bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Femoral Derotational Osteotomy Using a Modified Intramedullary Nail Technique
Authors: Iobst Christopher A. , Ansari Ahmed
Published: October 2017

When persistent rotation of the femur remains into adolescence, it can cause functional limitations such as fatigue, anterior knee pain, and frequent tripping. In these cases, derotation of the femur via osteotomy is often performed. We report preliminary results of bilateral derotational osteotomy for excessive femoral anteversion or retroversion using the modified intramedullary nail technique. A retrospective review of 8 patients was performed. Patients were excluded if additional procedures were performed or if the femoral osteotomy included any deformity correction other than rotation. Each patient had simultaneous bilateral femoral osteotomies for a total of 16 limb segments to review. The average age was 12 years, with 4 boys and 4 girls in the group. Seven patients had a preoperative diagnosis of femoral anteversion, and 1 had femoral retroversion. Average amount of derotation performed averaged 30 degrees. Average length of follow-up was 10 months (range, 9 to 12 mo). Average surgical time to complete the bilateral ostetomies was 139 minutes with an average total blood loss of 106 mL. The patients returned to full weight bearing with assistance at 13.75±1.39 days, without assistance at 37.12±5.69 days, and demonstrated full radiographic healing of the femur at 76.13±20.92 days. A modified intramedullary nail technique provides a biologically sound method for rapid healing of the femoral osteotomy site by providing autograft directly to a stable osteotomy site with minimal disruption of the surrounding soft tissue envelope, resulting in faster healing and a quicker return to full, unassisted weight bearing.
Revisiting tumor patterns and penetrance in germline TP53 mutation carriers: temporal phases of Li–Fraumeni syndrome
Authors: Amadou Amina , Waddington Achatz Maria I. , Hainaut Pierre
Published: October 2017

Purpose of review

Germline pathogenic TP53 mutation may predispose to multiple cancers but penetrance and cancer patterns remain incompletely documented. We have analyzed international agency for research on cancer TP53 database to reevaluate age and variant-dependent tumor patterns.

Recent findings

Genome-wide studies suggest that germline variants are more frequent than estimated prevalence of Li–Fraumeni syndrome (LFS), suggesting that many carriers of potentially pathogenic mutations may not develop the syndrome. Carriers of a germline TP53 mutation who are detected in a clinical context have a penetrance of 80% at age 70. Penetrance varies according to age, sex and mutation type. Temporal tumor patterns show distinct phases, with childhood phase (0–15 years, 22% of all cancers) characterized by adrenal cortical carcinoma, choroid plexus carcinoma, rhabdomyosarcoma and medulloblastoma; early adulthood phase (16–50 years, 51%) including breast cancer, osteosarcoma, soft tissue sarcomas, leukemia, astrocytoma and glioblastoma, colorectal and lung cancer; late adulthood phase (51–80 years, 27%) including pancreatic and prostate cancer.

Germline pathogenic variants in TP53 gene have different consequences according to cell, tissue, context and age. The occurrence of frequent variants in patients with no criteria suggestive of LFS calls for attention in predicting individual risk and highlights the need of additional predictors for assigning carriers to appropriate surveillance programs.
Vemurafenib treatment for patients with locally advanced, unresectable stage IIIC or metastatic melanoma and activating exon 15 BRAF mutations other than V600E
Authors: Hallmeyer Sigrun , Gonzalez Rene , Lawson David H. , Cranmer Lee D. , Linette Gerald P. , Puzanov Igor , Taback Bret , Cowey C. Lance , Ribas Antoni , Daniels Gregory A. , Moore Timothy , Gibney Geoffrey T. , Tawbi Hussein , Whitman Eric , Lee Geraldine , Mun Yong , Liu Shiyao , Hamid Omid
Published: October 2017

BRAF mutations are found in ~50% of metastatic melanomas, most commonly in codon V600. Vemurafenib improves progression-free survival and overall survival in patients with advanced BRAF
V600E-mutated melanoma. The results of a descriptive study evaluating vemurafenib in patients with advanced melanoma harbouring BRAF mutations other than V600E are reported. Eligible patients with stage IIIC or IV melanoma and non-V600E BRAF mutations received vemurafenib (960 mg, twice daily). End points included investigator-assessed best overall response rate (primary), time to response, duration of response, progression-free survival, overall survival and safety. Planned (V600K vs. non-V600K mutations) subgroup analyses were carried out. Thirty-one patients were enrolled; 13 (42%) had V600K mutations and 18 (58%) had other mutations. Investigator-assessed confirmed that the best overall response rate was 23% (95% confidence interval=10–41%) in the overall population, and was similar between patients with V600K mutations (23%; 95% confidence interval=5–54%) versus other mutations (22%; 95% confidence interval=6–48%). Responses were observed in patients with V600K (n=3), V600E2 (n=1), V600R (n=1), L597S (n=1) and D594G (n=1) mutations. No new safety signals were reported. Vemurafenib showed activity in patients with advanced melanoma with rarer BRAF mutations.
Resistance mechanisms to genetic suppression of mutant NRAS in melanoma
Authors: Robinson James P. , Rebecca Vito W. , Kircher David A. , Silvis Mark R. , Smalley Inna , Gibney Geoffrey T. , Lastwika Kristin J. , Chen Guo , Davies Michael A. , Grossman Douglas , Smalley Keiran S.M. , Holmen Sheri L. , VanBrocklin Matthew W.
Published: October 2017

