bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adaptation and validation of the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale – Cognitive (ADAS-Cog) in a low-literacy setting in sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Paddick Stella-Maria , Kisoli Aloyce , Mkenda Sarah , Mbowe Godfrey , Gray William Keith , Dotchin Catherine , Ogunniyi Adesola , Kisima John , Olakehinde Olaide , Mushi Declare , Walker Richard William
Published: March 2017

Objective

This study aimed to assess the feasibility of a low-literacy adaptation of the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale – Cognitive (ADAS-Cog) for use in rural sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) for interventional studies in dementia. No such adaptations currently exist.

Methods

Tanzanian and Nigerian health professionals adapted the ADAS-Cog by consensus. Validation took place in a cross-sectional sample of 34 rural-dwelling older adults with mild/moderate dementia alongside 32 non-demented controls in Tanzania. Participants were oversampled for lower educational level. Inter-rater reliability was conducted by two trained raters in 22 older adults (13 with dementia) from the same population. Assessors were blind to diagnostic group.

Results

Median ADAS-Cog scores were 28.75 (interquartile range (IQR), 22.96–35.54) in mild/moderate dementia and 12.75 (IQR 9.08–16.16) in controls. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was 0.973 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.936–1.00) for dementia. Internal consistency was high (Cronbach’s α 0.884) and inter-rater reliability was excellent (intra-class correlation coefficient 0.905, 95% CI 0.804–0.964).

Conclusion

The low-literacy adaptation of the ADAS-Cog had good psychometric properties in this setting. Further evaluation in similar settings is required.
Synbiotic supplementation in lean patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a pilot, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial
Authors: Mofidi Fatemeh , Poustchi Hossein , Yari Zahra , Nourinayyer Babak , Merat Shahin , Sharafkhah Maryam , Malekzadeh Reza , Hekmatdoost Azita
Published: March 2017

Although non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the leading aetiology of liver disorders in the world, there is no proven treatment for NAFLD patients with normal or low BMI. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of synbiotics supplementation in NAFLD patients with normal or low BMI. In this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial, fifty patients with NAFLD were assigned to take either a synbiotic supplement or a placebo capsule for 28 weeks. Both groups were advised to follow a healthy lifestyle. At the end of the study, hepatic steatosis and fibrosis reduced in both groups; however, the mean reduction was significantly greater in the synbiotic group rather than in the placebo group (P<0·001). Furthermore, serum levels of fasting blood sugar, TAG and most of the inflammatory mediators reduced in the synbiotic group significantly compared with the placebo group (P<0·05). Our results provide evidence that synbiotic supplementation improves the main features of NAFLD in patients with normal and low BMI, at least partially through reduction in inflammatory indices. Further studies are needed to address the exact mechanism of action of these effects.
Genetic risk scores, sex and dietary factors interact to alter serum uric acid trajectory among African-American urban adults
Authors: Beydoun May A. , Canas Jose-Atilio , Fanelli-Kuczmarski Marie T. , Tajuddin Salman M. , Evans Michele K. , Zonderman Alan B.
Published: March 2017

Serum uric acid (SUA), a causative agent for gout among others, is affected by both genetic and dietary factors, perhaps differentially by sex. We evaluated cross-sectional (SUAbase) and longitudinal (SUArate) associations of SUA with a genetic risk score (GRS), diet and sex. We then tested the interactive effect of GRS, diet and sex on SUA. Longitudinal data on 766 African-American urban adults participating in the Healthy Aging in Neighborhood of Diversity across the Lifespan study were used. In all, three GRS for SUA were created from known SUA-associated SNP (GRSbase (n 12 SNP), GRSrate (n 3 SNP) and GRStotal (n 15 SNP)). Dietary factors included added sugar, total alcohol, red meat, total fish, legumes, dairy products, caffeine and vitamin C. Mixed-effects linear regression models were conducted. SUAbase was higher among men compared with that among women, and increased with GRStotal tertiles. SUArate was positively associated with legume intake in women (γ=+0·14; 95 % CI +0·06, +0·22, P=0·001) and inversely related to dairy product intake in both sexes combined (γ=−0·042; 95 % CI −0·075, −0·009), P=0·010). SUAbase was directly linked to alcohol consumption among women (γ=+0·154; 95 % CI +0·046, +0·262, P=0·005). GRSrate was linearly related to SUArate only among men. Legume consumption was also positively associated with SUArate within the GRStotal’s lowest tertile. Among women, a synergistic interaction was observed between GRSrate and red meat intake in association with SUArate. Among men, a synergistic interaction between low vitamin C and genetic risk was found. In sum, sex–diet, sex–gene and gene–diet interactions were detected in determining SUA. Further similar studies are needed to replicate our findings.
Ministerial Directives to Local Government in Zimbabwe: Top-Down Governance in a Decentralized Constitution
Authors: Chigwata Tinashe Carlton , Muchapondwa Varaidzo Violet , Visser Jaap de
Published: March 2017

