bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Humanity’s perceived right to life and the impact thereof on the environment: A perspective from Deuteronomy 20:19–20
Authors: Van der Walt Chris
Published: August 2016

Humanity’s day to day activities are currently impacting on the natural environment in a way unknown before. Although the destruction of natural resources in times of war is prohibited by the Geneva Conventions, it is currently also happening during periods of peace. The reason for this is the undisputed right to life that humans appropriate themselves regardless of the impact of their acts on the environment. According to Deuteronomy 20 all human life is not of equal value and not necessarily superior to life in nature. Deuteronomy 20 challenges conventional thinking on the subject of human-nature relationships. It is also challenged in Jewish Halachic thinking, the practicality of primitive Eskimo’s attitude towards life and nature, as well as Assyrian acts during war. In these societies the dependence of humans on nature in order to ensure survival, was acknowledged. Currently a paradigm shift away from the anthropocentric attitude towards nature is needed to accommodate the conviction that functionality and potentiality should form part of our philosophy concerning the right to life. A new set of moral rules should be established, taking into account the fact that an endeavour to prolong human life indefinitely should not be desirable because it is to the detriment of nature and thus to humanity itself.
Assessing the usefulness of electroencephalography in psychiatry: Outcome of referrals at a psychiatric hospital
Authors: Molokomme Molokashe , Subramaney Ugasvaree
Published: August 2016

This retrospective study was conducted at Sterkfontein psychiatric hospital in Gauteng. The objectives included investigating reasons for referral to conduct an electroencephalography (EEG) and to determine whether EEG findings have impact on clinical management. Source data included EEG reports over an 18-month period and clinical records. The total sample was 85 adult inpatients (53 males; 32 females). Seizure disorder exclusion was the main reason for EEG referral (69.0%). Seventy-four (87.0%) records were normal, 7 (8.2%) were abnormal 2 (2.4%) were inconclusive and 2 (2.4%) EEG reports were unavailable. There was no statistically significant correlation between abnormal EEG results and demographic variables, symptoms admission diagnosis and medications. EEG recording demonstrated a low yield of abnormal results. In this study, EEG results did not appear to influence the treating psychiatrists regarding management, but this could be as a result of the small sample size. As interactions between psychiatric conditions and epilepsy are important and well established, negative EEGs are indeed useful and it is recommended that clinicians should carefully consider which patients should be referred for EEGs.
Development of CarbonTracker Europe-CH4 – Part 1: system set-up and sensitivity analyses
Authors: Tsuruta Aki , Aalto Tuula , Backman Leif , Hakkarainen Janne , van der Laan-Luijkx Ingrid T. , Krol Maarten C. , Spahni Renato , Houweling Sander , Laine Marko , van der Schoot Marcel , Langenfelds Ray , Ellul Raymond , Peters Wouter
Published: August 2016

Abstract. CarbonTracker Europe-CH4 (CTE-CH4) inverse model versions 1.0 and 1.1 are presented. The model optimizes global surface methane emissions from biosphere and anthropogenic sources using an ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) based optimization method, using the TM5 chemistry transport model as an observation operator, and assimilating global in-situ atmospheric methane mole fraction observations. In this study, we examine sensitivity of our CH4 emission estimates on the ensemble size, covariance matrix, prior estimates, observations to be assimilated, assimilation window length, convection scheme in TM5, and model structure in the emission estimates by performing CTE-CH4 with several set-ups. The analyses show that the model is sensitive to most of the parameters and inputs that were examined. Firstly, using a large enough ensemble size stabilises the results. Secondly, using an informative covariance matrix reduces uncertainty estimates. Thirdly, agreement with discrete observations became better when assimilating continuous observations. Finally, the posterior emissions were found sensitive to the choice of prior estimates, convection scheme and model structure, particularly to their spatial distribution. The distribution of posterior mole fractions derived from posterior emissions is consistent with the observations to the extent prescribed in the various covariance estimates, indicating a satisfactory performance of our system.
Bioscientists in Greece: To Be Or Not To Be A Teacher?
Authors: Kedraka Katerina , Linara Katerina , Anna Mandala Eleni
Published: August 2016

Career development is a significant part of a person’s life. For Bioscientists inGreecefinding a job is not easy, especially recently, due to a severe economic crisis the country goes through, which has negatively affected the labor market. Although their academic curricula during their graduate studies strongly urge them towards research, most of them make a living as teachers in high schools. This study is a quality research on Bioscientists’s career in Education inGreece. Data was collected through interviews and the sample includes 16 Greek Bioscientists –seven working in Education and nine in other areas. For the results, Content Analysis was used and it revealed that for those working in a high school, although it wasn’t always their first choice, it turned out to be a good job alternative. For those who didn’t choose Secondary Education to work in, Academia is considered as an excellent career option but the limitation of available positions makes them turn to other employment alternatives, like pharmaceutical companies or marketing. To conclude, Bioscientists’ career inGreeceseems to be a dynamic process, formed according to personal interests, values and one’s personality as well as to external, mainly economic, factors, leading them to realistic, personal pursuits.
Affective Domain: The Relationship between Teachers’ Affective Factors and EFL Students’ Motivation
Authors: Amini Ranjbar Nahid , Haddad Narafshan Mehry
Published: August 2016

