigeria (1985–2015) Using Self-Organizing Maps
Authors: Akande Adeoluwa , Costa Ana Cristina , Mateu Jorge , Henriques Roberto
Published: August 2017

The explosion of data in the information age has provided an opportunity to explore the possibility of characterizing the climate patterns using data mining techniques. Nigeria has a unique tropical climate with two precipitation regimes: low precipitation in the north leading to aridity and desertification and high precipitation in parts of the southwest and southeast leading to large scale flooding. In this research, four indices have been used to characterize the intensity, frequency, and amount of rainfall over Nigeria. A type of Artificial Neural Network called the self-organizing map has been used to reduce the multiplicity of dimensions and produce four unique zones characterizing extreme precipitation conditions in Nigeria. This approach allowed for the assessment of spatial and temporal patterns in extreme precipitation in the last three decades. Precipitation properties in each cluster are discussed. The cluster closest to the Atlantic has high values of precipitation intensity, frequency, and duration, whereas the cluster closest to the Sahara Desert has low values. A significant increasing trend has been observed in the frequency of rainy days at the center of the northern region of Nigeria.
Dose of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors and Angiotensin Receptor Blockers and Outcomes in Heart Failure
Authors: Khan Muhammad Shahzeb , Fonarow Gregg C. , Ahmed Ali , Greene Stephen J. , Vaduganathan Muthiah , Khan Hassan , Marti Catherine , Gheorghiade Mihai , Butler Javed
Published: August 2017

Background

The association between angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) doses on outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction is uncertain. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of dose of ACEI and ARBs on outcomes and drug discontinuation in patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction.

Methods and Results

MEDLINE, Ovid SP, and Embase were searched from the inception of these databases till August 2016. Randomized controlled trials that compared high doses of ACEI or ARB against low doses among patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction were included. Pooled analysis was done using a random-effects model, and quality of the studies was assessed by JADAD scale. The main outcomes were all-cause mortality and drug discontinuation. A total of 6 studies (4841 patients in low-dose and 4330 patients in high-dose groups) were included. Compared with low dose, high-dose ACEI or ARBs decreased all-cause mortality modestly (relative risk, 0.94; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.89–1.00;
P
=0.05;
I
2
=0%) and composite of HF hospitalizations and all-cause mortality (relative risk, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.87–1.00;
P
=0.04;
I
2
=39.8%). No significant difference was found between the 2 groups in HF hospitalizations (relative risk, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.70–1.26;
P
=0.68;
I
2
=52.8%) and all-cause hospitalizations (relative risk, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.85–1.11;
P
=0.67;
I
2
=31.7%) risk. Discontinuation rates were also not significantly different in both groups (odds ratio, 1.13; 95% CI, 0.92–1.39;
P
=0.25;
I
2
=32.6%).

Conclusions

In patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction, compared with lower doses, higher doses of ACEI and ARB significantly though modestly improved the composite end point of all-cause mortality or HF hospitalization without significantly increasing the chances of discontinuation.
Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Relaxometry Predicts Regional Functional Outcome After Experimental Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Haberkorn Sebastian M. , Jacoby Christoph , Ding Zhaoping , Keul Petra , Bönner Florian , Polzin Amin , Levkau Bodo , Schrader Jürgen , Kelm Malte , Flögel Ulrich
Published: August 2017

Background—

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance with gadolinium-based contrast agents has established as gold standard for tissue characterization after myocardial infarction (MI). Beyond accurate diagnosis, the value of cardiovascular magnetic resonance to predict the outcome after MI has yet to be substantiated.