Urban and rural local authorities constitute the lowest tier of Zimbabwe's multilevel system of government. These local governments have a constitutional “right to govern” that must be exercised within the constitutional, legislative and policy framework. Under the old constitutional order, the national government could supervise urban local authorities, for example by issuing policy directives to ensure that these authorities governed in a manner that enabled them to deliver on national and local goals. This article examines this supervisory instrument, the powers it gives the national government, its use in practice and its relevance under the new constitutional order. The main argument is that supervisory instruments, such as the power to issue policy directives to local governments, are necessary in any multilevel system of government. However, such supervisory powers must be balanced with the need for local autonomy, to allow local governments to deliver on their service delivery obligations and development mandate.
Maize–common bean intercropping to optimize maize-based crop production
Authors: ALEMAYEHU A. , TAMADO T. , NIGUSSIE D. , YIGZAW D. , KINDE T. , WORTMANN C. S.
Published: March 2017

Maize (Zea maysL.)–common bean (Phaseolus vulgarisL.) intercropping is a recent practice in north-western Ethiopia and there is limited information on its productivity. A field experiment was conducted at South Achefer and Mecha in north-western Ethiopia during the 2012 and 2013 crop growing seasons to determine combinations of intercrop planting arrangement (IPA) with nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) rates for optimizing maize–common bean intercrop productivity and profitability. Treatments consisted of factorial combinations of two IPA (single row of common bean between maize rows and paired rows of common bean between paired rows of maize), two N rates (92 and 128 kg N/ha) and two P rates (20 and 40 kg P/ha). A sole crop maize with recommended fertilizer rate of 128/40 kg N/P/ha was used as a control treatment. The treatments were laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Results indicated that land equivalent ratio was more than unity, and the intercrop system was 20% more productive relative to the sole crop. Maize equivalent yields were highest for most of the intercrop treatments relative to mono-crop maize with yield advantage of 14% from single row IPA with 128/20 kg N/P/ha. Single row IPA with 128/20 kg N/P/ha and paired row IPA with 92/20 kg N/P/ha increased financial returns by 16 and 8% relative to sole crop maize, respectively. Smallholder maize-based cropping of north-western Ethiopia could be nutritionally, agronomically and financially improved through maize–common bean intercropping of single row IPA with appropriate nutrient management.
Two new species ofClausidiumcopepods (Crustacea, Poecilostomatoida) associated with ghost shrimps from Iran
Authors: Sepahvand Vahid , Rastegar–Pouyani Nasrullah , Kihara Terue C.
Published: March 2017

Two new species ofClausidiumcopepods were collected on the bodies of ghost shrimps from the Iranian coast of the Gulf of Oman.Clausidium makranensissp. nov. andClausidium sariisp. nov. are described from the large chelipeds ofNeocallichirus natalensisandCorallianassa martensi, respectively.Clausidium makranensissp. nov. is distinguishable from its congeners by the unique anal somite that is armed with sclerotized hooks on each side.Clausidium sariisp. nov. can be differentiated from its congeners by the armature and shape of leg 5.
Incidental capture of sea turtles by industrial bottom trawl fishery in the Tropical South-western Atlantic
Authors: Guimarães Suzana Machado , Tavares Davi Castro , Monteiro-Neto Cassiano
Published: March 2017

The five sea turtle species occurring in Brazilian waters are susceptible to threats, including incidental catches by fisheries. Studies on incidental captures in fishing gears are the main focus of several conservation actions due to high sea turtle fishery mortality worldwide. This study provides the first evaluation of incidental sea turtle catches by industrial bottom trawl fisheries operating in Brazilian waters. Four twin-trawler vessels were monitored between July 2010 and December 2011 by captains who voluntarily completed logbooks. Forty-four turtles were captured during the 1996 tows (8313 fishing hours), resulting in a catch of 5.3 ± 0.8 turtles per 1000 h per unit effort. Captured species included the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta, 22 individuals), olive ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea, 21 individuals) and one green turtle (Chelonia mydas). Water depth was the only variable that significantly affected sea turtle captures according to Generalized Linear Models. The capture rates reported in this study ranked sixth in relation to other published studies of similar fisheries occurring worldwide. Considering the importance of this region for sea turtles, the increasing evidence of sea turtle mortality and the goals of the National Action Plan for Conservation of Sea Turtles in Brazil, it is essential to identify the main threats towards these animals and propose mitigating solutions to reduce sea turtle mortality induced by fishing activities. This study provides results that may guide future research and goals in meeting sea turtle conservation strategies.
Evaluating the submission of digital images as a method of surveillance for Ixodes scapularis ticks
Authors: KOFFI J. K. , SAVAGE J. , THIVIERGE K. , LINDSAY L. R. , BOUCHARD C. , PELCAT Y. , OGDEN N. H.
Published: March 2017

