bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
VHL substrate transcription factor ZHX2 as an oncogenic driver in clear cell renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Zhang Jing , Wu Tao , Simon Jeremy , Takada Mamoru , Saito Ryoichi , Fan Cheng , Liu Xian-De , Jonasch Eric , Xie Ling , Chen Xian , Yao Xiaosai , Teh Bin Tean , Tan Patrick , Zheng Xingnan , Li Mingjie , Lawrence Cortney , Fan Jie , Geng Jiang , Liu Xijuan , Hu Lianxin , Wang Jun , Liao Chengheng , Hong Kai , Zurlo Giada , Parker Joel S. , Auman J. Todd , Perou Charles M. , Rathmell W. Kimryn , Kim William Y. , Kirschner Marc W. , Kaelin William G. , Baldwin Albert S. , Zhang Qing
Published: July 2018

Mechanistic insights into kidney cancer

Many clear cell renal cell carcinomas (ccRCCs) have alterations to the gene encoding the von Hippel-Lindau protein (VHL). VHL is a ubiquitin ligase that degrades target proteins when they are prolyl-hydroxylated. Zhang
et al.
performed a genome-wide search for VHL target (see the Perspective by Sanchez and Simon). They identified ZHX2, a protein with structural motifs that indicate DNA binding. ZHX2 has been implicated in tumor suppression. Loss of ZHX2 inhibited signaling through the transcription factor NF-κB, and ZHX2 bound to many NF-κB target genes. Depletion of ZHX2 slowed growth of ccRCC cells in vitro and in a mouse model.

Science
, this issue p.
290
; see also p.
226
Mesophotic coral ecosystems are threatened and ecologically distinct from shallow water reefs
Authors: Rocha Luiz A. , Pinheiro Hudson T. , Shepherd Bart , Papastamatiou Yannis P. , Luiz Osmar J. , Pyle Richard L. , Bongaerts Pim
Published: July 2018

Deep coral reefs are different

Coral reefs are under intense pressure from anthropogenically induced climate warming and habitat destruction. It has been suggested that coral reefs in deeper waters may provide a refuge less affected by human development and climate change. Rocha
et al.
, however, show that shallow and deep reefs are biologically different. Furthermore, deep (or mesophotic) reefs are also suffering from human impacts. Thus, deep reefs do not represent a potential refuge for other reef ecosystems. Indeed, they too are threatened and need protection.

Science
, this issue p.
281
Modeling the ecology and evolution of biodiversity: Biogeographical cradles, museums, and graves
Authors: Rangel Thiago F. , Edwards Neil R. , Holden Philip B. , Diniz-Filho José Alexandre F. , Gosling William D. , Coelho Marco Túlio P. , Cassemiro Fernanda A. S. , Rahbek Carsten , Colwell Robert K.
Published: July 2018

Simulating South American biodiversity

The emergence, distribution, and extinction of species are driven by interacting factors—spatial, temporal, physical, and biotic. Rangel
et al.
simulated the past 800,000 years of evolution in South America, incorporating these factors into a spatially explicit dynamic model to explore the geographical generation of diversity. Their simulations, based on a paleoclimate model on a 5° latitude-longitude scale, result in shifting maps of speciation, persistence, and extinction (or cradles, museums, and graves). The simulations culminate in a striking resemblance to contemporary distribution patterns across the continent for birds, mammals, and plants—despite having no target patterns and no empirical data parameterizing them.

Science
, this issue p.
eaar5452
Electrofluorochromism at the single-molecule level
Authors: Doppagne Benjamin , Chong Michael C. , Bulou Hervé , Boeglin Alex , Scheurer Fabrice , Schull Guillaume
Published: July 2018

Changing emission with charge states

The fluorescence of electrochromic molecules changes with their charge state. Doppagne
et al.
studied the optical emission of single zinc-phthalocyanine molecules excited by electron injection from a scanning tunneling microscope tip. The molecules were adsorbed on salt layers grown on a gold surface, so that the cationic and neutral molecules could both be observed. The primary emission shifted to lower energy for the cation, and, in addition, vibrational side bands were observed.

Science
, this issue p.
251
Fault-tolerant detection of a quantum error
Authors: Rosenblum S. , Reinhold P. , Mirrahimi M. , Jiang Liang , Frunzio L. , Schoelkopf R. J.
Published: July 2018

Fault-tolerant quantum coding

Noise and imperfections in a quantum system can result in the presence and propagation of errors through the system. A reliable quantum processor will need to be able to correct for these errors and error syndromes. Rosenblum
et al.
used higher quantum states of a superconducting-based quantum circuit to demonstrate a method for the fault-tolerant measurement of an error-correctable logical qubit. Such fault-tolerant measurements will allow more frequent interrogations of the state of the logical qubit, ultimately leading to the implementation of more quantum operations and more complex entangled quantum circuits.

Science
, this issue p.
266
Torsional instability in the single-chain limit of a transition metal trichalcogenide
Authors: Pham Thang , Oh Sehoon , Stetz Patrick , Onishi Seita , Kisielowski Christian , Cohen Marvin L. , Zettl Alex
Published: July 2018

Oscillating one-dimensional chains

The confinement of materials to nanoscale dimensions often reveals properties not seen in bulk materials. Pham
et al.
confined NbSe
3
within carbon nanotubes (a conductor) or boron nitride nanotubes (an insulator). Transmission electron microscopy revealed an oscillatory motion of the confined chains not observed in bulk crystals. Electronic structure calculations showed that charge transfer drives the torsional wave instability, and the limited covalent bonding between the chains and the nanotube sheath allows unhindered dynamics. Application of an external potential applied to the nanotube should directly affect the torsion and thus lead to different optical and electron transport properties.

