bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spatial patterns of long‐term vegetation greening and browning are consistent across multiple scales: Implications for monitoring land degradation
Authors: Murthy Karthik , Bagchi Sumanta
Published: May 2018

Understanding spatial–temporal patterns of terrestrial vegetation response to climate change (long‐term greening/browning) is important for developing strategies to mitigate degradation. Semiarid rangelands are especially susceptible to degradation, which challenges wildlife conservation and human livelihoods that depend on livestock production. In the cold‐arid Trans‐Himalayan ecosystem (northern India), temperature is increasing, and it is also becoming progressively wetter. Yet, counter‐intuitively, there are widespread concerns over degradation. We evaluated whether greening/browning patterns in long‐term satellite‐derived vegetation indices (normalized difference vegetation index [NDVI]) are consistent across different spatial and temporal scales using 6 datasets: MODIS (250 m, 500 m, 1 km, and 5.5 km), SPOT 1 km, and GIMMS 8 km. Results indicate browning in the spring and greening in late summer. Location of hotspots of degradation (browning) was broadly consistent across spatial scales (10−2–102 km2) and were found in regions with warmer temperature and at higher elevations. Broadly, the spatial/temporal pattern of browning does not coincide strongly with location and timing of human land use via livestock grazing. This geographical and seasonal context indicates that vegetation response may be more strongly related to climate than to human land use (overgrazing). Importantly, the dynamic nature of greening/browning, across space and time, is not captured by composite annual metrics (sum‐NDVI, max‐NDVI, and mean‐NDVI). This reiterates the importance of both intraannual and interannual assessments. Location of hotspots indicates that degradation occurs in a spatially contiguous manner, but these are not stationary and instead shift with seasons. Overall, the results show that evaluating the consistency of greening/browning trends across different spatial/temporal scales is critical for understanding and managing vegetation degradation.
Potential vascular mechanisms in an ex vivo functional pig bladder model
Authors: Anele Uzoma A. , Ratz Paul H. , Colhoun Andrew F. , Roberts Sydney , Musselman Ryan , Vince Randy A. , Speich John E. , Klausner Adam P.
Published: May 2018

Aims

Chronic ischemia is a recognized factor in the pathophysiology of underactive bladder (UAB). Although relative ischemia (ie, low blood flow) is known to occur during filling, little is known regarding the pathophysiology that leads to UAB. Therefore, we developed an ex vivo functional porcine model to investigate the role of transient ischemia and whether autoregulation, a mechanism that maintains tissue oxygenation in certain vital organs, also exists in the bladder.

Methods

Using bladders from slaughtered pigs, we prepared an isolated perfused model where we studied the effects of bladder perfusion flow rate on perfusion pressure and tissue oxygenation during the filling phase. Bladders were perfused at an initial flow rate of 20 mL/min and then clamped in a sequentially decreasing stepwise manner down to no flow and back to the initial flow rate.

Results

We found a linear relationship between flow rate and perfusion pressure until the flow rate decreased below 5 mL/min at which point the vascular resistance decreased; however, tissue pO2 remained stable after an initial decline.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that there may be an intrinsic autoregulatory mechanism in the bladder that allows it to undergo cyclic episodes of relative ischemia during its normal function. Factors that overcome this mechanism such as complete or chronic ischemia may be critical in the progression to detrusor underactivity and thereby highlight the importance of intervention during the early phases of this disease process.
Reliability and validity of the practice environment scale of the nursing work index for Japanese hospital nurses
Authors: Ogata Yasuko , Sasaki Miki , Yumoto Yoshie , Yonekura Yuki , Nagano Midori , Kanda Katsuya
Published: May 2018

Aims

The aim of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index (PES‐NWI) for hospital nurses in Japan.

Design

A cross‐sectional mail survey.

Methods

Participants in this study were 1,219 full‐time ward nurses from 27 hospitals in Japan, using 31 items of the Japanese version of the PES‐NWI questionnaire, from December 2008‐March 2009. Construct validity, criterion‐related validity and internal consistency of the PES‐NWI were tested.