Widespread access to the internet is offering new possibilities for data collection in surveillance. We explore, in this study, the possibility of using an electronic tool to monitor occurrence of the tick vector of Lyme disease, Ixodes scapularis. The study aimed to compare the capacity for ticks to be identified in web-based submissions of digital images/photographs, to the traditional specimen-based identification method used by the provincial public health laboratory in Quebec, Canada. Forty-one veterinary clinics participated in the study by submitting digital images of ticks collected from pets via a website for image-based identification by an entomologist. The tick specimens were then sent to the provincial public health laboratory to be identified by the ‘gold standard’ method using a microscope. Of the images submitted online, 74·3% (284/382) were considered of high-enough quality to allow identification. The laboratory identified 382 tick specimens from seven different species, with I. scapularis representing 76% of the total submissions. Of the 284 ticks suitable for image-based species identification, 276 (97·2%) were correctly identified (Kappa statistic of 0·92, Z = 15·46, P < 0·001). This study demonstrates that image-based tick identification may be an accurate and useful method of detecting ticks for surveillance when images are of suitable quality.
Parasite performance and host alternation: is there a negative effect in host-specific and host-opportunistic parasites?
Authors: VAN DER MESCHT LUTHER , KHOKHLOVA IRINA S. , WARBURTON ELIZABETH M. , KRASNOV BORIS R.
Published: March 2017

Environmental fluctuations are expected to require special adaptations only if they are associated with a decrease in fitness. We compared reproductive performance between fleas fed on alternating (preferred and non-preferred) hosts and fleas fed solely on either a preferred or a non-preferred host to determine whether (1) host alternation incurs an immediate negative effect, and, if yes, then (2) whether this effect is greater in a host specialist (Parapulex chephrenis) than in host generalists (Xenopsylla conformisandSynosternus cleopatrae). We also compared flea performance under alternating host regimes with different host order (initial feeding on either a preferred or a non-preferred host). An immediate negative effect of alternating hosts on reproductive performance was found inP. chephrenisonly. These fleas produced 44·3% less eggs that were 3·6% smaller when they fed on alternating hosts as compared with a preferred host. In contrast,X. conformisandS. cleopatraeappeared to be able to adapt their reproductive strategy to host alternation by producing higher quality offspring (on average, 3·1% faster development and 2·1% larger size) without compromising offspring number. However, the former produced eggs that were slightly, albeit significantly, smaller when it fed on alternating hosts as compared with a preferred host. Moreover, host order affected reproductive performance in host generalists (e.g. 2·8% larger eggs when the first feeding was performed on a non-preferred host), but not in a host specialist. We conclude that immediate effects of environmental fluctuation on parasite fitness depend on the degree of host specialization.
Coloured tangles and signatures
Authors: CIMASONI DAVID , CONWAY ANTHONY
Published: March 2017

Taking the signature of the closure of a braid defines a map from the braid group to the integers. In 2005, Gambaudo and Ghys expressed the homomorphism defect of this map in terms of the Meyer cocycle and the Burau representation. In the present paper, we simultaneously extend this result in two directions, considering the multivariable signature of the closure of a coloured tangle. The corresponding defect is expressed in terms of the Maslov index and of the Lagrangian functor defined by Turaev and the first-named author.
From India to India: The Performative Unworlding of Literature
Authors: NICHOLSON RASHNA DARIUS
Published: March 2017

World literature has recently been critiqued for its normative, world-making force and, not unrelatedly, for its genealogical ties to orientalism. This article shifts the focus in world literature from the ‘world’ to the ‘literature’ by suggesting that within a nexus of politics, religion and knowledge production, the stylistic requirements of literature were fundamental to the reification of numerous performative modes that were not predicated exclusively on language's semantic dimensions. Literature, as a ‘vanishing mediator’, thus enabled not only translations but also comparative valuations – philological, mythological and racial – of entire cultures in an unethical epistemological encounter. Through the examination of the circuitous route of the Sāvitrī myth, which was translated from Sanskrit into Italian, English, French and German as ‘dramatic literature’, and finally to Gujarati as a play for theatrical production, this article uncovers performance's potential to problematize the figuring of text as world-encompassing entity.
RECYCLING AND RECONFIGURING: METALWORK OF MAYA COMMUNITIES AT LAMANAI AND TIPU, BELIZE
Authors: Cockrell Bryan R. , Simmons Scott E.
Published: March 2017

Analysis of the two largest southern Maya lowland metal assemblages, from Lamanai (n = 187) and Tipu (n = 99), Belize reveals that Mesoamerican and European technologies were negotiated through the processes of recycling objects to create new forms and juxtaposing objects of different provenances for bodily ornamentation. Lamanai's occupants began acquiring metal as early asa.d.1100 and then engaged in on-site metallurgy as early asa.d.1450, continuing into the early seventeenth century. Tipu was a nexus for metals between the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. At both sites, metal objects were recovered primarily from human burials and midden deposits. A program of typological study and compositional analysis revealed forms shared between the sites but evidence of on-site metallurgy is supported only at Lamanai. Metals from these Maya communities, both centers of Spanishreducción, demonstrate that the southern Maya lowlands was by no means a “refuge” from Spanish aggression.
MATLATZINCO BEFORE THE AZTECS: JOSÉ GARCÍA PAYÓN AND THE SCULPTURAL CORPUS OF CALIXTLAHUACA
Authors: Umberger Emily , Faham Casandra Hernández
Published: March 2017

