bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dual role for inositol‐requiring enzyme 1α in promoting the development of hepatocellular carcinoma during diet‐induced obesity in mice
Authors: Wu Ying , Shan Bo , Dai Jianli , Xia Zhixiong , Cai Jie , Chen Tianwei , Lv Songya , Feng Yuxiong , Zheng Ling , Wang Yan , Liu Jianfeng , Fang Jing , Xie Dong , Rui Liangyou , Liu Jianmiao , Liu Yong
Published: March 2018

Obesity is associated with both endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and chronic metabolic inflammation. ER stress activates the unfolded protein response (UPR) and has been implicated in a variety of cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It is unclear whether individual UPR pathways are mechanistically linked to HCC development, however. Here we report a dual role for inositol‐requiring enzyme 1α (IRE1α), the ER‐localized UPR signal transducer, in obesity‐promoted HCC development. We found that genetic ablation of IRE1α in hepatocytes not only markedly reduced the occurrence of diethylnitrosamine (DEN)‐induced HCC in liver‐specific IRE1α knockout (LKO) mice when fed a normal chow (NC) diet, but also protected against the acceleration of HCC progression during high‐fat diet (HFD) feeding. Irrespective of their adiposity states, LKO mice showed decreased hepatocyte proliferation and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) activation, even in the face of increased hepatic apoptosis. Furthermore, IRE1α abrogation blunted obesity‐associated activation of hepatic inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa B kinase subunit beta (IKKβ)‐nuclear factor kappa B (NF‐κB) pathway, leading to reduced production of the tumor‐promoting inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin 6 (IL‐6). Importantly, higher IRE1α expression along with elevated STAT3 phosphorylation was also observed in the tumor tissues from human HCC patients, correlating with their poorer survival rate. Conclusion: IRE1α acts in a feed‐forward loop during obesity‐induced metabolic inflammation to promote HCC development through STAT3‐mediated hepatocyte proliferation. (Hepatology 2018).
Morphology and surface properties of high strength siloxane poly(urethane‐urea)s developed for heart valve application
Authors: Dandeniyage Loshini S. , Adhikari Raju , Bown Mark , Shanks Robert , Adhikari Benu , Easton Christopher D. , Gengenbach Thomas R. , Cookson David , Gunatillake Pathiraja A.
Published: March 2018

A series of siloxane poly(urethane‐urea) (SiPUU) were developed by incorporating a macrodiol linked with a diisocyanate to enhance mixing of hard and soft segments (SS). The effect of this modification on morphology, surface properties, surface elemental composition, and creep resistance was investigated. The linked macrodiol was prepared by reacting α,ω‐bis(6‐hydroxyethoxypropyl) poly(dimethylsiloxane)(PDMS) or poly(hexamethylene oxide) (PHMO) with either 4,4′‐methylenediphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), or isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI). SiPUU with PHMO‐MDI‐PHMO and PHMO‐IPDI‐PHMO linked macrodiols showed enhanced creep resistance and recovery when compared with a commercial biostable polyurethane, Elast‐Eon™ 2A. Small and wide‐angle X‐ray scattering data were consistent with significant increase of hydrogen bonding between hard and SS with linked‐macrodiols, which improved SiPUU's tensile stress and tear strengths. These SiPUU were hydrophobic with contact angle higher than 101° and they had low water uptake (0.7%·w/w of dry mass). They also had much higher siloxane concentration on the surface compared to that in the bulk. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 107B: 112–121, 2019.
Azobenzene‐bridged diradical janus nucleobases with photo‐converted magnetic properties between antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic couplings
Authors: Zhao Peiwen , Bu Yuxiang
Published: March 2018

We computationally design a series of azobenzene (AB)‐bridged double radicalized nucleobases, a novel kind of diradical Janus‐type nucleobases, and explore their spin coupling characteristics. Calculations prove that such diradical Janus‐bases not only normally match with their complementary bases, but also exhibit well‐defined diradical character with photo‐convertible intramolecular magnetic couplings (antiferromagnetic vs. ferromagnetic). Combination of four radical nucleobases (rG, rA, rC, rT) and photoswitch AB can yield 10 diradical Janus‐bases with different magnetic characteristics in which AB functions a bridge to mediate the spin coupling between two radical bases. The trans‐form supports mild antiferromagnetic couplings with the spin coupling constants (J) ranging from −153.6 cm−1 to −50.91 cm−1 while the cis‐form has weak magnetic couplings with ferromagnetic (0.22–8.50 cm−1) for most of them or antiferromagnetic (−0.77, −1.73, −3.30 cm−1) properties for only three. Further structural examination and frontier molecular orbital analyses indicate that the extended π conjugation for better spin polarization provides an effective through‐π‐bond pathway to mediate the spin coupling in the trans conformation while nonplanarity of the cis conformation weakens the through‐bond coupling and causes a competitive through‐space pathway and as an overall result inhibits the spin coupling between two spin moieties. Meanwhile, we also find that the J values of the cis conformation vary with their angle between the radical base and its linked phenylene. Furthermore, the magnetic properties of the diradical Janus‐bases can be significantly increased by interacting with metal ions. They also maintain a good UV absorption characteristics and there is a clear redshift compared with AB. This work provides a promising strategy for the rational design of photo‐convertible Janus‐base magnets as the magnetism‐tunable DNA building blocks. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The combined use of a continuous‐flow microchannel reactor and ionic liquid cosolvent for efficient biocatalysis of unpurified recombinant enzyme
Authors: Wang Fangqin , He Shu , Zhu Changtong , Rabausch Ulrich , Streit Wolfgang , Wang Jun
Published: March 2018