Methods and Results—

Recent cardiovascular magnetic resonance approaches were systematically compared for quantification of tissue injury and functional impairment after MI using murine models with permanent left anterior descending coronary artery ligation (n=14) or 50 minutes ischemia/reperfusion (n=13). Cardiovascular magnetic resonance included native/postcontrast T1 maps, T2 maps, and late gadolinium enhancement at days 1 and 21 post-MI. For regional correlation of parametric and functional measures, the left ventricle was analyzed over 200 sectors. For T1 mapping, we used retrospective triggering with variable flip angle analysis. Sectoral analysis of native T1 maps already revealed in the acute phase after MI substantial discrepancies in myocardial tissue texture between the 2 MI models (native T1 day 1: permanent ligation, 1280.0±162.6 ms; ischemia/reperfusion, 1115.0±140.5 ms;
P
<0.001; n=14/13), which were later associated with differential functional outcome (left ventricular ejection fraction day 21: permanent ligation, 24.5±7.0%; ischemia/reperfusion, 33.7±11.6%;
P
<0.05; n=14/13). At this early time, any other parameter was indicative for the subsequent worsening of left ventricular ejection fraction in permanent ligation mice. Linear regression of acute individual measures with contractile function in corresponding areas at day 21 demonstrated for early native T1 values the best correlation with the later functional impairment (
R

2

=0.94).

Conclusions—

The present T1 mapping approach permits accurate characterization of local tissue injury and holds the potential for sensitive and graduated prognosis of the functional outcome after MI without gadolinium-based contrast agents.
The Individual vs. Society in Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach’s Halakhic Rulings
Authors: Mashiach Amir
Published: August 2017

Rosh Yeshivat Kol Torah in Jerusalem for more than forty years, Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach was one of the most influential Halakhic decisors of the twentieth century. Rabbi Auerbach was a major figure in Haredi society which makes his Halakhic involvement in military issues more interesting. An examination of his Halakhic rulings in this matter shows that Rabbi Auerbach comprehended not only the complexity of being a religious soldier in the Army but also the complexity of the operational needs of the Army. Here I identify and analyze Rabbi Auerbach’s Halakhic rulings on military issues in two aspects: a) regular military issues; b) different Halakhic issues on which Rabbi Auerbach imported military discussions and terminology into the halakhic discourse. Moreover, I show that Rabbi Auerbach worked in the light of the principle, “The Nullification of the Individual” (my terminology). Finally, I compare Rabbi Auerbach’s attitude towards Citizen-State issues to that of the German philosopher G.W.F. Hegel.
Interannual Variation in Hydrologic Budgets in an Amazonian Watershed with a Coupled Subsurface–Land Surface Process Model
Authors: Niu Jie , Shen Chaopeng , Chambers Jeffrey Q. , Melack John M. , Riley William J.
Published: August 2017

The central Amazon forest is projected to experience larger interannual precipitation variability, with uncertain impacts on terrestrial hydrologic fluxes. How surface runoff, groundwater, and evapotranspiration (ET) change as a function of annual precipitation (AP) has large climate and biogeochemical implications. A process-based hydrological model is used to examine the sensitivity of hydrologic budgets and stream discharge Qs generation to AP in an upland Amazon catchment. The authors find that AP strongly controls infiltration, base flow, and surface runoff, but not ET. Hence, AP alone can predict interannual changes in these fluxes except ET. Experiments with perturbed rainfall show the strong control derives from the predominant groundwater component that varies linearly with AP but is insensitive to seasonal rainfall fluctuations. Most rainfall from large storms infiltrates and becomes base flow rather than runoff or ET. Annual baseflow index (BFI; the fraction of stream discharge from base flow) is nearly constant (~0.8) when AP is below ~2500 mm yr−1 and decreases with AP above this value, which represents an inflection point for increased storage-dependent saturation excess. These results indicate that the system is energy limited and groundwater dominated in dry seasons, which implies some resilience of ET to moderate droughts. The results suggest AP is a good predictor for interannual changes in infiltration. Both the seasonal near-surface soil moisture and surface runoff are correlated more strongly to the subsurface fluxes than to precipitation over monthly and annual time scales. Finally, the results confirm the importance of central Amazon groundwater flow and its buffering effect on storms and droughts, implying needed model development in regional to global models.
Child-Level Predictors of Responsiveness to Evidence-Based Mathematics Intervention
Authors: Powell Sarah R. , Cirino Paul T. , Malone Amelia S.
Published: August 2017