This article studies the sculptural corpus of the Matlatzinca state before it was conquered in the mid-1470s by the Aztec Empire. Previously, Matlatzinco had been an independent polity in the northern part of the Valley of Toluca surrounding the traditional center of government, which was also called Matlatzinco. After invading the area, the Aztecs renamed this city Calixtlahuaca and established their own provincial capital at nearby Tollocan (modern Toluca). Making Calixtlahuaca a symbol of control over the area, the Aztecs raised new architecture phases in the ancient city center and installed Aztec-style deity images.
Prospective, Head-to-Head Study of Three Computerized Neurocognitive Assessment Tools Part 2: Utility for Assessment of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Emergency Department Patients
Authors: Nelson Lindsay D. , Furger Robyn E. , Gikas Peter , Lerner E. Brooke , Barr William B. , Hammeke Thomas A. , Randolph Christopher , Guskiewicz Kevin , McCrea Michael A.
Published: March 2017

Objectives:The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of three computerized neurocognitive assessment tools (CNTs; i.e., ANAM, DANA, and ImPACT) for assessing mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) in patients recruited through a level I trauma center emergency department (ED).Methods:mTBI (n=94) and matched trauma control (n=80) subjects recruited from a level I trauma center emergency department completed symptom and neurocognitive assessments within 72 hr of injury and at 15 and 45 days post-injury. Concussion symptoms were also assessedviaphone at 8 days post-injury.Results:CNTs did not differentiate between groups at any time point (e.g.,M72-hr Cohen’sd=−.16, .02, and .00 for ANAM, DANA, and ImPACT, respectively; negative values reflect greater impairment in the mTBI group). Roughly a quarter of stability coefficients were over .70 across measures and test–retest intervals in controls. In contrast, concussion symptom score differentiated mTBIvs. control groups acutely), with this effect size diminished over time (72-hr and day 8, 15, and 45 Cohen’sd=−.78, −.60, −.49, and −.35, respectively).Conclusions:The CNTs evaluated, developed and widely used to assess sport-related concussion, did not yield significant differences between patients with mTBIversusother injuries. Symptom scores better differentiated groups than CNTs, with effect sizes weaker than those reported in sport-related concussion studies. Nonspecific injury factors, and other characteristics common in ED settings, likely affect CNT performance across trauma patients as a whole and thereby diminish the validity of CNTs for assessing mTBI in this patient population. (JINS, 2017,23, 293–303)
Evaluation of quality traits and their genetic variation in global collections ofBrassica napusL
Authors: Chen Biyun , Xu Kun , Li Hao , Gao Guizhen , Yan Guixin , Qiao Jiangwei , Wu Xiaoming
Published: March 2017

Evaluating quality traits is important to the selection of elite lines inBrassica napusL. In this study, the quality traits of 488 global collections ofB. napusL were evaluated for two consecutive years under central Chinese growing conditions, and a series of phenotypic data was obtained. The measured total glucosinolate content (GLC) and erucic acid content (ERU) values for 95.5% of the accessions were consistent with the original values, and large variations in quality traits were found among these accessions, thus enabling selection for these characters. In general, Chinese accessions tended to have a higher oil content (OC) than foreign accessions, while compared with winter and spring accessions, semi-winter accessions tended to have the highest OC. The mean GLC and ERU of Chinese rapeseed accessions showed gradual downward trends over time, and the genotypic variation in ERU accounted for 98.44% of the total variation, which was the highest among all 10 of the quality traits. Additionally, the heritability for ERU was largest among all 10 of the quality traits. Significant correlations were observed between different traits; OC had significantly (P< 0.01) negative correlation coefficients with oleic acid content, whereas OC had significantly (P< 0.01) positive correlation coefficients with ERU. Principal component analysis revealed that there was no clear boundary among materials of different geographic origins and different ecotypes according to the first two principal coordinates, respectively. This information about variations in quality traits revealed in this study could identify parents for improved rapeseed breeding.
The effects of payments for pharmaceuticals: a systematic literature review
Authors: Kolasa Katarzyna , Kowalczyk Marta
Published: March 2017

The existence of different forms of out-of-pocket payments (OOPs) for pharmaceuticals across the globe provokes the question whether they can achieve more negative or positive consequences. A systematic literature review was conducted to assess the association between drug cost sharing and health care services utilization, health care costs as well as health outcomes. Studies published in The Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase were searched with such keywords as: drug, pharmaceutical, cost sharing, out of pocket, co-payments paired with the following: impact, health outcomes, health care costs and utilization. The final review included 18 articles. A total of 11 publications reported the association between drug cost sharing and health care utilization patterns, of which nine found a statistically significant direct relationship. In all 10 publications concerned the association between drug copayments and health care costs. Majority were limited to the impact on the drug budget. Seven studies looked into the link between drug cost sharing and health outcomes, of which five reported statistically significant inverse relationship. There is some evidence for the association between drug copayments, health outcomes and health care services consumption. The optimal system of OOPs’ payments for pharmaceuticals needs to prevent drugs’ overconsumption and mitigate the risks of excessive cost sharing’s burden.
The impact of maternal obesity on inflammatory processes and consequences for later offspring health outcomes
Authors: Segovia S. A. , Vickers M. H. , Reynolds C. M.
Published: March 2017

