bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Migratory, metabolic and functional alterations of fibrocytes in type 2 diabetes
Authors: Walker Audrey , Nissen Erwin , Geiger Adolf
Published: September 2018

Fibrocytes are bloodborne mesenchymal progenitor cells that are recruited to injured tissue sites and contribute to the repair process by acquiring a myofibroblast‐like phenotype and producing extracellular matrix components and growth factors. Treatment with normal fibrocytes or their exosomes restores the ability of genetically diabetic mice to heal skin wounds, suggesting the existence of dysfunctional alterations in diabetic fibrocytes. This study compared the migratory, metabolic and functional characteristics of fibrocytes from patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DPs) and healthy controls (HCs). It was found that the frequency of these cells was abnormally low in the peripheral blood of T2DPs. Diabetic fibrocytes showed reduced expression of the C‐X‐C motif and C‐C motif chemokine receptors (CXCR)4, (CCR)5, and CCR7, and demonstrated reduced migration in response to their ligands (CXCL)12, (CCL)5, and CCL21. They exhibited increased expression of the receptor for advanced glycation end product, suppression of the alternative AGE receptor 1, increased intracellular concentrations of AGEs, decreased expression of sirtuin‐1 and elevated oxidative stress. In short‐term cultures, fibrocytes from T2DPs released larger amounts of proinflammatory cytokines than those from HCs. Unlike normal fibrocytes, diabetic fibrocytes did not exhibit increased expression of type I collagen and α‐smooth muscle actin on stimulation with transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β1 and this abnormal response was associated with downregulation of TGF‐β1 type II receptor on the cell surface. Study findings uncover multiple migratory and functional alterations of diabetic fibrocytes that may contribute to explain why T2DPs experience impaired wound healing and chronic ulcers. © 2018 IUBMB Life, 70(11):1122–1132, 2018
Brazilin induces T24 cell death through c‐Fos and GADD45β independently regulated genes and pathways
Authors: Zhang Tingting , He Jiao , Zhang Shuaina , Wang Guangying , Ma Enbo , Wang Jianbing , Yang Xihua , Zheng Yaowu , Zhang Jianzhen
Published: September 2018

Purified Brazilin from Sappan wood extract has been reported with significant antitumor effect, especially on human T24 cells and bladder cancer mouse models. Brazilin can significantly induce expression of c‐Fos and GADD45β and transfection expression of c‐Fos and GADD45β in T24 cells can induce significant cell morphology changes, reduced viability and cell death, while transfection of siRNA‐c‐Fos and siRNA‐GADD45β can reverse the induced cell death. Co‐transfection of both c‐Fos and GADD45β into T24 cells resulted in a significantly additive effect when compared to single transfection with only c‐Fos or GADD45β. Meanwhile, transfection of interfering siRNA‐c‐Fos or siRNA‐GADD45β can partially rescue the cell viability and siRNA co‐transfection showed increased rescue rate. The transfection expression and interference with pcDNA3.1‐c‐Fos/siRNA‐c‐Fos or pcDNA3.1‐GADD45β/siRNA‐GADD45β did not affect each other's expression. Moreover, analysis of c‐Fos and GADD45β regulated genes and signal pathways showed that no common regulated genes or pathways were present. All the results indicated that c‐Fos and GADD45β mediate independent Brazilin‐inducible genes and pathways. © 2018 IUBMB Life, 70(11):1101–1110, 2018
MicroRNA expression analysis of human skin fibroblasts treated with high‐fluence light‐emitting diode‐red light
Authors: Mamalis Andrew , Koo Eugene , Tepper Clifford , Jagdeo Jared
Published: September 2018

Skin fibrosis is a chronic debilitating feature of several skin diseases that lead to characteristic increases in dermal fibroblast proliferation and collagen deposition through upregulation in components of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF‐B)/SMAD pathway. In contrast to ultraviolet phototherapy, high‐fluence light‐emitting diode‐generated red light (HF‐LED‐RL, 633 ± 15 nm) is a safe, economic and non‐invasive therapy with in vitro evidence that supports modulation of the key cellular characteristics involved in the pathogenesis of skin fibrosis. Limited data exists pertaining to the effects of HF‐LED‐RL on human skin fibroblast microRNA (miRNA). Herein, we explored the effects of HF‐LED‐RL on fibroblast miRNA levels using RNA‐seq and miRNA expression analysis. Using RNA‐seq analysis we found that HF‐LED‐RL at 320 and 640 J/cm2 increased transcription of key miRNA that are involved in skin fibrosis including miRNA‐29, miRNA‐196a and Let‐7a, and decreased transcription of miRNA‐21, miRNA‐23b and miRNA‐31. These microRNA findings provide insight into the molecular underpinnings of HF‐LED‐RL and highlight potential therapeutic targets of interest for the treatment of skin fibrosis. Additional research on the specific molecular mechanisms underlying HF‐LED‐RL effects on fibroblasts may provide further mechanistic insight into this therapy and may reveal additional future therapeutic targets for skin fibrosis.
Wear at the taper‐trunnion junction of contemporary ceramic‐on‐ceramic hips shown in a multistation hip simulator
Authors: Bhalekar Rohan M. , Smith Simon L. , Joyce Thomas J.
Published: September 2018

