bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Denonvilliers’ fascia in men: a sheet plastination and confocal microscopy study of the prerectal space and the presence of an optimal anterior plane when mobilizing the rectum for cancer
Authors: Xu Z. , Chapuis P. H. , Bokey L. , Zhang M.
Published: October 2017

Aim

The aim of this study was to investigate the detailed, in situ, morphology of Denonvilliers’ fascia (DVF) in cadavers using sheet plastination and confocal microscopy and to review and describe the optimal anterior plane for mobilization of the distal rectum.

Method

Six male cadavers (age range 46–87 years) were prepared as six sets of transverse (× 2), coronal (× 1) and sagittal (× 3) plastinated sections which were examined under a confocal laser scanning microscope.

Results

In this study a consistent space between the anterior rectal wall and the posterior surface of the prostate and seminal vesicles above the level of the perineal body was termed the prerectal space. Within that prerectal space we identified fibres which take their origin from the external urethral sphincter (EUS), together with others from the longitudinal rectal muscle (LRM) and the connective tissue sheaths of neurovascular bundles. Neither the EUS‐ nor the LRM‐originated fibres were continuous with the endopelvic fascia; they were interposed laterally and cranially by multiple neurovascular bundles. Further, our results suggest that the peritoneum does not descend deep within the prerectal space.

Conclusion

This study reveals the undisturbed, in situ, structural detail of membrane‐like structures in the prerectal space and confirms that the optimal plane for anterolateral mobilization of the rectum is posterior to the multilayered Denonvilliers’ fascia.
REAL ESTATE AND THE GREAT CRISIS: LESSONS FOR MACROPRUDENTIAL POLICY
Authors: Duca John V. , Popoyan Lilit , Wachter Susan M.
Published: October 2017

Credit conditions have caused real estate booms and busts, owing to an underpricing of credit risk aided by regulatory arbitrage and shadow financing. Across countries, real estate price and credit bubbles have reflected not only inelastic land supply and thin trading, but also the amplification of shocks via backward‐looking price expectations and financing based on distorted prices. Macroprudential lessons from the Great Crisis include preventing excess real estate financing and limiting the amplification and correlation of risks. Nonetheless, the costs and benefits of recent regulations require re‐evaluation amid an ongoing need to address correlated risks from shadow financing and securitization. (JELG28, E3, R31, R33, R38)
Loss‐of‐function of miR‐142 by hypermethylation promotes TGF‐β‐mediated tumour growth and metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Yu Qiangfeng , Xiang Leyang , Yin Libo , Liu Xincheng , Yang Dinghua , Zhou Jianyin
Published: September 2017

Objectives

Hypermethylation‐induced epigenetic silencing of tumour suppressor genes (TSGs) are frequent events during carcinogenesis. MicroRNA‐142 (miR‐142) is found to be dysregulated in cancer patients to participate into tumour growth, metastasis and angiogenesis. However, the tumour suppressive role of miR‐142 and the status of methylation are not fully understood in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods

Hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and corresponding non‐neoplastic tissues were collected. The expression and function of miR‐142 and TGF‐β in two HCC cell lines were determined. The miRNA‐mRNA network of miR‐142 was analysed in HCC cell lines.

Results

We found that the miR‐142 expression was reduced in tumour tissues and two HCC cell lines HepG2 and SMMC7721, which correlated to higher TNM stage, metastasis and differentiation. Moreover, miR‐142 was identified to directly target and inhibit transforming growth factor β (TGF‐β), leading to decreased cell vitality, proliferation, EMT and the ability of pro‐angiogenesis in TGF‐β‐dependent manner. Interestingly, the status of methylation of miR‐142 was analysed and the results found the hypermethylated miR‐142 in tumour patients and cell lines. The treatment of methylation inhibitor 5‐Aza could restore the expression of miR‐142 to suppress the TGF‐β expression, which impaired TGF‐β‐induced tumour growth.

Conclusion

These findings implicated that miR‐142 was a tumour suppressor gene in HCC and often hyermethylated to increase TGF‐β‐induced development of hepatocellular carcinoma.
Long non‐coding RNA LOC554202 modulates chordoma cell proliferation and invasion by recruiting EZH2 and regulating miR‐31 expression
Authors: Ma Xianli , Qi Shengjin , Duan Zhenying , Liao Hongzhan , Yang Baohua , Wang Wenbo , Tan Jie , Li Qinghua , Xia Xuewei
Published: September 2017

Objectives

Chordoma is a rare malignant bone tumour arising from notochordal remnants. Long non‐coding RNA LOC554202, as the host gene of miR‐31, contributes to various cancer developments. However, little is known about the biological function of LOC554202 in chordoma. Here, the relationship between LncRNA LOC554202, miR‐31 and EZH2 was elucidated in chordoma.

Materials and methods

The levels of LOC554402, miR‐31, EZH2, RNF144B, and epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers were measured in chordoma tissues and the chordoma cell lines via quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR) or Western blot. FISH assay demonstrated the LOC554402 expression in chordoma tissues. The chordoma cell lines, U‐CH1 and JHC7, were transfected with siRNA or miRNA mimics and analysed for cell proliferation ability, apoptosis, cell migration, and invasion. RNA pull down, RIP assay, and Luciferase Reporter Assay were used to analyze the interaction between LOC554202 and EZH2. Animal tumour xenografts were generated, and qRT‐PCR was performed to investigate EZH2, miR‐31, and RNB144B expression on tumour growth in vivo.