Obesity is a global epidemic, affecting both developed and developing countries. The related metabolic consequences that arise from being overweight or obese are a paramount global health concern, and represent a significant burden on healthcare systems. Furthermore, being overweight or obese during pregnancy increases the risk of offspring developing obesity and other related metabolic complications in later life, which can therefore perpetuate a transgenerational cycle of obesity. Obesity is associated with a chronic state of low-grade metabolic inflammation. However, the role of maternal obesity-mediated alterations in inflammatory processes as a mechanism underpinning developmental programming in offspring is less understood. Further, the use of anti-inflammatory agents as an intervention strategy to ameliorate or reverse the impact of adverse developmental programming in the setting of maternal obesity has not been well studied. This review will discuss the impact of maternal obesity on key inflammatory pathways, impact on pregnancy and offspring outcomes, potential mechanisms and avenues for intervention.
Fabrication of all-transparent polymer-based and encapsulated nanofluidic devices using nano-indentation lithography
Authors: Wu Cong , Lin Tiffany G. , Zhan Zhikun , Li Yi , Tung Steve C.H. , Tang William C. , Li Wen J.
Published: March 2017

In this paper, we describe a novel and simple process for the fabrication of all-transparent and encapsulated polymeric nanofluidic devices using nano-indentation lithography. First, a nanomechanical probe is used to ‘scratch’ nanoscale channels on polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) substrates with sufficiently high hardness. Next, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is used twice to duplicate the nanochannels onto PDMS substrates from the ‘nano-scratched’ PMMA substrates. A number of experiments are conducted to explore the relationships between the nano-indentation parameters and the nanochannel dimensions and to control the aspect ratio of the fabricated nanochannels. In addition, traditional photolithography combined with soft lithography is employed to fabricate microchannels on another PDMS ‘cap’ substrate. After manually aligning the substrates, all uncovered channels on two separate PDMS substrates are bonded to achieve a sealed and transparent nanofluidic device, which makes the dimensional transition from microscale to nanoscale feasible. The smallest dimensions of the achievable nanochannels that we have demonstrated thus far are of ~20 nm depth and ~800 nm width, with lengths extendable beyond 100 μm. Fluid flow experiments are performed to verify the reliability of the device. Two types of colloidal solution are used to visualize the fluid flow through the nanochannels, that is, ethanol is mixed with gold colloid or fluorescent dye (fluorescein isothiocyanate), and the flow rate and filling time of liquid in the nanochannels are estimated based on time-lapsed image data. The simplicity of the fabrication process, bio-compatibility of the polymer substrates, and optical transparency of the nanochannels for flow visualization are key characteristics of this approach that will be very useful for nanofluidic and biomolecular research applications in the future.
Terahertz and mid-infrared plasmons in three-dimensional nanoporous graphene
Authors: D’Apuzzo Fausto , Piacenti Alba R. , Giorgianni Flavio , Autore Marta , Guidi Mariangela Cestelli , Marcelli Augusto , Schade Ulrich , Ito Yoshikazu , Chen Mingwei , Lupi Stefano
Published: March 2017

Two-dimensional (2D) graphene emerged as an outstanding material for plasmonic and photonic applications due to its charge-density tunability, high electron mobility, optical transparency and mechanical flexibility. Recently, novel fabrication processes have realised a three-dimensional (3D) nanoporous configuration of high-quality monolayer graphene which provides a third dimension to this material. In this work, we investigate the optical behaviour of nanoporous graphene by means of terahertz and infrared spectroscopy. We reveal the presence of intrinsic 2D Dirac plasmons in 3D nanoporous graphene disclosing strong plasmonic absorptions tunable from terahertz to mid-infrared via controllable doping level and porosity. In the far-field the spectral width of these absorptions is large enough to cover most of the mid-Infrared fingerprint region with a single plasmon excitation. The enhanced surface area of nanoporous structures combined with their broad band plasmon absorption could pave the way for novel and competitive nanoporous-graphene based plasmonic-sensors.
Positive affect, surprise, and fatigue are correlates of network flexibility
Authors: Betzel Richard F. , Satterthwaite Theodore D. , Gold Joshua I. , Bassett Danielle S.
Published: March 2017

Advances in neuroimaging have made it possible to reconstruct functional networks from the activity patterns of brain regions distributed across the cerebral cortex. Recent work has shown that flexible reconfiguration of human brain networks over short timescales supports cognitive flexibility and learning. However, modulating network flexibility to enhance learning requires an understanding of an as-yet unknown relationship between flexibility and brain state. Here, we investigate the relationship between network flexibility and affect, leveraging an unprecedented longitudinal data set. We demonstrate that indices associated with positive mood and surprise are both associated with network flexibility – positive mood portends a more flexible brain while increased levels of surprise portend a less flexible brain. In both cases, these relationships are driven predominantly by a subset of brain regions comprising the somatomotor system. Our results simultaneously suggest a network-level mechanism underlying learning deficits in mood disorders as well as a potential target – altering an individual’s mood or task novelty – to improve learning.
Anomalous evolution of broadband optical absorption reveals dynamic solid state reorganization during eumelanin build-up in thin films
Authors: Bonavolontà Carmela , Lisio Corrado de , d’Ischia Marco , Maddalena Pasqualino , Manini Paola , Pezzella Alessandro , Valentino Massimo
Published: March 2017