Science
, this issue p.
263
The seasonal fingerprint of climate change
Authors: Randel William J.
Published: July 2018

Satellite data provide evidence for human impacts on the seasonal temperature cycle
Confronting an unhealthy ecosystem
The Secret Life of Science
Jeremy J. Baumberg
Princeton University Press, 2018, 248 pp.
Authors: Dry Sarah
Published: July 2018

Exposing the pressures faced by modern researchers, a nanoscientist calls for change
Houseplants as home health monitors
Authors: Stewart C. Neal , Abudayyeh Rana K. , Stewart Susan G.
Published: July 2018

Genetically engineered plants could detect microbiome changes in the built environment
Growth-Inhibitory Effect of
d
-Tryptophan on Vibrio spp. in Shucked and Live Oysters
Authors: Chen Jian , Kudo Hiroko , Kan Kaito , Kawamura Shuso , Koseki Shige
Published: July 2018

Oysters are the primary transmission vehicles for human
Vibrio
infections. Raw oyster consumption is frequently associated with gastroenteritis. The current postharvest methods, such as high-pressure processing, used to control
Vibrio
spp. in fresh oysters are still insufficient because of limited facilities, high cost, and potential adverse effects on production. We demonstrate that adding a small amount of
d
-tryptophan (
d
-Trp) inhibits the growths of
Vibrio parahaemolyticus
and
Vibrio vulnificus
in a high-salt environment at even ambient temperature. We further investigated the
d
-Trp treatment conditions and clarified the relationship between salt and
d
-Trp concentrations for optimal growth-inhibitory effect of
Vibrio
spp. The results will be useful for enhancing the effectiveness of
d
-Trp by increasing salinity levels. Furthermore, in a nutrientfree environment (artificial seawater), a stronger inhibitory effect could be observed at relatively lower salinity levels, indicating that
d
-Trp may be regarded as effective food preservation in terms of salinity reduction. Therefore, we suggest the use of exogenous
d
-Trp in a seawater environment as a novel and effective strategy not only for controlling
Vibrio
in live oysters at even ambient temperature but also for effectively retarding spoilage bacterial growth and extending the shelf life of shucked oysters at refrigeration temperature.
Testicular Degeneration and Infertility following Arbovirus Infection
Authors: Puggioni Giantonella , Pintus Davide , Melzi Eleonora , Meloni Giorgio , Rocchigiani Angela Maria , Maestrale Caterina , Manunta Daniela , Savini Giovanni , Dattena Maria , Oggiano Annalisa , Palmarini Massimo , Ligios Ciriaco
Published: July 2018

During the recent Zika epidemic, it has become apparent that arboviruses could potentially cause reproductive health problems in male patients. Little is known regarding the effects that arboviruses have on the male reproductive tract. Here, we studied bluetongue virus (BTV), an arbovirus of ruminants, and its effects on the testes of rams. We show that BTV was able to induce testicular degeneration in naturally and experimentally infected rams. Testicular degeneration was caused by BTV replication in the endothelial cells of the peritubular area surrounding the seminiferous tubules (the functional unit of the testes) and was associated with a localized type I interferon response, destruction of the cells supporting the developing germinal cells (Sertoli cells), and reduction of testosterone synthesis. As a result of BTV infection, rams became azoospermic. This study highlights that problems in the male reproductive tract caused by arboviruses could be more common than previously thought.
Evaluation of the minimum age for consent to mental health treatment with the minimum age of criminal responsibility in children and adolescents: a global comparison
Authors: Noroozi Mona , Singh Ilina , Fazel Mina
Published: July 2018

Background

In many countries, a young person who seeks medical care is not authorised to consent to their own assessment and treatment, yet the same child can be tried for a criminal offence. The absence of child and adolescent mental health legislation in most countries exacerbates the issues young people face in independently accessing mental healthcare. Countries with existing legislation rarely define a minimum age for mental health consent (MAMHC). In stark contrast, nearly all 196 nations studied maintain legislation defining a minimum age of criminal responsibility (MACR).

Objective

This review highlights inconsistent developmental and legal perspectives in defined markers of competency across medical and judicial systems.

Methods

A review of the MAMHC was performed and compared with MACR for the 52 countries for which policy data could be identified through publicly available sources.

Findings

Only 18% of countries maintain identifiable mental health policies specific to children’s mental health needs. Of those reviewed, only 11 nations maintained a defined MAMHC, with 7 of 11 having a MAMHC 2 years higher than the country’s legislated MACR.

Conclusions

With increasing scientific understanding of the influences on child and adolescent decision making, some investment in the evidence-base and reconciliation of the very different approaches to child and adolescent consent is needed.