Results

We found elevated expression of LOC554202 was associated with a decreased level of miR‐31 in cancer tissues. Knockdown of LOC554202 or overexpression of miR‐31 suppressed the proliferation, migration, and invasion of chordoma cells. Unexpectedly, EZH2 as a binding protein of LOC554202, and it was positively regulated by LOC554202, leading to the reduced expression of miR‐31. Furthermore, the impaired function of miR‐31 restored expression of the oncogene RNF144B and maintained the metastasis‐promoting activity in vitro. The results in vivo confirmed the anti‐tumour effects of knockdown of LOC554202, which inhibited EZH2/miR‐31 to activate the oncogene RNF144B.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that LOC554202 may play an important role in the progression of chordoma by the direct upregulation of EZH2 and indirect promotion of RNF144B via miR‐31.
Family conflict shapes how adolescents take risks when their family is affected
Authors: Guassi Moreira João F. , Telzer Eva H.
Published: October 2017

Numerous studies have established that the social context greatly affects adolescent risk taking. However, it remains unexplored whether adolescents' decision‐making behaviors change when they take risks that affect other individuals such as a parent. In the current study, we sought to investigate how the social context influences risky decisions when adolescents' behavior affects their family using a formalized risk‐taking model. Sixty‐three early adolescents (Mage = 13.3 years; 51% female) played a risk‐taking task twice, once during which they could make risky choices that only affected themselves and another during which their risky choices only affected their parent. Results showed that adolescents reporting high family conflict made more risky decisions when taking risks for their parent compared to themselves, whereas adolescents reporting low family conflict made fewer risky decisions when taking risks for their parent compared to themselves. These findings are the first to show that adolescents change their decision‐making behaviors when their risks affect their family and have important implications for current theories of adolescent risk taking.
William James and the ‘willfulness’ of belief
Authors: Dianda Alexis
Published: October 2017

This paper explicates and defends some of William James' more controversial claims in ‘The Will to Believe’. After showing some of the weaknesses in standard interpretations of James' position, I turn to James' Principles of Psychology and The Varieties of Religious Experience to spell out in more detail James' account of the nature of the attitudes of belief, doubt, and disbelief and link them to an account of the subject. In so doing, the moral force of the argument comes to the fore by casting the question ‘Can we believe at will?’ in a new light. Through a discussion of the conversion experiences of The Varieties of Religious Experience and the kinds of self‐transformations in which beliefs that once appeared dead become live (or vice versa) that appear throughout James' psychology, the moral urgency of James' position in ‘The Will to Believe’ is clarified.
Maurice Merleau‐Ponty's concept of motor intentionality: Unifying two kinds of bodily agency
Authors: Jackson Gabrielle Benette
Published: October 2017

I develop an interpretation of Maurice Merleau‐Ponty's concept of motor intentionality, one that emerges out of a reading of his presentation of a now classic case study in neuropathology—patient Johann Schneider—in Phenomenology of Perception. I begin with Merleau‐Ponty's prescriptions for how we should use the pathological as a guide to the normal, a method I call triangulation. I then turn to his presentation of Schneider's unusual case. I argue that we should treat all of Schneider's behaviors as pathological, not only his abstract movements (e.g., pointing), as is commonly acknowledged in the secondary literature, but also crucially his concrete movements (e.g., grasping). Using these facts of Schneider's illness, I reconstruct a ‘fundamental function’ of consciousness, as Merleau‐Ponty called it, in which there are two kinds of bodily agency: the power of the body to be solicited by a situation and the power of the body to project a situation. I propose that these powers became dissociated in Schneider's case, as evidenced by his abstract and concrete movements, while in the normal case, these powers comprise a dynamic unity, enacted as motor intentionality. I also discuss how my interpretation complements Merleau‐Ponty's assertion that motor intentions exist between mind and matter.
Antiepileptic drug‐related neuropsychiatric adverse events in brain tumor‐related epilepsy: levetiracetam front and center
Authors: Feyissa A. M.
Published: September 2017

Click here to view the accompanying paper in this volume.
Relaxation of nonproductive binding and increased rate of coenzyme release in an alcohol dehydrogenase increases turnover with a nonpreferred alcohol enantiomer
Authors: Hamnevik Emil , Enugala Thilak Reddy , Maurer Dirk , Ntuku Siphosethu , Oliveira Ana , Dobritzsch Doreen , Widersten Mikael
Published: September 2017

Alcohol dehydrogenase A (ADH‐A) from Rhodococcus ruber DSM 44541 is a promising biocatalyst for redox transformations of arylsubstituted sec‐alcohols and ketones. The enzyme is stereoselective in the oxidation of 1‐phenylethanol with a 300‐fold preference for the (S)‐enantiomer. The low catalytic efficiency with (R)‐1‐phenylethanol has been attributed to nonproductive binding of this substrate at the active site. Aiming to modify the enantioselectivity, to rather favor the (R)‐alcohol, and also test the possible involvement of nonproductive substrate binding as a mechanism in substrate discrimination, we performed directed laboratory evolution of ADH‐A. Three targeted sites that contribute to the active‐site cavity were exposed to saturation mutagenesis in a stepwise manner and the generated variants were selected for improved catalytic activity with (R)‐1‐phenylethanol. After three subsequent rounds of mutagenesis, selection and structure–function analysis of isolated ADH‐A variants, we conclude: (a) W295 has a key role as a structural determinant in the discrimination between (R)‐ and (S)‐1‐phenylethanol and a W295A substitution fundamentally changes the stereoselectivity of the protein. One observable effect is a faster rate of NADH release, which changes the rate‐limiting step of the catalytic cycle from coenzyme release to hydride transfer. (b) The obtained change in enantiopreference, from the (S)‐ to the (R)‐alcohol, can be partly explained by a shift in the nonproductive substrate‐binding modes.