The origin of eumelanin optical properties remains a formidable conundrum preventing a detailed understanding of the complex photo-protective role of these widespread natural pigments and the rational design of innovative bioinspired materials for optoelectronic applications. Here we report the unusual kinetic and thickness-dependent evolution of the optical properties of black eumelanin polymers generated by spontaneous aerial polymerization of 5,6-dihydroxyindole (DHI) thin films (0.1–1 μm), consistent with peculiar solid state reorganization mechanisms governing broadband absorption. The complete reversal of eumelanin UV-visible transmittance spectrum curvature on passing from 0.2 to 0.5 μm thick films, the marked increase in visible extinction coefficients with increasing film thickness and the higher UV extinction coefficients in slowly vs. rapidly generated polymers concur to support distinct dynamic regimes of solid-state molecular reorganization at the nanoscale level and to do affect the development of broadband visible absorption. Solid state control of molecular reorganization disclosed herein may delineate new rational strategies for tuning optical properties in eumelanin thin films for optoelectronic applications.
A Circulating MicroRNA Signature Capable of Assessing the Risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Cirrhotic Patients
Authors: Huang Ya-Hui , Liang Kung-Hao , Chien Rong-Nan , Hu Tsung-Hui , Lin Kwang-Huei , Hsu Chao-Wei , Lin Chih-Lang , Pan Tai-Long , Ke Po-Yuan , Yeh Chau-Ting
Published: March 2017

With the availability of potent antiviral therapies, complete suppression of hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication and total eradication of hepatitis C virus (HCV) can now be achieved. Despite these advances, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) still develops in a substantial proportion of cirrhotic patients, suggesting that host factors remain critical. Dysregulation of miRNAs is noted in many cancers, and circulating miRNAs can be readily assayed. In this study, we aimed to develop a circulating miRNA signature to assess the risk of HCC in cirrhotic patients. We first discovered that HBV- and HCV-related cirrhotic patients had distinguishable circulating miRNA profiles. A cohort of 330 cirrhotic patients was then compared against a cohort of 42 early HCC patients with complete remission. A score comprising 5 miRNAs and a binary etiology variable was established that was capable of differentiating between these two groups (AUC = 72.5%, P < 0.001). The 330 cirrhotic patients were further stratified into high- and low-risk groups, and all patients were longitudinally followed for 752 (11–891) days. Of them, 19 patients developed HCC. The high-risk group had significantly higher cumulative HCC incidence (P = 0.038). In summary, a circulating miRNA-based score was developed that is capable of assessing HCC risks in cirrhotic patients.
The Evolution and Expression Pattern of Human Overlapping lncRNA and Protein-coding Gene Pairs
Authors: Ning Qianqian , Li Yixue , Wang Zhen , Zhou Songwen , Sun Hong , Yu Guangjun
Published: March 2017

Long non-coding RNA overlapping with protein-coding gene (lncRNA-coding pair) is a special type of overlapping genes. Protein-coding overlapping genes have been well studied and increasing attention has been paid to lncRNAs. By studying lncRNA-coding pairs in human genome, we showed that lncRNA-coding pairs were more likely to be generated by overprinting and retaining genes in lncRNA-coding pairs were given higher priority than non-overlapping genes. Besides, the preference of overlapping configurations preserved during evolution was based on the origin of lncRNA-coding pairs. Further investigations showed that lncRNAs promoting the splicing of their embedded protein-coding partners was a unilateral interaction, but the existence of overlapping partners improving the gene expression was bidirectional and the effect was decreased with the increased evolutionary age of genes. Additionally, the expression of lncRNA-coding pairs showed an overall positive correlation and the expression correlation was associated with their overlapping configurations, local genomic environment and evolutionary age of genes. Comparison of the expression correlation of lncRNA-coding pairs between normal and cancer samples found that the lineage-specific pairs including old protein-coding genes may play an important role in tumorigenesis. This work presents a systematically comprehensive understanding of the evolution and the expression pattern of human lncRNA-coding pairs.
Increased soil nutrition and decreased light intensity drive species loss after eight years grassland enclosures
Authors: Li Jingpeng , Zheng Zhirong , Xie Hongtao , Zhao Nianxi , Gao Yubao
Published: March 2017

Enclosures (fenced, grazing or clipping) within a certain period of years are the most common tools for restoration of degraded grasslands in temperate regions. Short-term enclosures can improve biodiversity and productivity by effectively relieving grazing pressure, while long-term enclosures can reduce species diversity. We therefore carried out a field experiment to investigate the specific causes of the reduced species diversity in Hulunbeier grassland of northern China. After eight years of enclosure, the significantly increased soil available nitrogen (AN) and available phosphorus (AvP) in enclosure community reduced nitrogen (N) limitation but most vegetation was still N limited. Many environmental factors led to decreased species richness, but increased soil AN and decreased light intensity at the community bottom were the most significant ones. Community density decreased independently of soil nutrition but significantly related to decreased species richness. Density of dominant canopy species increased, while dominant understory species decreased during assemblage-level thinning; therefore, the random-loss hypothesis was not supported. The dominant understory species responded to lower light availability by increasing their height, leaf area, and chlorophyll content. Moreover, our results were expected to provide some specific guidance for the restoration mode selection of degraded grasslands in northern China.
Mutual information model for link prediction in heterogeneous complex networks
Authors: Shakibian Hadi , Moghadam Charkari Nasrollah
Published: March 2017