Clinical implications

A more coherent approach to child and adolescent consent across disciplines could help improve the accessibility of services for young people and facilitate mental health professionals and services as well as criminal justice systems deliver optimal care.
Denis Frank Oliver
Authors: Huddart Richard , Chapleo Daphne
Published: July 2018

Though not tall in stature, he was a giant in the veterinary world. He had an outstanding career in veterinary politics, the shire horse and pony worlds, farriery and education.
Range extension for the region of sympatry between the nudibranchsHermissenda opalescensandHermissenda crassicornisin the northeastern Pacific
Authors: Merlo Emily M. , Milligan Kathryn A. , Sheets Nola B. , Neufeld Christopher J. , Eastham Tao M. , Estores-Pacheco A.L. Ka’ala , Steinke Dirk , Hebert Paul D.N. , Valdés Ángel , Wyeth Russell C.
Published: July 2018

The mollusc nudibranch genus Hermissenda Bergh, 1879 was recently discovered to include three pseudocryptic species, dividing a single species H. crassicornis (sensu lato) into H. crassicornis Escholtz, 1831, H. opalescens J.G. Cooper, 1863, and H. emurai Baba, 1937. The species were distinguished by both genetic and morphological evidence, and the distribution of sampled animals suggested the three species had mostly distinct geographical ranges. Here, we report the presence of both H. crassicornis and H. opalescens in Barkley and Clayoquot Sounds, British Columbia, Canada, based on diagnostic characters and molecular data congruent with the differences described for these two species. This result extends the region of sympatry for the two species from northern California, USA, to, at least, Vancouver Island, British Columbia in 2016. Depending on how long this overlap has occurred, the possible northward expansion of H. opalescens would have implications for understanding the effects of short- or long-term environmental changes in ocean temperatures as well as complicating the interpretation of past neurobiological studies of H. crassicornis (sensu lato).
Deducing the symmetry of the standard model from the automorphism and structure groups of the exceptional Jordan algebra
Authors: Todorov Ivan , Dubois-Violette Michel
Published: July 2018

We continue the study undertaken in Ref. 16 of the exceptional Jordan algebra [Formula: see text] as (part of) the finite-dimensional quantum algebra in an almost classical space–time approach to particle physics. Along with reviewing known properties of [Formula: see text] and of the associated exceptional Lie groups we argue that the symmetry of the model can be deduced from the Borel–de Siebenthal theory of maximal connected subgroups of simple compact Lie groups.
The quaternary alloy on the Bethe lattice
Authors: Albayrak Erhan
Published: July 2018

The quaternary alloy (QA) is simulated on the Bethe lattice (BL) in the form of ABpCqDr and its phase diagrams are calculated by using the exact recursion relations (ERR) for the coordination number z = 3. The QA is designed on the BL by placing A atoms (spin-1/2) on the odd shells and randomly placing B (spin-3/2), C (spin-5/2) or D (spin-1) atoms with probabilities p, q and r, respectively, on the even shells. A compact form of formulation for the QA is obtained in the standard-random approach which can easily be reduced to ternary alloy (TA) and mixed-spin models by the appropriate values of the random variables p, q and r. The phase diagrams are calculated on the temperature and ratio of bilinear interaction parameter planes for given values of probabilities.
Identifying influential spreaders based on diffusion K-truss decomposition
Authors: Yang Li , Song Yu-Rong , Jiang Guo-Ping , Xia Ling-Ling
Published: July 2018

Identifying the most influential spreaders is important in optimizing the network structure or disseminating information through networks. Recent study showed that the K-truss decomposition could filter out the nodes that performed a worse spreading behavior in the maximal K-shell subgraph. The spreaders belonging to the maximal K-truss subgraph show better performance compared to previously used importance criteria. However, the accuracy of the K-truss or the K-shell in determining node coreness is largely susceptible to core-like group. In this paper, we propose an improved diffusion K-truss decomposition method by considering both the diffusion and clustering of edges to eliminate the impact of core-like group on identifying influential nodes. To validate the effectiveness of the proposed method, we compare it with five typical methods by carrying out Monte–Carlo simulations over six real complex networks. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed method can effectively disintegrate the core-like group and accurately identify the influential nodes.
Discrimination of Computer Generated and Photographic Images Based on CQWT Quaternion Markov Features
Authors: Wang Jinwei , Li Ting , Shih Frank Y.
Published: July 2018

In this paper, an effective method based on the color quaternion wavelet transform (CQWT) for image forensics is proposed. Compared to discrete wavelet transform (DWT), the CQWT provides more information, such as the quaternion’s magnitude and phase measures, to discriminate between computer generated (CG) and photographic (PG) images. Meanwhile, we extend the classic Markov features into the quaternion domain to develop the quaternion Markov statistical features for color images. Experimental results show that the proposed scheme can achieve the classification rate of 92.70%, which is 6.89% higher than the classic Markov features.
Peak Temperature Minimization for Hard Real-Time Systems Using DVS and DPM
Authors: Zhou Mingchuan , Cheng Long , Dell’Antonio Manuel , Wang Xiebing , Bing Zhenshan , Nasseri M. Ali , Huang Kai , Knoll Alois
Published: July 2018

With the increasing power densities, managing the on-chip temperature has become an important design challenge, especially for hard real-time systems. This paper addresses the problem of minimizing the peak temperature under hard real-time constraints using a combination of dynamic voltage scaling and dynamic power management. We derive a closed-form formulation for the peak temperature and provide a genetic-algorithm-based approach to solve the problem. Our approach is evaluated with both simulations and real measurements with an Intel i5 processor. The evaluation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach compared to related works in the literature.
A note on locking materials and gradient polyconvexity
Authors: Benešová Barbora , Kružík Martin , Schlömerkemper Anja
Published: July 2018