When students are motivated to learn, they try harder to understand the material and thereby learn more deeply, resulting in a better ability to transfer what they have learned to new situations. This study aimed at investigating the relationship between teachers’ affective factors (motivation, anxiety, attitude, and self-confidence) and students’ motivation in EFL classrooms. Affective factors in language learning act as a barrier that filtrates the amount of input in learners’ brain. Some students have very weak performance on the second language acquisition because they have little or no motivation. Ignoring the relationship between teachers’ affective factors and students learning will have negative influence on the teaching and learning process. In order to conduct the study, the quantitative research method was used.  In this study, 160 pre-intermediate female EFL students were selected randomly as the sample size from four English language institutes in Rafsanjan. The students were asked to answer two questionnaires (teachers’ affective factors questionnaire and students’ motivation questionnaire).The results revealed that the students’ instrumental motivation was more than their integrative motivation and the teachers’ integrative motivation was the most important factor in predicating the students’ motivation. Additionally, there was no relationship between students’ age range and their motivation for learning English.
Pressupostos epistemológicos, concepções de arte e de educação: conexões para pensarmos o ensino de arte no Brasil em sua fase pré-moderna
Authors: Sérvio Pablo
Published: August 2016

Este artigo apresenta os pressupostos epistemológicos empirista e racionalista, descreve suas diferenças e semelhanças, e aponta a relação destes com certas concepções de arte e educação. Inicialmente traça relações entre estes pressupostos epistemológicos com concepções de educação inatista e ambientalista e em seguida com concepções de arte baseadas nas noções plantonista e naturalista de mimese. Termina pontuando reverberações sobre práticas de ensino de arte no Brasil em sua fase pré-moderna.  Enviado em: 22 de maio de 2016.Aprovado em: 05 de agosto de 2016.
Pesquisa...educação...um olhar sobre a formação docente no estágio curricular supervisionado em artes visuais
Authors: Neuscharank Angélica
Published: August 2016

Esta escrita se propõe a compartilhar algumas experiências referentes a docência orientada realizada na disciplina de estágio curricular supervisionado, no curso de graduação em Artes Visuais, tendo em vista, o olhar para com o professor-pesquisador e a potencialidade da problematização nesses espaços formativos. Trata-se de experienciar as diferentes instâncias da docência no ensino superior em uma disciplina que vivencia os processos de formação de professores. O intuito é contar sobre os encontros que tivemos, sobre a produção de escritas a partir das leituras realizadas, e as ressonâncias das mesmas nas orientações dos projetos de ensino e pesquisa, nos planejamentos das aulas, nas inserções e assistências nas escolas, nos processos avaliativos e na produção de instrumentos que possam acompanhar esses percursos.  Enviado em: 14 de maio de 2016. Aprovado em: 26 de julho de 2016.
Sentidos del escribir
Authors: Skliar Carlos
Published: August 2016

Este artículo pone de relieve la cuestión del “sentido” de la escritura, del “sentido” del escribir. Aunque tal vez el único “sentido”, la única razón de la escritura sea escribir, sin tener razones para hacerlo, ni de antemano ni a posteriori, ni razones mayúsculas ni razones minúsculas. Ni escribir para ser alguien en el mundo, ni para el futuro, ni para el porvenir, ni para la posteridad; ni para asumir una posición desde la cual ver el mundo, ni para autorizar a que otros tomen ésas u otras posiciones, ni para avanzar en la vida, ni para retroceder. Ni para ser mejor o peor persona. Enviado em: 30 de maio de 2016.Aprovado em: 01 de agosto de 2016.
Directing the Differentiation of Parthenogenetic Stem Cells into Tenocytes for Tissue-Engineered Tendon Regeneration
Authors: Liu Wei , Yin Lu , Yan Xingrong , Cui Jihong , Liu Wenguang , Rao Yang , Sun Mei , Wei Qi , Chen Fulin
Published: August 2016

Uniparental parthenogenesis yields pluripotent stem cells without the political and ethical concerns surrounding the use of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) for biomedical applications. In the current study, we hypothesized that parthenogenetic stem cells (pSCs) could be directed to differentiate into tenocytes and applied for tissue-engineered tendon. We showed that pSCs displayed fundamental properties similar to those of ESCs, including pluripotency, clonogenicity, and self-renewal capacity. pSCs spontaneously differentiated into parthenogenetic mesenchymal stem cells (pMSCs), which were positive for mesenchymal stem cell surface markers and possessed osteogenic, chondrogenic, and adipogenic potential. Then, mechanical stretch was applied to improve the tenogenic differentiation of pMSCs, as indicated by the expression of tenogenic-specific markers and an increasing COL1A1:3A1 ratio. The pSC-derived tenocytes could proliferate and secrete extracellular matrix on the surface of poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid scaffolds. Finally, engineered tendon-like tissue was successfully generated after in vivo heterotopic implantation of a tenocyte-scaffold composite. In conclusion, our experiment introduced an effective and practical strategy for applying pSCs for tendon regeneration.
Analyse qualitative des performances d’enfants présentant une déficience intellectuelle aux Matrices Progressives Couleur de Raven
Authors: Bussy Gérald , Ducrocq Marie , de Freminville Bénédicte , Touraine Renaud
Published: August 2016