BACKGROUND

Microfluidic biocatalysis has advantages in terms of heat transfer and mass transfer. However, mass transfer in microscale conditions is often limited by excessive enzyme agglomeration, resulting in reduced reactor performance. In the present study, to establish an efficient and inexpensive microreaction system for obtaining high‐value fine chemicals, a novel combined use of continuous‐flow microchannel reactor and ionic liquid cosolvent for efficient production of isoquercitrin from rutin catalysed by unpurified recombinant enzyme RhaB1 was successfully carried out.

RESULTS

The unpurified RhaB1 was expressed by BL21‐pET21a‐rhaB1 and the amino acid sequence was confirmed by Maldi‐TOF‐TOF, which was directly applied in microchannel reactors with an increased activity of 37.7% compared with the purified RhaB1, with [Toma][Tf2N] used as a cosolvent to avoid enzymatic agglomeration. A yield of 99.3 ± 4.3% was achieved in 10 min using crude RhaB1 in microchannel reactors under optimum conditions, and circular dichroism spectroscopy confirmed that [Toma][Tf2N] had a positive effect on RhaB1 activity. Compared with a batch reactor, the reaction time was reduced by 98.3%, the Km was decreased to 1/3 and productivity was improved 61.4 times.

CONCLUSION

Results indicated that the developed cosolvent system in the microfluidic reactor could improve the solubility and liquidity of recombinant RhaB1. The protocol is promising for industrial applications due to higher productivity and lower costs. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Mathematical modeling, steady state simulation, parametric analysis and optimization of SO2 capture in a countercurrent moving bed (CaO and C) reactor
Authors: Stefas Ioannis I , Manavi Stella I , Paloukis Fotis E , Spartinos Dimitrios Nikolaos
Published: March 2018

The use of absorbents based on calcium for the reduction of SO2 emissions from power plants has been studied for the last 30 years. The present work is part of a research project aimed at the development of a moving bed limestone filter. It is placed after burning in order to capture the SO2 from the flue gases of pulverized lignite combustors. A heterogeneous mathematical model was developed for the steady‐state simulation of a gas–solid countercurrent moving bed reactor. The mathematical model was solved using the method of finite elements and gave results for the temperature and conversion profile along the reactor. Also, parametric analysis (for Tg,in, Ts,in, us, qo, , , do, zo) was performed and useful conclusions concerning the behavior of a moving bed reactor in different conditions were drawn. Finally, optimization of conditions was performed to give an SO2 conversion higher than 0.95. The results are of important technological interest as a dry process in applications of SO2 capture. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Highly efficient removal of toxic Pb2+ from wastewater by an alginate–chitosan hybrid adsorbent
Authors: Wang Zhuqing , Jin Pengxiang , Wang Min , Wu Genhua , Sun Jiayin , Zhang Yujie , Dong Chen , Wu Aiguo
Published: March 2018

BACKGROUND

In this study, a low‐cost and environment‐friendly alginate–chitosan hybrid adsorbent (depicted as Alg‐Chi) was developed for the removal of Pb2+ from water.

RESULTS

Experimental results showed that the Alg‐Chi exhibits high selectivity and affinity for Pb2+. The selectivity coefficients of the Alg‐Chi for Pb2+/Cr3+, Pb2+/Co2+ Pb2+/Cd2+, Pb2+/Zn2+, and Pb2+/Cu2+ are all >5. It can uptake 96.8% of Pb2+ from Pb2+‐containing solutions (1.5 mmol L−1), and the maximum adsorption capacity for Pb2+ reaches 468.5 mg g−1, which is higher than that of most reported adsorbents for Pb2+. Moreover, the Alg‐Chi can also be regenerated via simple acid elution and used repeatedly without loss in adsorption ability.

CONCLUSIONS

Analysis of the adsorption mechanism indicated that the Alg‐Chi adsorbed Pb2+ mainly through ion exchange and chemical coordination. Green and low‐cost raw materials, simple preparation process, efficient removal efficiency and recyclable, these characteristics give the synthetic Alg‐Chi broad application prospects in the field of Pb2+‐containing wastewater treatment. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Risk assessment, dissipation behavior and persistence of quinalphos in/on green pea by gas chromatography with electron capture detector
Authors: Dar Alamgir A. , Jan Ishrat , Wani Ashraf A. , Mubashir Sofi , Sofi Khurshid A. , Sofi Javid A. , Dar Irshad H.
Published: March 2018

Chemical investigation was carried out to examine the risk assessment, dissipation behavior, persistence, and half‐life period of quinalphos in/on green pea fruit by spraying quinalphos at fruiting stage followed by another application after 10‐day interval. The samples were extracted by using the quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe method, and the residues of quinalphos were analyzed by gas chromatography with electron capture detector. Herein, we report a novel, accurate, and cost‐effective gas chromatography method for the determination of average deposits of quinalphos in/on green pea. The initial deposits and half‐life of quinalphos were found to be 1.20 mg/kg and 2.77 days, respectively, following the application of insecticide. Residues of quinalphos reached below detection limit of 0.05 mg/kg after 10 days at recommended dosage. For risk assessment studies, the tenth day will be safe for consumers for consumption of green pea. The developed method is simple, selective, and repeatable, and it can be extended for quinalphos‐based standardization of herbal formulations containing green pea and its use in pesticide industries.
Study on tribological properties of zinc perrhenate in oil‐based hybrid lubrication system over a broad temperature range
Authors: Wang Junhai , Zhang Lixiu , Li Ting , Zhang Ke
Published: March 2018