Ceramic‐on‐ceramic (CoC) total hip replacements (THR) have a substantially lower wear rate than metal‐on‐polyethylene (MoP) hips, as shown by hip simulator testing. However, the revision rates of CoC and MoP hips are comparable. To try and explain this discrepancy the wear, at both the bearing surfaces and taper‐trunnion interface of 36 mm BIOLOXdelta CoC THRs, mounted on 12/14 titanium (Ti6Al4V) trunnions was investigated using a hip simulator (n = 3) and a dynamically loaded CoC sample in a separate test station. Wear was assessed gravimetrically and surface roughness measurements of the articulating and taper surfaces taken at regular intervals. Scanning electron microscopy, surface roughness, and gravimetric measurements of trunnions was performed. After 5 million cycles, the mean total wear from the ceramic articulating surfaces was 0.25 mm3 from the hip simulator test, and that from the titanium trunnions was 0.29 mm3. This metal wear may provide an explanation for adverse reaction to metal debris found in contemporary CoC hip joints. It is therefore vital to consider taper‐trunnion wear in preclinical testing of artificial hip joints. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 107B: 1199–1209, 2019.
Inflammatory markers in women with postpartum depressive symptoms
Authors: Bränn Emma , Fransson Emma , White Richard A. , Papadopoulos Fotios C. , Edvinsson Åsa , Kamali‐Moghaddam Masood , Cunningham Janet L. , Sundström‐Poromaa Inger , Skalkidou Alkistis
Published: September 2018

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a devastating disorder affecting not only more than 10% of all women giving birth, but also the baby, the family, and the society. Compiling evidence suggests the involvement of the immune system in the pathophysiology of major depression; yet, the immune response in perinatal depression is not as well studied. The aim of this study was to investigate the alterations in peripheral levels of inflammatory biomarkers in 169 Swedish women with and without depressive symptoms according to the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale or the M.I.N.I neuropsychiatric interview at eight weeks postpartum. Among the 70 markers analyzed with multiplex proximity extension assay, five were significantly elevated in women with postpartum depressive symptoms in the adjusted LASSO logistic regression analysis: Tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member (TRANCE) (OR‐per 1 SD increase = 1.20), Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) (OR = 1.17) Interleukin (IL)‐18 (OR = 1.06), Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF‐23) (OR = 1.25), and C‐X‐C motif chemokine 1 (CXCL1) (OR 1.11). These results indicate that women with PPD have elevated levels of some inflammatory biomarkers. It is, therefore, plausible that PPD is associated with a compromised adaptability of the immune system.
Hydrolysis of oligosaccharides by a fungal α‐galactosidase from fruiting bodies of a wild mushroom Leucopaxillus tricolor
Authors: Geng Xueran , Fan Jing , Xu Lijing , Wang Hexiang , Ng Tzi Bun
Published: September 2018

A novel acidic α‐galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.22) designated as Leucopaxillus tricolor α‐galactosidase (LTG) has been purified to homogeneity from the fruiting bodies of L. tricolor to 855‐fold with a specific activity of 956 U mg−1 by the application of chromatography and gel filtration. The molecular mass of LTG was estimated to be 60 kDa as determined by both SDS–PAGE and by gel filtration. The purified enzyme was identified by LC‐MS/MS and four inner amino acid sequences were obtained. When 4‐nitrophenyl α‐D‐glucopyranoside (pNPGal) was used as substrate, the optimal pH and optimal temperature of LTG were pH 5.0 and 50 °C, respectively. The enzyme activity was strongly inhibited by Hg2+, Fe3, Cu2+, Cd2+, and Mn2+ ions. The chemical modification agent N‐bromosuccinimide (NBS) completely inhibited the enzyme activity of LTG, indicating the paramount importance of tryptophan residue(s) to its enzymatic activity. Besides, LTG displayed wide substrate diversity with activity toward a variety of substrates such as stachyose, raffinose, melibiose, locust bean gum, and guar gum. Given the good ability of degrading the non‐digestible and flatulence‐causing oligosaccharides, this fungus may become a useful source of α‐galactosidase for multiple applications.
Effects of urbanization on increasing heat risks in South China
Authors: Ye Haoyu , Huang Zeqing , Huang Luliang , Lin Lijie , Luo Ming
Published: September 2018

This study examines the spatio‐temporal changes of heat risk in South China and the possible effects of urbanization using a dynamic method for classifying urban and rural sites based on time‐varying DMSP‐OLS night‐time light images. Ten different indicators are analysed, which include daily means and consecutive heat wave (HW) measures at 86 stations in Guangdong Province from 1971 to 2014. Results show that these heat risk indicators have been intensifying across the study area, and the intensifying trends are more profound in urbanized and populated areas (e.g., the Pearl River Delta) than less urbanized inland areas. In addition, the mean of daily maximum, minimum, and mean temperatures in urban (rural) areas increased by 0.35 (0.24), 0.21 (0.11), and 0.23 (0.13) °C per decade, and urbanization contributes to 31, 48, and 43% of the total trends, respectively. We also estimate that the urbanization effects on (contributions to) the increasing hot days and warm nights are 2.52 (36%) and 4.21 days per decade (53%). Moreover, urbanization induces an additional increase in the frequency and participating days of HW by 0.44 events (49%) and 3.96 days (51%) per decade, respectively.
Filling missing meteorological data in heating and cooling seasons separately
Authors: Anjomshoaa Ali , Salmanzadeh Mazyar
Published: September 2018