Database

Structural data are available in the Protein Data Bank with accession codes 5o8q for A2, 5o8h for A2C2, 5o9f for A2C3, and 5o9d for A2C2B1.
An unconventional family 1 uracil DNA glycosylase in Nitratifractor salsuginis
Authors: Li Jing , Chen Ran , Yang Ye , Zhang Zhemin , Fang Guang‐Chen , Xie Wei , Cao Weiguo
Published: October 2017

The uracil DNA glycosylase superfamily consists of at least six families with a diverse specificity toward DNA base damage. Family 1 uracil N‐glycosylase (UNG) exhibits exclusive specificity on uracil‐containing DNA. Here, we report a family 1 UNG homolog from Nitratifractor salsuginis with distinct biochemical features that differentiate it from conventional family 1 UNGs. Globally, the crystal structure of N. salsuginisUNG shows a few additional secondary structural elements. Biochemical and enzyme kinetic analysis, coupled with structural determination, molecular modeling, and molecular dynamics simulations, shows that N. salsuginisUNG contains a salt bridge network that plays an important role in DNA backbone interactions. Disruption of the amino acid residues involved in the salt bridges greatly impedes the enzymatic activity. A tyrosine residue in motif 1 (GQDPY) is one of the distinct sequence features setting family 1 UNG apart from other families. The crystal structure of Y81G mutant indicates that several subtle changes may account for its inactivity. Unlike the conventional family 1 UNG enzymes, N. salsuginisUNG is not inhibited by Ugi, a potent inhibitor specific for family 1 UNG. This study underscores the diversity of paths that a uracil DNA glycosylase may take to acquire its unique structural and biochemical properties during evolution.

Database

Structure data are available in the PDB under accession numbers 5X3G and 5X3H.
Diatom diversity patterns over the pastc. 150 years across the conterminous United States of America: Identifying mechanisms behind beta diversity
Authors: Winegardner Amanda K. , Legendre Pierre , Beisner Beatrix E. , Gregory‐Eaves Irene
Published: October 2017

Aim

Understanding the magnitude and drivers of freshwater diversity over the last 150 years provides essential insights for developing scenarios of future change. Here, we quantify and identify drivers of spatial and temporal beta diversity in diatom assemblages between historical and modern times.

Location

United States of America.

Major Taxa Studied

Diatoms.

Tim Period

pre‐AD 1850 and c. 2007.

Methods

Using sedimentary genus‐level diatom data from 169 lakes and species‐level data for 52 lakes, we computed spatial beta diversity across all lakes and within ecoregions for 2007 and pre‐AD 1850 time points. We also computed local contributions to beta diversity (LCBD) and analysed them with respect to environmental variables. Total beta diversity was partitioned into replacement and abundance difference components to identify mechanisms possibly responsible for spatial beta at each time point. Temporal beta diversity indices (TBI) were also computed for each lake by comparing the diatom data of all lakes at the time points. TBIs were decomposed into taxon losses and gains to facilitate interpretation. TBIs and their components were related to contemporary land cover.

Results

Temporal beta diversity varied significantly as a function of forest cover, with higher temporal beta in lakes from watersheds with contemporary lower forest cover. Spatial beta diversity was similar between the historical and 2007 time points. Lakes with substantial local contributions to beta diversity were differentiated by water quality and land cover variables at a local scale, but showed no systematic regional pattern.

Main conclusions

Spatial beta diversity of diatoms across the U.S.A. does not appear to have changed between pre‐AD 1850 and 2007, suggesting that broad‐scale land use and hydrological alteration of the landscape has not homogenized these communities. Temporal beta diversity occurred through genus gains and losses and was significantly related to land cover in watersheds. These analyses, pairing spatial and temporal beta diversity, provide insight into the mechanisms maintaining diatom diversity.
Microemulsion synthesis, optical and photocatalytic properties of vanadium‐doped nano ZnO
Authors: Mohamad Shahi Dorna , Hassanzadeh‐Tabrizi Sayed Ali , Saffar‐Teluri Ali
Published: October 2017

In the present work, vanadium‐doped ZnO nanoparticles with different V concentrations were prepared via microemulsion method and employed as an effective photocatalyst for the degradation of methylene blue. The prepared samples were characterized by different techniques such as thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG‐DTA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), elemental mapping (MAP), and ultraviolet‐visible spectroscopy (Uv‐Vis). The XRD patterns of vanadium‐doped samples were assigned to wurtzite structure of ZnO and vanadium ions were incorporated into the lattice of zinc oxide. SEM images showed that the synthesized pure zinc oxide has irregular morphology and with adding vanadium dopant, rod and cube‐like morphology appeared. The band gap energy of pure ZnO decreased from 3.3 to 3.21 eV on adding 1% vanadium. The results showed that the zinc oxide doped with 1% vanadium exhibited better photocatalytic activity compared to other samples. The possible mechanism for improving of photodegradation efficiency of doped samples was also discussed.
Being a valuable contributor on the frontline: The self‐perception of staff in group homes for people with intellectual disability
Authors: Quilliam Claire , Bigby Christine , Douglas Jacinta
Published: October 2017

Background

Group home frontline staff have a critical role in implementing service policies, yet research typically examines implementation issues from an organisational perspective. The aim of this study was to explore the self‐perception of frontline staff about their role in group homes for people with intellectual disability.