The zinc perrhenate used as oil additive was synthesised via aqua‐solution method and was dispersed into pentaerythritol ester with the surface‐active agents. The tribological properties of lubricants were examined by 4‐ball tester and ball‐on‐disc testing machine. Additional investigations were performed using XRD, XPS, SEM‐EDS, and DTA/TG to probe the possible lubricating mechanism. Four‐ball test results showed compared to base oil, the friction coefficient and wear scar diameter of oil with zinc perrhenate additive were reduced by 14.9% and 16.6%, suggesting that zinc perrhenate additive could improve the lubricating property of base oil under 4‐ball test condition. Frictional tests under a wide temperature range indicated that oil with zinc perrhenate additive exhibited friction‐reducing performance during elevated temperature process because of its intrinsic shear susceptible property and could form a protective layer with native oxides of the disc sample at the interface, thus significantly minimised friction.
Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation on Obesity‐Induced Insulin Resistance: A Double‐Blind, Randomized, Placebo‐Controlled Trial
Authors: Cefalo Chiara M.A. , Conte Caterina , Sorice Gian Pio , Moffa Simona , Sun Vinsin A. , Cinti Francesca , Salomone Enrica , Muscogiuri Giovanna , Brocchi Alex A.G. , Pontecorvi Alfredo , Mezza Teresa , Giaccari Andrea
Published: March 2018

Objective

The aim was to investigate whether vitamin D supplementation, combined with a hypocaloric diet, could have an independent effect on insulin sensitivity in subjects with both overweight and hypovitaminosis D. Changes from baseline in anthropometric parameters, body composition, glucose tolerance, and insulin secretion were considered as secondary outcomes.

Methods

Eighteen volunteers who were nondiabetic and vitamin D deficient and had BMI > 25 kg/m2 were randomized (1:1) in a double‐blind manner to a hypocaloric diet + either oral cholecalciferol at 25,000 IU/wk or placebo for 3 months. Hyperinsulinemic‐euglycemic clamp to measure insulin sensitivity was performed at baseline and after intervention.

Results

Body weight in both groups decreased significantly (−7.5% in the vitamin D group and −10% in the placebo group; P < 0.05 for both), with no between‐group differences. Serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D levels in the vitamin D group increased considerably (from 36.7 ± 13.2 nmol/L to 74.8 ± 18.7 nmol/L; P < 0.001). Insulin sensitivity in the vitamin D group improved (from 4.6 ± 2.0 to 6.9 ± 3.3 mg·kg−1·min−1; P < 0.001), whereas no changes were observed in the placebo group (from 4.9 ± 1.1 to 5.1 ± 0.3 mg·kg−1·min−1; P = 0.84).

Conclusions

Cholecalciferol supplementation, combined with a weight loss program, significantly improves insulin sensitivity in healthy subjects with obesity and might represent a personalized approach for insulin‐resistant subjects with obesity.
Dietary Tryptophan Restriction Dose‐Dependently Modulates Energy Balance, Gut Hormones, and Microbiota in Obesity‐Prone Rats
Authors: Zapata Rizaldy C. , Singh Arashdeep , Ajdari Nadia M. , Chelikani Prasanth K.
Published: March 2018

Objective

To determine the effects of graded dietary restriction of tryptophan on food intake, energy expenditure, body composition, gut hormones, and select fecal bacterial populations in obesity‐prone rats.

Methods

Obesity‐prone rats were randomized to isocaloric diets with varying degrees of tryptophan restriction: control (100% requirements), 70% tryptophan (70TRP), 40% tryptophan (40TRP), or 10% tryptophan (10TRP) for 21 days. The sympathetic system was challenged with a subcutaneous injection of propranolol on days 15 to 17. Measurements included food intake, energy expenditure, body composition, metabolic hormones, and fecal concentrations of select bacteria.

Results

Moderate tryptophan restriction (70TRP) induced thermogenesis without altering body composition, whereas severe degrees of restriction (40TRP, 10TRP) produced profound hypophagia and decreased energy expenditure and body weight. The thermogenic effects of moderate tryptophan restriction were sympathetically mediated. Severe tryptophan restriction decreased fasting circulating concentrations of glucose, insulin, C‐peptide, and leptin, but increased glucagon, pancreatic polypeptide, and glucagon‐like peptide‐1. Severe tryptophan restriction decreased fecal concentrations of Enterobacteriaceae, Lactobacillus, Bacteroides, and Clostridium coccoides while increasing Roseburia groups.