We use gradient Young measures generated by Lipschitz maps to define a relaxation of integral functionals which are allowed to attain the value [Formula: see text] and can model ideal locking in elasticity as defined by Prager in 1957. Furthermore, we show the existence of minimizers for variational problems for elastic materials with energy densities that can be expressed in terms of a function being continuous in the deformation gradient and convex in the gradient of the cofactor (and possibly also the gradient of the determinant) of the corresponding deformation gradient. We call the related energy functional gradient polyconvex. Thus, instead of considering second derivatives of the deformation gradient as in second-grade materials, only a weaker higher integrability is imposed. Although the second-order gradient of the deformation is not included in our model, gradient polyconvex functionals allow for an implicit uniform positive lower bound on the determinant of the deformation gradient on the closure of the domain representing the elastic body. Consequently, the material does not allow for extreme local compression.
On n-absorbing ideals and (m,n)-closed ideals in trivial ring extensions of commutative rings
Authors: Badawi Ayman , Issoual Mohammed , Mahdou Najib
Published: July 2018

Let [Formula: see text] be a commutative ring with [Formula: see text]. Recall that a proper ideal [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] is called a 2-absorbing ideal of [Formula: see text] if [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], then [Formula: see text] or [Formula: see text] or [Formula: see text]. A more general concept than 2-absorbing ideals is the concept of [Formula: see text]-absorbing ideals. Let [Formula: see text] be a positive integer. A proper ideal [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] is called an n-absorbing ideal of [Formula: see text] if [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], then there are [Formula: see text] of the [Formula: see text]’s whose product is in [Formula: see text]. The concept of [Formula: see text]-absorbing ideals is a generalization of the concept of prime ideals (note that a prime ideal of [Formula: see text] is a 1-absorbing ideal of [Formula: see text]). Let [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] be integers with [Formula: see text]. A proper ideal [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] is called an [Formula: see text]-closed ideal of [Formula: see text] if whenever [Formula: see text] for some [Formula: see text] implies [Formula: see text]. Let [Formula: see text] be a commutative ring with [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] be an [Formula: see text]-module. In this paper, we study [Formula: see text]-absorbing ideals and [Formula: see text]-closed ideals in the trivial ring extension of [Formula: see text] by [Formula: see text] (or idealization of [Formula: see text] over [Formula: see text]) that is denoted by [Formula: see text].
Indices in a number field II
Authors: Ayad Mohamed , Bouchenna Rachid , Kihel Omar
Published: July 2018

Let [Formula: see text] be a number field of degree [Formula: see text] over [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] its ring of integers. For a prime number [Formula: see text], we determine the types of splittings of [Formula: see text] in [Formula: see text] for which the set [Formula: see text] is of cardinality a power of [Formula: see text]. We prove that this necessary condition is also sufficient for [Formula: see text] to be a subgroup of the additive group [Formula: see text]. Consequently, we show that, in this case, the subset of [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] is an order of the number field.
The thioredoxin reductase inhibitor auranofin induces heme oxygenase-1 in lung epithelial cells via Nrf2-dependent mechanisms
Authors: Dunigan Katelyn , Li Qian , Li Rui , Locy Morgan L. , Wall Stephanie , Tipple Trent E.
Published: July 2018

Thioredoxin reductase-1 (TXNRD1) inhibition effectively activates nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) responses and attenuates lung injury in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) models. Upon TXNRD1 inhibition, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is disproportionally increased compared with Nrf2 target NADPH quinone oxidoreductase-1 (Nqo1). HO-1 has been investigated as a potential therapeutic target in both ARDS and BPD. TXNRD1 is predominantly expressed in airway epithelial cells; however, the mechanism of HO-1 induction by TXNRD1 inhibitors is unknown. We tested the hypothesis that TXNRD1 inhibition induces HO-1 via Nrf2-dependent mechanisms. Wild-type (WT), Nrf2KO1.3, and Nrf2KO2.2 cells were morphologically indistinguishable, indicating that Nrf2 can be deleted from murine-transformed club cells (mtCCs) using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing. Hemin, a Nrf2-independent HO-1-inducing agent, significantly increased HO-1 expression in WT, Nrf2KO1.3, and Nrf2KO2.2. Auranofin (AFN) (0.5 µM) inhibited TXNRD1 activity by 50% and increased Nqo1 and Hmox1 mRNA levels by 6- and 24-fold, respectively, in WT cells. Despite similar levels of TXNRD1 inhibition, Nqo1 mRNA levels were not different between control and AFN-treated Nrf2KO1.3 and Nrf2KO2.2. AFN slightly increased Hmox1 mRNA levels in Nrf2KO1.3 and Nrf2KO2.2 cells compared with controls. AFN failed to increase HO-1 protein in Nrf2KO1.3 and Nrf2KO2.2 compared with a 36-fold increase in WT mtCCs. Our data indicate that Nrf2 is the primary mechanism by which TXNRD1 inhibitors increase HO-1 in lung epithelia. Future studies will use ARDS and BPD models to define the role of HO-1 in attenuation of lung injury by TXNRD1 inhibitors.
Higher muscle fiber conduction velocity and early rate of torque development in chronically strength-trained individuals
Authors: Del Vecchio A. , Negro F. , Falla D. , Bazzucchi I. , Farina D. , Felici F.
Published: July 2018