Hourly weather data are needed for building energy calculations; however, many available data from previous years are 3‐hr‐based. Therefore, appropriate interpolation methods should be employed in order to fill the gaps of the data. In this paper, linear and cubic spline functions are used to interpolate the weather data of Kerman, Iran. Weather data have different behaviours in heating and cooling seasons. Therefore, this paper analyses the interpolation methods in heating and cooling seasons separately. In order to specify all the weather psychrometric characteristics, three independent parameters are required. First, temperature and pressure were taken as two of the parameters. Then, humidity ratio and relative humidity were tested and analysed as the third parameter. Furthermore, the methods of filling weather data gaps were examined in particular to their effects on calculating accurate energy consumption. The results showed that the best interpolation method for each variable depends on the criterion of accuracy. Each method gives the best accuracy for a specific case. However, for temperature and pressure data, cubic splines were more accurate than the linear ones in all cases. For other weather data, it is important to consider the purpose of filling the gaps. The appropriate criterion of accuracy is different according to whether the average or the extreme values of the data are required. For calculation of the energy consumption variables, one interpolation technique should be used for all weather elements; linear interpolation by using relative humidity as the third psychrometric variable yielded better results for this aim.
Soil salinity prediction and mapping by machine learning regression in Central Mesopotamia, Iraq
Authors: Wu Weicheng , Zucca Claudio , Muhaimeed Ahmad S. , Al‐Shafie Waleed M. , Fadhil Al‐Quraishi Ayad M. , Nangia Vinay , Zhu Minqiang , Liu Guangping
Published: September 2018

Soil salinization affects crop production and food security. Mapping spatial distribution and severity of salinity is essential for agricultural management and development. This study was aimed to test the effectiveness of machine learning algorithms for soil salinity mapping taking the Mussaib area in Central Mesopotamia as an example. A combined dataset consisting of Landsat 5 Thematic Mapper (TM) and ALOS L‐band radar data acquired at the same time was used for fulfilling the task. Relevant biophysical indicators were derived from the TM images, and the soil component was retrieved by removing the vegetation contribution from the L‐band radar backscattering coefficients. Field‐measured salinity at the three corner plots of triangles were averaged to represent the salinity of these triangular areas. These averaged plots were converted into raster by either direct rasterization or buffering‐based rasterization into different cell size to create the training set (TS). One of the three triangle corners was randomly selected to constitute a validation set (VS). Using this TS, the support vector regression (SVR) and random forest regression (RFR) algorithms were then applied to the combined dataset for salinity prediction. Results revealed that RFR performed better than SVR with higher accuracy (93.4–94.2% vs. 85.2–89.4%) and less normalized root mean square error (NRMSE; 6.10–7.69% vs. 10.29–10.52%) when calibrated with both TS and VS. In comparison, prediction by multivariate linear regression (MLR) achieved in our previous study using the same datasets also showed less NRMSE than SVR. Hence, both RFR and MLR are recommended for soil salinity mapping.
S100A11 promotes cell proliferation via P38/MAPK signaling pathway in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Zhang Mei‐xia , Gan Wei , Jing Chu‐yu , Zheng Su‐su , Yi Yong , Zhang Juan , Xu Xin , Lin Jia‐jia , Zhang Bo‐heng , Qiu Shuang‐jian
Published: September 2018

S100A11 is reported to associate with progression and poor prognosis in several tumors. We previously reported that S100A11 was highly expressed in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) cells and promoted TGF‐β1‐induced EMT through SMAD2/3 signaling pathway. Here, we explored the prognostic role of S100A11 on ICC patients and preliminary molecular mechanisms how S100A11 regulated ICC cell proliferation. Our results showed that S100A11 was obviously increased in ICC tumor tissues. High expression of S100A11 was closely correlated with lymph node metastasis (LNM) and TNM stage and was an independent risk factor for patients’ overall survival (OS) and recurrence‐free survival (RFS). The nomograms comprising LNM and S100A11 achieved better predictive accuracy compared with TNM staging system for OS and RFS prediction. Silencing S100A11 significantly suppressed RBE cells and HCCC9810 cells proliferation, colony formation, and activation of P38/mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway in vitro and inhibited tumor growth in vivo. In contrast, the overexpression of S100A11 in RBE cells and HCCC9810 cells achieved the opposite results. S100A11‐induced proliferation was abolished after treatment with P38 inhibitor. Our findings suggest S100A11/P38/MAPK signaling pathway may be a potential therapeutic target for ICC patients.
HUS1 checkpoint clamp component (HUS1) is a potential tumor suppressor in primary hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Zhou Zi‐Qi , Zhao Jing‐Jing , Chen Chang‐Long , Liu Yuan , Zeng Jian‐Xiong , Wu Zheng‐Rong , Tang Yan , Zhu Qian , Weng De‐Sheng , Xia Jian‐Chuan
Published: September 2018