Method

Constructivist grounded theory methodology guided the study. Data were collected with frontline staff through semistructured interviews and participant observations. Coding and sorting methods were used to analyse participants’ self‐perception.

Results

Frontline staff felt they were valuable contributors who knew the service setting and residents well. Despite this staff felt powerless in their roles, excluded from organisational dialogue, stressed and exhausted.

Conclusions

Frontline staff have critical insight into service implementation although disability service organisations may limit their capacity to contribute to this. Further action could explore new ways to better nurture frontline staff engagement in organisational dialogue.
Effects of dosage and dosing frequency on the efficacy and safety of high‐dose metformin in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Kanto Kousei , Ito Hiroyuki , Noso Shinsuke , Babaya Naru , Hiromine Yoshihisa , Taketomo Yasunori , Toma Junko , Niwano Fumimaru , Yasutake Sara , Kawabata Yumiko , Ikegami Hiroshi
Published: September 2017

Aims/Introduction

Differences in the efficacy and safety of antidiabetic drugs among different ethnic groups are well documented. Metformin is widely used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes in Western countries, but high doses of metformin have been approved only recently for clinical use in Japan. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of dosage and dosing frequency on the efficacy and safety of high‐dose metformin in Japanese patients.

Materials and Methods

A total of 71 Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes were prospectively studied for the effects of dosage and dosing frequency on the efficacy and safety of metformin during hospitalization. Dose effects were studied in 27 patients treated with 0, 500, 1,000, 1,500 and 2,250 mg/day of metformin. The effect of dosing frequency was compared in 56 patients with 1,500 mg/day of metformin administered either two or three times per day.

Results

Significant dose‐dependent improvement in daily profiles of blood glucose was observed with metformin dosages up to 1,500 mg/day, with a trend towards further improvement observed at 2,250 mg/day. The efficacy of 1,500 mg of metformin was comparable when the drug was administered either two or three times per day. The most frequently reported side‐effects were gastrointestinal symptoms, which were not affected by the dosage or dosing frequency of metformin.

Conclusions

These results show that the efficacy of high‐dose metformin is dose‐dependent in Japanese patients. The efficacy and safety of metformin were similar when the drug was administered either two or three times per day.
Assessing a new hip index as a risk predictor for diabetes mellitus
Authors: He Sen , Zheng Yi , Chen Xiaoping
Published: September 2017

Aims/Introduction

Recently, a new anthropometric parameter (a new hip index [HI]) was developed, and the HI shows a U‐shaped relationship to mortality in the USA population. It is well known that there is an inverse relationship between hip circumference (HC) and the risk of diabetes mellitus. Accordingly, the study sought to investigate whether HI could predict future diabetes mellitus, as compared with HC and the waist‐to‐hip ratio (WHR), in a general Chinese population.

Materials and Methods

In 2007, we carried out a health examination of 687 participants (mean age 48.1 ± 6.2 years, male 58.1%). Development of diabetes mellitus by the 2007 examination was studied in relation to data from a baseline health examination carried out in 1992.

Results

During the follow up, 74 participants were diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. Across the quintiles of baseline HI, the incidence rates of diabetes mellitus were 12.4, 12.4, 9.9, 7.8 and 11.3% in quintile (Q)1, Q2, Q3, Q4 and Q5, respectively (P = 0.698). With the lowest quintile (Q1) as reference, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses showed that HI was not associated with diabetes mellitus. In contrast, HC and WHR could predict future diabetes mellitus. Furthermore, WHR had the best discriminatory power for diabetes mellitus (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.691, 95% confidence interval 0.621–0.761), followed by HC (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.623, 95% confidence interval 0.558–0.689) and HI (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.464, 95% confidence interval 0.396–0.531).

Conclusions

Compared with HC and WHR, HI was not an independent risk factor for diabetes mellitus in the Chinese population. More studies are required to delineate the limits of the utility of HI.
The global impact ofWolbachiaon mitochondrial diversity and evolution
Authors: Cariou M. , Duret L. , Charlat S.
Published: October 2017

The spread of maternally inherited microorganisms, such asWolbachiabacteria, can induce indirect selective sweeps on host mitochondria, to which they are linked within the cytoplasm. The resulting reduction in effective population size might lead to smaller mitochondrial diversity and reduced efficiency of natural selection. While documented in several host species, it is currently unclear if such a scenario is common enough to globally impact the diversity and evolution of mitochondria inWolbachia‐infected lineages. Here, we address this question using a mapping ofWolbachiaacquisition/extinction events on a large mitochondrialDNAtree, including over 1000 species. Our analyses indicate that on a large phylogenetic scale, other sources of variation, such as mutation rates, tend to hide the effects ofWolbachia. However, paired comparisons between closely related infected and uninfected taxa reveal thatWolbachiais associated with a twofold reduction in silent mitochondrial polymorphism, and a 13% increase in nonsynonymous substitution rates. These findings validate the conjecture that the widespread distribution ofWolbachiainfections throughout arthropods impacts the effective population size of mitochondria. These effects might in part explain the disconnection between genetic diversity and demographic population size in mitochondria, and also fuel red‐queen‐like cytonuclear co‐evolution through the fixation of deleterious mitochondrial alleles.
Leader preference in Neoconocephalus ensiger katydids: a female preference for a nonheritable male trait
Authors: Murphy M. A. , Gerhardt H. C. , Schul J.
Published: October 2017