Recently, a number of meta-path based similarity indices like PathSim, HeteSim, and random walk have been proposed for link prediction in heterogeneous complex networks. However, these indices suffer from two major drawbacks. Firstly, they are primarily dependent on the connectivity degrees of node pairs without considering the further information provided by the given meta-path. Secondly, most of them are required to use a single and usually symmetric meta-path in advance. Hence, employing a set of different meta-paths is not straightforward. To tackle with these problems, we propose a mutual information model for link prediction in heterogeneous complex networks. The proposed model, called as Meta-path based Mutual Information Index (MMI), introduces meta-path based link entropy to estimate the link likelihood and could be carried on a set of available meta-paths. This estimation measures the amount of information through the paths instead of measuring the amount of connectivity between the node pairs. The experimental results on a Bibliography network show that the MMI obtains high prediction accuracy compared with other popular similarity indices.
Influenza A virus hemagglutinin and neuraminidase act as novel motile machinery
Authors: Sakai Tatsuya , Nishimura Shin I. , Naito Tadasuke , Saito Mineki
Published: March 2017

Influenza A virus (IAV) membrane proteins hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) are determinants of virus infectivity, transmissibility, pathogenicity, host specificity, and major antigenicity. HA binds to a virus receptor, a sialoglycoprotein or sialoglycolipid, on the host cell and mediates virus attachment to the cell surface. The hydrolytic enzyme NA cleaves sialic acid from viral receptors and accelerates the release of progeny virus from host cells. In this study, we identified a novel function of HA and NA as machinery for viral motility. HAs exchanged binding partner receptors iteratively, generating virus movement on a receptor-coated glass surface instead of a cell surface. The virus movement was also dependent on NA. Virus movement mediated by HA and NA resulted in a three to four-fold increase in virus internalisation by cultured cells. We concluded that cooperation of HA and NA moves IAV particles on a cell surface and enhances virus infection of host cells.
Experimental demonstration of a fully inseparable quantum state with nonlocalizable entanglement
Authors: Mičuda M. , Koutný D. , Miková M. , Straka I. , Ježek M. , Mišta L.
Published: March 2017

Localizability of entanglement in fully inseparable states is a key ingredient of assisted quantum information protocols as well as measurement-based models of quantum computing. We investigate the existence of fully inseparable states with nonlocalizable entanglement, that is, with entanglement which cannot be localized between any pair of subsystems by any measurement on the remaining part of the system. It is shown, that the nonlocalizable entanglement occurs already in suitable mixtures of a three-qubit GHZ state and white noise. Further, we generalize this set of states to a two-parametric family of fully inseparable three-qubit states with nonlocalizable entanglement. Finally, we demonstrate experimentally the existence of nonlocalizable entanglement by preparing and characterizing one state from the family using correlated single photons and linear optical circuit.
HDAC1-3 inhibitor MS-275 enhances IL10 expression in RAW264.7 macrophages and reduces cigarette smoke-induced airway inflammation in mice
Authors: Leus Niek G. J. , van den Bosch Thea , van der Wouden Petra E. , Krist Kim , Ourailidou Maria E. , Eleftheriadis Nikolaos , Kistemaker Loes E. M. , Bos Sophie , Gjaltema Rutger A. F. , Mekonnen Solomon A. , Bischoff Rainer , Gosens Reinoud , Haisma Hidde J. , Dekker Frank J.
Published: March 2017

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) constitutes a major health burden. Studying underlying molecular mechanisms could lead to new therapeutic targets. Macrophages are orchestrators of COPD, by releasing pro-inflammatory cytokines. This process relies on transcription factors such as NF-κB, among others. NF-κB is regulated by lysine acetylation; a post-translational modification installed by histone acetyltransferases and removed by histone deacetylases (HDACs). We hypothesized that small molecule HDAC inhibitors (HDACi) targeting class I HDACs members that can regulate NF-κB could attenuate inflammatory responses in COPD via modulation of the NF-κB signaling output. MS-275 is an isoform-selective inhibitor of HDAC1-3. In precision-cut lung slices and RAW264.7 macrophages, MS-275 upregulated the expression of both pro- and anti-inflammatory genes, implying mixed effects. Interestingly, anti-inflammatory IL10 expression was upregulated in these model systems. In the macrophages, this was associated with increased NF-κB activity, acetylation, nuclear translocation, and binding to the IL10 promoter. Importantly, in an in vivo model of cigarette smoke-exposed C57Bl/6 mice, MS-275 robustly attenuated inflammatory expression of KC and neutrophil influx in the lungs. This study highlights for the first time the potential of isoform-selective HDACi for the treatment of inflammatory lung diseases like COPD.
Rational Design of 1-D Co3O4 Nanofibers@Low content Graphene Composite Anode for High Performance Li-Ion Batteries
Authors: Cho Su-Ho , Jung Ji-Won , Kim Chanhoon , Kim Il-Doo
Published: March 2017