Results

The PES‐NWI showed reliable internal consistency. The five‐factor structure was supported by confirmatory factor analysis. The PES‐NWI correlated significantly with job satisfaction, burnout and the nurses’ intention to stay on the job, supporting criterion‐related validity.
Diastolic dysfunction is associated with exercise impairment in patients with sickle cell anemia
Authors: Alsaied Tarek , Niss Omar , Powell Adam W. , Fleck Robert J. , Cnota James F. , Chin Clifford , Malik Punam , Quinn Charles T. , Taylor Michael D.
Published: May 2018

Background

Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (DD) is an independent risk factor for mortality in sickle cell anemia (SCA) and is associated with increased extracellular volume (ECV) on cardiac MRI (CMR). Exercise impairment is common in SCA, but its causes and prognostic value are not well understood.

Objective

To study the effects of DD and ECV on cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) in patients with SCA.

Methods and Results

As part of a prospective study to characterize the cardiomyopathy of SCA (NCT02410811), 20 children and adults with SCA underwent CMR, echocardiography, and cycle ergometer CPET (age range 8–43 years). Maximum exercise was reached in 18 patients and 17 (94%) had reduced exercise capacity (%predicted VO2 less than 80%). Six patients had DD and none had systolic dysfunction. Patients with DD had lower exercise capacity compared to patients with normal diastolic function (%predicted VO2 48.2 ± 9.1% vs. 61.2 ± 11.7%; P = 0.01). The z‐score of left ventricular lateral E/e' ratio, which is a marker of DD, was negatively associated with %predicted VO2 (r = −0.61, P = 0.01). All patients with moderate‐to‐severe exercise impairment (%predicted VO2 < 60%) had lateral E/e’ z‐score > 2. In a multivariate analysis, lateral E/e’ z‐score was independently associated with %predicted VO2 (P = 0.02). All participants had elevated ECV but the degree of elevation was not associated with exercise parameters.

Conclusion

Left ventricular DD is associated with decreased exercise capacity in SCA. Interventions to prevent or delay DD could improve exercise capacity, quality of life, and long‐term outcomes in SCA.
Polypropylene/organically modified‐grafted mica/organoclay hybrid nanocomposites: Preparation, characterization, and mechanical properties
Authors: Mohammadi Hamed , Moghbeli Mohammad Reza
Published: May 2018

Polypropylene (PP) was reinforced using both an organically modified‐grafted mica (OMGM) and an organically modified montmorillonite (OMMT) as debonding rigid nanoparticles to improve its impact resistance with the advantage of increasing its Young's modulus and crack growth resistance. For this purpose, mica was organically modified using diacetone acrylamide, a double bond‐ended modifier. To improve further the polymer/nanoparticle interfacial interactions and delamination of layered particles, PP graft maleic anhydride was grafted on the modified mica. Various amounts of OMMT, 0–3 wt% along with 1 wt% OMGM were used to reinforce the PP matrix. The effect of OMMT content on the crystallinity degree, fracture morphology and mechanical properties of resultant hybrid nanocomposites was investigated. The results showed that the incorporation of 1 wt% OMGM and 0.5 wt% OMMT resulted in the highest impact resistance (68%) and fracture toughness (5.7%) when compared with neat PP. In addition, the elastic modulus and yield stress were increased 12 and 14.5%, respectively. Transmission electron microscopy exhibited a fairly good dispersion of smaller OMMT and longer OMGM tactoids in the resultant hybrid nanocomposite. A slower crack growth rate was observed for the hybrid nanocomposite because of the barrier property of the silicate layers against the crack propagation when compared with the neat PP. However, increasing of the OMMT content caused the nanoparticle agglomeration and lowering the impact resistance in the resultant hybrid nanocomposites. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:1718–1730, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers
Relationship between effortful control and facets of mindfulness in meditators, non‐meditators and individuals with borderline personality disorder
Authors: Tortella‐Feliu Miquel , Soler Joaquim , Burns Leonard , Cebolla Ausiàs , Elices Matilde , Pascual Juan C. , López del Hoyo Yolanda , Baños Rosa , García‐Campayo Javier
Published: May 2018