Strength-trained individuals (ST) develop greater levels of force compared with untrained subjects. These differences are partly of neural origin and can be explained by training-induced changes in the neural drive to the muscles. In the present study we hypothesize a greater rate of torque development (RTD) and faster recruitment of motor units with greater muscle fiber conduction velocity (MFCV) in ST compared with a control cohort. MFCV was assessed during maximal voluntary isometric explosive contractions of the elbow flexors in eight ST and eight control individuals. MFCV was estimated from high-density surface electromyogram recordings (128 electrodes) in intervals of 50 ms starting from the onset of the electromyogram. RTD and MFCV were computed and normalized to their maximal voluntary torque (MVT) values. The explosive torque of the ST was greater than in the control group in all time intervals analyzed ( P < 0.001). The absolute MFCV values were also greater for the ST than for controls at all time intervals ( P < 0.001). ST also achieved greater normalized RTD in the first 50 ms of contraction [887.6 (152) vs. 568.5 (148.66)%MVT/s, mean (SD), P < 0.001] and normalized MFCV before the rise in force compared with controls. We have shown for the first time that ST can recruit motor units with greater MFCV in a shorter amount of time compared with untrained subjects during maximal voluntary isometric explosive contractions.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Strength-trained individuals show neuromuscular adaptations. These adaptations have been partly related to changes in the neural drive to the muscles. Here, we show for the first time that during the initial phase of a maximal isometric explosive contraction, strength-trained individuals achieve higher levels of force and recruit motor units with greater conduction velocities.
Sex differences in large conducting airway anatomy
Authors: Dominelli Paolo B. , Ripoll Juan G. , Cross Troy J. , Baker Sarah E. , Wiggins Chad C. , Welch Brian T. , Joyner Michael J.
Published: July 2018

Airway luminal area is the major determinant of resistance to airflow in the tracheobronchial tree. Women may have smaller central conducting airways than men; however, previous evidence is confounded by an indirect assessment of airway geometry and by subjects with prior smoking history. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of sex on airway size in healthy nonsmokers. Using low-dose high-resolution computed tomography, we retrospectively assessed airway luminal area in healthy men ( n = 51) and women ( n = 73) of varying ages (19–86 yr). Subjects with a positive smoking history, cardiopulmonary disease, or a body mass index > 40 kg/m2 were excluded. Luminal areas of the trachea, right and left main bronchus, bronchus intermediate, left and right upper lobes, and the left lower lobe were analyzed at three discrete points. The luminal areas of the conducting airways were ~26%–35% smaller in women. The trachea had the largest differences in luminal area between men and women (298 ± 47 vs. 195 ± 28 mm2 or 35% smaller for men and women, respectively), whereas the left lower lobe had the smallest differences (57 ± 15 vs. 42 ± 9 mm2 or 26% smaller for men and women, respectively). When a subset of subjects was matched for height, the sex differences in airway luminal area persisted, with women being ~20%–30% smaller. With all subjects, there were modest relationships between height and airway luminal area ( r = 0.73–0.53, P < 0.05). Although there was considerable overlap between sexes, the luminal areas of the large conducting airways were smaller in healthy women than in men.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Previous evidence for sex differences in airway size has been confounded by indirect measures and/or cohorts with significant smoking histories or pathologies. We found that central airways in healthy women were significantly smaller (~26%–35%) than men. The significant sex-difference in airway size was attenuated (20%–30% smaller) but preserved in a subset of subjects matched for height. Over a range of ages, healthy women have smaller central airways than men.
Adrenoceptor blockade modifies regional cerebral blood flow responses to hyperbaric hyperoxia: protection against CNS oxygen toxicity
Authors: Gasier Heath G. , Demchenko Ivan T. , Zhilyaev Sergei Yu , Moskvin Alexander N. , Krivchenko Alexander I. , Piantadosi Claude A.
Published: July 2018

Exposure to extreme hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) >5–6 atmospheres absolute (ATA) produces baroreflex impairment, sympathetic hyperactivation, hypertension, tachycardia, and cerebral hyperemia, known as phase II, culminating in seizures. We hypothesized that attenuation of the effects of high sympathetic outflow would preserve regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and protect against HBO2-induced seizures. To explore this possibility, we tested four adrenoceptor antagonists in conscious and anesthetized rats exposed to HBO2at 5 and 6 ATA, respectively: phentolamine (nonselective α1and α2), prazosin (selective α1), propranolol (nonselective β1and β2), and atenolol (selective β1). In conscious rats, four drug doses were administered to rats before HBO2exposures, and seizure latencies were recorded. Drug doses that provided similar protection against seizures were administered before HBO2exposures in anesthetized rats to determine the effects of adrenoceptor blockade on mean arterial pressure, heart rate, rCBF, and EEG spikes. All four drugs modified cardiovascular and rCBF responses in HBO2that aligned with epileptiform discharges, but only phentolamine and propranolol effectively increased EEG spike latencies by ~20 and 36 min, respectively. When phentolamine and propranolol were delivered during HBO2at the onset of phase II, only propranolol led to sustained reductions in heart rate and rCBF, preventing the appearance of epileptiform discharges. The enhanced effectiveness of propranolol may extend beyond β-adrenoceptor blockade, i.e., membrane stability and reduced metabolic activity. These results indicate that adrenoceptor drug pretreatment will minimize the effects of excessive sympathetic outflow on rCBF and extend HBO2exposure time.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Blocking adrenergic receptors with phentolamine (nonselective α1and α2), prazosin (selective α1), propranolol (nonselective β1and β2), and atenolol (selective β1) modified cardiovascular and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) responses in hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) at 6 atmospheres absolute (ATA); however, only phentolamine and propranolol extended EEG spike latencies. When these two agents were delivered at the onset of sympathetic hyperactivation, only propranolol reduced heart rate and rCBF throughout the exposure and prevented epileptiform discharges. These data validate the strong role of adrenergic control of cardiovascular function and rCBF in extreme HBO2and the potential use of antiadrenergic drugs to prevent seizures.
Increasing Aggregation Convergecast Data Collection Frequency through Pipelining
Authors: de Souza Evandro , Nikolaidis Ioanis
Published: July 2018

