bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Targeted molecular investigation in patients within the clinical spectrum of Auriculocondylar syndrome
Authors: Romanelli Tavares Vanessa L. , Zechi‐Ceide Roseli M. , Bertola Debora R. , Gordon Christopher T. , Ferreira Simone G. , Hsia Gabriella S. P. , Yamamoto Guilherme L. , Ezquina Suzana A. M. , Kokitsu‐Nakata Nancy M. , Vendramini‐Pittoli Siulan , Freitas Renato S. , Souza Josiane , Raposo‐Amaral Cesar A. , Zatz Mayana , Amiel Jeanne , Guion‐Almeida Maria L. , Passos‐Bueno Maria Rita
Published: March 2017

Auriculocondylar syndrome, mainly characterized by micrognathia, small mandibular condyle, and question mark ears, is a rare disease segregating in an autosomal dominant pattern in the majority of the families reported in the literature. So far, pathogenic variants in PLCB4, GNAI3, and EDN1 have been associated with this syndrome. It is caused by a developmental abnormality of the first and second pharyngeal arches and it is associated with great inter‐ and intra‐familial clinical variability, with some patients not presenting the typical phenotype of the syndrome. Moreover, only a few patients of each molecular subtype of Auriculocondylar syndrome have been reported and sequenced. Therefore, the spectrum of clinical and genetic variability is still not defined. In order to address these questions, we searched for alterations in PLCB4, GNAI3, and EDN1 in patients with typical Auriculocondylar syndrome (n = 3), Pierre Robin sequence‐plus (n = 3), micrognathia with additional craniofacial malformations (n = 4), or non‐specific auricular dysplasia (n = 1), which could represent subtypes of Auriculocondylar syndrome. We found novel pathogenic variants in PLCB4 only in two of three index patients with typical Auriculocondylar syndrome. We also performed a detailed comparative analysis of the patients presented in this study with those previously published, which showed that the pattern of auricular abnormality and full cheeks were associated with molecularly characterized individuals with Auriculocondylar syndrome. Finally, our data contribute to a better definition of a set of parameters for clinical classification that may be used as a guidance for geneticists ordering molecular testing for Auriculocondylar syndrome. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Quantification of shish–kebab and β‐crystal on the mechanical properties of polypropylene
Authors: Mi Dashan , Zhou Man , Zhang Jie
Published: March 2017

The oriented “shish–kebab” structure and β‐crystal can enhance the mechanical properties of polypropylene products. In this regard, equipment and β‐nucleation agents have been developed or modified to form shish–kebab and β‐crystal. However, the effect of shish–kebab/β‐crystal proportion on the mechanical properties of polypropylene remains unclear. The answer is crucial but remains a challenge because of the difficulty in manipulating the shish–kebab proportion. In this work, we used a self‐made multiflow vibrate‐injection molding, which can provide a controllable shear flow, to produce samples with different shear‐layer thicknesses. The shish–kebab proportion was represented by R, which is the thickness ratio of the shear layer to that of the whole sample. Results showed that the tensile strength exponentially increased, whereas the elongation at break exponentially decreased, with R. The impact strength remained constant with R, indicating that the shish–kebab and β‐crystal possessed similar toughening effects. This work proposes a schematic to interpret the strengthening mechanism involved and presents a method of establishing and controlling the mechanical properties of polypropylene samples by using shish–kebab structures and β‐crystals. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 45052.
Characterization of candidate odorant‐binding proteins and chemosensory proteins in the tea geometrid Ectropis obliqua Prout (Lepidoptera: Geometridae)
Authors: Sun Liang , Mao Teng‐Fei , Zhang Yu‐Xing , Wu Jian‐Jian , Bai Jia‐He , Zhang Ya‐Nan , Jiang Xing‐Chuan , Yin Kun‐Shan , Guo Yu‐Yuan , Zhang Yong‐Jun , Xiao Qiang
Published: March 2017

Insects rely heavily on their sophisticated chemosensory systems to locate host plants and find conspecific mates. Although the molecular mechanisms of odorant recognition in many Lepidoptera species have been well explored, limited information has been reported on the geometrid moth Ectropis obliqua Prout, an economically important pest of tea plants. In the current study, we first attempted to identify and characterize the putative olfactory carrier proteins, including odorant‐binding proteins (OBPs) and chemosensory proteins (CSPs). By analyzing previously obtained transcriptomic data of third‐instar larvae, five OBPs and 14 CSPs in E. obliqua were identified. Sequence alignment, conserved motif identification, and phylogenetic analysis suggested that candidate proteins have typical characteristics of the insect OBP or CSP family. The expression patterns regarding life stages and different tissues were determined by quantitative real‐time PCR. The results revealed that four transcripts (OBP2, OBP4 and CSP8, CSP10) had larvae preferential expression profiles and nine candidate genes (PBP1, OBP1 and CSP2, CSP4, CSP5, CSP6, CSP7, CSP11, and CSP13) were adult‐biased expressed. Further specific tissue expression profile evaluation showed that OBP1, OBP2, OBP4, and PBP1 were highly expressed at olfactory organs, implying their potential involvement in chemical cue detection, whereas CSPs were ubiquitously detected among all of the tested tissues and could be associated with multiple physiological functions. This study provided a foundation for understanding the physiological functions of OBPs and CSPs in E. obliqua and will help pave the way for the development of a new environmental friendly pest management strategy against the tea geometrid moth.
Synthesis of a Pyridine–Zinc‐Based Porous Organic Polymer for the Co‐catalyst‐Free Cycloaddition of Epoxides
Authors: Li He , Li Chunzhi , Chen Jian , Liu Lina , Yang Qihua
Published: March 2017