Le test Matrices Progressives de Raven Couleur mesure les capacités de raisonnement analogique des personnes présentant une déficience intellectuelle. Quelques études ont montré la validité de cet outil psychométrique auprès de populations présentant une déficience en comparant les types d’erreurs commises. Nous proposons une analyse complémentaire au travers des types de problèmes résolus. Pour cela, nous avons comparé les types d’erreurs et les types de problèmes d’un groupe d’enfants présentant une déficience intellectuelle (N=22) et ceux d’un groupe d’enfants n’en présentant pas (N=22) appariés sur le score global. Les résultats montrent des patterns similaires tant au niveau des types d’erreurs commises que des types de problèmes résolus. Ces résultats confirment l’intérêt d’une analyse qualitative des performances à un test de raisonnement analogique.
Acquisition des connaissances spatiales par la personne présentant une déficience intellectuelle dans les environnements virtuels
Authors: Mengue-Topio Hursula , Courbois Yannick , Sockeel Pascal
Published: August 2016

Cette étude examine l’apprentissage d’un nouvel environnement par des adultes avec et sans déficience intellectuelle (DI) de même âge chronologique. Suite à l’exploration active d’un environnement virtuel simulant un milieu urbain, nous avons évalué la mémorisation des points de repère, l’apprentissage de routes et la capacité à inférer des trajets nouveaux ou des raccourcis non appris auparavant. Les résultats indiquent que les participants de chaque groupe reconnaissent les points de repère et apprennent les routes à travers cet environnement. Cependant, les participants présentant une déficience intellectuelle infèrent peu de chemins nouveaux. Ainsi, la familiarité avec un environnement favorise l’acquisition des connaissances spatiales chez les deux groupes de participants qui se distinguent en revanche par l’accès aux représentations spatiales complexes.
Le sens de l’alternance. Alternative pédagogique, projet éthique et perspective politique
Authors: Guillaumin Catherine
Published: August 2016

Le sens de l’alternance est celui qu’a construit, au fil du temps, l’auteur qui exerce le métier de pédagogue-chercheur. Le trait d’union symbolise ici la reliance entre deux pratiques que met en forme un exercice régulier d’écriture. Six processus sont dévoilés en deux temps : ceux qui forment les piliers de cette alternative pédagogique ingénieuse (production, transaction et coopération) et ceux qui sont cachés et secrètement animent la première configuration (intégration, autorisation et émancipation). Leur articulation complexe ouvre une voie alternative pour apprendre, former et se former comme sujet, pour problématiser ce qui fait sens pour soi et pouvoir ensuite se projeter comme acteur social dans un dispositif ou une organisation. Autoriser l’ingéniosité singulière peut permettre à chacun de dessiner les formes convenables pour trouver sa place comme acteur social.
Efficacy of Prophylactic Drain Placement in Laparoscopic Total Gastrectomy: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Saito Akira , Murakami Masahiko , Otsuka Koji , Yamazaki Kimiyasu , Komoto Masahiro , Kato Rei , Motegi Kentaro , Date Hiromi , Yamashita Takeshi , Ariyoshi Tomotake , Goto Satoru , Watanabe Makoto , Enami Yuta , Aoki Takeshi
Published: August 2016

The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of prophylactic drain placement in laparoscopic total gastrectomy (LTG). Ninety-four patients with gastric cancer who underwent LTG between December 2007 and December 2014 were enrolled in this study. A tube drain was placed in 29 patients after considering it necessary by operators, whereas no tube drain was placed in remaining patients. All patients were classified into either the drain or the no-drain group and were investigated for clinical characteristics and surgical outcomes. Overall, complications occurred in 15 patients and were not significantly different between the drain and no-drain groups [5 (17.2%) versus 10 (15.4%) patients]. No significant difference was observed in median duration of postoperative hospital stay between the drain and no-drain groups (12 versus 12 days). There was no significant difference in the duration of hospital stay regardless of the presence of drains in both groups of patients who developed complications (with drain: 27 days versus without drain: 21.5 days) and those who did not develop complications (with drain: 12 days versus without drain: 12 days). In conclusion, on the basis of the results of this study, routine prophylactic drain placement in LTG may not be necessary because it does not offer any additional benefits for patients.
Statistical analysis of nighttime medium‐scale traveling ionospheric disturbances using airglow images and GPS observations over central China
Authors: Huang Fuqing , Dou Xiankang , Lei Jiuhou , Lin Jian , Ding Feng , Zhong Jiahao
Published: August 2016

Statistical analyses were conducted to investigate the nighttime medium‐scale traveling ionospheric disturbances (MSTIDs) for the first time by using airglow images and Global Positioning System (GPS) data over central China during 2013–2015. Our results show that the phase fronts of perturbations are aligned from northwest to southeast direction and propagate toward the southwest direction. The characteristics of the nighttime MSTIDs observed by OI 630.0 nm images are consistent with those of the nighttime MSTIDs obtained from the GPS data. The phase velocity, period, wavelength, and amplitude of nighttime MSTIDs are 50–150 m/s, 0.5–1.5 h, 150–400 km, and 2%–15%, respectively, as measured from 630.0 nm images and GPS data. In addition, we utilized the simultaneous observations from OI 630.0 nm and OI 557.7 nm images to explore the relationship between nighttime MSTIDs and gravity waves (<100 km) in the mesopause. It is found that the nighttime MSTIDs frequently occurred in the summer solstice, which was not consistent with the occurrence of gravity wave observed in the mesopause. Our results indicate that the nighttime MSTIDs may be generated by the coupling of electrodynamic processes rather than be trigged by gravity waves from the lower atmosphere.
On the propagation of a geoeffective coronal mass ejection during 15–17 March 2015
Authors: Wang Yuming , Zhang Quanhao , Liu Jiajia , Shen Chenglong , Shen Fang , Yang Zicai , Zic T. , Vrsnak B. , Webb D. F. , Liu Rui , Wang S. , Zhang Jie , Hu Qiang , Zhuang Bin
Published: August 2016

