bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Estimation of genetic diversity for different species of woody plants by intron length polymorphism of beta-tubulin genes
Authors: Kalafat L. O. , Pirko N. N. , Demkovych A. Ye. , Privalikhin S. N. , Rabokon A. N. , Pirko Ya. V. , Blume Ya. B.
Published: August 2019

Aim. The effectiveness of using the method of intron length polymorphism of β-tubulin genes is analyzed to evaluate the genetic diversity and polymorphism of tree plants by approbating it for a broad sample of tree plants of different taxonomic positions. Method. The method of estimation intron length polymorphism of β- tubulin (tubulin base polymorphism — TBP-method) has been tested. Results. The molecular genetic profiles and the unique patterns for the Quercus robur L., Populus tremula L., Fagus sylvatica L., Fagus sylvatica f. salicifolia, Robinia pseudoacacia L., Morus alba L., Ulmus glabra Huds., Betula pendula Roth., Acer platanoides L., Acer negundo L., Acer saccharinum Marshall, Catalpa bignonioides Walter, Tilia cordata Mill., Tilia platyphyllos Scop., Aesculus hippocastanum L., Populus nigra L., Juglans regia L., Fraxinus excelsior L., Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn., Ginkgo biloba L. have been created. Some common fragments inherent in individual genera within the family have been found. Conclusions. TBP-method is rather convenient and reliable. It can be used both for molecular genetic marking and for the study of intra- and interspecific polymorphism of economically valuable, horticultural and forest trees.Keywords: TBP-method, β-tubulin introns, tree plants, genetic diversity.
Life extension in Drosophila melanogasteras a result of development in conditions of high larval density
Authors: Karaman A. S. , Vaiserman A. M. , Koliada A. K. , Zabuga O. G. , Pisaruk A. V. , Koshel N. M. , Mekhova L. V. , Kozeretska I. A.
Published: August 2019

Aim. To investigate the life expectancy and reproductive activity of Drosophila melanogaster that developed in conditions of increased larval density. Methods. Mean and maximum life span were determined in males and females in the different experimental groups. The reproductive activity was evaluated by counting the total number of eggs laid by one female per day. Results. A significant increase of the mean life span compared to control was observed in adults that hatched from pupae during the first and second days after the beginning of the emergence: males — 24 % and 23.5 %, females — 23.8 % and 29.3 % respectively. The level of reproductive activity (fecundity) is statistically lower in two groups which hatched last. Conclusions. Based on the results obtained, we suggest that development in conditions of increased larval density can lead to increase in the life span of D. melanogaster.Keywords: life span, Drosophila melanogaster, reproductive activity, development.
The Vavilov Society of Geneticists and Breeders of Ukraine and Department of Genetics of the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv — 50 years of collaboration
Authors: Demidov S. V. , Kozeretska I. A. , Kunakh V. A.
Published: August 2019

This article is intended to provide a brief analysis regardless a collaboration between Ukrainian public organization «Vavilov Society of Geneticists and Breeders of Ukraine» (VSGBU) and Department of Genetics in Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv during 50 years, since the day of establishing of the Society. The participation of staff members of the department, the role of the department, especially during the first 20 years of activity of the Society had been considered.Keywords: the history of science, genetics, breeding.
Chronically implanted Neuropixels probes enable high-yield recordings in freely moving mice
Authors: Juavinett Ashley L , Bekheet George , Churchland Anne K
Published: August 2019

The advent of high-yield electrophysiology using Neuropixels probes is now enabling researchers to simultaneously record hundreds of neurons with remarkably high signal to noise. However, these probes have not been well-suited to use in freely moving mice. It is critical to study neural activity in unrestricted animals for many reasons, such as leveraging ethological approaches to study neural circuits. We designed and implemented a novel device that allows Neuropixels probes to be customized for chronically implanted experiments in freely moving mice. We demonstrate the ease and utility of this approach in recording hundreds of neurons during an ethological behavior across weeks of experiments. We provide the technical drawings and procedures for other researchers to do the same. Importantly, our approach enables researchers to explant and reuse these valuable probes, a transformative step which has not been established for recordings with any type of chronically-implanted probe.
A genetic selection reveals functional metastable structures embedded in a toxin-encoding mRNA
Authors: Masachis Sara , Tourasse Nicolas J , Lays Claire , Faucher Marion , Chabas Sandrine , Iost Isabelle , Darfeuille Fabien
Published: August 2019

Post-transcriptional regulation plays important roles to fine-tune gene expression in bacteria. In particular, regulation of type I toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems is achieved through sophisticated mechanisms involving toxin mRNA folding. Here, we set up a genetic approach to decipher the molecular underpinnings behind the regulation of a type I TA in Helicobacter pylori. We used the lethality induced by chromosomal inactivation of the antitoxin to select mutations that suppress toxicity. We found that single point mutations are sufficient to allow cell survival. Mutations located either in the 5’ untranslated region or within the open reading frame of the toxin hamper its translation by stabilizing stem-loop structures that sequester the Shine-Dalgarno sequence. We propose that these short hairpins correspond to metastable structures that are transiently formed during transcription to avoid premature toxin expression. This work uncovers the co-transcriptional inhibition of translation as an additional layer of TA regulation in bacteria.
Activity dynamics of amygdala GABAergic neurons during cataplexy of narcolepsy
Authors: Sun Ying , Blanco-Centurion Carlos , Bendell Emmaline , Vidal-Ortiz Aurelio , Luo Siwei , Liu Meng
Published: August 2019