The synthesis of solid catalysts for the co‐catalyst‐free cycloaddition of CO2 has attracted much attention. Herein, we report a hierarchical porous organic polymer, Py‐Zn@MA, that is able to catalyze the cycloaddition reaction of epoxides and CO2 without using any additives or co‐catalyst to afford turnover frequency (TOF) values as high as 250 and 97 h−1 at 130 °C by using pure and diluted CO2 (simulating flue gas), respectively. These results are superior to those obtained from previously reported heterogeneous co‐catalyst‐free systems. The high activity of Py‐Zn@MA is mainly attributed to its bifunctional nature with ZnBr2 and pyridine activating the epoxide in a cooperative way. Notably, Py‐Zn@MA can be easily prepared on a large scale without using any catalyst and the chemicals are cost effective. Moreover, Py‐Zn@MA shows good substrate universality for the cycloaddition reactions of epoxides. Our designed porous organic polymer Py‐Zn@MA material has the potential to serve as an efficient catalyst for the direct conversion of flue gas with epoxides into value‐added cyclic carbonates.
Solar type III bursts with high‐frequency cut‐off
Authors: Stanislavsky A. A.
Published: March 2017

Background

Solar activity often manifests in type III bursts. Some of them can have high‐frequency cut‐off. The origin of this phenomenon is unclear until now.

Materials and Methods

New results in the study of solar bursts with high‐frequency cut‐off observed with the UTR‐2 radio telescope are presented. The bursts were associated with the emergency of a new group of solar spots behind the solar limb relative to an observer on the Earth.

Results

We have identified the radio events with type III by analyzing its frequency drift rate, duration and flux depending on frequency. The cut‐off feature is considered in the context of specific effects of radio wave propagation between the burst sources moving behind the solar limb and the ground‐based radio instruments.

Conclusions

The role of tunnel‐like cavities with low density in the solar corona can be crucial for the emergence of solar decameter bursts with high‐frequency cut‐off.
Perspectives for observing hot massive stars with XMM‐Newton in the years 2017–2027
Authors: Rauw G.
Published: March 2017

XMM‐Newton has deeply changed our picture of X‐ray emission of hot massive stars. High‐resolution X‐ray spectroscopy, as well as monitoring of these objects, has helped us to gain a deeper insight into the physics of single massive stars with or without magnetic fields, as well as of massive binary systems, where the stellar winds of both stars interact. These observations also revealed a number of previously unexpected features, challenging our understanding of the dynamics of the stellar winds of massive stars. Here, we briefly summarize the results obtained over the past 15 years and highlight the perspectives for the next decade. It is anticipated that coordinated (X‐ray and optical or ultraviolet) monitoring and time‐critical observations of either single or binary massive stars will become the most important topics in this field over the coming years. Synergies with existing or forthcoming X‐ray observatories (NuStar, Swift, and extended ROentgen Survey with an Imaging Telescope Array (eROSITA)) will also play a major role and will further enhance the importance of XMM‐Newton in our quest for understanding the physics of hot massive stars.
Boosting joint models for longitudinal and time‐to‐event data
Authors: Waldmann Elisabeth , Taylor‐Robinson David , Klein Nadja , Kneib Thomas , Pressler Tania , Schmid Matthias , Mayr Andreas
Published: March 2017

Joint models for longitudinal and time‐to‐event data have gained a lot of attention in the last few years as they are a helpful technique clinical studies where longitudinal outcomes are recorded alongside event times. Those two processes are often linked and the two outcomes should thus be modeled jointly in order to prevent the potential bias introduced by independent modeling. Commonly, joint models are estimated in likelihood‐based expectation maximization or Bayesian approaches using frameworks where variable selection is problematic and that do not immediately work for high‐dimensional data. In this paper, we propose a boosting algorithm tackling these challenges by being able to simultaneously estimate predictors for joint models and automatically select the most influential variables even in high‐dimensional data situations. We analyze the performance of the new algorithm in a simulation study and apply it to the Danish cystic fibrosis registry that collects longitudinal lung function data on patients with cystic fibrosis together with data regarding the onset of pulmonary infections. This is the first approach to combine state‐of‐the art algorithms from the field of machine‐learning with the model class of joint models, providing a fully data‐driven mechanism to select variables and predictor effects in a unified framework of boosting joint models.
Anatomy of psoas muscle innervation: Cadaveric study
Authors: Mahan Mark A. , Sanders Luke E. , Guan Jian , Dailey Andrew T. , Taylor William , Morton David. A.
Published: March 2017