Targeted therapies have revolutionized cancer care, but the development of resistance remains a challenge in the clinic. To identify rational targets for combination strategies, we used an established melanoma mouse model and selected for resistant tumors following genetic suppression of NRAS expression. Complete tumor regression was observed in all mice, but 40% of tumors recurred. Analysis of resistant tumors showed that the most common mechanism of resistance was overexpression and activation of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). Interestingly, the most commonly overexpressed RTK was Met and inhibition of Met overcame NRAS resistance in this context. Analysis of NRAS mutant human melanoma cells showed enhanced efficacy of cytotoxicity with combined RTK and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase inhibition. In this study, we establish the importance of adaptive RTK signaling in the escape of NRAS mutant melanoma from inhibition of RAS and provide the rationale for combined blockade of RAS and RTK signaling in this context.
Patient and Oncology Nurse Preferences for the Treatment Options in Advanced Melanoma
Authors: Liu Frank Xiaoqing , Witt Edward A. , Ebbinghaus Scot , DiBonaventura Beyer Grace , Basurto Enrique , Joseph Richard W.
Published: October 2017

Background

Understanding the perceptions of patients and oncology nurses about the relative importance of benefits and risks associated with newer treatments of advanced melanoma can help to inform clinical decision-making.

Objectives

The aims of this study were to quantify and compare the views of patients and oncology nurses regarding the importance of attributes of treatments of advanced melanoma.

Methods

A discrete choice experiment (DCE) was conducted in US-based oncology nurses and patients diagnosed with advanced melanoma. Patients and nurses were enlisted through online panels. In a series of scenarios, respondents had to choose between 2 hypothetical treatments, each with 7 attributes: mode of administration (MoA), dosing schedule (DS), median duration of therapy (DoT), objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and grade 3 or 4 adverse events (AEs). Hierarchical Bayesian logistic regression models were used to estimate preference weights.

Results

A total of 200 patients with advanced melanoma and 150 oncology nurses participated. The relative importance estimates of attributes by patients and nurses, respectively, were as follows: OS, 33% and 28%; AEs, 29% and 26%; ORR, 25% and 27%; PFS, 12% and 15%; DS, 2% and 3%; DoT, 0% and 0%; and MoA, 0% and 0%.

Conclusion

Both patients and oncology nurses valued OS, ORR, and AEs as the most important treatment attributes for advanced melanoma, followed by PFS, whereas DS, DoT, and MoA were given less value in their treatment decisions.

Implications for Practice

Oncology nurses and patients have similar views on important treatment considerations for advanced melanoma, which can help build trust in shared decision-making.
The 2019 Magnet® Application Manual
Authors: Graystone Rebecca
Published: October 2017

The American Nurses Credentialing Center's Magnet Recognition Program® released the 2019 Magnet® Application Manual
1 (Figure 1) in October. The 2019 manual is the 12th application manual in the 27-year history of the program. The manual builds upon the foundation of seminal research conducted in the early 1980s that led to the creation of the program yet incorporates contemporary standards that address challenges faced globally by healthcare organizations today.
BCOR-CCNB3 Fusion Positive Sarcomas
Authors: Kao Yu-Chien , Owosho Adepitan A. , Sung Yun-Shao , Zhang Lei , Fujisawa Yumi , Lee Jen-Chieh , Wexler Leonard , Argani Pedram , Swanson David , Dickson Brendan C. , Fletcher Christopher D.M. , Antonescu Cristina R.
Published: October 2017

BCOR-CCNB3sarcoma (BCS) is a recently defined genetic entity among undifferentiated round cell sarcomas, which was initially classified as and treated similarly to the Ewing sarcoma (ES) family of tumors. In contrast to ES, BCS shows consistent BCOR overexpression, and preliminary evidence suggests that these tumors share morphologic features with other tumors harboringBCORgenetic alterations, includingBCORinternal tandem duplication (ITD) andBCOR-MAML3. To further investigate the pathologic features, clinical behavior, and their relationship to other round cell sarcomas, we collected 36 molecularly confirmed BCSs for a detailed histologic and immunohistochemical analysis. Four of the cases were also analyzed by RNA sequencing (RNAseq). An additional case with BCOR overexpression but negativeCCNB3abnormality showed a novelKMT2D-BCORfusion by targeted RNAseq. The patients ranged in age from 2 to 44 years old (mean and median, 15), with striking male predominance (M:F=31:5). The tumor locations were slightly more common in bone (n=20) than soft tissue (n=14), with rare visceral (kidney, n=2) involvement. Histologically, BCS showed a spectrum of round to spindle cells with variable cellularity, monomorphic nuclei and fine chromatin pattern, delicate capillary network, and varying amounts of myxoid or collagenous stroma. The morphologic features and immunoprofile showed considerable overlap with other round cell sarcomas withBCORoncogenic upregulation, that is,BCOR-MAML3andBCORITD. Follow-up available in 22 patients showed a 5-year overall survival of 72%, which was relatively similar to ES (79%,P=0.738) and significantly better thanCIC-DUX4sarcomas (43%,P=0.005) control groups. Local recurrences occurred in 6 patients and distant metastases (lung, soft tissue/bone, pancreas) in 4. Seven of 9 cases treated with an ES chemotherapy regimen with evaluable histologic response showed >60% necrosis in posttherapy resections. Unsupervised clustering by RNAseq data revealed that tumors withBCORgenetic alterations, includingBCOR-CCNB3,BCOR-MAML3, andBCORITD, formed a tight genomic group distinct from ES andCIC-rearranged sarcomas.
Melanocytic Myxoid Spindle Cell Tumor With ALK Rearrangement (MMySTAR)
Authors: Perron Emilie , Pissaloux Daniel , Charon Barra Celine , Karanian Marie , Lamant Laurence , Parfait Sophie , Alberti Laurent , de la Fouchardière Arnaud
Published: October 2017