Recent studies showed activation of the GABAergic neurons in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) triggered cataplexy of sleep disorder narcolepsy. However, there is still no direct evidence on CeA GABAergic neurons’ real-time dynamic during cataplexy. We used a deep brain calcium imaging tool to image the intrinsic calcium transient as a marker of neuronal activity changes in the narcoleptic VGAT-Cre mice by expressing the calcium sensor GCaMP6 into genetically defined CeA GABAergic neurons. Two distinct GABAergic neuronal groups involved in cataplexy were identified: spontaneous cataplexy-ON and predator odor-induced cataplexy-ON neurons. Majority in the latter group were inactive during regular sleep/wake cycles but were specifically activated by predator odor and continued their intense activities into succeeding cataplexy bouts. Furthermore, we found that CeA GABAergic neurons became highly synchronized during predator odor-induced cataplexy. We suggest that the abnormal activation and synchronization of CeA GABAergic neurons may trigger emotion-induced cataplexy.
Neuronal TORC1 modulates longevity via AMPK and cell nonautonomous regulation of mitochondrial dynamics in C. elegans
Authors: Zhang Yue , Lanjuin Anne , Chowdhury Suvagata Roy , Mistry Meeta , Silva-García Carlos G , Weir Heather J , Lee Chia-Lin , Escoubas Caroline C , Tabakovic Emina , Mair William B
Published: August 2019

Target of rapamycin complex 1 (TORC1) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) antagonistically modulate metabolism and aging. However, how they coordinate to determine longevity and if they act via separable mechanisms is unclear. Here, we show that neuronal AMPK is essential for lifespan extension from TORC1 inhibition, and that TORC1 suppression increases lifespan cell non autonomously via distinct mechanisms from global AMPK activation. Lifespan extension by null mutations in genes encoding raga-1 (RagA) or rsks-1 (S6K) is fully suppressed by neuronal-specific rescues. Loss of RAGA-1 increases lifespan via maintaining mitochondrial fusion. Neuronal RAGA-1 abrogation of raga-1 mutant longevity requires UNC-64/syntaxin, and promotes mitochondrial fission cell nonautonomously. Finally, deleting the mitochondrial fission factor DRP-1 renders the animal refractory to the pro-aging effects of neuronal RAGA-1. Our results highlight a new role for neuronal TORC1 in cell nonautonomous regulation of longevity, and suggest TORC1 in the central nervous system might be targeted to promote healthy aging.
Remembering to choose the future
Authors: Fellows Lesley K
Published: August 2019

A brain region known as the hippocampus is required when people assess different options before making a value-based choice.
Borneo coral reefs subject to high sediment loads show evidence of resilience to various environmental stressors
Authors: Browne Nicola , Braoun Christina , McIlwain Jennifer , Nagarajan Ramasamy , Zinke Jens
Published: August 2019

For reefs in South East Asia the synergistic effects of rapid land development, insufficient environmental policies and a lack of enforcement has led to poor water quality and compromised coral health from increased sediment and pollution. Those inshore turbid coral reefs, subject to significant sediment inputs, may also inherit some resilience to the effects of thermal stress and coral bleaching. We studied the inshore turbid reefs near Miri, in northwest Borneo through a comprehensive assessment of coral cover and health in addition to quantifying sediment-related parameters. Although Miri’s Reefs had comparatively low coral species diversity, dominated by massive and encrusting forms of Diploastrea, Porites, Montipora, Favites, Dipsastrea and Pachyseris, they were characterized by a healthy cover ranging from 22 to 39%. We found a strong inshore to offshore gradient in hard coral cover, diversity and community composition as a direct result of spatial differences in sediment at distances <10 km. As well as distance to shore, we included other environmental variables like reef depth and sediment trap accumulation and particle size that explained 62.5% of variation in benthic composition among sites. Miri’s reefs showed little evidence of coral disease and relatively low prevalence of compromised health signs including bleaching (6.7%), bioerosion (6.6%), pigmentation response (2.2%), scars (1.1%) and excessive mucus production (0.5%). Tagged colonies of Diploastrea and Pachyseris suffering partial bleaching in 2016 had fully (90–100%) recovered the following year. There were, however, seasonal differences in bioerosion rates, which increased five-fold after the 2017 wet season. Differences in measures of coral physiology, like that of symbiont density and chlorophyll a for Montipora, Pachyseris and Acropora, were not detected among sites. We conclude that Miri’s reefs may be in a temporally stable state given minimal recently dead coral and a limited decline in coral cover over the last two decades. This study provides further evidence that turbid coral reefs exposed to seasonally elevated sediment loads can exhibit relatively high coral cover and be resilient to disease and elevated sea surface temperatures.
Adenovirus persistence, reactivation, and clinical management
Authors: Lion Thomas
Published: August 2019