Female preferences for males producing their calls just ahead of their neighbours, leader preferences, are common in acoustically communicating insects and anurans. While these preferences have been well studied, their evolutionary origins remain unclear. We tested whether females gain a fitness benefit by mating with leading males in Neoconocephalus ensiger katydids. We mated leading and following males with random females and measured the number and quality of F1, the number of F2 and the heritability of the preferred male trait. We found that females mating with leaders and followers did not differ in the number of F1 or F2 offspring. Females mating with leading males had offspring that were in better condition than those mating with following males suggesting a benefit in the form of higher quality offspring. We found no evidence that the male trait, the production of leading calls, was heritable. This suggests that there is no genetic correlate for the production of leading calls and that the fitness benefit gained by females must be a direct benefit, potentially mediated by seminal proteins. The presence of benefits indicates that leader preference is adaptive in N. ensiger, which may explain the evolutionary origin of leader preference; further tests are required to determine whether fitness benefits can explain the phylogenetic distribution of leader preference in Neoconocephalus. The absence of heritability will prevent leader preference from becoming coupled with or exaggerating the male trait and prevent females from gaining a ‘sexy‐sons’ benefit, weakening the overall selection for leader preference.
Leaving Employment to Entrepreneurship: The Value of Co‐worker Mobility in Pushed and Pulled‐Driven Start‐ups
Authors: Rocha Vera , Carneiro Anabela , Varum Celeste
Published: October 2017

By combining insights from the widespread research on entrepreneurial spin‐offs and from the emerging literature on hiring choices in start‐ups, we investigate the role of co‐worker mobility in pushed and pulled spin‐off survival. Using rich register data and a multi‐stage model addressing self‐selection and endogeneity issues, we cover 28,353 spin‐offs launched between 1992 and 2007. We find that spin‐offs hiring co‐workers from the parent firm survive longer. This survival bonus is greater in pushed‐driven start‐ups. We investigate two different mechanisms through which co‐worker mobility may improve spin‐off survival – knowledge transfer and reduced searching costs. While both mechanisms play a role in explaining the survival bonus in pulled spin‐offs, co‐worker mobility seems to help pushed spin‐offs to survive mostly by reducing initial recruitment costs. This work provides novel insights on the role of context surrounding new venture creation and inter‐firm labour mobility.
Long‐term Treatment with Methylene Blue in a Dog with Hereditary Methemoglobinemia Caused by Cytochrome b5 Reductase Deficiency
Authors: Jaffey J.A. , Harmon M.R. , Villani N.A. , Creighton E.K. , Johnson G.S. , Giger U. , Dodam J.R.
Published: September 2017

A juvenile male mixed breed dog was presented for lethargy, exercise intolerance, and aggression when touched on the head. Cyanosis, tachycardia, and tachypnea were observed and persisted during oxygen supplementation. Arterial blood gas analysis by co‐oximetry identified an increased methemoglobin concentration (27%; normal, <2%) with normal arterial oxygen tension. The methemoglobinemia and associated clinical signs resolved after administration of methylene blue (1 mg/kg) IV, and the dog was discharged. The affected dog's whole‐genome sequence contained 2 potentially causal heterozygous CYB5R3 missense mutations suggesting that cytochrome b5 reductase deficiency was responsible for the methemoglobinemia. This hypothesis was confirmed by enzyme analysis that identified cytochrome b5 reductase activity in the affected dog's erythrocytes to only approximately 6% of that in a control sample. Clinical signs recurred 11 days after discharge but normalized and the methemoglobin concentration decreased with methylene blue administration PO (1.5 mg/kg, initially daily and then every other day).
Photo‐identification matches of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) from feeding areas in Russian Far East seas and breeding grounds in the North Pacific
Authors: Titova Olga V. , Filatova Olga A. , Fedutin Ivan D. , Ovsyanikova Ekaterina N. , Okabe Haruna , Kobayashi Nozomi , Acebes Jo Marie V , Burdin Alexandr M. , Hoyt Erich
Published: September 2017

Humpback whales migrate seasonally from high latitude feeding areas to lower latitude breeding areas for mating and calving. In 2004–2006, a North Pacific basin‐wide study called SPLASH was conducted as an international collaboration among various groups of researchers. The Russian Far East consists of multiple high latitude feeding areas and during SPLASH, 102 whales were identified and compared to catalogs from breeding areas. Our goal in this study was to further investigate the migratory destinations of whales from the Russian Far East using a total of 1,459 photographs of whales identified from 2004 to 2014. We compared the latest Russian catalog with the SPLASH catalog from wintering areas (2004–2006) and with two additional regional catalogs from Okinawa (1989–2006) and the northern Philippines (2000–2006). We found a total of 152 matches: 106 with Asian, 35 with Hawaiian, and 11 with Mexican breeding grounds. The match rate was higher in mainland Kamchatka and consisted mostly of whales from the Asian breeding ground. In the Commander Islands, the proportion of whales from Asia was twice that of Hawaii and six times higher than Mexico. The total match rate was low, supporting the hypothesis of some undiscovered humpback whale breeding location in the North Pacific.
Acute kidney injury as the presenting manifestation of sarcoidosis: A case series and review of literature
Authors: Rajkumar Theepika , Lea‐Henry Tom , Chacko Bobby
Published: October 2017