Melanocytic tumors rarely display extensive dermal myxoid deposits except in the myxoid variant of melanoma. We describe in 4 patients the unusual association of morphologic and genetic features. All cases occurred in males and were located on the limbs or proximal girdle area. Age at diagnosis ranged from 8 to 47 years. Size ranged from 6 to 11 mm. Microscopic analysis showed compound, but mainly dermal melanocytic nevi, all presenting a deep dermal expansion with fascicules of amelanotic spindled cells floating in a myxoid background. Cytologic atypia and mitotic activity were low. The superficial portion was either of spitzoid or nevoid cytology with a limited junctional component. In the initial case, the dermal myxoid component was predominant with rare, barely visible, superficial melanocytic nests. This peculiar morphology was responsible for a delayed diagnostic, which required an extensive panel of antibodies ruling out most, potentially myxoid, soft tissue tumors. We later observed the presence of similar, but more limited, dermal morphologic features in 3 other cases. Immunohistochemistry in the deep myxoid areas was melanA−, ALK+, SOX10+, and MiTF+. Molecular studies confirmed the ALK rearrangement by an ALK break-apart fluorescence in situ hybridization technique and by RNA sequencing. The latter identified 4 different 5’-fusion partners. Two gene fusions were undescribed: FBXO28(e2)-ALK(e19) and NPAS2(e2)-ALK(e19), and 2 previously described: TPM3(e7)-ALK(e20) and PPFIBP1(e9)-ALK(e19). No relapse or metastatic evolution was seen during follow-up (3 to 24 mo). We denominated this potentially challenging new variant of compound nevus linked to a kinase fusion: Melanocytic Myxoid Spindle Cell Tumor with ALK Rearrangement.
Blocking Liver Autophagy Accelerates Apoptosis and Mitochondrial Injury in Hepatocytes and Reduces Time to Mortality in a Murine Sepsis Model
Authors: Oami Takehiko , Watanabe Eizo , Hatano Masahiko , Teratake Youichi , Fujimura Lisa , Sakamoto Akemi , Ito Chizuru , Toshimori Kiyotaka , Swanson Paul E. , Oda Shigeto
Published: October 2017

Autophagy plays an important role in cell survival, sequestering, and degrading a wide variety of substrates. Although an increase of autophagosomes in liver has been reported in sepsis patients as well as in septic mice, the influence of autophagy on liver injury, the interaction between autophagy, and other types of cell death in sepsis remain unclear. The aim of this study was to elucidate the contribution of liver autophagy to the pathophysiology of sepsis. We performed a cecal ligation and puncture on liver-specific autophagy-deficient (Alb-CreERT2/Atg5f/f) mice (6–8-week-old male). When compared with controls (C57BL/6), we found a significant accumulation of p62 in the liver and demonstrated a greater number of cleaved caspase-3 immunoreactive hepatocytes in these knockout (KO) mice. Additionally, we confirmed a significant increase in autophagic vacuoles in the control mice relative to KO mice; in contrast, cell shrinkage and nuclear fragmentation (morphological characteristics of apoptosis) were preferentially seen in the KO mice by transmission electron microscopy. Severe mitochondrial damage was also prominent in KO mice, relative to controls, associated with an increase of reactive oxygen species in hepatocytes. Serum aspartate transaminase levels (P = 0.005) and serum interleukin-6 levels (P = 0.020) were significantly increased in the KO mice compared with controls. Deficiency of autophagy in liver significantly decreased survival in the murine sepsis model (P = 0.025). In conclusion, blocking liver autophagy accelerates time to mortality in the murine sepsis model, suggesting that liver autophagy plays a protective role for organ failure through degradation of damaged mitochondria, as well as prevention of apoptosis.
Mitochondria-targeted molecules determine the redness of the zebra finch bill
Authors: Cantarero Alejandro , Alonso-Alvarez Carlos
Published: October 2017

The evolution and production mechanisms of red carotenoid-based ornaments in animals are poorly understood. Recently, it has been suggested that enzymes transforming yellow carotenoids to red pigments (ketolases) in animal cells may be positioned in the inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM) intimately linked to the electron transport chain. These enzymes may mostly synthesize coenzyme Q10(coQ10), a key redox-cycler antioxidant molecularly similar to yellow carotenoids. It has been hypothesized that this shared pathway favours the evolution of red traits as sexually selected individual quality indices by revealing a well-adjusted oxidative metabolism. We administered mitochondria-targeted molecules to male zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) measuring their bill redness, a trait produced by transforming yellow carotenoids. One molecule included coQ10(mitoquinone mesylate, MitoQ) and the other one (decyl-triphenylphosphonium; dTPP) has the same structure without the coQ10aromatic ring. At the highest dose, the bill colour of MitoQ and dTPP birds strongly differed: MitoQ birds' bills were redder and dTPP birds showed paler bills even compared to birds injected with saline only. These results suggest that ketolases are indeed placed at the IMM and that coQ10antioxidant properties may improve their efficiency. The implications for evolutionary theories of sexual signalling are discussed.
Modelling the effects of short and random proto-neural elongations
Authors: de Wiljes Oltman O. , van Elburg R. A. J. , Keijzer Fred A.
Published: October 2017