We identified child-level predictors of responsiveness to 2 types of mathematics intervention (calculation and word problem) among second-grade children with mathematics difficulty. Participants were 250 children in 107 classrooms in 23 schools pretested on mathematics and general cognitive measures and posttested on mathematics measures. We randomly assigned classrooms to calculation intervention, word-problem intervention, or business-as-usual control. Intervention lasted 17 weeks. Path analyses indicated that scores on working memory and language comprehension assessments moderated responsiveness to calculation intervention. No moderators were identified for responsiveness to word-problem intervention. Across both intervention groups and the control group, attentive behavior predicted both outcomes. Initial calculation skill predicted the calculation outcome, and initial language comprehension predicted word-problem outcomes. These results indicate that screening for calculation intervention should include a focus on working memory, language comprehension, attentive behavior, and calculations. Screening for word-problem intervention should focus on attentive behavior and word problems.
Investigating a Tier 1 Intervention Focused on Proportional Reasoning: A Follow-Up Study
Authors: Jitendra Asha K. , Harwell Michael R. , Karl Stacy R. , Simonson Gregory R. , Slater Susan C.
Published: August 2017

This randomized controlled study investigated the efficacy of a Tier 1 intervention—schema-based instruction—designed to help students with and without mathematics difficulties (MD) develop proportional reasoning. Twenty seventh-grade teachers/classrooms were randomly assigned to a treatment condition (schema-based instruction) or control condition (business as usual). Participants included 373 students, of whom 253 demonstrated MD. A measure of proportional problem solving (PPS) was administered at pre- and posttesting and at 11 weeks following treatment, along with a general mathematical problem-solving measure at pre- and posttesting. For the full sample, posttest differences favoring the treatment group were statistically significant for all measures. For students with MD, posttest differences favored the treatment group for the PPS posttest and PPS delayed posttest but not for general problem-solving posttest.
Entheogenesis: Toward an Expanded Worldview for Our Time
Authors: Metzner Ralph
Published: August 2017

Whereas the terminology of psychedelics has acquired spurious cultural associations of “tripping,” the historically primal concept of consciousness expansion has two advantages. One, it connects psychedelic drugs with other modes of consciousness expansion, such as meditation and creative visioning; and two, it suggests contrasting comparison with the consciousness contraction involved in concentration and focus. Both expansions and contractions can be observed at the level of an individual’s states of consciousness and also at the level of the shared worldview of society. Contemporary world culture is moving toward an expanded worldview that recognizes both the material and the spiritual dimensions of our existence.
World Language Students’ Ethnographic Investigations of Culture Through Mobile Devices
Authors: Tuttle Harry G. , Tuttle Lori A.
Published: August 2017

World language teachers can transform how their students learn culture through the use of mobile devices. When world language students use their mobile devices to access authentic current culture, they go from being passive receivers of culture to active cultural investigators. These students go from learning thin surface culture to exploring thick deep culture. World language teachers can easily implement three student-focused ethnographic mobile-based activities of in-depth cultural data collection, targeted data collection, and thick description.
Health Communication With Same-Sex and Other-Sex Friends in Emerging Adulthood
Authors: Ayotte Brian , Mehta Clare , Alfonso Jacqueline
Published: August 2017

Objective

We examined health-related communication between same-sex and other-sex friends and how communication was related to health-related behavior.

Participants

Data from 243 emerging adults attending college ( Mage = 18.96, SD = 1.43; 55.6% male) were analyzed.

Methods

Participants completed measures assessing the frequency in which they talked about and made plans to engage in exercise and nutrition-related behaviors with friends, as well as how often they engaged in exercise and nutrition-related behaviors.

Results

In general, participants reported more health-related communication with same-sex friends. Health-related communication with same-sex friends was positively related to health behaviors for men and women. However, the pattern of results differed for men and women depending on the topic of communication and the behavior being examined.