We consider the problem of increasing the data collection frequency of aggregation convergecast. Previous studies attempt to increase the data collection frequency by shortening the completion of a single data collection cycle. We aim at increasing the frequency at which data collection updates are collected by the use of pipelining and, consequently, increasing the overall data collection frequency and throughput. To achieve this, we overlap the propagation schedule of multiple data snapshots within the same overall schedule cycle, thus increasing parallelism through pipelining. Consequently, the effective data collection time of an individual snapshot may span over multiple, successive, schedule cycles. To this end, we modify the aggregation convergecast model, decoupling schedule length, and data collection delay, by relaxing its precedence constraints. Our solution for this new problem involves the unconventional approach of constructing the schedule before finalizing the exact form of the data aggregation tree, which, in turn, requires that the schedule construction phase guarantees that every node can reach the sink. We compare our results using snapshot pipelining against a previously proposed algorithm that also uses a form of pipelining, as well as against an algorithm that though lacking pipelining, exhibits the ability to produce very short schedules. The results confirm the potential to achieve a substantial throughput increase, at the cost of some increase in latency.
Plants Used by Bapedi Traditional Healers to Treat Asthma and Related Symptoms in Limpopo Province, South Africa
Authors: Semenya Sebua Silas , Maroyi Alfred
Published: July 2018

To the best of our knowledge there are presently no ethnobotanical surveys focusing on the utilisation of herbal remedies for asthma in South Africa. The present study is therefore an attempt to fill this gap in knowledge. A total of 140 Bapedi traditional healers (THs) practicing in the Capricorn, Sekhukhune, and Waterberg districts of the Limpopo Province (South Africa) were queried using semistructured questionnaires, supplemented by field observations during face‐to‐face interview. A total of 104 medicinal plant species (92 indigenous and 12 exotics) belonging to 92 genera, distributed across 54 botanical families, mostly the Asteraceae and Fabaceae (18.5%, for each) as well as Malvaceae (12.9%), were used as antiasthmatics and related symptoms by these THs. Most of the plants were trees and herbs (37.5%, for each), with root (57%), leaf (15.8%), and bark (7.5%), respectively, being the saliently used parts for preparation of remedies. Clerodendrum ternatum, Cryptocarya transvaalensis, Lasiosiphon caffer, Enicostema axillare, Mimusops obovata, Sclerocarya birrea, and Stylochaeton natalensis were widely used and valued by all THs across the surveyed districts. Furthermore, these taxa also scored both the highest use value and fidelity level indexes as asthma therapies. Overall, the larger number of species documented in the present study is recorded for the first time in literature as asthma and/or related symptoms remedies. Our study finding generally contributes towards an establishment of South African database of herbal therapies used traditionally against these conditions.
Isolation and Characterization of NP‐POL Nonapeptide for Possible Therapeutic Use in Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Lemieszewska Marta , Polanowski Antoni , Wilusz Tadeusz , Sokołowska Agata , Zambrowicz Aleksandra , Mikołajewicz Katarzyna , Macała Józefa , Rymaszewska Joanna , Zabłocka Agnieszka
Published: July 2018

Colostrum and milk are the initial mammalian nourishment and rich reservoir of essential nutrients for newborn development. Bioactive peptides isolated from natural sources, such as colostrum, serve as endogenous regulators and can be used as alternative therapeutic agents in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. One example is the previously unknown NP‐POL nonapeptide isolated from Colostrinin. In the present study, we investigated a method of NP‐POL nonapeptide isolation using Bio‐Gel P2 molecular sieve chromatography. We showed the protective effect of NP‐POL on 6‐hydroxydopamine‐ (6‐OHDA‐) induced neurotoxicity using rat adrenal pheochromocytoma (PC12 Tet On) cells. Treatment of PC12 cells with NP‐POL nonapeptide reduced 6‐OHDA‐induced apoptosis and caused transient phosphorylation of extracellular signal‐regulated kinases (ERK 1/2), which were shown to promote cell survival. NP‐POL nonapeptide also protected neuronal cells against oxidative injury induced by 6‐OHDA. These results showed a potential use of NP‐POL in the therapy of Parkinson’s disease.
Hysteretic Behavior of Eccentrically Loaded Reinforced Air‐Entrained Concrete Columns under Combined Effects of Freeze‐Thaw Cycles and Seawater Corrosion
Authors: Wu Jieqiong , Zhang Jian , Diao Bo , Cheng Shaohong , Ye Yinghua
Published: July 2018