To understand how neurons and nervous systems first evolved, we need an account of the origins of neural elongations: why did neural elongations (axons and dendrites) first originate, such that they could become the central component of both neurons and nervous systems? Two contrasting conceptual accounts provide different answers to this question. Braitenberg's vehicles provide the iconic illustration of the dominant input–output (IO) view. Here, the basic role of neural elongations is to connect sensors to effectors, both situated at different positions within the body. For this function, neural elongations are thought of as comparatively long and specific connections, which require an articulated body involving substantial developmental processes to build. Internal coordination (IC) models stress a different function for early nervous systems. Here, the coordination of activity across extended parts of a multicellular body is held central, in particular, for the contractions of (muscle) tissue. An IC perspective allows the hypothesis that the earliest proto-neural elongations could have been functional even when they were initially simple, short and random connections, as long as they enhanced the patterning of contractile activity across a multicellular surface. The present computational study provides a proof of concept that such short and random neural elongations can play this role. While an excitable epithelium can generate basic forms of patterning for small body configurations, adding elongations allows such patterning to scale up to larger bodies. This result supports a new, more gradual evolutionary route towards the origins of the very first neurons and nervous systems.
Body lift, drag and power are relatively higher in large-eared than in small-eared bat species
Authors: Håkansson Jonas , Jakobsen Lasse , Hedenström Anders , Johansson L. Christoffer
Published: October 2017

Bats navigate the dark using echolocation. Echolocation is enhanced by external ears, but external ears increase the projected frontal area and reduce the streamlining of the animal. External ears are thus expected to compromise flight efficiency, but research suggests that very large ears may mitigate the cost by producing aerodynamic lift. Here we compare quantitative aerodynamic measures of flight efficiency of two bat species, one large-eared (Plecotus auritus) and one small-eared (Glossophaga soricina), flying freely in a wind tunnel. We find that the body drag of both species is higher than previously assumed and that the large-eared species has a higher body drag coefficient, but also produces relatively more ear/body lift than the small-eared species, in line with prior studies on model bats. The measured aerodynamic power ofP. aurituswas higher than predicted from the aerodynamic model, while the small-eared species aligned with predictions. The relatively higher power of the large-eared species results in lower optimal flight speeds and our findings support the notion of a trade-off between the acoustic benefits of large external ears and aerodynamic performance. The result of this trade-off would be the eco-morphological correlation in bat flight, with large-eared bats generally adopting slow-flight feeding strategies.
Modelling pyruvate dehydrogenase under hypoxia and its role in cancer metabolism
Authors: Eyassu Filmon , Angione Claudio
Published: October 2017

Metabolism is the only biological system that can be fully modelled at genome scale. As a result, metabolic models have been increasingly used to study the molecular mechanisms of various diseases. Hypoxia, a low-oxygen tension, is a well-known characteristic of many cancer cells. Pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) controls the flux of metabolites between glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid cycle and is a key enzyme in metabolic reprogramming in cancer metabolism. Here, we develop and manually curate a constraint-based metabolic model to investigate the mechanism of pyruvate dehydrogenase under hypoxia. Our results characterize the activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase and its decline during hypoxia. This results in lactate accumulation, consistent with recent hypoxia studies and a well-known feature in cancer metabolism. We apply machine-learning techniques on the flux datasets to identify reactions that drive these variations. We also identify distinct features on the structure of the variables and individual metabolic components in the switch from normoxia to hypoxia. Our results provide a framework for future studies by integrating multi-omics data to predict condition-specific metabolic phenotypes under hypoxia.
Living with own or husband's mother in the household is associated with lower number of children: a cross-cultural analysis
Authors: Huber Susanne , Zahourek Patricia , Fieder Martin
Published: October 2017

It has been discussed in the literature that the presence of kin, particularly the presence of a women's own mother or her mother in law, may have fertility effects. We aimed to examine the effects of the presence of a woman's own or her husband's mother in the household on a woman's fertility in terms of number of children on a broad basis by analysing census data of over two million married women aged between 15 and 34 years from 14 countries worldwide. We find that with the exception of Iraq, across all countries, the majority of women live only with their spouse in the household. We further find that the presence of any mother in the household is invariably associated with a significantly lower number of children compared to women living only with their spouse. In addition, in most countries, a woman's number of children is lower if she lives with her own mother as compared to her husband's mother in the household. Number of children is nonlinearly associated with woman's age, the presence of any mother being related with an earlier start of childbearing but a shallower increase in number of children. We speculate that the presence of a mother in the household may slow down woman's reproduction, but also discuss alternative explanations.
Macrofouling communities and the degradation of plastic bags in the sea: anin situexperiment
Authors: Pauli Nora-Charlotte , Petermann Jana S. , Lott Christian , Weber Miriam
Published: October 2017