Conclusion

Our study extends the literature by examining the role of sex of friends in health communication and planning and how interactions with friends relate to health-promoting behavior.
Phytosterols Synergize With Endotoxin to Augment Inflammation in Kupffer Cells but Alone Have Limited Direct Effect on Hepatocytes
Authors: Guthrie Gregory , Tackett Bryan , Stoll Barbara , Martin Camilia , Olutoye Oluyinka , Burrin Douglas G.
Published: August 2017

Introduction: Phytosterols are implicated in the development of parenteral nutrition–associated liver disease. A newly proposed mechanism for phytosterol‐mediated parenteral nutrition–associated liver disease is through phytosterol‐facilitated hepatic proinflammatory cytokine release following exposure to intestinally derived bacteria. Whether the proinflammatory effects are liver cell specific is not known. Aim: To determine if phytosterols cause inflammation in hepatocytes or Kupffer cells independently or require costimulation by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Methods: In an in vivo study, neonatal piglets on parenteral nutrition for 11 days received an 8‐hour infusion of LPS. In the in vitro studies, neonatal piglet Kupffer cells and hepatocytes were treated with media, media + 1% soy oil, or media + 1% soy oil + 100µM phytosterols. After 24‐hour incubation, cells were treated with farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonist obeticholic acid or liver X receptor (LXR) agonist GW3965 and challenged with LPS or interleukin 1β. Results: LPS administration in piglets led to transient increases in proinflammatory cytokines and suppression of the transporters bile salt export pump and ATP‐binding cassette transporter G5. In hepatocytes, phytosterols did not activate inflammation. Phytosterol treatment alone did not activate inflammation in Kupffer cells but, combined with LPS, synergistically increased interleukin 1β production. FXR and LXR agonists increased transporter expression in hepatocytes. GW3965 suppressed proinflammatory cytokine production in Kupffer cells, but obeticholic acid did not. Conclusions: LPS suppresses transporters that control bile acid and phytosterol clearance. Phytosterols alone do not cause inflammatory response. However, with costimulation by LPS, phytosterols synergistically maximize the inflammatory response in Kupffer cells.
Anti-inflammation conferred by stimulation of CD200R1 via Dok1 pathway in rat microglia after germinal matrix hemorrhage
Authors: Feng Zhanhui , Ye Lan , Klebe Damon , Ding Yan , Guo Zhen-Ni , Flores Jerry J , Yin Cheng , Tang Jiping , Zhang John H
Published: August 2017

CD200 has been reported to be neuroprotective in neurodegenerative diseases. However, the potential protective effects of CD200 in germinal matrix hemorrhage (GMH) have not been investigated. We examined the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of CD200 after GMH. A total of 167 seven-day-old rat pups were used. The time-dependent effect of GMH on the levels of CD200 and CD200 Receptor 1 (CD200R1) was evaluated by western blot. CD200R1 was localized by immunohistochemistry. The short-term (24 h) and long-term (28 days) outcomes were evaluated after CD200 fusion protein (CD200Fc) treatment by neurobehavioral assessment. CD200 small interfering RNA (siRNA) and downstream of tyrosine kinase 1 (Dok1) siRNA were injected intracerebroventricularly. Western blot was employed to study the mechanisms of CD200 and CD200R1. GMH induced significant developmental delay and caused impairment in both cognitive and motor functions in rat pups. CD200Fc ameliorated GMH-induced damage. CD200Fc increased expression of Dok1 and decreased IL-1beta and TNF-alpha levels. CD200R1 siRNA and Dok1 siRNA abolished the beneficial effects of CD200Fc, as demonstrated by enhanced expression levels of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha. CD200Fc inhibited GMH-induced inflammation and this effect may be mediated by CD200R1/Dok1 pathway. Thus, CD200Fc may serve as a potential treatment to ameliorate brain injury for GMH patients.
Dermatofibroma: sonographic findings and pathologic correlation
Authors: Won Kyu Yeoun , Park So Young , Jin Wook , Lew Bark-Lynn
Published: August 2017

Background

Ultrasound has been increasingly used for the evaluation of superficial soft tissue lesions. Dermatofibroma is one of the most common dermal lesions. Experiences in ultrasound examinations of dermatofibromas have been accumulated.

Purpose

To evaluate sonographic findings of dermatofibroma and to correlate them with pathologic findings.