Hip flexion weakness is relatively common after lateral transpsoas surgery. Persistent weakness may result from injury to the innervation of the psoas major muscles (PMMs); however, anatomical texts have conflicting descriptions of this innervation, and the branching pattern of the nerves within the psoas major, particularly relative to vertebral anatomy, has not been described. The authors dissected human cadavers to describe the branching pattern of nerves supplying the PMMs. Sixteen embalmed cadavers were dissected, and the fine branching pattern of the innervation to the PMM was studied in 24 specimens. The number of branches and width and length of each branch of nerves to the PMMs were quantified. Nerve branches innervating the PMMs arose from spinal nerve levels L1‐L4, with an average of 6.3 ± 1.1 branches per muscle. The L1 nerve branch was the least consistently present, whereas L2 and L3 branches were the most robust, the most numerous, and always present. The nerve branches to the psoas major commonly crossed the intervertebral (IV) disc obliquely prior to ramification within the muscle; 76%, 80%, and 40% of specimens had a branch to the PMM cross the midportion of the L2‐3, L3‐4, and L4‐5 IV discs, respectively. The PMMs are segmentally innervated from the L2‐L4 ventral rami branches, where these branches course obliquely across the L2‐3, L3‐4, and L4‐5 IV discs. Knowledge of the mapping of nerve branches to the PMMs may reduce injury and the incidence of persistent weak hip flexion during lateral transpsoas surgery. Clin. Anat. 30:479–486, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Carbohydrate intake during early pregnancy is inversely associated with abnormal glucose challenge test results in Japanese pregnant women
Authors: Tajima Ryoko , Yachi Yoko , Tanaka Yasuhiro , Kawasaki Yui Anasako , Nishibata Izumi , Hirose Ayumi Sugawara , Horikawa Chika , Kodama Satoru , Iida Kaoruko , Sone Hirohito
Published: March 2017

Background

In East Asian countries, which have a high prevalence of underweight individuals, there is little information about the association between dietary factors and abnormal glucose tolerance during pregnancy. We examined the association between carbohydrate intake and moderately abnormal glucose tolerance in Japanese pregnant women.

Methods

We conducted a prospective study on 325 Japanese pregnant women without a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus prior to pregnancy. Dietary carbohydrate intake (% of total energy intake) was assessed using a 3‐day dietary record during weeks 8‐15 of pregnancy. Glucose tolerance was assessed by the 50 g glucose challenge test (GCT) during weeks 24‐28 of pregnancy. A positive GCT result was defined by a 1‐hour plasma concentration ≥ 7.8 mmol/L. Odds ratios of a positive GCT were calculated for the top and middle tertile categories of carbohydrate intake using the bottom category as reference.

Results

Mean (standard deviation) body mass index at the first prenatal visit was 19.7 (1.9) kg/m2, and 95 women were underweight. Seventy‐four women had positive GCT results. Carbohydrate intake was negatively associated with a positive GCT result after adjusting for age, parity, body mass index at first prenatal visit, family history of diabetes mellitus, rate of gestational weight gain, energy intake, and dietary fiber intake (odds ratio for top category: 0.46 [95% CI, 0.23‐0.93]).

Conclusions

These findings suggest that high carbohydrate intake was negatively associated with moderately abnormal glucose tolerance in a population with a high prevalence of underweight individuals.
Prototype campaign assessment of disturbance‐induced tree loss effects on surface properties for atmospheric modeling
Authors: Villegas Juan Camilo , Law Darin J. , Stark Scott C. , Minor David M. , Breshears David D. , Saleska Scott R. , Swann Abigail L. S. , Garcia Elizabeth S. , Bella Elizabeth M. , Morton John M. , Cobb Neil S. , Barron‐Gafford Greg A. , Litvak Marcy E. , Kolb Thomas E.
Published: March 2017

Changes in large‐scale vegetation structure triggered by processes such as deforestation, wildfires, and tree die‐off alter surface structure, energy balance, and associated albedo—all critical for land surface models. Characterizing these properties usually requires long‐term data, precluding characterization of rapid vegetation changes such as those increasingly occurring in the Anthropocene. Consequently, the characterization of rapid events is limited and only possible in a few specific areas. We use a campaign approach to characterize surface properties associated with vegetation structure. In our approach, a profiling LiDAR and hemispherical image analyses quantify vegetation structure and a portable mast instrumented with a net radiometer, wind–humidity–temperature stations in a vertical profile, and soil temperature–heat flux characterize surface properties. We illustrate the application of our approach in two forest types (boreal and semiarid) with disturbance‐induced tree loss. Our prototype characterizes major structural changes associated with tree loss, changes in vertical wind profiles, surface roughness energy balance partitioning, a proxy for NDVI (Normalized Differential Vegetation Index), and albedo. Multi‐day albedo estimates, which differed between control and disturbed areas, were similar to tower‐based multi‐year characterizations, highlighting the utility and potential of the campaign approach. Our prototype provides general characterization of surface and boundary‐layer properties relevant for land surface models, strategically enabling preliminary characterization of rapid vegetation disturbance events.
Base‐Mediated Domino Reaction of ortho‐Carbonylated Alkynyl‐Substituted Arenealdehydes with Indoles: Access to Indole‐Functionalized Isobenzofurans
Authors: Zhang Rumeng , Zhu Hongbo , Meng Xin , Cao Ziping , Chen Guang , Tian Laijin , Sun Xuejun , You Jinmao
Published: March 2017