The increasing amount of plastic littered into the sea may provide a new substratum for benthic organisms. These marine fouling communities on plastic have not received much scientific attention. We present, to our knowledge, the first comprehensive analysis of their macroscopic community composition, their primary production and the polymer degradation comparing conventional polyethylene (PE) and a biodegradable starch-based plastic blend in coastal benthic and pelagic habitats in the Mediterranean Sea. The biomass of the fouling layer increased significantly over time and all samples became heavy enough to sink to the seafloor. The fouling communities, consisting of 21 families, were distinct between habitats, but not between polymer types. Positive primary production was measured in the pelagic, but not in the benthic habitat, suggesting that large accumulations of floating plastic could pose a source of oxygen for local ecosystems, as well as a carbon sink. Contrary to PE, the biodegradable plastic showed a significant loss of tensile strength and disintegrated over time in both habitats. These results indicate that in the marine environment, biodegradable polymers may disintegrate at higher rates than conventional polymers. This should be considered for the development of new materials, environmental risk assessment and waste management strategies.
Is the behavioural divergence between range-core and range-edge populations of cane toads (
Rhinella marina
) due to evolutionary change or developmental plasticity?
Authors: Gruber Jodie , Brown Gregory , Whiting Martin J. , Shine Richard
Published: October 2017

Individuals at the leading edge of expanding biological invasions often show distinctive phenotypic traits, in ways that enhance their ability to disperse rapidly and to function effectively in novel environments. Cane toads (
Rhinella marina
) at the invasion front in Australia exhibit shifts in morphology, physiology and behaviour (directionality of dispersal, boldness, risk-taking). We took a common-garden approach, raising toads from range-core and range-edge populations in captivity, to see if the behavioural divergences observed in wild-caught toads are also evident in common-garden offspring. Captive-raised toads from the invasion vanguard population were more exploratory and bolder (more prone to ‘risky’ behaviours) than toads from the range core, which suggests that these are evolved, genetic traits. Our study highlights the importance of behaviour as being potentially adaptive in invasive populations and adds these behavioural traits to the increasing list of phenotypic traits that have evolved rapidly during the toads' 80-year spread through tropical Australia.
Electrophoretic deposition of carbon nanotube on reticulated vitreous carbon for hexavalent chromium removal in a biocathode microbial fuel cell
Authors: Fei Kangqing , Song Tian-shun , Wang Haoqi , Zhang Dalu , Tao Ran , Xie Jingjing
Published: October 2017

For Cr(VI)-removal microbial fuel cell (MFC), a more efficient biocathode in MFCs is required to improve the Cr(VI) removal and electricity generation. RVC-CNT electrode was prepared through the electrophoretic deposition of carbon nanotube (CNT) on reticulated vitreous carbon (RVC). The power density of MFC with an RVC-CNT electrode increased to 132.1 ± 2.8 mW m
−2
, and 80.9% removal of Cr(VI) was achieved within 48 h; compared to only 44.5% removal of Cr(VI) in unmodified RVC. Cyclic voltammetry, energy-dispersive spectrometry and X-ray photoelectron spectrometry showed that the RVC-CNT electrode enhanced the electrical conductivity and the electron transfer rate; and provided more reaction sites for Cr(VI) reduction. This approach provides process simplicity and a thickness control method for fabricating three-dimensional biocathodes to improve the performance of MFCs for Cr(VI) removal.
On the lack of a universal pattern associated with mammalian domestication: differences in skull growth trajectories across phylogeny
Authors: Sánchez-Villagra Marcelo R. , Segura Valentina , Geiger Madeleine , Heck Laura , Veitschegger Kristof , Flores David
Published: October 2017

As shown in a taxonomically broad study, domestication modifies postnatal growth. Skull shape across 1128 individuals was characterized by 14 linear measurements, comparing 13 pairs of wild versus domesticated forms. Among wild forms, the boar, the rabbit and the wolf have the highest proportion of allometric growth, explaining in part the great morphological diversity of the domesticated forms of these species. Wild forms exhibit more isometric growth than their domesticated counterparts. Multivariate comparisons show that dogs and llamas exhibit the greatest amount of differences in trajectories with their wild counterparts. The least amount is recorded in the pig–boar, and camel and horse pairs. Bivariate analyses reveal that most domesticated forms have growth trajectories different from their respective wild counterparts with regard to the slopes. In pigs and camels slopes are shared and intercepts are different. There is a trajectory extension in most domesticated herbivores and the contrary pattern in carnivorous forms. However, there is no single, universal and global pattern of paedomorphosis or any other kind of heterochrony behind the morphological diversification that accompanies domestication.
Enhanced photovoltaic properties of perovskite solar cells by TiO
2
homogeneous hybrid structure
Authors: Su Pengyu , Fu Wuyou , Yao Huizhen , Liu Li , Ding Dong , Feng Fei , Feng Shuang , Xue Yebin , Liu Xizhe , Yang Haibin
Published: October 2017