Adenoviral infections continue posing a major threat in severely immunocompromised patients including particularly allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients. Although exogenous infections occur in some instances, the majority of invasive events appear to arise from viral reactivation. In the pediatric setting, adenoviruses were demonstrated to persist in the gastrointestinal tract, and the intestinal epithelium serves as the main site of viral replication preceding invasive infection. Regular monitoring of serial stool samples for the presence and load of adenoviruses has therefore become a routine diagnostic tool for post‐transplant patient surveillance, and can serve as a trigger for early initiation of treatment. In the adult setting, the source of infection or reactivation is less clear, and monitoring of peripheral blood specimens is the predominant approach for patient surveillance. Timely initiation of antiviral treatment is reportedly required for prevention or successful control of disseminated disease mediated by adenoviruses, and appropriate diagnostic monitoring is therefore of paramount importance. Currently available antiviral agents and immune therapeutic approaches have not been able to entirely overcome the life‐threatening courses of invasive adenoviral infections in the immunocompromised clinical setting.
Immunological Adhesion and Homing Molecules
Authors: Baldanzi Gianluca
Published: August 2019

The immunosurveillance function of leukocytes requires a strictly controlled trafficking between lymphoid and nonlymphoid tissues. Thus, white blood cells are continuously scanning the body for sign of infection or damage with lineage‐specific pathways. Triggered by chemokines and other danger signals, those movements require selective interactions mediated by adhesion and homing molecules expressed by immune and endothelial cells. Typically, the transendothelial migration is initiated by specific interactions between selectins and glycosylated proteins, which allow the initial tethering and rolling of leukocytes on endothelial cells. In the presence of chemokines, rolling is followed by firm arrest mediated by active integrins binding to immunoglobulin superfamily ligands and culminates with extravasation. The expression pattern and structural features of those adhesion molecules dictated the cell‐specific homing governing the immune response.

Key Concepts

Leukocytes exit from circulation to home at secondary lymphoid organs and peripheral tissues.

Essential steps of extravasation are tethering, rolling, firm adhesion and diapedesis.

The typical homing cascade sees selectins binding to glycoproteins during rolling, followed by chemokine mediated integrin activation promoting firm adhesion.

Endothelial cells have an active role in lymphocyte recruitment, presentation of chemokines and transendothelial transport of leukocytes.

Homing molecules are controlled by the engagement by ligands and by the shear force applied to them.
Fusion Peptides: The Claws of the Viral Fusion Glycoproteins
Authors: Sánchez‐Eugenia Rubén , Nieva José L
Published: August 2019

Enveloped viruses, comprising highly relevant human pathogens such as human immunodeficiency (HIV), influenza (IFV) or Ebola (EBOV) viruses, have evolved a common ‘membrane fusion’ strategy to gain access to the biosynthetic resources of their host cells. The viral fusion peptides (VFPs) constitute conserved hydrophobic domains that are required for the virus–cell fusion process mediated by the viral membrane glycoproteins. A generally accepted model postulates that VFPs can exist in three states: (1) stably folded within the native glycoprotein ectodomain, (2) inserted into the membrane of the target cell, and (3) coassembled with transmembrane domains (TMDs) into membrane integral complexes. Upon fusion activation, sequential access to states (2) and (3) would enable the glycoprotein ectodomain for docking and dragging of the target cell membrane and thus promote merger. Our current understanding of the structure and function of the VFPs has potential implications for clinical intervention.

Key Concepts

For replication, viruses must enter into living cells and access their synthetic machinery.

Enveloped viruses fuse their membrane with that of the host cell during the entry process.

Envelope glycoproteins identify the host cell and induce virus–cell membrane fusion.

Envelope glycoproteins access at least 3 different states: (1) pre‐fusion, in the native virion; (2) activated, when inserted both in the viral and target cell membranes; and (3) post‐fusion, the conformation adopted in the final fused membranes.

Envelope glycoproteins utilise two tools to perform their function: viral fusion peptides (VFPs) that insert into the target cell membrane, and helical hairpins that bring viral and cell membranes close together.

The sequences of the VFPs are overall hydrophobic, a feature conferring the capacity of inserting into membranes, and enriched in conserved Ala/Gly residues, which provides the required flexibility for function.

In the pre‐fusion state of envelope glycoproteins, VFPs have been observed exposed to solvent or occluded within the trimeric complex.

Synthetic VFPs are conformationally diverse in the membrane milieu.

Insertion of VFPs into membranes can help fusion to evolve by restructuring the bilayer architecture locally during the process.

Conserved and functional VFPs may exist in a native state accessible to drugs and biologics.
Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Vascular Development
Authors: Bolton Rebecca , Naylor Kirsty , Ruhrberg Christiana
Published: August 2019

Blood vessels form an extensive organ system that enables gas exchange, delivers nutrients and removes waste products from tissues and is, therefore, essential for vertebrate life. Blood vessels additionally regulate leukocyte trafficking to support immune system function and transport endocrine hormones for the systemic regulation of physiological processes. During embryonic development, blood vessels also secrete cues that regulate the formation of other organs. To ensure that functional vasculature forms in the embryo, a large number of molecules regulate a wide range of cellular mechanisms that collectively act on the endothelial cells that form the inner lining of all blood vessels. These molecular and cellular mechanisms may be reactivated after birth to induce blood vessel growth that is beneficial by countering tissue ischemia or pathological if excessive or dysfunctional. Understanding developmental blood vessel growth, therefore, provides knowledge that may be used to develop new therapeutic strategies for a range of diseases.

Key Concepts

The circulatory system is the first organ to form during vertebrate embryogenesis and is required for the subsequent development of other organs.