The HUS1 checkpoint clamp component (HUS1), which is a member of an evolutionarily conserved, genotoxin‐activated checkpoint complex (Rad9‐Rad1‐Hus1 [9‐1‐1] complex), is involved in cell cycle arrest and DNA repair in response to DNA damage. We conducted this study to investigate the biological significances of HUS1 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development. The mRNA and protein expression levels of HUS1 were determined using Real‐time PCR and Western blot, respectively. One hundered and twenty four paraffin sections from HCC tissues were analyzed by immunohistochemistry to assess the association between HUS1 expression and clinicopathological characteristics of patients. The Kaplan‐Meier method was performed to calculate the OS and RFS curves. Cell proliferation and colony formation assays, cell migration and invasion assays and cell cycle assays were used to determine the suppressor role of HUS1 in vitro. A mouse model was used to determine the effect of HUS1 on tumorigenesis. The expression of HUS1 was significantly decreased in HCC cell lines and tissues, and low HUS1 expression was associated with poor prognosis of HCC patients. Upregulation of HUS1 expression inhibited the cell proliferation, colony formation, migration, and invasion, as well as arrested cell cycle at G0/G1 in HCC cells in vitro. Moreover, sufficient HUS1 expression inhibited the tumor growth in nude mice. Our study revealed for the first time that HUS1 is a potential tumor suppressor that might produce an antitumor effect in human HCC. Furthermore, HUS1 may serve as a prognostic indicator and could be used for therapeutic application in HCC patients.
Relevance of time‐dependence for clinically viable diffusion imaging of the spinal cord
Authors: Grussu Francesco , Ianuş Andrada , Tur Carmen , Prados Ferran , Schneider Torben , Kaden Enrico , Ourselin Sébastien , Drobnjak Ivana , Zhang Hui , Alexander Daniel C. , Gandini Wheeler‐Kingshott Claudia A. M.
Published: September 2018

Purpose

Time‐dependence is a key feature of the diffusion‐weighted (DW) signal, knowledge of which informs biophysical modelling. Here, we study time‐dependence in the human spinal cord, as its axonal structure is specific and different from the brain.

Methods

We run Monte Carlo simulations using a synthetic model of spinal cord white matter (WM) (large axons), and of brain WM (smaller axons). Furthermore, we study clinically feasible multi‐shell DW scans of the cervical spinal cord (b = 0; b = 711 s mm−2; b = 2855 s mm−2), obtained using three diffusion times (Δ of 29, 52 and 76 ms) from three volunteers.

Results

Both intra‐/extra‐axonal perpendicular diffusivities and kurtosis excess show time‐dependence in our synthetic spinal cord model. This time‐dependence is reflected mostly in the intra‐axonal perpendicular DW signal, which also exhibits strong decay, unlike our brain model. Time‐dependence of the total DW signal appears detectable in the presence of noise in our synthetic spinal cord model, but not in the brain. In WM in vivo, we observe time‐dependent macroscopic and microscopic diffusivities and diffusion kurtosis, NODDI and two‐compartment SMT metrics. Accounting for large axon calibers improves fitting of multi‐compartment models to a minor extent.

Conclusions

Time‐dependence of clinically viable DW MRI metrics can be detected in vivo in spinal cord WM, thus providing new opportunities for the non‐invasive estimation of microstructural properties. The time‐dependence of the perpendicular DW signal may feature strong intra‐axonal contributions due to large spinal axon caliber. Hence, a popular model known as “stick” (zero‐radius cylinder) may be sub‐optimal to describe signals from the largest spinal axons.
Simultaneous high‐resolution cardiac T1 mapping and cine imaging using model‐based iterative image reconstruction
Authors: Becker Kirsten M. , Schulz‐Menger Jeanette , Schaeffter Tobias , Kolbitsch Christoph
Published: September 2018

Purpose

To provide high‐resolution cardiac T1 mapping of various cardiac phases and cine imaging within a single breath‐hold using continuous golden ratio‐based radial acquisition and model‐based iterative image reconstruction.

Methods

Data acquisition was performed continuously using golden ratio‐based radial sampling and multiple inversion pulses were applied independent of the heart rate. Native T1 maps of diastole and systole were reconstructed with in‐plane resolution of 1.3 × 1.3 mm2 using model‐based iterative image reconstruction. Cine images with 30 cardiac phases were reconstructed from the same data using kt‐SENSE. The method was evaluated in a commercially available T1 phantom and 10 healthy subjects. In vivo T1 assessment was carried out segment‐wise.

Results

Evaluation in the phantom demonstrated accurate T1 times (R2 > 0.99) and insensitivity to the heart rate. In vivo T1 values did not differ between systole and diastole, and T1 times assessed by the proposed approach were longer than measured with a modified Look‐Locker inversion recovery (MOLLI) sequence, except for lateral segments. Cine images had a consistent dark‐blood contrast and functional assessment was in agreement with assessment based on Cartesian cine scans (difference in ejection fraction: 0.26 ± 2.65%, P = 0.65).

Conclusion

The proposed approach provides native T1 maps of diastole and systole with high spatial resolution and cine images simultaneously within 16 s, which could strongly improve the scan efficiency.
Dynamical comparison between myoglobin and hemoglobin
Authors: Aharoni Rotem , Tobi Dror
Published: September 2018

Myoglobin and hemoglobin are globular hemeproteins, when the former is a monomer and the latter a heterotetramer. Despite the structural similarity of myoglobin to α and β subunits of hemoglobin, there is a functional difference between the two proteins, owing to the quaternary structure of hemoglobin. The effect of the quaternary structure of hemoglobin on the intrinsic dynamics of its subunits is explored by dynamical comparison of the two proteins. Anisotropic Network Model modes of motion were calculated for hemoglobin and myoglobin. Dynamical comparison between the proteins was performed using global and local Anisotropic Network Model mode alignment algorithms based on the algorithms of Smith‐Waterman and Needleman–Wunsch for sequence comparison. The results indicate that the quaternary structure of hemoglobin substantially alters the intrinsic dynamics of its subunits, an effect that may contribute to the functional difference between the two proteins. Local dynamics similarity between the proteins is still observed at the major exit route of the ligand.
Controlling Self‐Assembly in Gyroid Terpolymer Films By Solvent Vapor Annealing
Authors: Dolan James A. , Korzeb Karolina , Dehmel Raphael , Gödel Karl C. , Stefik Morgan , Wiesner Ulrich , Wilkinson Timothy D. , Baumberg Jeremy J. , Wilts Bodo D. , Steiner Ullrich , Gunkel Ilja
Published: September 2018