In this paper, we fabricated a TiO
2
homogeneous hybrid structure for application in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) under ambient conditions. Under the standard air mass 1.5 global (AM 1.5G) illumination, PSCs based on homogeneous hybrid structure present a maximum power conversion efficiency of 5.39% which is higher than that of pure TiO
2
nanosheets. The enhanced properties can be explained by the better contact of TiO
2
nanosheets/nanoparticles with CH
3
NH
3
PbI
3
and fewer pinholes in electron transport materials. The advent of such unique structure opens up new avenues for the future development of high-efficiency photovoltaic cells.
The York Gospels: a 1000-year biological palimpsest
Authors: Teasdale Matthew D. , Fiddyment Sarah , Vnouček Jiří , Mattiangeli Valeria , Speller Camilla , Binois Annelise , Carver Martin , Dand Catherine , Newfield Timothy P. , Webb Christopher C. , Bradley Daniel G. , Collins Matthew J.
Published: October 2017

Medieval manuscripts, carefully curated and conserved, represent not only an irreplaceable documentary record but also a remarkable reservoir of biological information. Palaeographic and codicological investigation can often locate and date these documents with remarkable precision. The York Gospels (York Minster Ms. Add. 1) is one such codex, one of only a small collection of pre-conquest Gospel books to have survived the Reformation. By extending the non-invasive triboelectric (eraser-based) sampling technique eZooMS, to include the analysis of DNA, we report a cost-effective and simple-to-use biomolecular sampling technique for parchment. We apply this combined methodology to document for the first time a rich palimpsest of biological information contained within the York Gospels, which has accumulated over the 1000-year lifespan of this cherished object that remains an active participant in the life of York Minster. These biological data provide insights into the decisions made in the selection of materials, the construction of the codex and the use history of the object.
Nonlinear graphene plasmonics
Authors: Ooi Kelvin J. A. , Tan Dawn T. H.
Published: October 2017

The rapid development of graphene has opened up exciting new fields in graphene plasmonics and nonlinear optics. Graphene's unique two-dimensional band structure provides extraordinary linear and nonlinear optical properties, which have led to extreme optical confinement in graphene plasmonics and ultrahigh nonlinear optical coefficients, respectively. The synergy between graphene's linear and nonlinear optical properties gave rise to nonlinear graphene plasmonics, which greatly augments graphene-based nonlinear device performance beyond a billion-fold. This nascent field of research will eventually find far-reaching revolutionary technological applications that require device miniaturization, low power consumption and a broad range of operating wavelengths approaching the far-infrared, such as optical computing, medical instrumentation and security applications.
Higher iridescent-to-pigment optical effect in flowers facilitates learning, memory and generalization in foraging bumblebees
Authors: de Premorel Géraud , Giurfa Martin , Andraud Christine , Gomez Doris
Published: October 2017

Iridescence—change of colour with changes in the angle of view or of illumination—is widespread in the living world, but its functions remain poorly understood. The presence of iridescence has been suggested in flowers where diffraction gratings generate iridescent colours. Such colours have been suggested to serve plant–pollinator communication. Here we tested whether a higher iridescence relative to corolla pigmentation would facilitate discrimination, learning and retention of iridescent visual targets. We conditioned bumblebees (
Bombus terrestris
) to discriminate iridescent from non-iridescent artificial flowers and we varied iridescence detectability by varying target iridescent relative to pigment optical effect. We show that bees rewarded on targets with higher iridescent relative to pigment effect required fewer choices to complete learning, showed faster generalization to novel targets exhibiting the same iridescence-to-pigment level and had better long-term memory retention. Along with optical measurements, behavioural results thus demonstrate that bees can learn iridescence-related cues as
bona fide
signals for flower reward. They also suggest that floral advertising may be shaped by competition between iridescence and corolla pigmentation, a fact that has important evolutionary implications for pollinators. Optical measurements narrow down the type of cues that bees may have used for learning. Beyond pollinator–plant communication, our experiments help understanding how receivers influence the evolution of iridescence signals generated by gratings.
Threat and parochialism in intergroup relations: lab-in-the-field evidence from rural Georgia
Authors: Schaub Max
Published: October 2017

Competition between groups is widely considered to foster cooperation within groups. Evidence from laboratory experiments hints at the existence of a proximate mechanism by which humans increase their level of cooperation with their ingroup when faced with an external threat. Further work suggests that ingroup cooperation should go along with aggressive behaviour towards the outgroup, although these theories are at odds with others that see high investments in outgroup relations as important means of stabilizing intergroup relations. Surprisingly, few of these arguments have been tested in the field, and existing studies are also limited by the lack of a direct measure of threat perception and aggressive behaviour. This study presents lab-in-the-field results from a rural context where exposure to an ethnic outgroup varies between villages. This context makes it possible to capture levels of threat perception, aggressive behaviour and cooperation without inducing intergroup competition artificially in the laboratory. All concepts are measured behaviourally. In- and outgroup cooperation was measured with a standard public goods game, and a novel experimental protocol was developed that measures perceived threat and aggressive behaviour: the threat game. The results show that levels of perceived threat, ingroup cooperation and aggressive behaviour are higher in regions more strongly exposed to ethnic outsiders. However, exposed regions also show high levels of outgroup cooperation and a concomitant lack of elevated ingroup bias. This pattern is explained by theorizing that communities show parochial altruism when faced with an ethnic outgroup, but balance aggressive behaviour with cooperative offers to diffuse tensions and to keep open channels of mutually beneficial exchange.
Amygdala–midbrain connectivity indicates a role for the mammalian parental care system in human altruism
Authors: Brethel-Haurwitz Kristin M. , O'Connell Katherine , Cardinale Elise M. , Stoianova Maria , Stoycos Sarah A. , Lozier Leah M. , VanMeter John W. , Marsh Abigail A.
Published: October 2017