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrate that dietary tryptophan restriction dose‐dependently modulates energy balance, with severe restriction causing hypophagia and weight loss and moderate restriction promoting sympathetically driven thermogenesis as well as concurrent changes in gut microbiota and hormones.
The Components of Age‐Dependent Effects of Dietary Methionine Restriction on Energy Balance in Rats
Authors: Wanders Desiree , Forney Laura A. , Stone Kirsten P. , Hasek Barbara E. , Johnson William D. , Gettys Thomas W.
Published: March 2018

Objective

Dietary methionine restriction (MR) improves biomarkers of metabolic health, in part through coordinated increases in energy intake and energy expenditure (EE). Some metabolic benefits of dietary MR are secondary to its effects on energy balance, so this study's purpose was to examine how age at initiation of MR influences its effects on energy balance and body composition.

Methods

Energy balance was examined in rats provided control or MR diets for 9 months after weaning or in rats between 6 and 12 months of age.

Results

Rats provided the control diet for 9 months after weaning increased their body weight (BW) and fat mass by five‐ and eightfold, respectively, while BW and fat accumulation in the MR group were reduced to 50% of that of controls. In adult rats fed the respective diets between 6 and 12 months of age, dietary MR increased energy intake by ∼23%, but the 15% increase in EE was sufficient to prevent increases in BW or fat mass.

Conclusions

Dietary MR produces comparable increases in EE in young, growing animals and in mature animals, but young animals continue to deposit new tissue because of the proportionately larger effect of MR on energy intake relative to maintenance requirements.
Ignition properties of helium discharges in dielectric tubes with radius from 50 µm to 3 mm
Authors: Ning Wenjun , Dai Dong , Li Licheng
Published: March 2018

A numerical study on the ignition properties of helium discharge confined in a dielectric tube is conducted with a fluid model. As the tube radius R increasing from 50 µm to 3 mm, the ignition voltage firstly reduces, then increases after R exceeding 1 mm. An ion sheath is formed between the discharge channel and the tube wall. The width of sheath decide whether a ring‐shape or a solid‐shape discharge morphology can be formed. Moreover, the dynamic contraction of the discharge channel is observed. Under conditions of low applied voltage and low seed electron density, the cross‐section of the discharge front is adjusted to contract to enhance the self‐built electric field, and therefore to sustain the propagation.
Random perfect graphs
Authors: McDiarmid Colin , Yolov Nikola
Published: March 2018

We investigate the asymptotic structure of a random perfect graph Pn sampled uniformly from the set of perfect graphs on vertex set . Our approach is based on the result of Prömel and Steger that almost all perfect graphs are generalised split graphs, together with a method to generate such graphs almost uniformly. We show that the distribution of the maximum of the stability number and clique number is close to a concentrated distribution L(n) which plays an important role in our generation method. We also prove that the probability that Pn contains any given graph H as an induced subgraph is asymptotically 0 or or 1. Further we show that almost all perfect graphs are 2‐clique‐colorable, improving a result of Bacsó et al. from 2004; they are almost all Hamiltonian; they almost all have connectivity equal to their minimum degree; they are almost all in class one (edge‐colorable using Δ colors, where Δ is the maximum degree); and a sequence of independently and uniformly sampled perfect graphs of increasing size converges almost surely to the graphon .
N‐Substituted 1,2,3‐Triazolyl‐Appended Indole‐Chalcone Hybrids as Potential DNA Intercalators Endowed with Antioxidant and Anticancer Properties
Authors: Aneja Babita , Arif Rizwan , Perwez Ahmad , Napoleon John V. , Hasan Phool , Rizvi M. Moshahid A. , Azam Amir , Rahisuddin  , Abid Mohammad
Published: March 2018

Despite the fact that many small molecule inhibitors have been approved for cancer therapy, we still have a mighty long road to traverse in the field of targeted therapy against cancer. In order to overcome the challenges of chemo resistance and selectivity, we designed and synthesized 1,2,3‐triazole appended indole‐chalcone derivatives (4 a‐q) and evaluated their antioxidant, anticancer and DNA binding properties. Among all the analogs, compounds with o‐chloro (4b), o‐fluoro (4h) and p‐fluoro (4j) substitution exhibited potent antioxidant activity and the potency of 4 b was comparable to the standard ascorbic acid. In a cell based screen, compound 4 b inhibited the growth of human cervical cancer (SiHa) and colorectal epithelial carcinoma (SW620) cancer cell lines with an IC50 values of 67.99 and 48.96 μg mL−1, respectively without showing any significant cytotoxicity in human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293) at the similar concentration. To gain insight into the DNA‐binding ability, various spectroscopic techniques such as UV‐visible, fluorescence, circular dichroism, viscosity and cyclic voltametric studies were performed. These studies exposed that compounds 4 b, 4 h and 4 j act via non‐covalent intercalative mode of binding to DNA causing their antiproliferative activity, supported by molecular docking studies. Our study revealed the non‐toxic nature and potent activity of compound 4 b makes it a suitable candidate for further optimization and pharmacological studies.
Cobalt‐Copper Ferrite Nanoparticles Catalyzed Click Reaction at Room‐Temperature: Green Access to 1,2,3‐Triazole Derivatives
Authors: Matloubi Moghaddam Firouz , Pourkaveh Raheleh , Ahangarpour Marzieh
Published: March 2018