A base‐mediated domino reaction of ortho‐carbonylated alkynyl‐substituted arenealdehydes with indoles has been developed, and a variety of indolyl‐substituted isobenzofuran derivatives can be rapidly obtained in high yields. Notably, the selective N‐alkylation of indoles and 5‐exo‐dig cyclization of alkynes can be achieved efficiently to give N‐functionalized products. This reaction involves a domino procedure for the formation of two bonds under simple conditions and has a broad substrate scope.
Mapping the brain network of the phonological loop
Authors: Papagno Costanza , Comi Alessandro , Riva Marco , Bizzi Alberto , Vernice Mirta , Casarotti Alessandra , Fava Enrica , Bello Lorenzo
Published: March 2017

The cortical and subcortical neural correlates underlying item and order information in verbal short‐term memory (STM) were investigated by means of digit span in 29 patients with direct electrical stimulation during awake surgery for removal of a neoplastic lesion. Stimulation of left Broca's area interfered with span, producing significantly more item than order errors, as compared to the stimulation of the supramarginal/angular gyrus, which also interfered with span but, conversely, produced more order than item errors. Similarly, stimulation of the third segment of the left superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF‐III), also known as anterior segment of the arcuate fascicle (AF), produced more order than item errors. Therefore, we obtained two crucial results: first, we were able to distinguish between content and order information storage. Second, we demonstrated that the SLF‐III is involved in transferring order information from Geschwind's area to Broca's area. In a few patients, we demonstrated that also order information of nonverbal material was disrupted by left supramarginal gyrus stimulation. Order information is thus likely stored in the supramarginal gyrus, possibly independently from the nature of the material. Hum Brain Mapp 38:3011–3024, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Robust presurgical functional MRI at 7 T using response consistency
Authors: Lima Cardoso Pedro , Fischmeister Florian Ph. S. , Dymerska Barbara , Geißler Alexander , Wurnig Moritz , Trattnig Siegfried , Beisteiner Roland , Robinson Simon Daniel
Published: March 2017

Functional MRI is valuable in presurgical planning due to its non‐invasive nature, repeatability, and broad availability. Using ultra‐high field MRI increases the specificity and sensitivity, increasing the localization reliability and reducing scan time. Ideally, fMRI analysis for this application should identify unreliable runs and work even if the patient deviates from the prescribed task timing or if there are changes to the hemodynamic response due to pathology. In this study, a model‐free analysis method—UNBIASED—based on the consistency of fMRI responses over runs was applied, to ultra‐high field fMRI localizations of the hand area. Ten patients with brain tumors and epilepsy underwent 7 Tesla fMRI with multiple runs of a hand motor task in a block design. FMRI data were analyzed with the proposed approach (UNBIASED) and the conventional General Linear Model (GLM) approach. UNBIASED correctly identified and excluded fMRI runs that contained little or no activation. Generally, less motion artifact contamination was present in UNBIASED than in GLM results. Some cortical regions were identified as activated in UNBIASED but not GLM results. These were confirmed to show reproducible delayed or transient activation, which was time‐locked to the task. UNBIASED is a robust approach to generating activation maps without the need for assumptions about response timing or shape. In presurgical planning, UNBIASED can complement model‐based methods to aid surgeons in making prudent choices about optimal surgical access and resection margins for each patient, even if the hemodynamic response is modified by pathology. Hum Brain Mapp 38:3163–3174, 2017. © 2017 The Authors Human Brain Mapping Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Impact of the Eligibility Threshold of a French Means‐Tested Health Insurance Programme on Doctor Visits: A Regression Discontinuity Analysis
Authors: Guthmuller Sophie , Wittwer Jérôme
Published: March 2017

This paper assesses the impact of eligibility for a free means‐tested complementary health insurance plan, called Couverture Maladie Universelle Complémentaire (CMUC), on doctor visits. We use information on the selection rule to qualify for the plan to identify the effect of eligibility and adopt a regression discontinuity approach. Our sample consists of low‐income individuals enrolled in the Health Insurance Fund and recipients of social benefits from the Family Allowance Fund of an urban area in Northern France. Our findings do not show significant impacts of the CMUC threshold on the number of doctor visits within the full sample. Among the subsample of adults under 30 years old, however, eligible individuals are more likely to see a specialist and have, on average, significantly more specialist visits than non‐eligible individuals. This specific impact of the CMUC cut‐off point among young adults may be explained by the fact that young adults are less likely to be covered by a complementary health insurance plan when they are not recipients of the CMUC plan. © 2017 The Authors. Health Economics Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Aging affects spatial reconstruction more than spatial pattern separation performance even after extended practice
Authors: Clark Rachel , Tahan Asli C. , Watson Patrick D. , Severson Joan , Cohen Neal J. , Voss Michelle
Published: March 2017

Although the hippocampus experiences age‐related anatomical and functional deterioration, the effects of aging vary across hippocampal‐dependent cognitive processes. In particular, whether or not the hippocampus is known to be required for a spatial memory process is not an accurate predictor on its own of whether aging will affect performance. Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to compare the effects of healthy aging on a test of spatial pattern separation and a test of spatial relational processing, which are two aspects of spatial memory that uniquely emphasize the use of multiple hippocampal‐dependent processes. Spatial pattern separation supports spatial memory by preserving unique representations for distinct locations. Spatial relational processing forms relational representations of objects to locations or between objects and other objects in space. To test our primary objective, 30 young (18–30 years; 21F) and 30 older participants (60–80 years; 21F) all completed a spatial pattern separation task and a task designed to require spatial relational processing through spatial reconstruction. To ensure aging effects were not due to inadequate time to develop optimal strategies or become comfortable with the testing devices, a subset of participants had extended practice across three sessions on each task. Results showed that older adults performed more poorly than young on the spatial reconstruction task that emphasized the use of spatial relational processing, and that age effects persisted even after controlling for pattern separation performance. Further, older adults performed more poorly on spatial reconstruction than young adults even after three testing sessions each separated by 7–10 days, suggesting effects of aging are resistant to extended practice and likely reflect genuine decline in hippocampal memory abilities.
Predicting saturation‐excess runoff distribution with a lumped hillslope model: SWAT‐HS
Authors: Hoang Linh , Schneiderman Elliot M. , Moore Karen E.B. , Mukundan Rajith , Owens Emmet M. , Steenhuis Tammo S.
Published: March 2017