The largest geomagnetic storm so far, called 2015 St. Patrick's Day event, in the solar cycle 24 was produced by a fast coronal mass ejection (CME) originating on 15 March 2015. It was an initially west‐oriented CME and expected to only cause a weak geomagnetic disturbance. Why did this CME finally cause such a large geomagnetic storm? We try to find some clues by investigating its propagation from the Sun to 1 AU. First, we reconstruct the CME's kinematic properties in the corona from the SOHO and Solar Dynamics Observatory imaging data with the aid of the graduated cylindrical shell model. It is suggested that the CME propagated to the west ∼33°±10° away from the Sun‐Earth line with a speed of about 817 km s−1 before leaving the field of view of the SOHO/Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO) C3 camera. A magnetic cloud (MC) corresponding to this CME was measured in situ by the Wind spacecraft 2 days after the CME left LASCO's field of view. By applying two MC reconstruction methods, we infer the configuration of the MC as well as some kinematic information, which implies that the CME possibly experienced an eastward deflection on its way to 1 AU. However, due to the lack of observations from the STEREO spacecraft, the CME's kinematic evolution in interplanetary space is not clear. In order to fill this gap, we utilize numerical MHD simulation, drag‐based CME propagation model (DBM) and the model for CME deflection in interplanetary space (DIPS) to recover the propagation process, especially the trajectory, of the CME from 30RS to 1 AU under the constraints of the derived CME's kinematics near the Sun and at 1 AU. It is suggested that the trajectory of the CME was deflected toward the Earth by about 12°, consistent with the implication from the MC reconstruction at 1 AU. This eastward deflection probably contributed to the CME's unexpected geoeffectiveness by pushing the center of the initially west‐oriented CME closer to the Earth.
Ion temperature intensification in southern convection flow channels during the 1 October 2001 geomagnetic storm recovery phase
Authors: Horvath Ildiko , Lovell Brian C.
Published: August 2016

In this study, we investigate Southern Hemisphere flow channel (FC) events and their underlying thermal and drift variations during the 1 October 2001 storm recovery phase. We adopt FC classification introduced by previous studies for specifying FCs, ranging from FC‐0 to FC‐4, according to the stages of convection cycle they are related to. Our investigation includes also the subauroral FC known as the subauroral polarization stream (SAPS) and the localized FC underlying plasma density increases crossing the polar cap. For tracking FCs, we utilize multi‐instrument data from the Defence Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP). Since our focus is on the region of magnetic South Pole, we utilize DMSP passes that crossed the magnetic pole. We present various scenarios with polar cross sections, constructed with ion density (Ni), electron and ion temperature (Te; Ti), and zonal and vertical drift (VY; VZ) data, where the location of magnetic pole is marked. Our results show (1) the occurrence of FC‐2 in the central polar cap, (2) the propagation of localized FC from the dayside to the nightside across the polar cap implying dayside‐nightside coupling across the polar cap, and (3) the structuring of SAPS FC. These scenarios reveal the local intensification of Ti and/or VZ in FCs (a) ranging from FC‐0 to FC‐3 and (b) specified as SAPS FC and localized FC passing over the magnetic pole. We conclude that strong upward drift, reaching sometimes ~1000 m/s, could enhance localized thermospheric impact caused by elevated Ti in FCs.
Observations of bidirectional lightning leader initiation and development near positive leader channels
Authors: Warner Tom A. , Saba Marcelo M. F. , Schumann Carina , Helsdon John H. , Orville Richard E.
Published: August 2016

Based on the analysis of high‐speed optical and electric field change data, we present three observed cases in which a naturally occurring bidirectional lightning leader initiated and developed in virgin air near a previous established positive leader channel. Twice a new leader formed near an upward propagating positive leader that had initiated from a tower during an upward flash and once a new leader formed near a downward propagating positive leader prior to a positive cloud‐to‐ground return stroke. There were clear and consistent behavioral differences between the positive and negative leader ends of the newly formed bidirectional leader, and the positive end grew more slowly than the negative end in each case. In all three cases, the negative end of the bipolar leader connected with the previously formed positive leader channel creating a new positive leader branch. These rare observations show the bidirectional nature of naturally occurring lightning and suggest that positive leaders can gain branches by connection with newly formed bipolar leaders.
Synthesis of Conductive Magnetite Nanocomposite based on Polyaniline/Poly(maleic acid‐co‐acrylic acid) with Core–Shell Structure
Authors: Khodadadi Fatemeh , Najafi Moghadam Peyman , Mahmoodi Hashemi Mohammad
Published: August 2016

In this study, a new type of magnetite nanocomposite with a core–shell structure was synthesized using Fe3O4 nanoparticles as a core and polyaniline (PANI) as a shell. For this propose, the surface of Fe3O4 was chemically modified with hexamethylenediisocyanate (HMDI) to improve its compatibility and interphase interaction with the polymeric matrix. Thereafter, the PANI was reacted with modified Fe3O4 to anchor them to PANI by covalent bands which acted as a shell. In the second step, the poly (maleic acid‐co‐acrylic acid) (P(MAc‐co‐AA)) as polymeric dopant for the PANI was synthesized. Finally, the PANI anchored to Fe3O4 was immersed in an aqueous solution of poly (maleic anhydride‐co‐acrylic acid) to form Fe3O4@PANI@P(MAc‐co‐AA) as a final composition of magnetite nanocomposite. The structural, morphological, thermal, magnetic, and electrochemical properties of the products were characterized by FTIR, H‐NMR, UV‐Vis, XRD, SEM, TEM, TGA, VSM, and CV analysis.
Trisomy 13 and 18: Selecting the road previously not taken
Authors: McCaffrey Martin J.
Published: August 2016