A typical Cobalt‐Copper ferrite nanoparticles (CoCuFe2O4) was used as a catalyst for one‐pot [3+2] cycloaddition of alkyl azides with alkynes at room temperature in green media. These nanoparticles were synthesized by using co‐precipitation method and were fully characterized by physiochemical technique. By this catalyst system, various types of alkyl halides were coupled with alkynes efficiently to furnish 1,2,3 triazoles in excellent yields within short reaction time. The requirement on energy and time for the Click reaction extremely minimized in this method compared to previously reported reactions as an inevitable trend in development of green chemistry. Using green solvent, inexpensive catalyst, and ability to totally removal of catalyst from reaction media have made this protocol valuable from the green chemistry point of view.
Flexible clustering of high‐dimensional data via mixtures of joint generalized hyperbolic distributions
Authors: Tang Yang , Browne Ryan P. , McNicholas Paul D.
Published: March 2018

A mixture of joint generalized hyperbolic distributions (MJGHD) is introduced for asymmetric clustering for high‐dimensional data. The MJGHD approach takes into account the cluster‐specific subspaces, thereby limiting the number of parameters to estimate while also facilitating visualization of results. Identifiability is discussed, and a multi‐cycle expectation–conditional maximization algorithm is outlined for parameter estimation. The MJGHD approach is illustrated on two real data sets, where the Bayesian information criterion is used for model selection. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Integrated multi‐type sensor placement and response reconstruction method for high‐rise buildings under unknown seismic loading
Authors: Hu Rongpan , Xu Youlin , Lu Xiao , Zhang Chaodong , Zhang Qilin , Ding Jiemin
Published: March 2018

Structural health monitoring system has been implemented on high‐rise buildings to provide real‐time measurement of structural responses for evaluating their serviceability, safety, and sustainability. However, because of the complex structural configuration of a high‐rise building and the limited number of sensors installed in the building, the complete evaluation of structural performance of the building in terms of the information directly recorded by a structural health monitoring system is almost impossible. This is particularly true when seismic‐induced ground motion is unknown. This paper thus proposes an integrated method that enables the optimal placement of multi‐type sensors on a high‐rise building on one hand and the reconstruction of structural responses and excitations using the information from the optimally located sensors on the other hand. The structural responses measured from multi‐type sensors are fused to estimate the full state of the building in the modal coordinates using Kalman filters, from which the structural responses at unmeasured locations and the seismic‐induced ground motion can be reconstructed. The optimal multi‐type sensor placement is simultaneously achieved by minimizing the overall estimation errors of structural responses at the locations of interest to a desired target level. A numerical study using a simplified finite element model of a high‐rise building is performed to illustrate the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed method. The numerical results show that by using 3 types of sensors (inclinometers, Global Positioning System, and accelerometers), the proposed method offers an effective way to design a multi‐type sensor system, and the multi‐type sensors at their optimal locations can produce sufficient information on the response and excitation reconstruction.
Hybrid Interfaces in Molecular Spintronics
Authors: Forment‐Aliaga Alicia , Coronado Eugenio
Published: March 2018

Molecular/inorganic multilayer heterostructures are gaining attention in molecular electronics and more recently in new generation spintronic devices. The intrinsic properties of molecular materials as low cost, tuneability, or long spin lifetimes were the original reasons behind their implementation. However, the non‐innocent role played by these hybrid interfaces is a determinant factor in the device performance. In this account we will give an overview about different types of hybrid molecular system/ferromagnet interfaces, which can be of direct application in molecular spintronics. This includes the insertion of a 2D material in between the molecular system and the ferromagnet. As perspective, new hybrid interfaces able to tune the spin properties under an external stimulus, are proposed. These smart interfaces, based on switchable magnetic molecules or flexible MOFs, can open the way to new multifunctional spintronic devices able to couple the spin with a second property.
Characterization and Correction of Symptomatic Hip Impingement in American Football Linemen
Authors: Ross James R. , Khan Moin , Noonan Benjamin C. , Larson Christopher M. , Kelly Bryan T. , Bedi Asheesh
Published: March 2018

Background

Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) morphology can lead to range-of-motion deficits in football players. It is therefore important for physicians treating these players to be aware of the location and implications of FAI morphology.

Purpose/Questions

We sought to characterize the radiographic deformity and dynamic impingement observed in a consecutive series of American football linemen with symptomatic, mechanical hip pain who underwent surgical treatment for FAI and to use software analysis to identify the location of impingement and terminal range of motion and the effects of simulated correction.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted of 17 hips in 13 football linemen who underwent arthroscopic correction for symptomatic FAI. Computed tomography (CT) scans were used to generate preoperative three-dimensional models of the hips. Femoral and acetabular measurements, maximum hip flexion, abduction, internal rotation at 90° flexion (IR90), and flexion/adduction/internal rotation (FADIR) were determined, and areas of bony collision were defined. Simulated femoral correction was performed and motion analysis was repeated.

Results

Mean femoral version was 13.1° (range, 0 to 26°), while mean femoral neck-shaft angle was 132.1° (range, 123 to 145°). Mean maximum alpha angle on the radial reformatted CT was 69.2° (range, 48 to 95°) and was located at the 12:45 clock-face position (range, 11:30 to 2:15). Mean acetabular version values at 1:30 and 3:00 were 1.1° (range, − 11 to 11°) and 12.7° (range, 2 to 20°), respectively. Fifty-three percent of hips showed a “crossover” sign. Mean lateral center-edge angle was 31.7° (range, 25 to 44°). CT-derived motion analysis demonstrated a mean preoperative flexion of 108.2° (range, 73 to 127°), IR90 of 20.5° (range, 0 to 52°), and FADIR of 12.3° (range, 0 to 39°). Simulated correction resulted in significant improvements in flexion (6.6°), IR90 (11.3°), and FADIR (10.6°).