The efficacy with which solvent vapor annealing (SVA) can control block copolymer self‐assembly has so far been demonstrated primarily for the simplest class of copolymer, the linear diblock copolymer. Adding a third distinct block—thereby creating a triblock terpolymer—not only provides convenient access to complex continuous network morphologies, particularly the gyroid phases, but also opens up a route toward the fabrication of novel nanoscale devices such as optical metamaterials. Such applications, however, require the generation of well‐ordered 3D continuous networks, which in turn requires a detailed understanding of the SVA process in terpolymer network morphologies. Here, in situ grazing‐incidence small‐angle X‐ray scattering (GISAXS) is employed to study the self‐assembly of a gyroid‐forming triblock terpolymer during SVA, revealing the effects of several key SVA parameters on the morphology, lateral order, and, in particular, its preservation in the dried film. The robustness of the terpolymer gyroid morphology is a key requirement for successful SVA, allowing the exploration of annealing parameters which may enable the generation of films with long‐range order, e.g., for optical metamaterial applications.
The substance of climate: Material approaches to nature under environmental change
Authors: O'Reilly Jessica
Published: September 2018

Climate change is at once immediately tangible and embodied—in hurricanes, droughts, and the expansion of tick and mosquito habitats, for example—and almost unimaginable from a human scale. Climate encourages us to think expansively, in terms of millennia, geological epochs, systems and patterns earthly in scope. Climate, through material and cultural processes, connects people to weather and the environment, particularly in timescales beyond the human lifetime—though some changes occur rapidly, visibly, and spectacularly. This review seeks to understand how people mediate between climate change at once lived and unfathomable. I propose that people do this through interactions with nature as material objects and earthly processes. That is, there is a substance to climate that is sometimes erased from abstract models and political debates. This article considers the substance of climate through three analytical frames: (a) matter and substance, (b) lively nonhuman nature, and (c) experience and embodiment in science and policy. The materiality of climate allows us to consider the scientific and environmental impacts of climate change immediately alongside the power dynamics that enable and can solve this problem.

This article is categorized under:

Trans‐Disciplinary Perspectives > Humanities and the Creative Arts

Social Status of Climate Change Knowledge > Sociology/Anthropology of Climate Knowledge
A recap of RNA recapping
Authors: Trotman Jackson B. , Schoenberg Daniel R.
Published: September 2018

The N7‐methylguanosine cap is a hallmark of the 5′ end of eukaryotic mRNAs and is required for gene expression. Loss of the cap was believed to lead irreversibly to decay. However, nearly a decade ago, it was discovered that mammalian cells contain enzymes in the cytoplasm that are capable of restoring caps onto uncapped RNAs. In this review, we summarize recent advances in our understanding of cytoplasmic RNA recapping and discuss the biochemistry of this process and its impact on regulating and diversifying the transcriptome. Although most studies focus on mammalian RNA recapping, we also highlight new observations for recapping in disparate eukaryotic organisms, with the trypanosome recapping system appearing to be a fascinating example of convergent evolution. We conclude with emerging insights into the biological significance of RNA recapping and prospects for the future of this evolving area of study.

This article is categorized under:

RNA Processing > RNA Editing and Modification

Translation > Translation Regulation

RNA Processing > Capping and 5′ End Modifications

RNA Turnover and Surveillance > Regulation of RNA Stability
Exact and approximate controllability of nonlinear dynamic systems in infinite time: The Green's function approach
Authors: Avetisyan Ara S. , Khurshudyan Asatur Zh.
Published: September 2018

A systematic method for establishment of exact and approximate controllability of dynamic systems with nonlinear state constraints within infinite time is developed. Using the recently developed Green's function approach, we derive necessary and sufficient conditions for exact controllability, as well as sufficient conditions for approximate controllability. Conditions for null‐controllability and lack of controllability are established as well. Several possibilities of deriving explicit form for resolving controls are described. Possibilities of heuristic determination of resolving controls is studied in details. The advantages and drawbacks of the method are revealed on specific examples of nonlinear wave and diffusion equations in unbounded domains.
Fabrication and Oxidation Resistance of TiAl Matrix Coatings Reinforced with Silicide Precipitates Produced by Heat Treatment of Warm Sprayed Coatings
Authors: Sienkiewicz Judyta , Kuroda Seiji , Murakami Hideyuki , Araki Hiroshi , Giżyński Maciej , Kurzydłowski Krzysztof J.
Published: September 2018