Saturation‐excess runoff is the major runoff mechanism in humid well‐vegetated areas where infiltration rates often exceed rainfall intensity. Although the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) is one of the most widely used models, it predicts runoff based mainly on soil and land use characteristics, and is implicitly an infiltration‐excess runoff type of model. Previous attempts to incorporate the saturation‐excess runoff mechanism in SWAT fell short due to the inability to distribute water from one hydrological response unit to another. This paper introduces a modified version of SWAT, referred to as SWAT‐Hillslope (SWAT‐HS). This modification improves the simulation of saturation‐excess runoff by redefining hydrological response units based on wetness classes and by introducing a surface aquifer with the ability to route interflow from “drier” to “wetter” wetness classes. Mathematically, the surface aquifer is a nonlinear reservoir that generates rapid subsurface stormflow as the water table in the surface aquifer rises. The SWAT‐HS model was tested in the Town Brook watershed in the upper reaches of the West Branch Delaware River in the Catskill region of New York, USA. SWAT‐HS predicted discharge well with a Nash‐Sutcliffe Efficiency of 0.68 and 0.87 for daily and monthly time steps. Compared to the original SWAT model, SWAT‐HS predicted less surface runoff and groundwater flow and more lateral flow. The saturated areas predicted by SWAT‐HS were concentrated in locations with a high topographic index and were in agreement with field observations. With the incorporation of topographic characteristics and the addition of the surface aquifer, SWAT‐HS improved streamflow simulation and gave a good representation of saturated areas on the dates that measurements were available. SWAT‐HS is expected to improve water quality model predictions where the location of the surface runoff matters.
Self‐Dual Codes and the Nonexistence of a Quasi‐Symmetric 2‐(37,9,8) Design with Intersection Numbers 1 and 3
Authors: Harada Masaaki , Munemasa Akihiro , Tonchev Vladimir D.
Published: March 2017

We prove that a certain binary linear code associated with the incidence matrix of a quasi‐symmetric 2‐(37, 9, 8) design with intersection numbers 1 and 3 must be contained in an extremal doubly even self‐dual code of length 40. Using the classification of extremal doubly even self‐dual codes of length 40, we show that a quasi‐symmetric 2‐(37, 9, 8) design with intersection numbers 1 and 3 does not exist.
Comparative morphology of the leaf epidermis in Lobelia (Lobelioideae) from China
Authors: Li Chunjiao , Lu Jingmei , Li Yan , Zhu Junyi , Zhang Lifan
Published: March 2017

The leaf epidermal morphology of 38 samples, representing 22 Lobelia species from China, was studied using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The stomata and other epidermal features were largely consistent within species, and therefore represented good characters for taxonomic purposes. Diagnostic characters of the leaf epidermis were used to differentiate species of Lobelia. The species pairs L. clavata and L. pyramidalis, L. alsinoides and L. terminalis, and L. davidii and L. erectiuscula, were differentiated using leaf epidermal characters. Results at the micro‐structural level partly supported the current subdivisions of Lobelia. Previous taxonomic revisions of Lobelia in China were evaluated based on species epidermal characteristics. The results supported the recognition of Pratia merged with Lobelia, and of L. chevalieri as a distinct species. Lobelia brevisepala should not be included in L. montana. The status of Lobelia in the evolutionary history of Campanulaceae was assessed. The Lobelia species investigated retained many primitive leaf epidermal features.
Synthesis of Fused Oxazolocoumarins from o‐Hydroxynitrocoumarins and Benzyl Alcohol Under Gold Nanoparticles or FeCl3 Catalysis
Authors: Vlachou Evangelia‐Eirini N. , Armatas Gerasimos S. , Litinas Konstantinos E.
Published: March 2017

Synthesis of fused oxazolocoumarins has been achieved from the one‐pot tandem reactions of o‐hydroxynitrocoumarins with benzyl alcohol in toluene under catalysis in a sealed tube at 150°C. The catalysis was performed by gold nanoparticles supported on TiO2 (0.4 mol% Au) or FeCl3 (5%) or silver nanoparticles supported on TiO2 (1.7 mol% Ag).
Detection and imaging of chrome yellow (lead chromate) in latent prints, solid residues, and minerals by laser‐desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (LDI‐MS)
Authors: Zheng Z. , Pavlov J. , Attygalle A. B.
Published: March 2017