Material and Methods

A total of 18 dermatofibromas in 15 patients were included. Sonographic findings were assessed for location, depth, size, shape, margin, spiculation, echogenicity, internal hyperechoic dots, change in echogenicity of adjacent soft tissue, and vascularity, by two musculoskeletal radiologists in consensus. Pathologic findings were evaluated by one pathologist. Ultrasonographic characteristics were correlated with the pathologic findings by discussion between one radiologist and one pathologist.

Results

On ultrasound, all lesions were found to be located in the dermis, and 14 lesions (78%) extended into the subcutaneous layer. Mean size was 7 mm (range = 3 to 10 mm). Characteristic findings were ill-defined margins (n = 15, 83%), spiculated margins (n = 12, 67%), change in echogenicity of adjacent soft tissue (n = 14, 78%), and no Doppler flow (n = 14, 78%). Histologically, depth, margin, and spiculation were correlated with sonographic findings. Reactive fibrosis and chronic inflammation were seen in adjacent dermis and subcutaneous fat layer of echogenicity change.

Conclusion

On ultrasound, dermatofibromas are usually visible as avascular dermal lesions with extension into the subcutaneous layer, and are characterized by ill-defined margins, marginal spiculation, and change in echogenicity of surrounding soft tissues.
Connecting chord progressions with specific pieces of music
Authors: Jimenez Ivan , Kuusi Tuire
Published: August 2017

Musicians can conceptualize harmony in terms of its connection to specific pieces of music. However, research appears to indicate that harmony plays a relatively unimportant role in music identification tasks. The present study examines the ability of listeners of varying levels of musical expertise to identify music from chord progressions. Participants were asked to identify well-known classical and pop/rock pieces from their chord progressions, which were recorded using either piano tones or Shepard tones and were played at six transpositional levels. Although musical training and invariance of surface melodic and rhythmic features were found to have an advantageous effect on the identification task, even some non-musicians were able to identify music from chord progressions in conditions of low invariance of surface features. Implications of these results for our understanding of how listeners mentally represent and remember harmony are discussed.
STS, symmetry and post-truth
Authors: Lynch Michael
Published: August 2017

This essay takes up a series of questions about the connection between ‘symmetry’ in Science and Technology Studies (STS) and ‘post-truth’ in contemporary politics. A recent editorial in this journal by Sergio Sismondo argues that current discussions of ‘post-truth’ have little to do with conceptions of ‘symmetry’ or with concerns about ‘epistemic democracy’ in STS, while others, such as Steve Fuller and Harry Collins, insist that there are such connections. The present essay discusses a series of questions about the meaning of ‘post-truth’ and ‘symmetry’, and the connections of those concepts to each other and to ‘epistemic democracy’. The essay ends with a series of other questions about STS and contemporary politics, and an invitation to further discussions.
A drag coefficient for application to the WLTP driving cycle
Authors: Howell Jeff , Forbes David , Passmore Martin
Published: August 2017

The aerodynamic drag characteristics of a passenger car have, typically, been defined by a single parameter: the drag coefficient at a yaw angle of 0°. Although this has been acceptable in the past, it does not provide an accurate measure of the effect of aerodynamic drag on fuel consumption because the important influence of the wind has been excluded. The result of using drag coefficients at a yaw angle of 0° produces an underprediction of the aerodynamic component of fuel consumption that does not reflect the on-road conditions. An alternative measure of the aerodynamic drag should take into account the effect of non-zero yaw angles, and a variant of wind-averaged drag is suggested as the best option. A wind-averaged drag coefficient is usually derived for a particular vehicle speed using a representative wind speed distribution. In the particular case where the road speed distribution is specified, such as for a driving cycle to determine fuel economy, a relevant drag coefficient can be derived by using a weighted road speed. An effective drag coefficient is determined with this approach for a range of cars using the proposed test cycle for the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure, WLTP. The wind input acting on the car has been updated for this paper using recent meteorological data and an understanding of the effect of a shear flow on the drag loading obtained from a computational fluid dynamics study. In order to determine the different mean wind velocities acting on the car, a terrain-related wind profile has also been applied to the various phases of the driving cycle. An overall drag coefficient is derived from the work done over the full cycle. This cycle-averaged drag coefficient is shown to be significantly higher than the nominal drag coefficient at a yaw angle of 0°.
The Production Effect in Memory
Authors: MacLeod Colin M. , Bodner Glen E.
Published: August 2017