Ti-Al-based intermetallics are promising candidates as coating materials for thermal protection systems in aerospace vehicles; they can operate just below the temperatures where ceramics are commonly used, and their main advantage is the fact that they are lighter than most other alloys, such as MCrAlY. Therefore, Ti-Al-Si alloy coatings with five compositions were manufactured by spraying pure Ti and Al-12 wt.% Si powders using warm spray process. Two-stage hot pressing at 600 and 1000 °C was applied to the deposits in order to obtain titanium aluminide intermetallic phases. The microstructure, chemical composition, and phase composition of the as-deposited and hot-pressed coatings were investigated using SEM, EDS, and XRD. Applying of hot pressing enabled the formation of dense coatings with porosity around 0.5% and hard Ti5(Si,Al)3 silicide precipitates. It was found that the Ti5(Si,Al)3 silicides existed in two types of morphologies, i.e., as large particles connected together and as small isolated particles dispersed in the matrix. Furthermore, the produced coatings exhibited good isothermal and cyclic oxidation resistance at a temperature of 750 °C for 100 h.
Consumer Metaphoria: Uncovering the Automaticity of Animal, Product/Brand, and Country Meanings
Authors: Martin Drew , Palakshappa Nitha , Woodside Arch
Published: September 2018

Consumers automatically associate animals and experiences with certain brands and products. The capability of surfacing the “automaticity of being” (Bargh & Chartrand, 2000) using metaphoric research tools provides a paradox—consumers tell researchers deeply held beliefs about the consequences of associating brands and products with scant editing of their thoughts; consumers may tell more about themselves through metaphors than they would otherwise be willing to share. The study here is a primer on this indirect approach for collecting consumers’ conscious and nonconscious thoughts about countries, brands, and industries. Using zoomorphic forced metaphor-elicitation, long interviews of eight Indian consumers uncover insights about their feelings about products from China, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The findings demonstrate collecting rich data using metaphors offers new perspectives on how consumers view foreign products. Findings show mental processes in which consumers trust brands even if they are manufactured abroad. When brands are not identified, well-known industries associated with individual countries influence product choices. These findings suggest gestalt brand and country images explain aspects of consumer attitudes about foreign products.
Electrical brain stimulation in different variants of primary progressive aphasia: A randomized clinical trial
Authors: Tsapkini Kyrana , Webster Kimberly T. , Ficek Bronte N. , Desmond John E. , Onyike Chiadi U. , Rapp Brenda , Frangakis Constantine E. , Hillis Argye E.
Published: September 2018

Introduction

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been recently shown to improve language outcomes in primary progressive aphasia (PPA) but most studies are small and the influence of PPA variant is unknown.

Methods

Thirty‐six patients with PPA participated in a randomized, sham‐controlled, double‐blind, within‐subject crossover design for 15 daily sessions of stimulation coupled with written naming/spelling therapy. Outcome measures were letter accuracy of treated and untreated words immediately after and at 2 weeks and 2 months posttreatment.

Results

tDCS treatment was more effective than sham: gains for treated words were maintained 2 months posttreatment; gains from tDCS also generalized to untreated words and were sustained 2 months posttreatment. Different effects were obtained for each PPA variant, with no tDCS advantage for semantic variant PPA.

Discussion

The study supports using tDCS as an adjunct to written language interventions in individuals with logopenic or nonfluent/agrammatic PPA seeking compensatory treatments in clinical settings.
Pathogenesis of NSAID‐induced reactions in aspirin‐exacerbated respiratory disease
Authors: Laidlaw Tanya M.
Published: September 2018

It is well‐established that following ingestion of aspirin or any other inhibitor of cyclooxygenase‐1, patients with Samter's disease, or aspirin‐exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) develop the sudden onset of worsening respiratory clinical symptoms, which usually involves nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, wheezing and bronchospasm. Gastrointestinal distress, nausea, a pruritic rash and angioedema can also occasionally develop. However, the underlying pathologic mechanism that drives these clinical reactions remains elusive. Pretreatment with medications that inhibit the leukotriene pathway decreases the severity of clinical reactions, which points to the involvement of cysteinyl leukotrienes (cysLTs) in the pathogenesis of these aspirin‐induced reactions. Furthermore, studies of aspirin challenges in carefully‐phenotyped patients with AERD have confirmed that both proinflammatory lipid mediators, predominantly cysLTs and prostaglandin (PG) D2, and the influx of effector cells to the respiratory tissue, contribute to symptom development during aspirin‐induced reactions. Mast cells, which have been identified as the major cellular source of cysLTs and PGD2, are likely to be major participants in the acute reactions, and are an attractive target for future pharmacotherapies in AERD. Although several recent studies support the role of platelets as inflammatory effector cells and as a source of cysLT overproduction in AERD, it is not yet clear whether platelet activation plays a direct role in the development of the aspirin‐induced reactions. To further our understanding of the pathogenesis of aspirin‐induced reactions in AERD, and to broaden the pharmacotherapeutic options available to these patients, additional investigations with targeted clinical trials will be required.
“THE WETLAND IS DISAPPEARING”: CONSERVATION AND CARE ON TURKEY'S KIZILIRMAK DELTA
Authors: Scaramelli Caterina
Published: September 2018

This article analyzes the transformation of the Kızılırmak Delta on the Black Sea coast of Turkey into a Turkish wetland. This production involved the transformation of international categories of wetlands into national imaginaries, as well as the material remaking of landscapes themselves. Population and agro-economic shifts concurrent to the formation of the Turkish nation-state transformed the delta into an agricultural landscape, and subsequently into a contested conservation area whose use is informed by changing Turkish and international notions of wetlands. I focus on the situated, local processes and practices through which wetlands are produced and become relevant to different social groups as subjects of scientific knowledge and environmental imaginations. These, I argue, have rendered the wetland an open-air laboratory and an object of care for environmental advocates, scientists, and residents.
AN UNCERTAIN CLIMATE IN RISKY TIMES: HOW OCCUPATION BECAME LIKE THE RAIN IN POST-OSLO PALESTINE
Authors: Stamatopoulou-Robbins Sophia
Published: September 2018