In the past, chrome yellow (lead chromate, PbCrO4), a bright orange‐red substance, has been widely used as an inorganic pigment in the production of paints, coatings, and plastics. Herein, we demonstrate that laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (LDI‐MS) is a powerful tool for the detection of lead chromate in solid residues. In fact, lead chromate in trace amounts is easily detectable by LDI‐MS even from residues left as latent prints. For example, a latent print obtained by stamping the exposed laterally cut surface of a pencil over 50 years old on an acetonitrile‐moistened paper, was successfully imaged for both lead and chromate using a Synapt G2 HDMS mass spectrometer. After rastering the print with a 355 nm laser beam and recording positive‐ and negative‐ion mass spectra over the range m/z 50–1200, we generated false‐color ‘heat maps’ (single‐ion images) for 208Pb+• (m/z 207.98) and Cr2O6−• (m/z 199.85). The heat maps matched closely with the faint visual image of the pencil imprint. Moreover, our results confirmed that lead chromate was used in the pigment coatings of old pencils. Evidently, LDI‐MS imaging is an efficient procedure to survey for the presence of lead and chromate in minerals and other materials. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A study of the spatio‐temporal variability of the properties of intense precipitation features over the South Asian region: an integrated multisensor approach
Authors: Roy Partha , Biswasharma Rupraj , Deshamukhya Atri , Sharma Sanjay , Gairola Rakesh M.
Published: March 2017

A study is carried out to investigate the spatio‐temporal variation of the properties of deep convective systems (DCSs) and intense DCSs (IDCSs) in association with lightning and hail features along with their ice microphysical properties over the South Asia. For this purpose 17 years (1998–2014) of Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) and 4 years (2007–2010) of CloudSat data during the premonsoon and monsoon seasons are utilized. Significant spatio‐temporal variability in the properties ofDCSsandIDCSsis observed over the study region. During both the seasons, deepestDCSs(top 1%) are found over the land as well ocean without any preferred location. Over the land, its location of the maximum occurrence shifts from the Sumatra coast (Indonesia) and the southern part of West coast of India to the Meghalaya plateau and adjoining region during the premonsoon to monsoon. Over the ocean, the location of its maximum occurrence shifts from the equatorial Indian Ocean to the Bay of Bengal. Overall, during the premonsoon and monsoon seasons, their occurrence is more over the ocean and land, respectively. Occurrence ofIDCSsis predominantly a land phenomena. The location of most intenseIDCSs(top 1%) and its maximum occurrence shifts from the Meghalaya plateau to Western Himalaya Indentation regions during the premonsoon to monsoon. Over the land, of the totalDCSs, only 11–18% ofDCSscontribute to lightning features, whereas of the totalIDCSs, 62–74% ofIDCSscontribute to lightning feature. Similarly, over the land, the contribution ofDCSsto hail feature is insignificant. However, 6–12% ofIDCSscontribute to hail feature. The preferred locations ofIDCSswith strong lightning and hail features are associated with relatively higher values of the ice water content and ice effective radius in the upper part of the mixed‐phase region compared with other regions.
Modeling real shim fields for very high degree (and order) B0 shimming of the human brain at 9.4 T
Authors: Chang Paul , Nassirpour Sahar , Henning Anke
Published: March 2017

Purpose

To describe the process of calibrating a B0 shim system using high‐degree (or high order) spherical harmonic models of the measured shim fields, to provide a method that considers amplitude dependency of these models, and to show the advantage of very high‐degree B0 shimming for whole‐brain and single‐slice applications at 9.4 Tesla (T).

Methods

An insert shim with up to fourth and partial fifth/sixth degree (order) spherical harmonics was used with a Siemens 9.4T scanner. Each shim field was measured and modeled as input for the shimming algorithm. Optimal shim currents can therefore be calculated in a single iteration. A range of shim currents was used in the modeling to account for possible amplitude nonlinearities. The modeled shim fields were used to compare different degrees of whole‐brain B0 shimming on healthy subjects.

Results

The ideal shim fields did not correctly shim the subject brains. However, using the modeled shim fields improved the B0 homogeneity from 55.1 (second degree) to 44.68 Hz (partial fifth/sixth degree) on the whole brains of 9 healthy volunteers, with a total applied current of 0.77 and 6.8 A, respectively.

Conclusions

The necessity of calibrating the shim system was shown. Better B0 homogeneity drastically reduces signal dropout and distortions for echo‐planar imaging, and significantly improves the linewidths of MR spectroscopy imaging. Magn Reson Med 79:529–540, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
Exploring the cause of aggregation and reduced Zn binding affinity by G85R mutation in SOD1 rendering amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Srinivasan E. , Rajasekaran R.
Published: March 2017

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a lethal neurodegenerative disorder is characterized by the degeneration of upper and lower motor neuron. ALS occurs due to various notably prominent missense mutations, in gene encoding Cu‐Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) thereby leading to aggregation, dysfunction and reduced Zn binding affinity. In this study, one such mutation, G85R was explored in comparison with wild type SOD1, using discrete molecular dynamics (DMD). Accordingly, the conformational changes were significantly observed in mutant SOD1, through various geometrical parameters, which substantiated the difference in conformational deviation, flexibility and compactness, thus stipulating a root cause for aggregation. Followed by, analysis of essential dynamics further authenticated the cause behind the protein dysfunction. In particular, the high content of beta sheet with structural deviations, down to dysfunction was established in mutant as compared to wild type, while passing through secondary structure analysis. Subsequently, the deviation of distance in Zn binding residues was distinctly portrayed in mutant as compared to wild type, thus confirming the cause of reduced Zn binding affinity. In addition, the steered molecular dynamics analysis also authenticated the above results indicating the reduced Zn binding affinity in the mutant as compared to that of the wild type. Hence, this work revealed the theoretical mechanism to unravel the mutational effects of cofactor dependent protein. Proteins 2017; 85:1276–1286. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Effect of Butin on the Vitiligo Mouse Model Induced by Hydroquinone
Authors: Huo Shi‐Xia , Wang Qiong , Liu Xin‐Min , Ge Chun‐Hui , Gao Li , Peng Xiao‐Ming , Yan Ming
Published: March 2017