Costly altruism benefitting a stranger is a rare but evolutionarily conserved phenomenon. This behaviour may be supported by limbic and midbrain circuitry that supports mammalian caregiving. In rodents, reciprocal connections between the amygdala and the midbrain periaqueductal grey (PAG) are critical for generating protective responses toward vulnerable and distressed offspring. We used functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging to explore whether these regions play a role in supporting costly altruism in humans. We recruited a rare population of altruists, all of whom had donated a kidney to a stranger, and measured activity and functional connectivity of the amygdala and PAG as altruists and matched controls responded to care-eliciting scenarios. When these scenarios were coupled with pre-attentive distress cues, altruists' sympathy corresponded to greater activity in the left amygdala and PAG, and functional connectivity analyses revealed increased coupling between these regions in altruists during this epoch. We also found that altruists exhibited greater fractional anisotropy within the left amygdala–PAG white matter tract. These results, coupled with previous evidence of altruists' increased amygdala-linked sensitivity to distress, are consistent with costly altruism resulting from enhanced care-oriented responses to vulnerability and distress that are supported by recruitment of circuitry that supports mammalian parental care.
Upper limits to body size imposed by respiratory–structural trade-offs in Antarctic pycnogonids
Authors: Lane Steven J. , Shishido Caitlin M. , Moran Amy L. , Tobalske Bret W. , Arango Claudia P. , Woods H. Arthur
Published: October 2017

Across metazoa, surfaces for respiratory gas exchange are diverse, and the size of those surfaces scales with body size. In vertebrates with lungs and gills, surface area and thickness of the respiratory barrier set upper limits to rates of metabolism. Conversely, some organisms and life stages rely on cutaneous respiration, where the respiratory surface (skin, cuticle, eggshell) serves two primary functions: gas exchange and structural support. The surface must be thin and porous enough to transport gases but strong enough to withstand external forces. Here, we measured the scaling of surface area and cuticle thickness in Antarctic pycnogonids, a group that relies on cutaneous respiration. Surface area and cuticle thickness scaled isometrically, which may reflect the dual roles of cuticle in gas exchange and structural support. Unlike in vertebrates, the combined scaling of these variables did not match the scaling of metabolism. To resolve this mismatch, larger pycnogonids maintain steeper oxygen gradients and higher effective diffusion coefficients of oxygen in the cuticle. Interactions among scaling components lead to hard upper limits in body size, which pycnogonids could evade only with some other evolutionary innovation in how they exchange gases.
Can't live with them, can't live without them? Balancing mating and competition in two-sex populations
Authors: Compagnoni Aldo , Steigman Kenneth , Miller Tom E. X.
Published: October 2017

Two-sex populations are usually studied through frequency-dependent models that describe how sex ratio affects mating, recruitment and population growth. However, in two-sex populations, mating and recruitment should also be affected by density and by its interactions with the sex ratio. Density may have positive effects on mating (Allee effects) but negative effects on other demographic processes. In this study, we quantified how positive and negative inter-sexual interactions balance in two-sex populations. Using a dioecious grass (Poa arachnifera), we established experimental field populations that varied in density and sex ratio. We then quantified mating success (seed fertilization) and non-mating demographic performance, and integrated these responses to project population-level recruitment. Female mating success was positively density-dependent, especially at female-biased sex ratios. Other demographic processes were negatively density-dependent and, in some cases, frequency-dependent. Integrating our experimental results showed that mate-finding Allee effects dominated other types of density-dependence, giving rise to recruitment that increased with increasing density and peaked at intermediate sex ratios, reflecting tension between seed initiation (greater with more females) and seed viability (greater with more males). Our results reveal, for the first time, the balance of positive and negative inter-sexual interactions in sex-structured populations. Models that account for both density- and sex ratio dependence, particularly in mating, may be necessary for understanding and predicting two-sex population dynamics.
Quality characteristics, antioxidant activity and storage properties of fermented milk added with green tea powder
Authors: Yeo Su-bin , Yeo Soo-Hwan , Park Heui-Dong
Published: October 2017

With the goal of developing a new functional fermentation milk using green tea powder (GP), milk was fermented with direct vat set (DVS) starter culture containing Streptococcus salivarius subsp. thermophilus, Lactobacillus paracasei and L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus. We investigated fermentation characteristics and antioxidative activities of fermented milk supplemented with different concentrations (0.5, 1, 2, 3%) of GP. All samples were evaluated for pH, total acidity, viable cell count, and sugar contents. The pH of all samples decreased during fermentation, and the final pH ranged from 4.35 to 4.51. The acidity increased during fermentation, after the fermentation was completed, the titratable acidity was 0.8 to 1.1%. And viable cell count of all samples increased during fermentation, and the final viable cell count was 8.57 to 8.89 log CFU/mL. The sugar content decreased as the fermentation proceeded and finally reached 12 to 13 ˚Brix. And increasing GP, decreased brightness and increased yellowness. Increasing GP concentration added to milk, improved DPPH free radical scavenging activity and ferric ion reducing activity of fermentation milk. The fermentation milk kept their pH, total acidity and viable cell counts standard of fermentation milk during the storage period at 4℃. These findings confirmed the possibility of development of the novel functional fermentation milk through the investigation of the quality characteristics of the fermentation milk added with GP.
Effect of manufacturing process using superheated steam on the quality improvement of pickled radish product
Authors: Kim Eunmi , Lim Jeong-Ho , Choi Yun-Sang , Jeon Ki-Hong
Published: October 2017