Besides service loads, reinforced concrete structures in cold coastal seismic regions are subjected to multiple attacks of freeze‐thaw cycles and seawater corrosion as well as the earthquake struck. An experimental study was conducted to investigate the seismic response of eccentrically loaded reinforced air‐entrained concrete columns under alternative actions of freeze‐thaw cycles and chloride corrosion. Results show that, after 300 times of freeze‐thaw cycles alternated with 100 times of seawater immersion, the hysteretic behavior of the eccentrically loaded columns manifested an apparent asymmetric pattern. Under forward cyclic load, the existence of larger eccentric load rendered the reduction of the ultimate load and the ductility of a column by up to 20.3% and 46.05%, respectively, but it had a positive effect if reverse cyclic load was applied. The presence of eccentric load could have a considerable impact on the seismic behavior of reinforced air‐entrained concrete columns served in an aggressive environment.
Successful Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Atherosclerotic Coronary Lesion with Anomalous Origin of the Right Coronary Artery
Authors: Matsuda Junji , Ikenouchi Takashi , Nitta Giichi , Kato Shunichi , Murata Kazuya , Kanoh Miki , Inamura Yukihiro , Kato Nobutaka , Takamiya Tomomasa , Negi Ken , Sato Akira , Yamato Tsunehiro , Matsumura Yutaka , Nitta Junichi
Published: July 2018

Congenital coronary artery anomalies, including anomalous origin of a coronary artery, can manifest as life-threatening conditions, such as myocardial infarction or arrhythmia, and may even lead to sudden death associated with specific congenital anatomical features. Such arteries can also develop atherosclerotic lesions. This report describes the case of a 75-year-old man who was admitted to our hospital due to exertional dyspnea. The right coronary artery was found to originate from the left coronary sinus and exhibit tight stenosis due to atherosclerosis, causing effort angina pectoris. This case highlights the fact that coronary artery anomalies can cause angina pectoris via both atherosclerotic and nonatherosclerotic effects, and successful revascularization was achieved noninvasively via percutaneous coronary angioplasty.
Links between Temperature Biases and Flow Anomalies in an Ensemble of CNRM-CM5.1 Global Climate Model Historical Simulations
Authors: Lhotka O. , Farda A.
Published: July 2018

The aim of this study was to evaluate temperature and sea-level pressure (SLP) fields and to analyse a related anomalous flow over midlatitudes simulated by the CNRM-CM5.1 global climate model (GCM). Simulated flow over midlatitudes of the Northern Hemisphere was assessed through flow indices, classified into 11 circulation types. Reference data were taken from the NOAA-CIRES 20th Century Reanalysis, version 2c. CNRM-CM5.1 exhibited analogous temperature biases to those reported for the mean of the CMIP5 GCMs’ ensemble. The most prominent features were an erroneous temperature dipole pattern in the Atlantic Ocean and a warm bias over regions of deep water upwelling (locally exceeding 5°C). The latter feature was associated with negative SLP biases in those regions. Too low pressure was found over midlatitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, and CNRM-CM5.1 simulated too frequent zonal flow in these latitudes. The usage of three ensemble members with different initial conditions did not improve model’s outputs because the bias is found to be considerably larger compared to the ensemble members’ spread. The study showed that temperature and SLP biases are connected in certain regions, suggesting that improvement of GCMs and development of bias correction methods should be carried out with a complex insight.
A New Strategy to Uncover the Anticancer Mechanism of Chinese Compound Formula by Integrating Systems Pharmacology and Bioinformatics
Authors: Dai Yifei , Sun Liang , Qiang Weijie
Published: July 2018

Currently, cancer has become one of the major refractory diseases threatening human health. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has gradually become an alternative choice for patients, which can be attributed to the high cost of leading cancer treatments (including surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy) and the severe related adverse effects. As a critical component of CAM, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has increasing application in preventing and treating cancer over the past few decades. Huanglian Jiedu Decoction (HJD), a classical Chinese compound formula, has been recognized to exert a beneficial effect on cancer treatment, with few adverse effects reported. Nevertheless, the precise molecular mechanism remains unclear yet. In this study, we had integrated systems pharmacology and bioinformatics to explore the major active ingredients against cancer, targets for cancer treatment, and the related mechanisms of action. These targets were scrutinized using web‐based Gene SeT Analysis Toolkit (WebGestalt), and 10 KEGG pathways were identified by enrichment analysis. Refined analysis of the KEGG pathways indicated that the anticancer effect of HJD showed a functional correlation with the p53 signaling pathway; moreover, HJD had potential therapeutic effect on prostate cancer (PCa) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Afterwards, genetic alterations and survival analysis of key targets for cancer treatment were examined in both PCa and SCLC. Our results suggested that such integrated research strategy might serve as a new paradigm to guide future research on Chinese compound formula. Importantly, such strategy contributes to studying the anticancer effect and the mechanisms of action of Chinese compound formula, which has also laid down the foundation for clinical application.
Three-Dimensional Atomic Force Microscopy for Sidewall Imaging Using Torsional Resonance Mode
Authors: Liu Lu , Xu Jianguo , Zhang Rui , Wu Sen , Hu Xiaodong , Hu Xiaotang
Published: July 2018

This article presents an atomic force microscopy (AFM) technique for true three-dimensional (3D) characterization. The cantilever probe with flared tip was used in a home-made 3D-AFM system. The cantilever was driven by two shaking piezoceramics and oscillated around its vertical or torsional resonance frequency. The vertical resonance mode was used for upper surface imaging, and the torsional resonance mode was used for sidewall detecting. The 3D-AFM was applied to measure standard gratings with the height of 100 nm and 200 nm. The experiment results showed that the presented 3D-AFM technique was able to detect the small defect features on the steep sidewall and to reconstruct the 3D topography of the measured structure.
From Lonely to Resilient through Humanoid Robots: Building a New Framework of Resilience
Authors: Hoorn Johan F.
Published: July 2018