Producing items by means as simple as saying, writing, or typing them can yield substantial memory improvements relative to silent reading. We review the research on this production effect and outline some important extensions and boundary conditions. We also evaluate the evidence that production enhances the distinctiveness of items in memory during encoding, thereby facilitating their later retrieval. There are issues to resolve and areas to explore, but production offers a practical means of enhancing some forms of long-term, explicit memory.
Generational Patterns of Stress: Help From Our Microbes?
Authors: Callaghan Bridget L.
Published: August 2017

Exposure to adverse events affects the development of stress and threat response systems, and emerging evidence suggests that these effects are transmitted to future generations. How such effects are transmitted, and, similarly, how they can be ameliorated, is the topic of this article. Recent evidence demonstrates generational transmission of traits acquired following environmental exposures such as stress (e.g., parental deprivation) and dietary change (e.g., famine, high-fat diet). These diverse environmental exposures often affect both mental and physical health and appear to be transmitted through similar epigenetic and behavioral mechanisms. This convergence suggests an interesting possibility—dietary/gut-directed manipulations may work to prevent the transgenerational transmission of adversity. Although future research is required, gastrointestinal treatments show early promise in the treatment of generational mental health and are both economic and globally accessible.
Psychological Misconceptions: Recent Scientific Advances and Unresolved Issues
Authors: Bensley D. Alan , Lilienfeld Scott O.
Published: August 2017

Psychological misconceptions present problems for psychology students as well as for laypersons, experts, and others who need to think critically about psychological information. Recent progress in measuring psychological misconceptions has led to fresh understandings of how people with better critical thinking skills and dispositions are less prone to misconceptions and how people who adopt a more intuitive approach to thinking are more prone to them, as predicted by dual process models of cognition. Recent studies also suggest that people who endorse more misconceptions show more impaired metacognition by failing to accurately monitor what they know. These new findings help to explain why refutational approaches, which explicitly activate misconceptions and debunk them with contrary evidence, often reduce misconception endorsement. Nevertheless, they may not readily explain why some efforts to eliminate misconceptions backfire or are otherwise ineffective, highlighting the need for more research on misconception content and individual differences in cognition, personality, and attitudes that predict misconception endorsement.
Culture, Social Interdependence, and Ostracism
Authors: Uskul Ayse K. , Over Harriet
Published: August 2017

Recent research has demonstrated that cultural groups differ in how they experience ostracism and in how they behave in the wake of being ostracized. We review this literature paying particular attention to the role that one key cultural variable, social interdependence, plays in moderating responses to ostracism. Although the data present a complex picture, a growing number of studies have suggested that collectivistic cultures and high levels of social interdependence are associated with less negative responses to ostracism. We review explanations for observed cultural and individual-level differences in responses to ostracism and make a series of suggestions for future research that, we hope, will disambiguate current findings and offer a more nuanced picture of ostracism and the significance of cultural variation inherent within it.
Family Planning and Its Association with Nutritional Status of Women: Investigation in Select South Asian Countries
Authors: Rana Md Juel , Goli Srinivas
Published: August 2017

Family planning allows couples to anticipate and attain their desired number of children and the timing and spacing of their births. Integration of family planning services in undernutrition elimination programmes is one way to reduce undernutrition in developing countries. In this backdrop, this study assessed the association of women’s nutritional status and family planning, considering the intersectional axes of the timing, spacing and limiting of births as a proxy indicator of family planning. The study used the recent Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data from four South Asian countries (namely, India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan) which exhibit prevalence of high malnutrition levels, poor family planning, huge adolescent fertility and shorter birth intervals among women. Along with descriptive and bivariate statistics, multinomial logistic regressions ( mlogit) and Multiple Classification Analysis (MCA) conversion models were used to estimate the adjusted percentage of nutritional outcomes by selected independent factors. The results reveal that women’s nutritional status has significant relationship with planning of births. Overall, the findings suggest that planning for timing, spacing and limiting of births can promote better nutritional status in women.
MtDNA depletion influences the transition of CD44 subtypes in human prostate cancer DU145 cells
Authors: Li Xiaoran , Grigalavicius Mantas , Li Yaqing , Li Xiaoli , Zhong Yali , Huang Ruixia , Yu Dandan , Berge Viktor , Goscinski Mariusz Adam , Kvalheim Gunnar , Nesland Jahn M , Suo Zhenhe
Published: August 2017