The circulatory system is the first organ to form during vertebrate embryogenesis.

Proper blood vessel growth and remodeling is required for the subsequent development of other organs.

Blood vessel development can be studied using the embryonic mouse hindbrain and perinatal mouse retina.

Many molecular pathways synergise to regulate blood vessel growth.

Elucidating the mechanisms of vascular development may advance novel therapies to treat vascular insufficiency in ischemic diseases.
Absolute and Relative Decision Processes in Eyewitness Identification
Authors: Moreland Molly B. , Clark Steven E.
Published: August 2019

A prominent and long‐standing theory of eyewitness identification decision making distinguishes between absolute judgments, based on the lineup members' match to the witness's memory of the perpetrator, versus relative judgments, based on match values relative to other lineup members. This distinction was implemented in a computational model and simulations showed that the model predicts an accuracy advantage for absolute judgments over relative judgments under some conditions. The present experiment tested this prediction by evaluating the accuracy of witnesses instructed to use relative or absolute rules. Contrary to predictions, the overall analysis did not show an absolute advantage. Additional exploratory analyses showed a relative advantage when the suspect was surrounded by high‐similarity foils. These results are consistent with a model that assumes that side‐by‐side comparisons of lineup members increase diagnostic accuracy by allowing witnesses to give greater weight to more diagnostic features and less weight to less diagnostic features.
Review on Sperm Sorting Technologies and Sperm Properties toward New Separation Methods via the Interface of Biochemistry and Material Science
Authors: Katigbak Roberto D. , Turchini Giovanni M. , de Graaf Simon P. , Kong Lingxue , Dumée Ludovic F.
Published: August 2019

Successful fertilization in mammals requires spermatozoa to efficiently traverse the female reproductive tract to meet the egg. This process naturally selects high quality sperm cells for fertilization, but when artificial reproductive technologies are used such as in vitro fertilization, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, or intrauterine insemination, other methods of sperm selection are required. Currently, technology enables sperm sorting based on motility, maturity as defined by zeta potential or hyaluronic acid binding site expression, absence of apoptotic factors, appropriate morphology, and even sex. This review summarizes current knowledge on all known methods of sperm cell sorting, compares their efficiency, and discusses the advantages and limitations of each technique. Scope for further refinement and improvement of current methods are discussed as is the potential to utilize a variety of materials to innovate new methods of sperm separation.
Mimicking Human and Biological Skins for Multifunctional Skin Electronics
Authors: Lee Youngoh , Park Jonghwa , Choe Ayoung , Cho Seungse , Kim Jinyoung , Ko Hyunhyub
Published: August 2019

Electronic skin (e‐skin) technology is an exciting frontier to drive the next generation of wearable electronics owing to its high level of wearability, enabling high accuracy to harvest information of users and their surroundings. Recently, biomimicry of human and biological skins has become a great inspiration for realizing novel wearable electronic systems with exceptional multifunctionality as well as advanced sensory functions. This review covers and highlights bioinspired e‐skins mimicking perceptive features of human and biological skins. In particular, five main components in tactile sensation processes of human skin are individually discussed with recent advances of e‐skins that mimic the unique sensing mechanisms of human skin. In addition, diverse functionalities in user‐interactive, skin‐attachable, and ultrasensitive e‐skins are introduced with the inspiration from unique architectures and functionalities, such as visual expression of stimuli, reversible adhesion, easy deformability, and camouflage, in biological skins of natural creatures. Furthermore, emerging wearable sensor systems using bioinspired e‐skins for body motion tracking, healthcare monitoring, and prosthesis are described. Finally, several challenges that should be considered for the realization of next‐generation skin electronics are discussed with recent outcomes for addressing these challenges.
Anomalous Ambipolar Phototransistors Based on All‐Inorganic CsPbBr3 Perovskite at Room Temperature
Authors: Zou Yuting , Li Feng , Zhao Chen , Xing Jun , Yu Zhi , Yu Weili , Guo Chunlei
Published: August 2019

Despite its extensive research in photovoltaics and light emitting diodes, the charge transport properties of all‐inorganic perovskite cesium lead bromide (CsPbBr3) remain elusive. Clarification of the intrinsic charge transport of this perovskite material is highly desirable, which will help to understand its working mechanism and fabricate high performance electronic devices. Here, it is demonstrated that the phototransistors based on CsPbBr3 microplates show anomalous ambipolar transport characteristics at room temperature. The hole mobility shows light dependence, while the electron mobility is identical under various light incidence. The hole mobility increases from 0.02 cm2 V−1 s−1 (in dark conditions) to 0.34 cm2 V−1 s−1 (50 mW cm−2); while the threshold voltage is shifted by 14 V when electron is the majority charge carrier. The anomalous transport behavior can be attributed to the photovoltaic and photoconductive effects. Moreover, the device shows photoresponsivity and detectivity up to 110 mA W−1 and 4.5 × 1013 Jones, respectively, under 532 nm laser illumination. This research unveils the charge transport mechanism of CsPbBr3 perovskite, provides more evidence and will thus contribute to the perovskite electronic and optoelectronic researches.
The Variability of Preferred Infant Lumbar Puncture Insertion Site Between Novice and Experienced Physicians
Authors: Neal Jeffrey T. , Levy Jason A. , Rempell Rachel G. , Vieira Rebecca L.
Published: August 2019

Background

We sought to determine if vertebral interspace selection for performance of infant lumbar puncture (LP) varies between less experienced trainees and more experienced pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) attending physicians.