This paper connects different theories and methods from the social sciences and applies them to human-humanoid robot interaction (HHRI) to explain loneliness reduction and the build-up of resilience in older adults through social robots. It allows for user-related aspects such as age, social connectedness, gender role, personality, and need satisfaction as well as robot-related aspects, particularly coaching behaviors and communication styles. From these scientific considerations, solutions to design challenges are pinpointed, proposing novel interaction schemes that enhance the feeling of support and companionship. This paper also opens the way to conducting empirical research to examine HHRI-related designs, measuring user experience in HHRI, while suggesting applications in HHRI in various settings, such as coaching and eldercare.
Dynamics and Solutions of a Fifth-Order Nonlinear Difference Equation
Authors: El-Dessoky M. M. , Elabbasy E. M. , Asiri Asim
Published: July 2018

The main objective of this paper is to study the behavior of the rational difference equation of the fifth-order yn+1=αyn+βynyn-3/(Ayn-4+Byn-3), n=0,1,…, where α,β,A, and B are real numbers and the initial conditions y-4,y-3,y-2,y-1 and y0 are positive real numbers such that Ay-4+By-3≠0. Also, we obtain the solution of some special cases of this equation.
Trends in Indications and Techniques of Corneal Transplantation from 1999 through 2015 at a Tertiary Referral Center in Athens, Greece
Authors: Droutsas Konstantinos , Bagikos Georgios , Miltsakakis Dimitrios , Georgalas Ilias , Lazaridis Apostolos , Chatzistefanou Klio , Moschos Marilita M. , Koutsandrea Chryssanthi , Kymionis Georgios
Published: July 2018

Introduction. During the past decade, novel techniques of corneal transplantation allowing faster and better restoration of vision have emerged. The present cohort study describes a shift of indications and techniques that has occurred in the field of corneal transplantation over a 17-year period in Greece.Methods. All patients undergoing keratoplasty between January 1999 and December 2015 at an academic tertiary referral center in Athens, Greece, were retrospectively reviewed. The annual incidence of keratoplasty indications and techniques was recorded and analyzed.Results. A total of 1382 keratoplasty procedures were included. Leading indications were bullous keratopathy (BK) (37.5%), followed by allograft rejection (17.7%), corneal scar (12%), keratoconus (KC) (10.3%), and Fuchs endothelial dystrophy (FED) (8.8%). A decreasing trend was observed for KC (P=0.009) and an increasing trend for BK (P=0.003) and FED (P=0.001). In 2015, the incidence of penetrating keratoplasty (PK) had decreased from 100% (1999 to 2009) to 21.4%; for cases with isolated pathology of the corneal endothelium, DSAEK was the preferred technique (59.8%), while the respective rate of DMEK was 18.8%.Conclusion. Herein, we observed an increasing trend of endothelial pathology among keratoplasty indications as well as a major shift in preferred techniques due to a wide adoption of the new EK procedures.
A Rare Missense Variant in TCF7L2 Associates with Colorectal Cancer Risk by Interacting with a GWAS-Identified Regulatory Variant in the MYC Enhancer
Authors: Chang Jiang , Tian Jianbo , Yang Yang , Zhong Rong , Li Jiaoyuan , Zhai Kan , Ke Juntao , Lou Jiao , Chen Wei , Zhu Beibei , Shen Na , Zhang Yi , Gong Yajie , Zhu Ying , Zou Danyi , Peng Xiating , Huang Kun , Miao Xiaoping
Published: July 2018

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of colorectal cancer have identified several common susceptible variants in gene regulatory regions. However, low-frequency or rare coding risk variants have not been systematically investigated in patients with colorectal cancer from Chinese populations. In this study, we performed an exome-wide association analysis with 1,062 patients with colorectal cancer and 2,184 controls from a Chinese population. Promising associations were further replicated in two replication sets: replication stage I with 2,478 cases and 3,880 controls, and replication stage II with 3,761 cases and 4,058 controls. We identified two variants significantly associated with colorectal cancer risk: a novel rare missense variant in TCF7L2 [rs138649767, OR = 2.08, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.69–2.57, P = 5.66 × 10−12] and a previous European GWAS-identified 3′-UTR variant in ATF1 (rs11169571, OR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.13–1.24, P = 1.65 × 10−12). We found a significant interaction between the TCF7L2 missense variant rs138649767 and a previous GWAS-identified regulatory variant rs6983267 in the MYC enhancer (Pinteraction = 0.0002). Functional analysis of this variant revealed that TCF7L2 with rs138649767-A allele harbored the ability to activate the MYC enhancer with rs6983267-G allele and enhance colorectal cancer cell proliferation. In addition, the ATF1 rs11169571 variant significantly correlated with ATF1 expression by affecting hsa-miR-1283 and hsa-miR-520d-5p binding. Further ChIP-seq and gene coexpression analyses showed that oncogenes NRAS and BRAF were activated by ATF1 in colorectal cancer. These results widen our understanding of the molecular basis of colorectal cancer risk and provide insight into pathways that might be targeted to prevent colorectal cancer.

Significance: Exome-wide association analysis identifies a rare missense variant in TCF7L2 and a common regulatory variant in ATF1 as susceptibility factors of colorectal cancer.

Graphical Abstract: http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/canres/78/17/5164/F1.large.jpg. Cancer Res; 78(17); 5164–72. ©2018 AACR.