Acute kidney injury is rarely the presenting feature of sarcoidosis. We present a case series of patients whose diagnosis of sarcoidosis was only brought to light by the development of renal impairment. Concurrent hypercalcaemia was noted, prompting further investigation. The patients discussed experienced a significant and rapid improvement in both renal function and hypercalcaemia in response to therapy with prednisolone. This is out of keeping with previous reports of sarcoidosis‐induced renal impairment. Our case series highlights the importance of testing for hypercalcaemia in the context of acute kidney injury. Sarcoidosis is primarily a disease of the lungs and reticuloendothelial system; however, the prevalence of renal involvement with sarcoidosis may be under‐recognized. The renal manifestations of sarcoidosis are discussed in the context of the current literature. Furthermore, from our experience, we postulate that in the context of sarcoidosis‐induced renal injury, concurrent hypercalcaemia may present prior to the development of chronic renal injury and therefore these patients may be more likely to recover renal function.
Engineering Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz for enhanced oil and seed yields by combining diacylglycerol acyltransferase1 and glycerol‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase expression
Authors: Chhikara Sudesh , Abdullah Hesham M. , Akbari Parisa , Schnell Danny , Dhankher Om Parkash
Published: October 2017

Plant seed oil‐based liquid transportation fuels (i.e., biodiesel and green diesel) have tremendous potential as environmentally, economically and technologically feasible alternatives to petroleum‐derived fuels. Due to their nutritional and industrial importance, one of the major objectives is to increase the seed yield and oil production of oilseed crops via biotechnological approaches. Camelina sativa, an emerging oilseed crop, has been proposed as an ideal crop for biodiesel and bioproduct applications. Further increase in seed oil yield by increasing the flux of carbon from increased photosynthesis into triacylglycerol (TAG) synthesis will make this crop more profitable. To increase the oil yield, we engineered Camelina by co‐expressing the Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. diacylglycerol acyltransferase1 (DGAT1) and a yeast cytosolic glycerol‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase (GPD1) genes under the control of seed‐specific promoters. Plants co‐expressing DGAT1 and GPD1 exhibited up to 13% higher seed oil content and up to 52% increase in seed mass compared to wild‐type plants. Further, DGAT1‐ and GDP1‐co‐expressing lines showed significantly higher seed and oil yields on a dry weight basis than the wild‐type controls or plants expressing DGAT1 and GPD1 alone. The oil harvest index (g oil per g total dry matter) for DGTA1‐ and GPD1‐co‐expressing lines was almost twofold higher as compared to wild type and the lines expressing DGAT1 and GPD1 alone. Therefore, combining the overexpression of TAG biosynthetic genes, DGAT1 and GPD1, appears to be a positive strategy to achieve a synergistic effect on the flux through the TAG synthesis pathway, and thereby further increase the oil yield.
Implementation of CsLIS/NES in linalool biosynthesis involves transcript splicing regulation in Camellia sinensis
Authors: Liu Guo‐Feng , Liu Jing‐Jing , He Zhi‐Rong , Wang Fu‐Min , Yang Hua , Yan Yi‐Feng , Gao Ming‐Jun , Gruber Margaret Y. , Wan Xiao‐Chun , Wei Shu
Published: September 2017

Volatile terpenoids produced in tea plants (Camellia sinensis) are airborne signals interacting against other ecosystem members, but also pleasant odorants of tea products. Transcription regulation (including transcript processing) is pivotal for plant volatile terpenoid production. In this study, a terpene synthase gene CsLIS/NES was recovered from tea plants (C. sinensis cv. “Long‐Men Xiang”). CsLIS/NES transcription regulation resulted in 2 splicing forms: CsLIS/NES‐1 and CsLIS/NES‐2 lacking a 305 bp‐fragment at N‐terminus, both producing (E)‐nerolidol and linalool in vitro. Transgenic tobacco studies and a gene‐specific antisense oligo‐deoxynucleotide suppression applied in tea leaves indicated that CsLIS/NES‐1, localized in chloroplasts, acted as linalool synthase, whereas CsLIS/NES‐2 localized in cytosol, functioned as a potential nerolidol synthase, but not linalool synthase. Expression patterns of the 2 transcript isoforms in tea were distinctly different and responded differentially to the application of stress signal molecule methyl jasmonate. Leaf expression of CsLIS/NES‐1, but not CsLIS/NES‐2, was significantly induced by methyl jasmonate. Our data indicated that distinct transcript splicing regulation patterns, together with subcellular compartmentation of CsLIS/NE‐1 and CsLIS/NE‐2 implemented the linalool biosynthesis regulation in tea plants in responding to endogenous and exogenous regulatory factors.
Supplier Quality Management: Investment, Inspection, and Incentives
Authors: Lee Hsiao‐Hui , Li Cuihong
Published: September 2017