Methods

We performed an observational prospective study using a convenience sample of infants aged 0 to 12 months presenting to a single emergency department. Trainees with limited LP experience (defined as less than 10 infant LPs performed) marked their preferred LP insertion site with an invisible ultraviolet pen. PEM attending physicians subsequently marked their preferred LP insertion site with a visible pen. A trained sonographer then performed a bedside ultrasound to confirm interspace concordance or discordance. Our primary outcome was the proportion of concordant marked insertion sites.

Results

Of the 110 patients enrolled, 102 (92.8%) completed study procedures. Trainee and PEM attending LP interspace markings were concordant in 27% of cases. Trainees marked a preferred interspace below the level of the attending in 55% of patients: 29 (28.4%) marked one spot inferior, 20 (19.6%) marked two spots inferior, and seven (6.9%) marked three spots inferior in relation to the attending.

Conclusions

There is variability of preferred LP insertion site based on provider experience. Trainees with limited LP experience tended to mark insertion spaces more caudal than those marked by the attending physicians in an area where the subarachnoid space is slightly smaller.
Emergency Department Thoracotomy: Development of a Reliable, Validated Checklist for Procedural Training
Authors: Zaidi Hashim Q. , Dhake Sarah S. , Miller Danielle T. , Sista Priyanka , Pirotte Matthew J. , Fant Abra L. , Salzman David H.
Published: August 2019

Objectives

Emergency department thoracotomy (EDT) is a rare and challenging procedure. Emergency medicine (EM) residents have limited opportunities to perform the procedure in clinical or educational settings. Standardized, reliable, validated checklists do not exist to evaluate procedural competency. The objectives of this project were twofold: 1) to develop a checklist containing the critical actions for performing an EDT that can be used for future procedural skills training and 2) to evaluate the reliability and validity of the checklist for performing EDT.

Methods

After a literature review, a preliminary 22‐item checklist was developed and disseminated to experts in EM and trauma surgery. A modified Delphi method was used to revise the checklist. To assess usability of the checklist, EM and trauma surgery faculty and residents were evaluated performing an EDT while inter‐rater reliability was calculated with Cohen's kappa. A Student's t‐test was used to compare the performance of participants who had or had not performed a thoracotomy in clinical practice. Item‐total correlation was calculated for each checklist item to determine discriminatory ability.

Results

A final 22‐item checklist was developed for EDT. The overall inter‐rater reliability was strong (κ = 0.84) with individual item agreement ranging from moderate to strong (κ = 0.61 to 1.00). Experts (attending physicians and senior residents) performed well on the checklist, achieving an average score of 80% on the checklist. Participants who had performed EDT in clinical practice performed significantly better than those that had not, achieving an average of 80.7% items completed versus 52.3% (p < 0.05). Seventeen of 22 items had an item‐total correlation greater than 0.2.

Conclusions

A final 22‐item consensus‐based checklist was developed for the EDT. Overall inter‐rater reliability was strong. This checklist can be used in future studies to serve as a foundation for curriculum development around this important procedure.
Central nervous system involvement in arthrogryposis multiplex congenita: Overview of causes, diagnosis, and care
Authors: Dieterich Klaus , Kimber Eva , Hall Judith G.
Published: August 2019

Arthrogryposis or AMC, arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, is defined as multiple congenital joint contractures in more than two joints and in different body areas. The common cause of all AMC is lack of movement in utero, which in turn can have different causes, one of which is CNS involvement. Intellectual disability/CNS involvement is found in approximately 25% of all AMC. AMC with CNS involvement includes a large number of genetic syndromes. So far, more than 400 genes have been identified as linked to AMC, with and without CNS involvement. A number of neonatally lethal syndromes and syndromes resulting in severe disability due to CNS malfunction belong to this group of syndromes. There are several X‐linked disorders with AMC, which are primarily related to intellectual disability. A number of neuromuscular disorders may include AMC and CNS/brain involvement. Careful clinical evaluation by a geneticist and a pediatrician/pediatric neurologist is the first step in making a specific diagnosis. Further investigations may include MRI of the brain and spinal cord, electroencephalogram, blood chemistry for muscle enzymes, other organ investigations (ophtalmology, cardiology, gastrointestinal, and genitourinary systems). Nerve conduction studies, electromyogram, and muscle pathology may be of help when there is associated peripheral nervous system involvement. But most importantly, genetic investigations with targeted or rather whole exome or genome sequencing should be performed. A correct diagnosis is important in planning adequate treatment, in genetic counselling and also for future understanding of pathogenic mechanisms and possible new treatments. A multidiciplinary team is needed both in investigation and treatment.
Multilayer‐Functionalized Reduced Graphene Oxide Decorated with Gold Nanoparticles as a Designed Nanonanocatalyst for the Selective Oxidation of Cyclohexene by Molecular Oxygen in a Solvent‐Free System
Authors: Shahabi Nejad Mohaddeseh , Behzadi Soheila , Sheibani Hassan
Published: August 2019