The care of patients with trisomy 13 and 18 is a source of significant controversy. While these conditions are life limiting, indisputable data refutes the notion that these conditions are lethal or incompatible with life. Despite such evidence, arguments of beneficence, quality of life and limited resources are invoked to make the case to limit care to trisomy children. Lessons learned in our ignominious history with Down syndrome should guide us as we explore care for patients with trisomy 13 and 18. As clinicians we should strive with equipoise to carefully examine available data, the current status of practices related to care from palliation to intensive interventions, rise above our personal prejudices and listen to the voices of families imploring us to consider their opinions regarding the value of the life of a child with trisomy 13 or 18. We should recall and learn from our Down syndrome odyssey and select the road previously not taken as we chart a course to the best possible care for our trisomy 13 and 18 sisters and brothers. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Epilepsy in the setting of full trisomy 18: A multicenter study on 18 affected children with and without structural brain abnormalities
Authors: Matricardi Sara , Spalice Alberto , Salpietro Vincenzo , Di Rosa Gabriella , Balistreri Maria Cristina , Grosso Salvatore , Parisi Pasquale , Elia Maurizio , Striano Pasquale , Accorsi Patrizia , Cusmai Raffaella , Specchio Nicola , Coppola Giangennaro , Savasta Salvatore , Carotenuto Marco , Tozzi Elisabetta , Ferrara Pietro , Ruggieri Martino , Verrotti Alberto
Published: August 2016

This paper reports on the clinical aspects, electroencephalographic (EEG) features, and neuroimaging findings in children with full trisomy 18 and associated epilepsy, and compares the evolution and outcome of their neurological phenotype. We retrospectively studied 18 patients (10 males and 8 females; aged 14 months to 9 years) with full trisomy 18 and epilepsy. All patients underwent comprehensive assessment including neuroimaging studies of the brain. We divided patients into two groups according to neuroimaging findings: (Group 1) 10 patients harboring structural brain malformations, and (Group 2) 8 patients with normal brain images. Group 1 had a significantly earlier age at seizure onset (2 months) compared to Group 2 (21 months). The seizure semiology was more severe in Group 1, who presented multiple seizure types, need for polytherapy (80% of patients), multifocal EEG abnormalities and poorer outcome (drug resistant epilepsy in 90% of patients) than Group 2 who presented a single seizure type, generalized or focal, and non‐specific EEG pattern; these patients were successfully treated with monotherapy with good outcome. Imaging revealed a wide and complex spectrum of structural brain abnormalities including anomalies of the commissures, cerebellar malformations, cortical abnormalities, and various degrees of cortical atrophy. Epilepsy in full trisomy 18 may develop during the first months of life and can be associated with structural brain malformations. Patients with brain malformations can show multiple seizure types and can frequently be resistant to therapy with antiepileptic drugs. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Application of PE‐RADSeq to the study of genomic diversity and divergence of two Brazilian marmoset species (Callithrix jacchusandC. penicillata)
Authors: Malukiewicz Joanna , Guschanski Katerina , Grativol Adriana D. , Oliveira Maria Adélia B. , Ruiz‐Miranda Carlos R. , Stone Anne C.
Published: August 2016

Callithrix jacchusandC. penicillataare among the smallest anthropoid primates, are highly specialized tree gougers, and largely occupy Brazil's most extreme, semi‐arid biomes. However, the underlying genomic factors that underpin the evolution of these species and their unique traits are under‐investigated. Additionally, exotic populations of these two species are widely established throughout Brazil and hybridize with threatened native congers. Thus, both genomic and conservation factors call for a better understanding ofC. jacchusandC. penicillataevolution. Here, we applied PE‐RADseq to characterize genomic variation in these two species, using sixC. jacchusand sevenC. penicillataindividuals. We identified an average of 7,463 and 5,180 SNPs/individual inC. penicillataandC. jacchus, respectively, and also found 1,395 variable sites that were represented in both species.C. penicillatashowed overall higher levels of genetic diversity thanC. jacchusat the variable sites present in both species. Additionally, among these variable sites, 106 showed relative interspecific divergence levels that were significantly higher than the genome‐wide average. We further compared relative and absolute divergence forC. penicillataandC. jacchusbetween RAD loci associated with the 106 significantly diverged variable sites and all other RAD loci present in both species. The former RAD loci set showed significantly elevated relative and absolute divergence measures in comparison to the latter set. This convergence suggests thatC. jacchusandC. penicillatamay have diverged under a scenario of gene flow under secondary contact. Here, we demonstrate that RADseq is an efficient method to simultaneously discover and genotype a large number of markers and validate the utility of RADseq for examiningCallithrixevolution.
Statin therapy prevents the onset of Parkinson disease in patients with diabetes
Authors: Lin Kun‐Der , Yang Chun‐Yuh , Lee Mei‐Yueh , Ho Shu‐Chen , Liu Ching‐Kuan , Shin Shyi‐Jang
Published: August 2016

Objective

We studied the association between the statin dosage and the risk of Parkinson disease (PD) in diabetic patients in Taiwan.