Our earlier study revealed that long-term ethidium bromide application causes mitochondrial DNA depletion in human prostate cancer DU145 cell line (DU145MtDP), and this DU145MtDP subline appears to have expanded CD44Bright cell population than its parental wild type DU145 cells (DU145WT). Increasing evidence suggests that CD44Bright cells are highly cancer stem cell like, but it is not clear about their dynamic transition between CD44Dim and CD44Bright phenotypes in prostate cancer cells, and how it is affected by mitochondrial DNA depletion. To address these questions, four cell subpopulations were isolated from both DU145WT and DU145MtDP cell lines based on their CD44 expression level and mitochondrial membrane potential. The cell motility and colony formation capability of the fluorescence activated cell sorting–sorted cell subpopulations were further examined. It was discovered in the DU145WT cells that CD44Dim cells could transit into both CD44Dim and CD44Bright phenotypes and that CD44Bright cells were prone to sustain their CD44Bright phenotype as renewal. However, such transition principle was altered in the DU145MtDP cells, in which CD44Bright cells showed similar capability to sustain a CD44Bright phenotype, while the transition of CD44Dim cells to CD44Bright were suppressed. It is concluded that mitochondrial DNA depletion in the human prostate cancer DU145 cells influences their renewal and CD44 subphenotype transition. Such alterations may be the driving force for the enrichment of CD44Bright DU145 cells after the mitochondrial DNA depletion, although the molecular mechanisms remain unclear.
Numerical simulation of floor vibrations of a metro depot under moving subway trains
Authors: Guo Tong , Cao Zhiliang , Zhang Zhiqiang , Li Aiqun
Published: August 2017

With the development of subway lines in urban areas, building structures are sometimes subjected to train-induced vibrations, and there is a need to develop prediction models to evaluate the vibration serviceability. In this paper, a new type of subway-depot system is investigated, where subway trains run through the top story of a 3-story metro depot, while the first two stories were developed for offices and shops to avoid the waste of large city areas. Considering the increasing use of such a structural system and the possible serviceability problems, the floor vibrations of a metro depot under moving subway trains were numerically simulated, where the train-track system was treated as the vibration source and studied separately, and the influence of train speed and fastener configuration on the vibration response was discussed. The metro depot was modeled taking the stiffness of the partition walls into account, and vibration responses of the building at different locations were compared and validated through field tests. Besides, vibration level of the second floor was evaluated using an acceleration index that considers frequency weighting. Finally, parameter analysis was carried out so as to provide some references to the vibration control.
Verification of probability density evolution method through shaking table tests of a randomly base-driven structure
Authors: Mei Zhen , Guo Zixiong
Published: August 2017

Over the last decade, a family of probability density evolution method for analysis of general stochastic dynamical systems has been developed. A large number of numerical examples indicate that this method has advantages in quantification of stochastic dynamic response, in assessment of global reliability and in stochastic optimal control of structures, while its experimental verification is still lacking. The main purpose of this article, with the consequence, is to experimentally investigate the accuracy and efficiency of the probability density evolution method through shaking table tests of a randomly base-driven structure. Analytical results demonstrate that the probability density evolution method is capable of evaluating the probability information, including the mean, the standard deviation, the instantaneous probability density function and its evolution, of structural responses exactly. Furthermore, stochastic response analyses of the tested structure without dampers subjected to three different sets of ground motions are conducted to validate the correctness and reliability of the probability density evolution method. It is concluded that a small amount of representative samples is able to accommodate a relatively accurate analytical result of stochastic dynamical systems, indicating a significant efficiency of the probability density evolution method.