Recent Palestinian Authority (PA) initiatives to help Palestine adapt to climate change help shine light on the role that climate uncertainties play in how political futures can be represented. UN-led adaptation has occasioned opportunities for new networks of actors to make claims about Palestinian futures and to perform PA readiness for statehood. These actors weigh scientific uncertainties about climate against uncertainties over if and when settler colonialism in Palestine will end. How they do so matters because it is the foundation of requests for capital that could be translated into some of the most important institutions and infrastructures of Palestinian governance over the next several years, including those that provide Palestinians with access to water. It also matters because it constitutes the image with which PA officials represent what needs to be “fixed” in Palestine in important international forums such as the UN. Climate change adaptation is a new approach to the management of uncertain environmental futures. This analysis offers insight into how this approach shapes and is shaped by practices of statecraft in places marked by the volatilities of war, economic crisis, and occupation.
Clinical presentation and treatment of melioidosis in the head and neck region
Authors: Mahawerawat K , Kasemsiri P
Published: September 2018

Background

Although melioidosis in the head and neck region is uncommon, it is a potentially life-threatening infection. Thus, early diagnosis and proper management are very important.

Objectives

To report the clinical presentation and management of melioidosis in the head and neck.

Method

A retrospective study was conducted from 1 January 2013 to 31 October 2016 in Mukdahan Hospital, Thailand. Case records of patients who had presented with culture-positive melioidosis were analysed.

Results

Medical records of 49 patients (23 males and 26 females) were analysed. Patients ranged in age from 1 to 75 years. Clinical presentations included 22 parotid abscesses, 16 neck abscesses and 11 suppurative lymphadenitis cases. Only 35 patients (71 per cent) had high indirect haemagglutination assay titres of ≥ 1:160 (95 per cent confidence interval = 45.35–88.28). Almost half of the patients received intravenous ceftazidime and subsequently oral co-trimoxazole. Oral antibiotic regimens were prescribed for mild localised melioidosis. Overall, 95.65 per cent of patients were in remission and no relapses were observed (95 per cent confidence interval = 85.47–98.80).

Conclusion

Careful clinical correlation and proper investigation are required to establish an early diagnosis of melioidosis and to initiate appropriate treatment.
Effects of CyberKnife therapy for vestibular schwannoma on hearing: a retrospective study
Authors: Çakır O , Berkiten G , Tutar B , Yılmazer A B , Kumral T L , Saltürk Z , Uyar Y
Published: September 2018

Objectives

To evaluate the effects of CyberKnife stereotactic radiotherapy for the treatment of vestibular schwannoma on hearing, as evaluated by audiological tests.

Methods

Patients with vestibular schwannoma were evaluated before and after CyberKnife radiosurgery. Evaluation included pure tone thresholds, speech discrimination scores, auditory brainstem responses and radiological signs.

Results

The study comprised 26 patients diagnosed with vestibular schwannoma and subsequently treated with CyberKnife radiosurgery. The mean follow-up time was 16.4 months. The mean post-treatment hearing preservation rate was 69.23 per cent. There was no significant relationship between hearing loss after treatment and patient age, radiation dosage during treatment, or size of tumour. With regard to auditory brainstem responses, patients with hearing loss following treatment had a significantly higher inter-peak latency between waves I–III than patients with preserved hearing.

Conclusion

Stereotactic CyberKnife radiosurgery is an excellent alternative treatment modality for patients with vestibular schwannoma, and results in acceptable preservation of hearing. Residual hearing following CyberKnife therapy is not significantly affected by factors such as age, size of tumour or dosage of treatment.
The role of sexual networks in studies of how BV and STIs increase the risk of subsequent reinfection
Authors: Kenyon C. , Buyze J. , Klebanoff M. , Brotman R. M.
Published: September 2018

Prior studies have demonstrated that both bacterial vaginosis (BV) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are strong independent risk factors for subsequent STI. In observational studies of this biological enhancement (BE) hypothesis, it is important to adjust for the risk of STI exposure so that the independent effect of BE can be assessed. We sought to model if two markers of local sexual network (partner concurrency and cumulative number of STIs) represented residual confounding in the models of risk for subsequent infection in a study that screened 3620 women for STIs every 3 months for a year. Mixed-effects logistic regression was used to calculate the odds ratios for an incident diagnosis ofChlamydia trachomatis,Neisseria gonorrhoeae,Trichomonas vaginalisand BV following a diagnosis of any of these four at the prior visit, controlling for the cumulative number of STIs and partner concurrency variables. We found that partner concurrency and cumulative number of STIs were each associated with incident infection, and in general, controlling for these variables reduced the strength of the association between prior and incident infections. We conclude that the frequently found association between prior and incident STIs is associated with both BE and sexual network structure.
Detection of East/Central/South African genotype Chikungunya virus during an outbreak in a southeastern state of Brazil
Authors: Lessa-Aquino C. , Trinta K. S. , Pestana C. P. , Ribeiro M. O. , Sucupira M. V. F. , Boia M. N. , Baptista P. A. , Cunha R. V. , Medeiros M. A.
Published: September 2018