Methods

One million patients were randomly sampled from a National Health Insurance (NHI) database and followed from 2001 to 2008. Diabetic patients were screened by diagnosis of International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD‐9‐CM) codes, and statin dosage was determined according to the NHI pharmacy database. PD was diagnosed on the basis of ICD‐9‐CM codes and anti‐Parkinson medication use. Statin users was classified by statin dose‐duration‐day > 28 and matched with nonusers of statins using a coarsened exact matching method. There were 50,432 patients, and half of them were statin users. We examined the risk of PD between statin users and nonusers of statins and further tested the trends of the relative risk between the statin dosage and PD.

Results

The PD incidence rate was lower in statin users than in nonusers of statins. The crude hazard ratio of PD incidence in statin users was 0.65 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.57–0.74) in females and 0.60 (95% CI = 0.51–0.69) in males compared with nonusers of statins. After Cox regression analysis, all statins except lovastatin exerted protective effects on PD incidence and had a significant dose‐dependent trend.

Interpretation

In Taiwanese diabetic patients, the risk of PD is lower in statin users than in nonusers of statins. Statin users, except lovastatin users, are dose‐dependently associated with a decreased incidence of PD compared with nonusers of statins. This finding provides a new indication for statin beyond lipid control and cardiovascular events in diabetic patients. Ann Neurol 2016;80:532–540
Multifocal nerve lesions and LZTR1 germline mutations in segmental schwannomatosis
Authors: Farschtschi Said , Mautner Victor‐Felix , Pham Mirko , Nguyen Rosa , Kehrer‐Sawatzki Hildegard , Hutter Sonja , Friedrich Reinhard E. , Schulz Alexander , Morrison Helen , Jones David T. W. , Bendszus Martin , Bäumer Philipp
Published: August 2016

Schwannomatosis is a genetic disorder characterized by the occurrence of multiple peripheral schwannomas. Segmental schwannomatosis is diagnosed when schwannomas are restricted to 1 extremity and is thought to be caused by genetic mosaicism. We studied 5 patients with segmental schwannomatosis through microstructural magnetic resonance neurography and mutation analysis of NF2, SMARCB1, and LZTR1. In 4 of 5 patients, subtle fascicular nerve lesions were detected in clinically unaffected extremities. Two patients exhibited LZTR1 germline mutations. This appears contrary to a simple concept of genetic mosaicism and suggests more complex and heterogeneous mechanisms underlying the phenotype of segmental schwannomatosis than previously thought. Ann Neurol 2016;80:625–628
Waterborne polyurethane nanocomposites based on vegetable oil and microfibrillated cellulose
Authors: Hormaiztegui María Eugenia Victoria , Mucci Verónica Luján , Santamaria‐Echart Arantzazu , Corcuera María Ángeles , Eceiza Arantxa , Aranguren Mirta Inés
Published: August 2016

This work analyzes the differences in the final properties of two waterborne polyurethanes (WBPU) prepared with two macrodiols of different chemical structure, but similar molecular weight, as well as the variations caused by incorporating low percentages of microfibrillated cellulose nanocrystals. One of the polyurethanes was based on a synthetic but biodegradable precursor (polycaprolactone diol, PCL) and a second one based on a bio‐based macrodiol derived from castor oil (CO1). The bio‐based material presented higher mechanical properties at room temperature than the synthetic one, with the Young's modulus (MPa) ranging from 2.23 ± 0.09 to 84.88 ± 0.96 for the PCL and bio‐based WBPUs, respectively. Additionally, the PCL‐based WBPU showed to be more sensitive to the incorporation of cellulose than the bio‐based WBPU, and it also suffered changes during time due to delayed crystallization. The behavior of the two systems were compared and related to the different structure of the macrodiols that led to different interfacial interactions. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 44207.
Neuron density is decreased in the prefrontal cortex in Williams syndrome
Authors: Lew Caroline Horton , Brown Chelsea , Bellugi Ursula , Semendeferi Katerina
Published: August 2016

Williams Syndrome (WS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder associated with a hemideletion in chromosome 7, which manifests a distinct behavioral phenotype characterized by a hyperaffiliative social drive, in striking contrast to the social avoidance behaviors that are common in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). MRI studies have observed structural and functional abnormalities in WS cortex, including the prefrontal cortex (PFC), a region implicated in social cognition. This study utilizes the Bellugi Williams Syndrome Brain Collection, a unique resource that comprises the largest WS postmortem brain collection in existence, and is the first to quantitatively examine WS PFC cytoarchitecture. We measured neuron density in layers II/III and V/VI of five cortical areas: PFC areas BA 10 and BA 11, primary motor BA 4, primary somatosensory BA 3, and visual area BA 18 in six matched pairs of WS and typically developing (TD) controls. Neuron density in PFC was lower in WS relative to TD, with layers V/VI demonstrating the largest decrease in density, reaching statistical significance in BA 10. In contrast, BA 3 and BA 18 demonstrated a higher density in WS compared to TD, although this difference was not statistically significant. Neuron density in BA 4 was similar in WS and TD. While other cortical areas were altered in WS, prefrontal areas appeared to be most affected. Neuron density is also altered in the PFC of individuals with ASD. Together these findings suggest that the PFC is targeted in neurodevelopmental disorders associated with sociobehavioral alterations. Autism Res 2017, 10: 99–112. © 2016 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Prenatal stress exposure, oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) methylation, and child autistic traits: The moderating role of OXTR rs53576 genotype
Authors: Rijlaarsdam Jolien , van IJzendoorn Marinus H. , Verhulst Frank C. , Jaddoe Vincent W. V. , Felix Janine F. , Tiemeier Henning , Bakermans‐Kranenburg Marian J.
Published: August 2016