Conclusions

While cephalad retroversion was observed in approximately half of the hips, a significant cam deformity was seen maximally at 12:45, a more posterior cam location than that of the general population. Managing this pathology required obtaining preoperative and intraoperative images to characterize lesions and allow for their complete correction. With complete correction of the deformity, simulated range of motion demonstrated significant improvement in flexion, IR90, and FADIR maneuvers.
Regional tract‐specific white matter hyperintensities are associated with patterns of aging‐related brain atrophy via vascular risk factors, but also independently
Authors: Habes Mohamad , Erus Guray , Toledo Jon B. , Bryan Nick , Janowitz Deborah , Doshi Jimit , Völzke Henry , Schminke Ulf , Hoffmann Wolfgang , Grabe Hans J. , Wolk David A. , Davatzikos Christos
Published: March 2018

Introduction

We sought to investigate associations of regional white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) within white matter (WM) tracts with cardiovascular risk and brain aging‐related atrophy throughout adulthood in the general population, leveraging state of the art pattern analysis methods.

Methods

We analyzed a large sample (n = 2367) from the Study of Health in Pomerania, Germany (range 20–90 years). WMHs were automatically segmented on T1‐weighted and fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery magnetic resonance images, and WMH volumes were calculated in WM regions defined using the John Hopkins University WM tractography atlas. Regions with the highest average WMH volume were selected. We calculated a subject‐specific index, Spatial Pattern of Alteration for Recognition of Brain Aging, to measure age‐related atrophy patterns. The Framingham cardiovascular disease risk score summarized the individual cardiovascular risk profile. We used structural equation models, independently for each region, using Spatial Pattern of Alteration for Recognition of Brain Aging as a dependent variable, age as an independent variable, and cardiovascular disease risk score and regional WMH volumes as mediators.

Results

Selected 12 WM regions included 75% of the total WMH burden in average. Structural equation models showed that the age effect on Spatial Pattern of Alteration for Recognition of Brain Aging was mediated by WMHs to a different extent in the superior frontal WM, anterior corona radiata, inferior frontal WM, superior corona radiata, superior longitudinal fasciculus, middle temporal WM, posterior corona radiata, superior parietal WM, splenium of corpus callosum, posterior thalamic radiation, and middle occipital WM (variance explained between 2.8% and 10.3%, P < .0001 Bonferroni corrected), but not in precentral WM.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that WMHs, in most WM tracts, might accelerate the brain aging process throughout adulthood in the general population as a result of vascular risk factors, but also independent of them. Preventive strategies against WMHs (such as controlling vascular risk factors or microglia depletion) could delay brain aging.
A Network Approach to Hypersexuality: Insights and Clinical Implications
Authors: Werner Marlene , Štulhofer Aleksandar , Waldorp Lourens , Jurin Tanja
Published: March 2018

Background

In spite of a growing interest in research on hypersexuality, consensus about its etiology and best treatment strategy has not been achieved.

Aim

To further the empirical and clinical understanding of hypersexuality by exploring the structure of its symptoms using a network analytic approach.

Methods

In 2014, an online survey advertised as focusing on Internet pornography, sexual health, and relationships was carried out among Croatian men and women aged 18–60 years (Mage = 31.1 years, SD = 9.67). In a sample of 3,028 participants, we applied a network analytic approach to explore the structure of hypersexuality symptoms. In the network, nodes represented hypersexuality symptoms and associated sexual behaviors, while their connections were operationalized as partial correlations. 4 Research questions were addressed: (1) does the hypersexuality network differ between genders; (2) which symptoms are centrally positioned; (3) what is the topological location of pornography use; and (4) are there distinct clusters (“communities”) of symptoms in the network?

Outcomes

We estimated and plotted hypersexuality networks by gender using items from the Hypersexual Disorder Screening Inventory and the Hypersexual Behavioral Consequences Scale, as well as indicators of sexual desire, pornography use, sexual intercourse, and masturbation frequency.

Results

The structure of the hypersexuality network was surprisingly similar in women and men, both in terms of symptom centrality and the clustering of symptoms. Psychological distress and negative emotions triggered by sexual fantasies and/or behaviors, together with a loss of control over sexual feelings, occupied central positions in the networks. Pornography use was located peripherally in both the men’s and women’s hypersexuality networks.

Clinical Translation

Psychological distress and negative emotions triggered by sexual fantasies and/or behaviors constituted the core of the hypersexuality network, which makes them potential prime targets for clinical intervention and calls for normalization of (presumably self-stigmatized) sexual expression through affirmative therapy and interventions that enhance self-care, self-compassion, and adaptive coping mechanisms.