This study was conducted to develop radish as a food product for home meal replacement using superheated steam (SHS). Also, the change of quality characteristics was studied during their storage. The radish cuts were treated with SHS for 0, 3, 5, and 7 min, respectively, followed by complete drying at 80℃ for 6 hours. The results showed that radishes restored with mixed solution (drinking water:sugar:vinegar:salt=2:1:0.8:0.1) were harder than those restored with drinking water. All radishes were stored at 5, 10 and 15℃ for 56 days to investigate the changes of quality characteristics during the storage. Radishes in the control group, restored with drinking water and stored at 15℃, were spoiled after 7 days of storage. The radish in the experimental group did not show any change in the water content; except an increase on the first day of storage. The hardness of radish decreased with an increase in the storage period. It was found that microbial growth was inhibited due to low pH of the mixed solution, in which radishes of the experimental group were immerse.
Microbiological changes and quality characteristics of dried persimmon by chlorine dioxide gas fumigation treatment
Authors: Moon Hey-Kyung , Lee Su-Won , Lee Wha Jin , Hossein Abul , Lee Seul , Kim Jong-Kuk
Published: October 2017

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of chlorine dioxide fumigation as a substitute for sulfur fumigation which has been used as a method to prevent the quality change of persimmon during storage and distribution process. Dried persimmons were treated with chlorine dioxide gas concentration (0, 15 30, and 45 ppm) and time (0, 15, 30, and 45 min) and microbiological changes, texture properties and color of the treated samples were investigated during storage at room temperature. Total aerobic bacteria, yeast and mold numbers after chlorine dioxide gas fumigation were decreased when compared with the control group. The inhibitory effects of total aerobic bacteria, yeast, and mold were observed during storage. The texture properties and color value of dried persimmons were not affected by chlorine dioxide gas fumigation concentration and time. There was no difference in quality between chlorine dioxide gas fumigation treatment group and control group. These results suggested that chlorine dioxide gas fumigation treatment can be utilized as a processing technique to secure microbiological storage stability of dried persimmons.
Effect of different drying methods on anti-oxidation and anti-thrombosis activities of Salicornia europaea
Authors: Sung Hwa-Jung , Kim Deuk Hoi , Sohn Ho-Yong
Published: October 2017

The current study was performed to investigate the changes of bio-activities of Salicornia europaea (SE) depending on the different dry methods. The ethanol extracts were prepared from the freeze-drying SE (FD), hot-air drying SE (HD), and shade drying SE (SD). Their anti-oxidant and anti-thrombosis activities were compared. The yields of ethanol extraction in FD, HD, and SD were 14.4, 13.2 and 11.9%, respectively. The highest contents of total polyphenol (4.6 mg/g) and total sugar (23.4 mg/g) were shown in FD, whereas, the highest content of reducing sugar (14.6 mg/g) was observed in HD. In anti-oxidation activity assay, the FD and HD showed similar radical scavenging activities and reducing power. However, in SD, nitrite scavenging activity and reducing power were severely decreased. In anti-coagulation activity assay, the thrombin time (TT), prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) of FD, HD and SD did not show significant changes at 5 mg/mL concentration. But the HD at 7 mg/mL had strong inhibitions against thrombin and blood coagulation factors. The platelet aggregation and hemolysis activities were not affected by dry methods. Our results suggest that both FD and HD are effective to maintain the functional ingredient of SE, and HD is economic and efficient dry process for production of functional food.
Effects of long-term endurance exercise and Salvia miltiorrhiza vinegar on body composition and insulin resistance in high fat diet-induced obese rats
Authors: Kim Kijin , Jung Su-Ryun , Ahn Na-young , Park Ju-sik , Ju Young-Sik , Kim Sung-Wook , Lee Gyu-Ho , Kim Mi-Yeon , Jeong Yong-Jin
Published: October 2017

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of long-term endurance exercise and Salvia miltiorrhiza vinegar on body composition and insulin resistance of high-fat diet (30% carbohydrate, 50% fat and 20% protein) induced obese rats. After 8 weeks of high fat diet (50% of total calories), rats were divided into 4 groups (sedentary group, n=10; exercise group, n=10; Salvia miltiorrhiza vinegar group, n=10; exercise+Salvia miltiorrhiza vinegar group, n=10) for 8 weeks. Body weight, body composition, diet intake volume, oral glucose tolerance test, plasma total cholesterol were measured. The results showed that Salvia miltiorrhiza vinegar plus endurance exercise training for 8 weeks significantly improved body weight control, visceral fat weight, and insulin resistance. However, only Salvia miltiorrhiza vinegar treatment did not significantly improve body composition and insulin resistance. In addition, there was no additive by the combination of Salvia miltiorrhiza vinegar and endurance exercise in insulin, body fat, and total cholesterol. The reduction of body fat, glucose, insulin and cholesterol by combination was resulted from the exercise. These results suggest that Salvia miltiorrhiza vinegar has slight effect on anti-hyperglycemia and anti-obesity.