Findings of studies investigating OXTR SNP rs53576 (G‐A) variation in social behavior have been inconsistent, possibly because DNA methylation after stress exposure was eliminated from consideration. Our goal was to examine OXTR rs53576 allele‐specific sensitivity for neonatal OXTR DNA methylation in relation to (1) a prenatal maternal stress composite, and (2) child autistic traits. Prospective data from fetal life to age 6 years were collected in a total of 743 children participating in the Generation R Study. Prenatal maternal stress exposure was uniquely associated with child autistic traits but was unrelated to OXTR methylation across both OXTR rs53576 G‐allele homozygous children and A‐allele carriers. For child autistic traits in general and social communication problems in particular, we observed a significant OXTR rs53576 genotype by OXTR methylation interaction in the absence of main effects, suggesting that opposing effects cancelled each other out. Indeed, OXTR methylation levels were positively associated with social problems for OXTR rs53576 G‐allele homozygous children but not for A‐allele carriers. These results highlight the importance of incorporating epi‐allelic information and support the role of OXTR methylation in child autistic traits. Autism Res 2017, 10: 430–438. © 2016 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
TGF‐β1 monoclonal antibody: Assessment of embryo‐fetal toxicity in rats and rabbits
Authors: Hilbish Kim G. , Martin Jennifer A. , Stauber Anja J. , Edwards Tammye L. , Breslin William J.
Published: August 2016

A humanized monoclonal antibody targeting transforming growth factor β1 (TGF‐β1 mab) has been used in development for the treatment of chronic kidney disease. Embryo‐fetal development studies were conducted in rats and rabbits using 30 and 25 animals per group, respectively. The TGF‐β1 mab was administered subcutaneously to rats at 0, 2, or 50 mg/kg/dose on gestation days (GDs) 6, 10, and 14 and intravenously to rabbits at 0 or 3 mg/kg/dose on GDs 7, 12 to 19, and at 30 mg/kg/dose on GDs 7, 12, 14, 16, and 18. Maternal reproductive endpoints and fetal viability, weight, and morphology were evaluated. There was no indication of maternal or embryo‐fetal toxicity in the rat. Effects in the rabbit were limited to the fetus where the 30 mg/kg TGF‐β1 mab dose produced a slight decrease in fetal weight and an increase in the incidence of retrocaval ureter and an absent and/or malpositioned kidney/ureter in two fetuses. In conclusion, TGF‐β1 mab produced no adverse maternal or embryo‐fetal findings in rats when administered ≤50 mg/kg on GDs 6, 10, and 14. TGF‐β1 mab did not demonstrate maternal toxicity or embryo‐fetal lethality at doses as high as 30 mg/kg when administered on GDs 7, 12, 14, 16, and 18 in rabbits. Fetal growth and morphology were affected only at 30 mg/kg; thus, the no observed adverse effect level was 3 mg/kg in rabbits. The margin of safety for both rats and rabbits was ≥37‐fold the clinical exposure level.
Retrotransposon‐derived p53 binding sites enhance telomere maintenance and genome protection
Authors: Lieberman Paul M.
Published: August 2016

Tumor suppressor protein 53 (p53) plays a central role in the control of genome stability, acting primarily through the transcriptional activation of stress‐response genes. However, many p53 binding sites are located at genomic locations with no obvious regulatory‐link to known stress‐response genes. We recently discovered p53 binding sites within retrotransposon‐derived elements in human and mouse subtelomeres. These retrotransposon‐derived p53 binding sites protected chromosome ends through transcription activation of telomere repeat RNA, as well as through the direct modification of local chromatin structure in response to DNA damage. Based on these findings, I hypothesize that a class of p53 binding sites, including the retrotransposon‐derived p53‐sites found in subtlomeres, provide a primary function in genome stability by mounting a direct and local protective chromatin‐response to DNA damage. I speculate that retrotransposon‐derived p53 binding sites share features with telomere‐repeats through an evolutionary drive to monitor and maintain genome integrity.
Ultrasound‐guided central venous catheterization: A review of the relevant anatomy, technique, complications, and anatomical variations
Authors: Hoffman Taryn , Du Plessis Maira , Prekupec Matthew P. , Gielecki Jerzy , Zurada Anna , Tubbs R. Shane , Loukas Marios
Published: August 2016