Strengths & Limitations

This is the first network analytic approach to hypersexuality. Apart from its novel insights about the structure of hypersexuality, the study employed several methods to assure reliability and robustness of findings. Considering that networks were estimated in a convenience-based community sample, the findings might not generalize to clinically distressed individuals.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrate the usefulness of network analytics to hypersexuality in a non-clinical sample and we encourage future clinical and longitudinal explorations of hypersexuality using this novel approach.
Method for detection of leads from Sentinel-1 SAR images
Authors: Murashkin Dmitrii , Spreen Gunnar , Huntemann Marcus , Dierking Wolfgang
Published: March 2018

The presence of leads with open water or thin ice is an important feature of the Arctic sea ice cover. Leads regulate the heat, gas and moisture fluxes between the ocean and atmosphere and are areas of high ice growth rates during periods of freezing conditions. Here, an algorithm providing an automatic lead detection based on synthetic aperture radar images is described that can be applied to a wide range of Sentinel-1 scenes. By using both the HH and the HV channels instead of single co-polarised observations the algorithm is able to classify more leads correctly. The lead classification algorithm is based on polarimetric features and textural features derived from the grey-level co-occurrence matrix. The Random Forest classifier is used to investigate the importance of the individual features for lead detection. The precision–recall curve representing the quality of the classification is used to define threshold for a binary lead/sea ice classification. The algorithm is able to produce a lead classification with more that 90% precision with 60% of all leads classified. The precision can be increased by the cost of the amount of leads detected. Results are evaluated based on comparisons with Sentinel-2 optical satellite data.
Land to sea transitions in vertebrates: the dynamics of colonization
Authors: Vermeij Geerat J. , Motani Ryosuke
Published: March 2018

Vertebrates with terrestrial or freshwater ancestors colonized the sea from the Early Triassic onward and became competitively dominant members of many marine ecosystems throughout the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras. The circumstances that led to initial marine colonization have, however, received little attention. One hypothesis is that mass extinction associated with ecosystem collapse provided opportunities for clades of amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals to enter marine environments. Another is that competitive pressures in donor ecosystems on land and in freshwater, coupled with abundant food in nearshore marine habitats, favored marine colonization. Here we test these hypotheses by compiling all known secondarily marine amniote clades and their times of colonization. Marine amniotes are defined as animals whose diet consists primarily of marine organisms and whose locomotion includes swimming, diving, or wading in salt water. We compared the number of clades entering during recovery phases from mass extinctions with the rate of entry of clades during nonrecovery intervals of the Mesozoic and Cenozoic. We conservatively identify 69 marine colonizations by amniotes. The only recovery interval for which prior mass extinction could have been a trigger for marine entry is the Early Triassic, when four clades colonized the sea over 7 Myr, significantly above the rates at which clades entered during other intervals. High nearshore productivity was a greater enticement to colonization than was a low diversity of potential marine competitors or predators in nearshore environments of a highly competitive terrestrial or freshwater donor biota. Rates of marine entry increased during the Cenozoic, in part because of rising productivity and in part thanks to the participation of warm-blooded birds and mammals, which broadened the range of thermal environments in which initial colonization of the sea became possible.
Maternal high-salt diet alters redox state and mitochondrial function in newborn rat offspring’s brain
Authors: Stocher Daniela P. , Klein Caroline P. , Saccomori André B. , August Pauline M. , Martins Nicolli C. , Couto Pablo R. G. , Hagen Martine E. K. , Matté Cristiane
Published: March 2018

Excessive salt intake is a common feature of Western dietary patterns, and has been associated with important metabolic changes including cerebral redox state imbalance. Considering that little is known about the effect on progeny of excessive salt intake during pregnancy, the present study investigated the effect of a high-salt diet during pregnancy and lactation on mitochondrial parameters and the redox state of the brains of resulting offspring. Adult female Wistar rats were divided into two dietary groups (n20 rats/group): control standard chow (0·675 % NaCl) or high-salt chow (7·2 % NaCl), received throughout pregnancy and for 7 d after delivery. On postnatal day 7, the pups were euthanised and their cerebellum, hypothalamus, hippocampus, prefrontal and parietal cortices were dissected. Maternal high-salt diet reduced cerebellar mitochondrial mass and membrane potential, promoted an increase in reactive oxygen species allied to superoxide dismutase activation and decreased offspring cerebellar nitric oxide levels. A significant increase in hypothalamic nitric oxide levels and mitochondrial superoxide in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex was observed in the maternal high-salt group. Antioxidant enzymes were differentially modulated by oxidant increases in each brain area studied. Taken together, our results suggest that a maternal high-salt diet during pregnancy and lactation programmes the brain metabolism of offspring, favouring impaired mitochondrial function and promoting an oxidative environment; this highlights the adverse effect of high-salt intake in the health state of the offspring.
Early changes in tissue amino acid metabolism and nutrient routing in rats fed a high-fat diet: evidence from natural isotope abundances of nitrogen and carbon in tissue proteins
Authors: Mantha Olivier L. , Polakof Sergio , Huneau Jean-François , Mariotti François , Poupin Nathalie , Zalko Daniel , Fouillet Helene
Published: March 2018