The aerobic oxidation of cyclohexene is of great significance from the viewpoints of both fundamental and industry studies as it can transfer the petrochemical feedstock into valuable chemicals. In this research, gold nanoparticles were synthesized on the multi‐layer functionalized reduced graphene oxide. The surface of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) was modified with hydrophobic and hydrophilic layers to create the rGO with scattered hydrophilic positions. The gold nanoparticles were synthesized and immobilized simultaneously in small hydrophilic micro reactors in a mild condition. Characterization of synthesized nanocatalyst was confirmed with different techniques such as TEM, XRD, FT‐IR, and SEM. TEM images of synthesized catalyst show the gold nanoparticles have diameters less than 5 nm. Designed nanonanocatalyst was investigated for the selective liquid phase oxidation of cyclohexene with molecular oxygen in solvent free condition which after optimized conditions a maximum of 88% conversion and 91% selectivity was obtained.
Insights into Polymerization of Vegetable Oil: Oligomerization of Oleic Acid
Authors: Bonetti Rino , Parker Wallace O.
Published: August 2019

Viscous gel‐like species form in vegetable oils during frying. After fatty acid formation, thermal oxidation of unsaturated chains causes polymerization. Heat treatment of oleic acid was employed to produce and identify the initial polymerization products. Spectroscopic studies revealed that heating oleic acid (210 °C, open to air) causes the formation of oligomers cross‐linked by ester groups. The absence of esters, before thermal treatment, facilitated observation of cross‐links (ester groups) that propagate to produce heavier insoluble products.
Rhodamine B hydrazide loaded polysulfone fabrics for Cu(II) detection: Morphological and optical properties
Authors: Morsi Rania E. , Elsawy Moataz , Ali MennatAllah M. , Gentili Denis , Cavallini Massimiliano , Manet Ilse , Bandini Elisa , Venturini Alessandro , Benaglia Massimo , Ventura Barbara
Published: August 2019

Polysulfone‐based materials were fabricated as casted films, porous membranes, and nanofibers by solution casting, phase inversion process, and electrospinning technique, respectively. Photoactive rhodamine B hydrazide molecules were loaded into the fabrics either in preloading or postloading processes. The morphological structure of the fabrics was investigated by scanning electron microscopy and the wettability was determined by contact angle measurements. Detailed spectroscopic characterizations of the closed and open forms of rhodamine B was performed both in solution and in the solid‐state composite materials. Theoretical investigations supported the depiction of the absorption and emission features of the two forms. The response of the prepared composite materials to Cu(II) ions has been tested by absorption and emission spectroscopy and confocal fluorescence imaging. The most effective materials for Cu(II) detection were found to be polysulfone films prepared by phase inversion and postloaded with 10% rhodamine B hydrazide. These results open the way to the development of composite sensory membranes. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020, 137, 48408.
The effect of modular education on school dropout
Authors: Mazrekaj Deni , De Witte Kristof
Published: August 2019

Modular education refers to the division of conventional courses into smaller components or modules. Each module enables students to obtain a partial certificate that can be combined into a qualification. This article evaluates whether modular education, which is widely used in secondary and tertiary education, has been effective in reducing school dropout. For this purpose, the study exploits a policy change in the Flemish Community of Belgium, which recently introduced modular education for some programmes. Using a difference‐in‐differences framework with diverse adoption dates per school, the results indicate that modular education may significantly reduce school dropout by 2.5 percentage points, with the largest effects on foreign origin students. Therefore, modular education is likely to be an effective policy to tackle school dropout and reduce the ethnic attainment gap. Additionally, students enrolled in modular education are more likely to be employed and to incur higher earnings on the labour market.
Did supervisor's insults amount to hostile work environment?
Authors: Gelpi Aileen
Published: August 2019

The plaintiff, who was the biological child of a black father and white mother, began working for the University of Illinois campus police in 2008.
Expression significance and potential mechanism of hypoxia‐inducible factor 1 alpha in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes
Authors: Liang Hai‐wei , Luo Bin , Du Li‐hua , He Rong‐quan , Chen Gang , Peng Zhi‐gang , Ma Jie
Published: August 2019

Objective

To investigate the expression level and potential mechanism of hypoxia‐inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF‐1α) in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).

Methods

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) techniques were used to examine the protein expression of HIF‐1α in paraffin‐embedded myeloid tissues from 82 patients with MDS and 33 controls (patients with lymphoma that is not invading myeloid tissues). In addition, the associations between the protein expression of HIF‐1α and clinical parameters were examined. To further investigate the significance of HIF‐1α expression in MDS patients, the researchers not only extracted the data about HIF‐1α expression from MDS‐related microarrays but also analyzed the correlation between the level of HIF‐1α expression and MDS. The microRNA (miRNA) targeting HIF‐1α was predicted and verified with a dual luciferase experiment.

Results

Immunohistochemistry revealed that the positive expression rate of HIF‐1α in the bone marrow of patients with MDS was 90.24%. This rate was remarkably higher than that of the controls (72.73%) and was statistically significant (P < .05), which indicated that HIF‐1α was upregulated in the myeloid tissues of MDS patients. For the GSE2779, GSE18366, GSE41130, and GSE61853 microarrays, the average expression of HIF‐1α in MDS patients was higher than in the controls. Particularly for the GSE18366 microarray, HIF‐1α expression was considerably higher in MDS patients than in the controls (P < .05). It was predicted that miR‐93‐5p had a site for binding with HIF‐1α, and a dual luciferase experiment confirmed that miR‐93‐5p could bind with HIF‐1α.