Vernonia anthelmintica(L.) Willd has been traditionally used in the treatment of vitiligo in Uyghur medicine. This study used butin, the main component ofV. anthelmintica, to study the influence on hydroquinone‐induced vitiligo in mice. The animals were randomly divided into six groups: control, model, 8‐methoxypsoralen (8‐MOP, 4.25 mg/kg), and butin (0.425, 4.25, and 42.5 mg/kg) groups. The number of melanin‐containing hair follicles, basal layer melanocytes, melanin‐containing epidermal cells, the expression of tyrosinase (TYR) and tyrosinase‐related protein‐1 (TRP‐1), the malondialdehyde (MDA), and cholinesterase (CHE) activity in serum were measured. Our results indicated that compared with the model group, the melanin‐containing hair follicles, the expression of TYR and TRP‐1 increased, the activity of CHE decreased after treatment with 8‐MOP and all doses of butin (p < 0.05,p < 0.01), the basal layer melanocytes and melanin‐containing epidermal cells increased significantly after treatment with butin 4.25 and 42.5 mg/kg (p < 0.05,p < 0.01), and the MDA activity decreased after using butin 4.25 and 42.5 mg/kg and 8‐MOP (p < 0.05,p < 0.01). Our results support the use of butin on vitiligo, and its possible mechanisms may be related to increase the TYR and TRP‐1 protein expression and decrease the activity of MDA and CHE in hydroquinone‐induced vitiligo model in mice. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Alantolactone and Isoalantolactone Prevent Amyloid β25–35‐induced Toxicity in Mouse Cortical Neurons and Scopolamine‐induced Cognitive Impairment in Mice
Authors: Seo Ji Yeon , Lim Soon Sung , Kim Jiyoung , Lee Ki Won , Kim Jong‐Sang
Published: March 2017

Given the evidence for detoxifying/antioxidant enzyme‐inducing activities by alantolactone (AL) and isoalantolactone (IAL), the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of AL and IAL on Aβ25–35‐induced cell death in mouse cortical neuron cells and to determine their effects on scopolamine‐induced amnesia in mice. Our data demonstrated that both compounds effectively attenuated the cytotoxicity of Aβ25–35 (10 μM) in neuronal cells derived from the mouse cerebral cortex. It was also found that the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species, including superoxide anion induced by Aβ25–35, was inhibited. Moreover, the administration of the sesquiterpenes reversed scopolamine‐induced cognitive impairments as assessed by Morris water, Y‐maze, and the passive avoidance tests, and the compounds decreased acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities in a dose‐dependent manner. Interestingly, AL and IAL did not improve scopolamine‐induced cognitive deficit in Nrf2−/− mice, suggesting that memory improvement by sesquiterpenes was mediated not only by the activation of the Nrf2 signaling pathway but also by their inhibitory activity against AChE. In conclusion, our results showed that AL and IAL had neuroprotective effects and reversed cognitive impairments induced by scopolamine in a mouse model. Therefore, AL and IAL deserve further study as potential therapeutic agents for reactive oxygen species‐related neurodegenerative diseases. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Co–catalytic Metal Oxide Nanoparticles Decorated Silicon/ Hematite Core Shell Nanowire Arrays as Efficient Photo Electrodes for Water Splitting
Authors: Devarapalli Rami Reddy , Kamaja Chaitanya Krishna , Shelke Manjusha V.
Published: March 2017

By looking global energy demands, development of highly efficient stable semiconductor photoelectrodes for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting is highly desirable. Herein, we have fabricated co‐catalytic nanoparticles decorated Silicon nanowire (SiNWs)/Hematite(Fe2O3) core sell structures as photo anodes and studied the PEC water oxidation properties. As, Fe2O3 possess weak oxidation kinetics, decoration of NiO and Co3O4 nanoparticles on SiNW/Fe2O3 by hydrothermal method, which acts as co‐catalysts to improves the water oxidation reactions. It was found that decoration of Co3O4 nanoparticles enhances the photocurrent up to 2.6 times, whereas for NiO nanoparticles improvement is of 1.5 times when compared to the undecorated electrodes. Along with enhancement of photocurrents, it also shows shift of onset potentials. The effect of the co‐catalytic nanoparticles on the enhancement of photocurrent and charge transfer resistance at the interface of electrode‐electrolyte have been studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Further, flat band potentials of the photo electrodes have been measured by using Mott‐schottky analysis.
Study of the uniformity of aerosol filters by scanning MA‐XRF
Authors: Cabal A. , Legrand S. , Van den Bril B. , Toté K. , Janssens K. , Van Espen P.
Published: March 2017