Buyers can manage product quality sourced from suppliers in three ways: they can improve the quality incoming from suppliers directly by investing in suppliers to improve a process/product, they can improve the incoming quality indirectly by incentivizing supplier quality‐improvement efforts, and/or they can control the quality outgoing to subsequent processes by inspecting incoming units. In this study, we study a buyer's use of these three instruments—investment, incentives, and inspection—to manage the sourced quality. To do so, we consider a general relationship between the buyer's direct investment effort and supplier's quality‐improvement effort, allowing them to be complementary, substitutable, or additive in their quality‐improvement effects. For situations in which the buyer and the supplier decide their efforts simultaneously with contractible internal‐failure events, we identify three types of strategies: the investment‐based strategy (focusing on the buyer's investment effort) for strongly substitutable efforts, the inspection‐based strategy (focusing on inspection) for strongly complementary efforts, and the integrative strategy (emphasizing all three instruments) for additive efforts. If buyer‐investment commitment is possible, then the inspection‐based strategy in which both parties defect in their efforts will be replaced by a collaboration‐based strategy in which both parties exert high efforts to improve quality. Contracting upon external failures (in addition to internal failures) does not change this strategy pattern; however, when combined with buyer‐effort commitment, such a contract achieves the first‐best result.
Transfusion‐acquired hepatitis E infection misdiagnosed as severe critical illness polyneuromyopathy in a heart transplant patient
Authors: Belliere Julie , Abravanel Florence , Nogier Marie Béatrice , Martinez Salima , Cintas Pascal , Lhomme Sébastien , Lavayssière Laurence , Cointault Olivier , Faguer Stanislas , Izopet Jacques , Kamar Nassim
Published: September 2017

This is the case of a 56‐year‐old man who underwent heart transplantation. Within the first postoperative days, his respiratory and limb muscles weakened, which was attributed to critical illness polyneuromyopathy (CIPM). At day 70 post transplantation, he had increased liver enzyme levels and acute hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection was diagnosed. HEV RNA was found in the serum, stools, and cerebrospinal fluid. Results of further investigations suggested a possible HEV‐related polyradiculoneuropathy. At transplantation, the patient was negative for immunoglobulin (Ig)G, IgM, and HEV RNA. A trace‐back procedure identified the source of infection and concluded that HEV infection was contracted from blood transfusion 12 days prior to transplantation from an HEV RNA‐positive donor. Tests of the organ donor for HEV were negative. Phylogenetic analysis revealed sequence homology between the HEV‐3 strain of the patient and the HEV‐3 strain of the blood donor. Despite ribavirin treatment, the patient died on day 153 post transplantation from multiorgan failure. In conclusion, patients with hepatitis or neuropathic illness who have received blood products should be screened for HEV.
Cryopreservation of adult unrelated donor products in hematopoietic cell transplantation: the OneMatch experience and systematic review of the literature
Authors: Aziz Joseph , Morris Gail , Rizk Mina , Shorr Risa , Mercer Dena , Young Kimberly , Allan David
Published: September 2017

BACKGROUND

The frequency of cryopreserving blood stem or progenitor products from unrelated donors is not known and the underlying reasons are poorly documented. Greater insight is needed to develop policies on cryopreservation that balance donor safety with patient needs.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

Cryopreservation requests between January 1, 2014, and May 31, 2016, at the OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network at Canadian Blood Services were reviewed and a systematic review of the literature was performed.

RESULTS

Thirty products of 719 (4.2%) unrelated donor collections facilitated by OneMatch were cryopreserved. Patient‐related reasons were most common and included the need to delay transplant for continued antimicrobial treatment (six patients), patient too deconditioned to proceed with scheduled transplant (five patients), and/or need for more treatment for relapsed disease (three patients). Donor‐related issues leading to cryopreservation requests were less common (five cases), mainly due to lack of donor availability after attempting to reschedule. Cryopreservation of a product that was never infused occurred infrequently (two cases, 7%). In our systematic review of the literature, 993 cases were identified in 32 published reports. Both patient‐related and donor‐related reasons were cited but not specifically reported, precluding quantitative insight regarding the relative frequency of causes. The impact of cryopreservation on hematopoietic engraftment appears negligible when compared to controls in a subset of studies; however, reporting of outcomes was inconsistent.

CONCLUSION

Future studies with standard outcome measures are needed to clarify the impact of cryopreservation on engraftment and other transplant outcomes. International guidelines that consider the ethical framework surrounding requests for donor product cryopreservation are needed.
δ‐cells and β‐cells are electrically coupled and regulate α‐cell activity via somatostatin
Authors: Briant L. J. B. , Reinbothe T. M. , Spiliotis I. , Miranda C. , Rodriguez B. , Rorsman P.
Published: October 2017

Key points

We used a mouse expressing a light‐sensitive ion channel in β‐cells to understand how α‐cell activity is regulated by β‐cells.

Light activation of β‐cells triggered a suppression of α‐cell activity via gap junction‐dependent activation of δ‐cells.

Mathematical modelling of human islets suggests that 23% of the inhibitory effect of glucose on glucagon secretion is mediated by β‐cells via gap junction‐dependent activation of δ‐cells/somatostatin secretion.