Conclusion

The upregulated expression of HIF‐1α was examined in the myeloid tissues of MDS patients. The presence of HIF‐1α (+) suggested an unsatisfactory prognosis for patients, which could assist in the diagnosis of MDS. In addition, miR‐93‐5p could bind to HIF‐1α by targeting, showing its potential to be the target of HIF‐1α in MDS.
Alcohol septal ablation in patients with concomitant hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and aortic valvular stenosis
Authors: El‐Sabawi Bassim , Nishimura Rick A. , Guerrero Mayra E. , Rihal Charanjit S. , Eleid Mackram F.
Published: August 2019

Objective

To describe the hemodynamic and early clinical outcomes of percutaneous alcohol septal ablation in patients with concomitant dynamic left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction and aortic valvular stenosis (AS).

Background

Alcohol septal ablation is an established method to relieve dynamic LVOT obstruction in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). However, the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of alcohol septal ablation in patients with serial obstructions from HCM and AS remain unclear.

Methods

In this case series, we describe the early outcomes of alcohol septal ablation in six patients with significant dynamic LVOT obstruction and AS. All patients had evidence of severe dynamic LVOT obstruction (resting or provoked gradient ≥50 mmHg), mild to severe AS, and NYHA class III symptoms or greater.

Results

Four (66.7%) patients had septal ablation performed in the setting of concomitant native valvular AS and two (33.3%) patients had TAVR performed prior to septal ablation. Successful alcohol septal ablation was performed in all patients and was associated with an immediate reduction of the dynamic LVOT gradient with a residual fixed obstruction related to AS. Four (66.7%) patients had follow‐up at 1 month and of these, three (75%) had NYHA Class I–II symptoms and one (25%) Class III.

Conclusions

Alcohol septal ablation is a feasible method of relieving dynamic LVOT obstruction in patients with concomitant HCM and AS. Further study is required to determine the optimal treatment approach in these patients.
Improved Electrochemical Performance of FeF3 by Inlaying in a Nitrogen‐Doped Carbon Matrix
Authors: Li Jia , Fu Licai , Zhu Jiajun , Yang Wulin , Li Deyi , Zhou Lingping
Published: August 2019

FeF3 is favored by researchers because of its high theoretical specific capacity and high voltage. It is expected to be utilized as a cathode material for lithium‐ion batteries in the future. However, the poor electronic conductivity, inferior reaction kinetics, and severe volume expansion seriously prevents its practical application. Herein, a FeF3@N‐doped carbon nanocomposite was successfully produced by in situ fluorination and dehydration. In addition, the nanocomposite showed a reversible capacity of 84.9 mAh g−1 for 200th cycle after cycling at a high current of 2 C, which is approximately 300 times higher than that of bare FeF3. Benefitting from the N‐doped carbon matrix, the composite electrodes exhibited minor transfer resistance (117.4 Ω, only 44.0 % of that of bare FeF3) and very low polarization voltage (ca. 0.19 V). Meanwhile, it provided a buffer for volume expansion during the insertion of Li+ and maintained cycling stability. This work can supply a simple pathway for designing ultrahigh‐rate and long‐life FeF3 cathode materials.
Adsorption for perfluorooctanoic acid with graphitic‐phase carbon nitride and its HPLC fluorescence determination
Authors: Hu Xiao , Liu Yan , Yang Rongguang , Jiang Yinhua , Meng Minjia , Liu Zhanchao , Ni Liang , Wu Weifu , Liu Hongwei
Published: August 2019

In this paper, graphitic‐phase carbon nitride (g‐C3N4) was prepared from urea and detected by FTIR, XRD, SEM, TEM, Boehm titration, zeta potential, and N2 adsorption‐desorption analyzes, demonstrating that g‐C3N4 possesses a thin sheet structure, negative surface, and strong alkalinity. Considering the alkaline groups and huge areas, g‐C3N4 was employed to adsorb perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). The adsorption capacity of g‐C3N4 towards PFOA was evaluated by batch adsorption experiments, indicating the considerable adsorption capacity of 120.879 mg g−1. The isothermal models and kinetic models were also performed in order to study the adsorption process, proving that PFOA adsorption was fitted by the Langmuir isothermal model and pseudo second‐order model. In addition, residual PFOA concentration after adsorption was determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a fluorescence detector after being derived with 3‐(2‐bromoacetyl) coumarin (3‐BrAC). The HPLC fluorescent detection showed satisfied linearity from 0.5 to 20.0 ug mL−1 with a sound R
2 of 0.9992. This is the first time that g‐C3N4 was applied to PFOA adsorption from aqueous solutions with outstanding adsorption capacity.
Transition‐Metal‐Free Defluorosilylation of Fluoroalkenes with Silylboronates
Authors: Gao Pan , Wang Guoqiang , Xi Longlong , Wang Minyan , Li Shuhua , Shi Zhuangzhi
Published: August 2019