Little is known about how diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance affect protein and amino acid (AA) metabolism in tissues. The natural relative abundances of the heavy stable isotopes of C (δ13C) and N (δ15N) in tissue proteins offer novel and promising biomarkers of AA metabolism. They, respectively, reflect the use of dietary macronutrients for tissue AA synthesis and the relative metabolic use of tissue AA for oxidationv.protein synthesis. In this study,δ13C andδ15N were measured in the proteins of various tissues in young adult rats exposed perinatally and/or fed after weaning with a normal- or a high-fat (HF) diet, the aim being to characterise HF-induced tissue-specific changes in AA metabolism. HF feeding was shown to increase the routing of dietary fat to all tissue proteins via non-indispensable AA synthesis, but did not affect AA allocation between catabolic and anabolic processes in most tissues. However, the proportion of AA directed towards oxidation rather than protein synthesis was increased in the small intestine and decreased in thetibialis anteriormuscle and adipose tissue. In adipose tissue, the AA reallocation was observed in the case of perinatal or post-weaning exposure to HF, whereas in the small intestine andtibialis anteriormuscle the AA reallocation was only observed after HF exposure that covered both the perinatal and post-weaning periods. In conclusion, HF exposure induced an early reorganisation of AA metabolism involving tissue-specific effects, and in particular a decrease in the relative allocation of AA to oxidation in several peripheral tissues.
Political Leadership in the Media: Gender Bias in Leader Stereotypes during Campaign and Routine Times
Authors: Aaldering Loes , Van Der Pas Daphne Joanna
Published: March 2018

This article studies gender differences in media portrayals of political leadership, starting with the expectation that male politicians are evaluated more often on traits belonging to the male leader stereotype, and that female politicians have no such advantage. These gender differences are expected to be especially pronounced during non-campaign periods. To test these expectations, a large-scale automated content analysis of all Dutch national newspapers from September 2006 to September 2012 was conducted. The results show that male politicians received more media coverage on leadership traits in general, although the male and female leader stereotypes explain most of the variation in gender bias between leadership traits. These gender effects are found during seldom-studied routine periods but not during campaigns. As leadership trait coverage has electoral consequences, this gender-differentiated coverage likely contributes to the under-representation of women in politics.
Predicting the structure of soil communities from plant community taxonomy, phylogeny, and traits
Authors: Leff Jonathan W , Bardgett Richard D , Wilkinson Anna , Jackson Benjamin G , Pritchard William J , De Long Jonathan R , Oakley Simon , Mason Kelly E , Ostle Nicholas J , Johnson David , Baggs Elizabeth M , Fierer Noah
Published: March 2018

There are numerous ways in which plants can influence the composition of soil communities. However, it remains unclear whether information on plant community attributes, including taxonomic, phylogenetic, or trait-based composition, can be used to predict the structure of soil communities. We tested, in both monocultures and field-grown mixed temperate grassland communities, whether plant attributes predict soil communities including taxonomic groups from across the tree of life (fungi, bacteria, protists, and metazoa). The composition of all soil community groups was affected by plant species identity, both in monocultures and in mixed communities. Moreover, plant community composition predicted additional variation in soil community composition beyond what could be predicted from soil abiotic characteristics. In addition, analysis of the field aboveground plant community composition and the composition of plant roots suggests that plant community attributes are better predictors of soil communities than root distributions. However, neither plant phylogeny nor plant traits were strong predictors of soil communities in either experiment. Our results demonstrate that grassland plant species form specific associations with soil community members and that information on plant species distributions can improve predictions of soil community composition. These results indicate that specific associations between plant species and complex soil communities are key determinants of biodiversity patterns in grassland soils.
Altered brainstem responses to modafinil in schizophrenia: implications for adjunctive treatment of cognition
Authors: Minzenberg Michael J. , Yoon Jong H. , Soosman Steffan K. , Carter Cameron S.
Published: March 2018

Candidate pro-cognitive drugs for schizophrenia targeting several neurochemical systems have consistently failed to demonstrate robust efficacy. It remains untested whether concurrent antipsychotic medications exert pharmacodynamic interactions that mitigate pro-cognitive action in patients. We used functional MRI (fMRI) in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled within-subject crossover test of single-dose modafinil effects in 27 medicated schizophrenia patients, interrogating brainstem regions where catecholamine systems arise to innervate the cortex, to link cellular and systems-level models of cognitive control. Modafinil effects were evaluated both within this patient group and compared to a healthy subject group. Modafinil modulated activity in the locus coeruleus (LC) and ventral tegmental area (VTA) in the patient group. However, compared to the healthy comparison group, these effects were altered as a function of task demands: the control-independent drug effect on deactivation was relatively attenuated (shallower) in the LC and exaggerated (deeper) in the VTA; in contrast, again compared to the comparison group, the control-related drug effects on positive activation were attenuated in LC, VTA and the cortical cognitive control network. These altered effects in the LC and VTA were significantly and specifically associated with the degree of antagonism of alpha-2 adrenergic and dopamine-2 receptors, respectively, by concurrently prescribed antipsychotics. These sources of evidence suggest interacting effects on catecholamine neurons of chronic antipsychotic treatment, which respectively increase and decrease sustained neuronal activity in LC and VTA. This is the first direct evidence in a clinical population to suggest that antipsychotic medications alter catecholamine neuronal activity to mitigate pro-cognitive drug action on cortical circuits.
Author Correction: Rev1 contributes to proper mitochondrial function via the PARP-NAD+-SIRT1-PGC1α axis
Authors: Fakouri Nima Borhan , Durhuus Jon Ambæk , Regnell Christine Elisabeth , Angleys Maria , Desler Claus , Hasan-Olive Md Mahdi , Martín-Pardillos Ana , Tsaalbi-Shtylik Anastasia , Thomsen Kirsten , Lauritzen Martin , Bohr Vilhelm A. , de Wind Niels , Bergersen Linda Hildegard , Rasmussen Lene Juel
Published: March 2018

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