Glucagon, the body's principal hyperglycaemic hormone, is released from α‐cells of the pancreatic islet. Secretion of this hormone is dysregulated in type 2 diabetes mellitus but the mechanisms controlling secretion are not well understood. Regulation of glucagon secretion by factors secreted by neighbouring β‐ and δ‐cells (paracrine regulation) have been proposed to be important. In this study, we explored the importance of paracrine regulation by using an optogenetic strategy. Specific light‐induced activation of β‐cells in mouse islets expressing the light‐gated channelrhodopsin‐2 resulted in stimulation of electrical activity in δ‐cells but suppression of α‐cell activity. Activation of the δ‐cells was rapid and sensitive to the gap junction inhibitor carbenoxolone, whereas the effect on electrical activity in α‐cells was blocked by CYN 154806, an antagonist of the somatostatin‐2 receptor. These observations indicate that optogenetic activation of the β‐cells propagates to the δ‐cells via gap junctions, and the consequential stimulation of somatostatin secretion inhibits α‐cell electrical activity by a paracrine mechanism. To explore whether this pathway is important for regulating α‐cell activity and glucagon secretion in human islets, we constructed computational models of human islets. These models had detailed architectures based on human islets and consisted of a collection of >500 α‐, β‐ and δ‐cells. Simulations of these models revealed that this gap junctional/paracrine mechanism accounts for up to 23% of the suppression of glucagon secretion by high glucose.
Parameter Calibration in Dynamic Simulations of Power Cables in Shallow Water to Improve Fatigue Damage Estimation
Authors: Spraul Charles , Arnal Vincent , Cartraud Patrice , Berhault Christian
Published: October 2017

The purpose of this work is to use in situ measurements during service to adjust the estimation of the cumulated damage, and achieve an increased accuracy in predicting the remaining life span of the power cable.

Direct monitoring of fatigue damage is not feasible, nor is it possible to completely measure the power cable response along all its length. Measurements can though be obtained concerning environmental conditions and the floater motion, as well as the cable response in a few points. However numerical simulations are still required to compute the state of stress of the cable.

Therefore the intended monitoring methodology aims at calibrating several parameters from the numerical model with respect to available measurements, in order to reduce the uncertainty on these parameters, and thus the uncertainty on the model output. Selection of these parameters must therefore be based on their influence on damage and on their a priori uncertainty. In this respect marine growth influence on cable characteristics is of particular interest.
Electrophysical parameters of the space charge region of the low-threshold field cathode
Authors: Yafyasov A. , Bogevolnov V.
Published: October 2017

It is shown that the two-dimensional-electronic charge on the cathode surface gives the main contribution to emission currents measured in the nanosecond range. This made it possible to propose a new method for determining the effective mass, the de Broglie wavelength, the charge density, and the concentration of free carriers in the near-surface layer of the space charge region of the cathode. The efficiency and accuracy of the method has been proven for the cathode based on the shock-wave modified graphite by comparison of the estimates of the effective mass values of the free charge carriers with the data obtained by other methods.
Active learning for bird sound classification via a kernel-based extreme learning machine
Authors: Qian Kun , Zhang Zixing , Baird Alice , Schuller Björn
Published: October 2017

In recent years, research fields, including ecology, bioacoustics, signal processing, and machine learning, have made bird sound recognition a part of their focus. This has led to significant advancements within the field of ornithology, such as improved understanding of evolution, local biodiversity, mating rituals, and even the implications and realities associated to climate change. The volume of unlabeled bird sound data is now overwhelming, and comparatively little exploration is being made into methods for how best to handle them. In this study, two active learning (AL) methods are proposed, sparse-instance-based active learning (SI-AL), and least-confidence-score-based active learning (LCS-AL), both effectively reducing the need for expert human annotation. To both of these AL paradigms, a kernel-based extreme learning machine (KELM) is then integrated, and a comparison is made to the conventional support vector machine (SVM). Experimental results demonstrate that, when the classifier capacity is improved from an unweighted average recall of 60%–80%, KELM can outperform SVM even when a limited proportion of human annotations are used from the pool of data in both cases of SI-AL (minimum 34.5% vs minimum 59.0%) and LCS-AL (minimum 17.3% vs minimum 28.4%).
Feedback-tracking microrheology in living cells
Authors: Nishizawa Kenji , Bremerich Marcel , Ayade Heev , Schmidt Christoph F. , Ariga Takayuki , Mizuno Daisuke
Published: September 2017

Feedback-tracking microrheology, developed to study nonequilibrium mechanics of active materials, revealed glassy cell dynamics.
Bication lead iodide 2D perovskite component to stabilize inorganic α-CsPbI
3
perovskite phase for high-efficiency solar cells
Authors: Zhang Taiyang , Dar M. Ibrahim , Li Ge , Xu Feng , Guo Nanjie , Grätzel Michael , Zhao Yixin
Published: September 2017

A facile preparation of phase-stable cesium lead triiodide perovskite for high-performance solar cells.
Entropy-limited topological protection of skyrmions
Authors: Wild Johannes , Meier Thomas N. G. , Pöllath Simon , Kronseder Matthias , Bauer Andreas , Chacon Alfonso , Halder Marco , Schowalter Marco , Rosenauer Andreas , Zweck Josef , Müller Jan , Rosch Achim , Pfleiderer Christian , Back Christian H.
Published: September 2017

Entropic effects counteract the topological protection of magnetic skyrmions, leading to faster decay rates than expected.
Stoichiometric control of the density of states in PbS colloidal quantum dot solids
Authors: Balazs Daniel M. , Bijlsma Klaas I. , Fang Hong-Hua , Dirin Dmitry N. , Döbeli Max , Kovalenko Maksym V. , Loi Maria A.
Published: September 2017

Electronic structure engineering is achieved in colloidal quantum dot solids by surface-based stoichiometry adjustment.