Summary of main observation and conclusion

Silylated fluoroalkenes are important synthetic intermediates with complementary reactivity, which play a key role in the construction of natural products, pharmaceuticals, and manmade materials. Converting the normally highly stable fluoroalkenes into silylated fluoroalkenes by selective defluorosilylation is a challenging task. Herein, we report a simple, inexpensive and robust defluorosilylation of a variety of fluoroalkenes with silylboronates in the presence of alkoxy base to directly synthesize various silylated fluoroalkenes. The protocol features mild and safe reaction conditions that avoid a catalyst, a transition metal, a ligand, and high reaction temperature and tolerates a wide scope of fluoroalkene substrates without compromising the efficiency. Density functional theory calculations show that transient silyl anion complex undergoes an SN2’ or SNV substitution, which is responsible for this base‐mediated defluorosilylation.
Mapping of ventricular tachycardia in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy: Current approaches and future perspectives
Authors: Pandozi Claudio , Lavalle Carlo , Russo Maurizio , Galeazzi Marco , Ficili Sabina , Malacrida Maurizio , Centurion Aznaran Carlos , Colivicchi Furio
Published: August 2019

Despite the technical improvements made in recent years, the overall long‐term success rate of ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy remains disappointing. This unsatisfactory situation has persisted even though several approaches to VT substrate ablation allow mapping and ablation of noninducible/nontolerated arrhythmias. The current substrate mapping methods present some shortcomings regarding the accurate definition of the true scar, the modality of detection in sinus rhythm of abnormal electrograms that identify sites of critical channels during VT and the possibility to determine the boundaries of functional re‐entrant circuits during sinus or paced rhythms. In this review, we focus on current and proposed ablation strategies for VT to provide an overview of the potential/real application (and results) of several ablation approaches and future perspectives.
Late mortality after bone marrow transplant for chronic myelogenous leukemia in the context of prior tyrosine kinase inhibitor exposure: A Blood or Marrow Transplant Survivor Study (BMTSS) report
Authors: Wu Jessica , Chen Yanjun , Hageman Lindsey , Francisco Liton , Ness Emily C. , Parman Mariel , Kung Michelle , Watson James A. , Weisdorf Daniel J. , Snyder David S. , McGlave Philip B. , Forman Stephen J. , Arora Mukta , Armenian Saro H. , Bhatia Ravi , Bhatia Smita
Published: August 2019

Background

Late mortality was investigated in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) who underwent blood or bone marrow transplant (BMT) with or without prior tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy.

Methods

By using data from the Blood or Marrow Transplant Survivor Study, the authors examined late mortality in 447 patients with CML who underwent BMT between 1974 and 2010, conditional on surviving ≥2 years post‐BMT. For vital status information, the medical records, the National Death Index, and the Accurint database were used. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated using general population age‐specific, sex‐specific, and calendar‐specific mortality rates. Kaplan‐Meier techniques and Cox regression were used for all‐cause mortality analyses. Cumulative incidence and proportional subdistribution hazards models for competing risks were used for cause‐specific mortality analyses.

Results

The 10‐year overall survival rate was 65.7% and 73% for those who underwent transplant with and without pre‐BMT exposure to TKI therapy, respectively. Patients who underwent transplant with and without pre‐BMT TKI experienced SMRs of 6.4 and 6.4, respectively (P = .8); and the SMRs were 11.6 and 8.1, respectively, for those with high‐risk disease (P = .2). Independent predictors of non–CML‐related mortality included chronic graft‐versus‐host disease (hazard ratio [HR], 2.8; 95% CI, 1.8‐4.4) and busulfan/cyclophosphamide conditioning (HR, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.3‐0.9; reference, total body irradiation/cyclophosphamide conditioning). The 20‐year cumulative incidence of CML‐related and non–CML‐related mortality was 6% and 36%, respectively, for the entire cohort. Both CML‐related mortality (HR, 1.0; 95% CI, 0.1‐12.6) and non–CML‐related mortality (HR, 1.3; 95% CI, 0.6‐3.1) were comparable for those with and without pre‐BMT TKI therapy.

Conclusions

The similar late mortality experienced by patients with CML who undergo transplantation with or without pre‐BMT TKIs suggests that allogeneic BMT can be considered in the context of TKI intolerance or nonadherence. The prevention of post‐BMT non–CML‐related mortality could favorably affect long‐term survival.
Deep neural network model construction with interactive code reuse and automatic code transformation
Authors: Lee Keon Myung , Park Ki‐Sun , Hwang Kyung‐Soon , Kim Kwang‐Il
Published: August 2019

Many application developers have been recently interested in applying deep learning techniques to their works but have little knowledge and experience on them. This paper presents the methods for a GUI‐based modeling tool to easily build deep learning models and automatically transform them into executable program codes. For reuse of existing deep learning codes, it introduces a method that imports such a program code, extracts the deep learning model architecture, and transforms it into a graphical representation that can be modified on a graphical interface. Meanwhile, a deep learning model with many layers is difficult to be visualized on a small display screen. To handle the difficulty, it proposes a method to identify the submodules called articulable subgraphs in a deep learning model and to organize the deep learning model into a hierarchical architecture using the nesting relationships of articulable subgraphs. It introduces a method to identify frequent substractures as well as articulable subgraphs as building blocks for deep learning models for levelwise views. The hierarchical representation easily enables to build deep learning models with many layers. The GUI‐based modeling tool employing the proposed methods makes nonexpert developers easily use deep learning techniques in their practical applications.