Cobalt oxide that has high energy density, is the next-generation candidate as the anode material for LIBs. However, the practical use of Co3O4 as anode material has been hindered by limitations, especially, low electrical conductivity and pulverization from large volume change upon cycling. These features lead to hindrance to its electrochemical properties for lithium-ion batteries. To improve electrochemical properties, we synthesized one-dimensional (1-D) Co3O4 nanofibers (NFs) overed with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheets by electrostatic self-assembly (Co3O4 NFs@rGO). The flexible graphene oxide sheets not only prevent volume changes of active materials upon cycling as a clamping layer but also provide efficient electrical pathways by three-dimensional (3-D) network architecture. When applied as an anode for LIBs, the Co3O4 NFs@rGO exhibits superior electrochemical performance: (i) high reversible capacity (615 mAh g−1 and 92% capacity retention after 400 cycles at 4.0 A g−1) and (ii) excellent rate capability. Herein, we highlighted that the enhanced conversion reaction of the Co3O4 NFs@rGO is attributed to effective combination of 1-D nanostructure and low content of rGO (~3.5 wt%) in hybrid composite.
Assortative Mating: Encounter-Network Topology and the Evolution of Attractiveness
Authors: Dipple S. , Jia T. , Caraco T. , Korniss G. , Szymanski B. K.
Published: March 2017

We model a social-encounter network where linked nodes match for reproduction in a manner depending probabilistically on each node’s attractiveness. The developed model reveals that increasing either the network’s mean degree or the “choosiness” exercised during pair formation increases the strength of positive assortative mating. That is, we note that attractiveness is correlated among mated nodes. Their total number also increases with mean degree and selectivity during pair formation. By iterating over the model’s mapping of parents onto offspring across generations, we study the evolution of attractiveness. Selection mediated by exclusion from reproduction increases mean attractiveness, but is rapidly balanced by skew in the offspring distribution of highly attractive mated pairs.
Liposomes loaded with bioactive lipids enhance antibacterial innate immunity irrespective of drug resistance
Authors: Poerio Noemi , Bugli Francesca , Taus Francesco , Santucci Marilina B. , Rodolfo Carlo , Cecconi Francesco , Torelli Riccardo , Varone Francesco , Inchingolo Riccardo , Majo Fabio , Lucidi Vincenzina , Mariotti Sabrina , Nisini Roberto , Sanguinetti Maurizio , Fraziano Maurizio
Published: March 2017

Phagocytosis is a key mechanism of innate immunity, and promotion of phagosome maturation may represent a therapeutic target to enhance antibacterial host response. Phagosome maturation is favored by the timely and coordinated intervention of lipids and may be altered in infections. Here we used apoptotic body-like liposomes (ABL) to selectively deliver bioactive lipids to innate cells, and then tested their function in models of pathogen-inhibited and host-impaired phagosome maturation. Stimulation of macrophages with ABLs carrying phosphatidic acid (PA), phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PI3P) or PI5P increased intracellular killing of BCG, by inducing phagosome acidification and ROS generation. Moreover, ABLs carrying PA or PI5P enhanced ROS-mediated intracellular killing ofPseudomonas aeruginosa, in macrophages expressing a pharmacologically-inhibited or a naturally-mutated cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator. Finally, we show that bronchoalveolar lavage cells from patients with drug-resistant pulmonary infections increased significantly their capacity to killin vivoacquired bacterial pathogens whenex vivostimulated with PA- or PI5P-loaded ABLs. Altogether, these results provide the proof of concept of the efficacy of bioactive lipids delivered by ABL to enhance phagosome maturation dependent antimicrobial response, as an additional host-directed strategy aimed at the control of chronic, recurrent or drug-resistant infections.
Zinc deficiency and low enterocyte zinc transporter expression in human patients with autism related mutations in SHANK3
Authors: Pfaender Stefanie , Sauer Ann Katrin , Hagmeyer Simone , Mangus Katharina , Linta Leonhard , Liebau Stefan , Bockmann Juergen , Huguet Guillaume , Bourgeron Thomas , Boeckers Tobias M. , Grabrucker Andreas M.
Published: March 2017

Phelan McDermid Syndrome (PMDS) is a genetic disorder characterized by features of Autism spectrum disorders. Similar to reports of Zn deficiency in autistic children, we have previously reported high incidence of Zn deficiency in PMDS. However, the underlying mechanisms are currently not well understood. Here, using inductively coupled plasma mass-spectrometry to measure the concentration of Zinc (Zn) and Copper (Cu) in hair samples from individuals with PMDS with 22q13.3 deletion including SHANK3 (SH3 and multiple ankyrin repeat domains 3), we report a high rate of abnormally low Zn/Cu ratios. To investigate possible underlying mechanisms, we generated enterocytes from PMDS patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells and used Caco-2 cells with knockdown of SHANK3. We detected decreased expression of Zn uptake transporters ZIP2 and ZIP4 on mRNA and protein level correlating with SHANK3 expression levels, and found reduced levels of ZIP4 protein co-localizing with SHANK3 at the plasma membrane. We demonstrated that especially ZIP4 exists in a complex with SHANK3. Furthermore, we performed immunohistochemistry on gut sections from Shank3αβ knockout mice and confirmed a link between enterocytic SHANK3, ZIP2 and ZIP4. We conclude that apart from its well-known role in the CNS, SHANK3 might play a specific role in the GI tract.