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an arbovirus transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes that was first identified in Brazil in 2014. It causes a febrile illness characterised by severe arthralgia and rash. Our group investigated a suspected CHIKV outbreak in Governador Valadares, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil and from 25 acute-phase patients, 10 had qRT-PCR positive sera samples and had E1 partial sequence amplified and Sanger sequenced. Samples were identified as East/Central/South African (ECSA) genotype by phylogenetic analysis and clustered with CHIKV sequences isolated in the neighbour state of Bahia. Our findings confirm previous predictions that ECSA genotype would spread through northeast and southeast of Brazil.
Johann Herbeck’s Edition of Choral Works by Franz Schubert: History and Analysis
Authors: Hettrick William E.
Published: September 2018

Johann Herbeck (1831–1877) served in his native Vienna as conductor of the leading choral and instrumental organizations. He showed his devotion to the legacy of Franz Schubert in his performances and also in his edition, published by C.A. Spina and successors, of 51 selected works of the master for men’s, women’s and mixed chorus. Originally conceived as part-songs for ensembles of soloists, this repertoire had become choral music by Herbeck’s time. Included also are arrangements by Herbeck and others of pieces originally written for different performing media. Surviving copies of numbers in the edition, as well as two additional publications, reveal startling inconsistencies in editorial technique, ranging from a lack of intervention to a much freer approach, including liberal sprinkling of unauthentic markings and other deviations from the originals. In the latter category, the editor’s additions may be said to document the performance practice of these works during his time. His choice of sources was also inconsistent, in some cases resulting in faulty versions of the works presented. This study also documents the production and reception history of Herbeck’s edition.
Mineral Weathering and the Permafrost Carbon‐Climate Feedback
Authors: Zolkos Scott , Tank Suzanne E. , Kokelj Steven V.
Published: September 2018

Permafrost thaw in the Arctic enables the biogeochemical transformation of vast stores of organic carbon into carbon dioxide (CO2). This CO2 release has significant implications for climate feedbacks, yet the potential counterbalance from CO2 fixation via chemical weathering of minerals exposed by thawing permafrost is entirely unstudied. We show that thermokarst in the western Canadian Arctic can enable rapid weathering of carbonate tills, driven by sulfuric acid from sulfide oxidation. Unlike carbonic acid‐driven weathering, this caused significant and previously undocumented CO2 production and outgassing in headwater streams. Increasing riverine solute fluxes correspond with long‐term intensification of thermokarst and reflect the regional predominance of sulfuric acid‐driven carbonate weathering. We conclude that thermokarst‐enhanced mineral weathering has potential to profoundly disrupt Arctic freshwater carbon cycling. While thermokarst and sulfuric acid‐driven carbonate weathering in the western Canadian Arctic amplify CO2 release, regional variation in sulfide oxidation will moderate the effects on the permafrost carbon‐climate feedback.
Orography Drives the Semistationary West Australian Summer Trough
Authors: Pepler Acacia S. , Hope Pandora
Published: September 2018

During the summer months, there is a semipermanent trough in the low‐level easterlies over the west coast of Australia. This “West Coast Trough” plays an important role in summer severe weather in western Australia including thunderstorms and severe heat waves. The land‐sea contrast is believed to be the driver of the location of this trough. As land masses are warming more quickly than their surrounding oceans, it is timely to readdress the drivers of the location and intensity of this important climatological feature. Using a 20‐year regional climate modeling simulation, we show that Australian orography is critical to the accurate representation of the trough in climate models, in contrast to earlier low‐resolution studies.
Long-term metformin treatment in adolescents with obesity and insulin resistance, results of an open label extension study
Authors: Lentferink Y. E. , van der Aa M. P. , van Mill E. G. A. H. , Knibbe C. A. J. , van der Vorst M. M. J.
Published: September 2018

Background/Objectives

Off-label metformin is nowadays frequently used for the treatment of obesity in adolescents. However, studies on long-term metformin treatment in adolescents with obesity are scarce. Therefore, an 18 month open label extension study following an 18 months randomized placebo-controlled trial (RCT) on the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of metformin in adolescents with obesity and insulin resistance was performed.

Subjects/Methods

After completion of the RCT, metformin was offered to all participants with a body mass index standard deviation score (BMI-sds) > 2.3 and Homeostasis Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) ≥ 3.4. Endpoints were change in BMI and HOMA-IR.

Results

Overall, 31/42 participants completed the extension study (74% girls, median age 14.8 (11.6 – 17.9), BMI 31.2 (22.3 – 45.1), HOMA-IR 3.4 (0.2 – 8.8)). At start, 22/42 (52.4%) participants were eligible for metformin of which 13 (59.0%) agreed with treatment. In participants who continued metformin, an increase was observed in BMI (+2.2 (+0.2 to +9.0)) and HOMA-IR (+13.7 (+1.6 to +48.3)). In metformin naive participants, BMI stabilized after an initial decrease (+0.5 (−2.1 to +5.1)). For HOMA-IR, a decrease was observed (−1.1 (−4.6 to +1.4)).

Conclusion

While metformin treatment in metformin naive participants seems to result in an initial decrease in BMI and HOMA-IR, there is no evidence for sustained effect after prolonged use in adolescents. Limited compliance and/or insufficient dose may explain the differences in long-term effects between adolescents and adults.