Central venous catheterization is a commonly used and important intervention. Despite its regular use it is still associated with a high incidence of complications especially infection and catheter tip embolization. Addition of ultrasound guidance to the technique has shown great improvement to the time and number of attempts for successful catheterization. The preference of vein depends greatly on the situation; subclavian vein is the preferred method overall but internal jugular vein is preferred in patients undergoing cardiac or thoracic surgery. This is especially true for pediatric patients in whom femoral vein catheterization is still preferred despite it carrying a higher risk than other locales. Addition of ultrasound guidance greatly reduces the incidence of arterial puncture and subsequent hematoma formation regardless of location. This is because it allows for visualization of anatomical variation prior to intervention and continual visualization of the needle during the placement. It is noteworthy however, that addition of ultrasound does not prevent complications such as catheter tip embolization as this may occur even with perfect placement. The value of ultrasound usage is undisputable since all studies assessing the difference between it and landmark based methods showed preferable outcome. Reduction of time and number of attempts is sufficient argument to make ultrasound guidance standard practice. Clin. Anat. 30:237–250, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Five‐year mortality outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention
Authors: Patel Agam D. , Ibrahim Mohammed , Swaminathan Rajesh V. , Minhas Irfan U. , Kim Luke K. , Venkatesh Prashanth , Feldman Dmitriy N. , Minutello Robert M. , Bergman Geoffrey W. , Wong S. Chiu , Singh Harsimran S.
Published: August 2016

Objective

To examine peri‐procedural and long‐term outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI).

Background

Patients with advanced CKD are considered high risk when undergoing PCI. Limited published data exist on quantifying risk and assessment of long‐term outcomes after PCI in this group.

Methods

Examining the Cornell Coronary Registry, we prospectively collected data of 6,478 consecutive patients who underwent elective or urgent PCI between 2009 and 2013. Patients were grouped into CKD stages by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) according to KDOQI guidelines. Procedural and 30‐day outcomes are reported with assessment of long‐term differences in 5‐year all‐cause mortality.

Results

Patients were grouped by CKD stages: 1,351 patients with eGFR ≥90 mL/min/1.73 m2 (stage 1), 2,882 with eGFR 60–89 (stage 2), 1,742 with eGFR 30–59 (stage 3), 191 with eGFR 15–29 (stage 4), and 312 with eGFR <15 or on dialysis (stage 5). The incidence of post‐procedural acute heart failure, stroke, new dialysis requirement, transfusions, and bleeding events were higher in patients with greater CKD stage (P < 0.05). Five‐year Kaplan–Meier overall survival among CKD stages 1–5 was 98.1, 95.5, 91.8, 82.5, and 76.9%, respectively (P < 0.001 by log‐rank test). The hazard ratios of all‐cause mortality for CKD stages 2–5 as compared to stage 1 by multivariate Cox regression analysis were as follows: 1.32 (P = 0.26), 2.04 (P < 0.01), 2.79 (P < 0.01), and 5.49 (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Among patients undergoing PCI, lower GFR is associated with decreased long‐term survival. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Variational Formula for the Time Constant of First‐Passage Percolation
Authors: Krishnan Arjun
Published: August 2016

We consider first‐passage percolation with positive, stationary‐ergodic weights on the square lattice ℤd. LetT(x) be the first‐passage time from the origin to a pointxin ℤd. The convergence of the scaled first‐passage timeT([nx])/nto the time constant asn → ∞ can be viewed as a problem of homogenization for a discrete Hamilton‐Jacobi‐Bellman (HJB) equation. We derive an exact variational formula for the time constant and construct an explicit iteration that produces a minimizer of the variational formula (under a symmetry assumption). We explicitly identify when the iteration produces correctors.© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Analysis, design and simulation of Internet of Things routing algorithm based on ant colony optimization
Authors: Said Omar
Published: August 2016

In this paper, a routing algorithm to optimize the selection of the best path for the transmitted data within the Internet of Things (IoT) system is proposed. The algorithm controls the use of ant colony ideas in the IoT system to obtain the best routing benefit. It divides the IoT environment into categorized areas depending on network types. Then, it applies the most suitable ant colony algorithm to the concerned network within each area. Furthermore, the algorithm considers routing problem in intersected areas that may arise in case of IoT system. Finally, Network Simulator 2 is used to evaluate the proposed algorithm performance. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed routing algorithm in terms of end‐to‐end delay, packet loss ratio, bandwidth consumption, throughput, overhead of control bits, and energy consumption ratio. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Combination of Vildagliptin and Pioglitazone in Experimental Type 2 Diabetes in Male Rats
Authors: Refaat Rowaida , Sakr Ahmed , Salama Mona , El Sarha Ashgan
Published: August 2016

Preclinical Research

The majority of studies on vildagliptin and pioglitazone have focused on their combination in glycemic control. The aim of the present study was to investigate their effects in combination on (i) hyperglycemia‐induced oxidative stress and inflammation and (ii) on organs involved in the pathophysiology of diabetes, pancreas, kidney and liver. Type 2 diabetes was induced using low‐dose streptozotocin in male Wistar rats. Diabetic rats were treated for 4 weeks, with vildagliptin (10 mg/kg/day), pioglitazone (10 mg/kg/day) and their combination. Diabetic rats showed elevated fasting serum glucose, fasting serum insulin, serum transaminases together with a deleterious lipid profile and elevated serum creatinine and urea concentrations. Serum levels of the inflammatory markers tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) and nitrite/nitrate were also elevated compared to normal rats. Oxidative stress was manifested by lowered hepatic reduced glutathione (GSH) and increased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Pancreatic sections from diabetic rats showed degenerated islets with poorly maintained architecture that was prevented by drug treatment. Pioglitazone was generally more effective than vildagliptin in the studied parameters except for the lipid profile where the effect of both drugs was comparable and for the liver enzymes and renal parameters where vildagliptin was more effective. The combination of vildagliptin and pioglitazone produced superior effects than either drug alone. Drug Dev Res 77 : 251–257, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.