Energy‐dispersive X‐ray fluorescence (XRF) is an attractive analytical method to determine the level of air pollution by heavy metals. The concentration of the filter in ng/cm2 is obtained by direct comparison of the net characteristic line intensity of an element with that of a thin film standard. As the sampled area on the filter and the area of the standard are larger than the area analysed by the instrument, the distribution of the elements on the surface of both samples and standards have to be sufficiently uniform. If this is not the case, biased concentration estimates are obtained. Two scanning macro‐XRF setups with a beam diameter of ~0.5 mm were used to investigate the distribution of elements in (1) commercially available (Micromatter) standards, (2) in‐house quartz filter standards obtained with an aerosol generator and (3) particulate matter (PM10) collected on quartz filters by a Leckel SEQ 47/50 sampler. The uniformity of the Micromatter standards was better than 2%. At least some in‐house standards showed a concave distribution with less material at the edges. The maximum bias introduced by this is less than 5%. Because of the limited sensitivity of scanning XRF compared with conventional XRF, the distribution of only a few common elements like Ca and Fe could be determined reliably in aerosol filters. The distribution of some heavy elements could only be measured in filters sampled in polluted regions. In general, the loading of particulate matter over the filters was uniform. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
MtDNA‐maintenance defects: syndromes and genes
Authors: Viscomi Carlo , Zeviani Massimo
Published: March 2017

A large group of mitochondrial disorders, ranging from early‐onset pediatric encephalopathic syndromes to late‐onset myopathy with chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia (CPEOs), are inherited as Mendelian disorders characterized by disturbed mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) maintenance. These errors of nuclear‐mitochondrial intergenomic signaling may lead to mtDNA depletion, accumulation of mtDNA multiple deletions, or both, in critical tissues. The genes involved encode proteins belonging to at least three pathways: mtDNA replication and maintenance, nucleotide supply and balance, and mitochondrial dynamics and quality control. In most cases, allelic mutations in these genes may lead to profoundly different phenotypes associated with either mtDNA depletion or multiple deletions.
Recurved Taraxacum phyllaries function as a floral defense: experimental evidence and its implication for Taraxacum evolutionary history
Authors: Wu Fu‐Yu , Yahara Tetsukazu
Published: March 2017

Florivores directly decrease the reproductive success of plants by consuming pollen and seeds; thus, plants often have defense mechanisms against florivory. Here, we show that the recurved phyllaries of an agamospermous hybrid dandelion, Taraxacum japonicum × officinale, function as a physical barrier to slug florivory. We allowed Lehmannia valentiana, a European slug naturalized in Japan, to feed on eight pairs of the hybrid dandelion and T. japonicum, a Japanese species with erect phyllaries. Consequently, the slugs only damaged T. platycarpum flowers. The slugs either moved back from recurved phyllaries or spent more than twice as long on recurved than on erect phyllaries. When we removed the recurved phyllaries, the slugs stayed on hybrid and T. japonicum phyllaries for equal lengths of time. In addition to recurved outer phyllaries, the hybrid dandelion has erect inner phyllaries that are longer than those of T. japonicum, which effectively conceal the florets at night protecting them from slug florivory. Using the taxonomic literature, we have confirmed that recurved phyllaries evolved in many species in several parts of Europe, but are rare in East Asia. These findings suggest that European dandelions acquired recurved phyllaries as a defense mechanism under antagonistic coevolution with florivorous slugs, but this coevolution did not occur in East Asia.
Surface Activity Properties and Aggregation Behaviors of Partially Fluorinated Gemini Surfactants in Aqueous Solution
Authors: Lv Yan , Chen Long , Liu Huanfang , Zhang Saiping , Wang Minggang , Tan Yebang
Published: March 2017

The surface activity and aggregation behavior of partially fluorinated gemini surfactant N,N′‐bis(3‐perfluorohexyl‐2‐hydroxypropyl)‐N,N′‐dipropanesulfonylhexylenediamine (N‐6‐Sul) was studied by surface tension, resonance light scattering and fluorescence spectra measurements. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) values obtained by the three methods are in good agreement. The surface activity parameters such as the effectiveness of surface tension reduction (Πcmc), the maximum surface excess concentration (Γmax) and the minimum surface area per molecule (Amin) were obtained through surface tension curves. The effects of pH, inorganic salts and temperature on the surface activity were also investigated. The morphology and size of the aggregates of N‐6‐Sul were examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results show that the partially fluorinated gemini surfactant N‐6‐Sul has many advantages such as high surface activity, low CMC value, great salt tolerance and temperature resistance.
Modulation of Aggregation Behaviour of Anionic Surfactant in the Presence of Aqueous Quaternary Ammonium Salts
Authors: Chauhan S. , Kaur Maninder
Published: March 2017

The self‐aggregation of sodium dodecylsulphate (SDS), an anionic surfactant, in aqueous solutions of tetraalkylammonium bromide salts (R4NBr, where R = propyl, butyl and pentyl) was determined at various temperatures in the range 288.15–318.15 K. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) determined from conductivity data was used to study the thermodynamics of the surfactant. The presence of bromide salts was found to affect the micellization of SDS in accordance with the hydrophobicity of the tetraalkylammonium cations, thus the CMC values follow the order no additive > Pr4NBr > Bu4NBr > Pen4NBr. The results from conventional conductivity methods were combined with those of spectroscopic techniques like fluorescence and UV–Vis studies.