As dimensions of effortful control (EC), activation control, attentional control, and inhibitory control could mediate the relationship between mindfulness meditation practice and the facets of mindfulness (i.e., observing, describing, acting with awareness, non‐judging and non‐reacting to inner experience). In this study, we tested whether participant status: meditators (n = 330), healthy non‐meditators (n = 254) and individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) diagnosis (n = 46) predicted the facets of mindfulness and if these potential effects were mediated through the three effortful control (EC) dimensions (activation, attentional and inhibitory control). Meditators scored higher than non‐meditators on attentional and inhibitory control and on the facets of mindfulness with attentional and inhibitory control partially mediating this relationship between meditation status and mindfulness facets. Participants with BPD showed lower scores on EC along with lower scores on the facets of mindfulness compared with healthy non‐meditators. All three aspects of EC partially mediated the relationship between BPD and mindfulness facets. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Comparative Proteomics Analysis of Five Body Fluids: Plasma, Urine, Cerebrospinal Fluid, Amniotic Fluid, and Saliva
Authors: Zhao Mindi , Yang Yehong , Guo Zhengguang , Shao Chen , Sun Haidan , Zhang Yang , Sun Ying , Liu Yaoran , Song Yijun , Zhang Liwei , Li Qian , Liu Juntao , Li Mingxi , Gao Youhe , Sun Wei
Published: May 2018

Purpose

Body fluid is considered a rich source of disease biomarkers. Proteins in many body fluids have potential clinical applications for disease diagnostic and prognostic predictions.

Experimental design

To determine differences in the protein components and functional features of body fluids, a proteomic comparison of five body fluids (plasma, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, saliva, and amniotic fluid) was conducted by high‐resolution mass spectrometry.

Results

A total of 4717 nonredundant proteins were identified, and the concentrations of 3433 proteins were estimated by an intensity‐based algorithm quantitation method. Among them, 564 proteins were shared among the five body fluids, with common functions in the coagulation/prothrombin system and inflammatory response. A total of 36.7% of the proteins were detected in only one body fluid and were closely related to their adjacent tissues by function. The functional analysis of the remaining 2986 proteins showed that similar functions might be shared among different body fluids, which highlighted intimate connection in the body.

Conclusions and clinical relevance

The quantitative comparative functional analysis indicated that body fluids might reflect the diverse functions of the whole body rather than the characteristics of their adjacent tissues. The above data might indicate the potential application of body fluids for biomarker discovery.
A new method for quantitative determination of renalase based on mass spectrometric determination of a proteotypic peptide labelled with stable isotopes
Authors: Kopylov A. T. , Fedchenko V. I. , Buneeva O. A. , Pyatakova N. V. , Zgoda V. G. , Medvedev A. E.
Published: May 2018

Rationale

Renalase is a recently discovered kidney secretory protein, which is considered as an important component involved in blood pressure regulation. Although altered levels of renalase have been detected in plasma and urine of patients with various kidney diseases, there is certain inconsistency of changes in the renalase levels reported by different laboratories. The latter is obviously associated with the use of the ELISA as the only available approach for quantitative analysis of renalase. Thus there is a clear need for the development of antibody‐independent approaches for renalase quantification.

Methods

We have developed a new method for quantitative determination of human renalase, which is based on mass spectrometric detection of a proteotypic peptide containing С‐terminal 13C15N‐labelled lysine. It corresponds to a tryptic peptide of human renalase, which has been previously detected in most mass spectrometric determinations of this protein.

Results

Using the labelled peptide H‐EGDCNFVAPQGISSIIK‐OH, corresponding to positions 100–116 of the human renalase sequence, as an internal standard and recombinant human renalase we have generated a calibration curve, which covered the concentration range 0.005–50 ng/mL with a limit of quantitation of 5 pg/mL. Using this calibration curve we were able to detect urinary renalase only after enrichment of initial urinary samples by ammonium sulfate precipitation (but not in untreated urine).

Conclusions

Results of our study indicate that quantitative determination of renalase based on mass spectrometric detection of a proteotypic peptide labelled with stable isotopes gives significantly lower values of this protein in human urine than those reported in the literature and based on the ELISA.
Evidence for dietary time series in layers of cetacean skin using stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios
Authors: Wild Lauren A. , Chenoweth Ellen M. , Mueter Franz J. , Straley Janice M.
Published: May 2018

Rationale

Stable isotope analysis integrates diet information over a time period specific to the type of tissue sampled. For metabolically active skin of free‐ranging cetaceans, cells are generated at the basal layer of the skin and migrate outward until they eventually slough off, suggesting potential for a dietary time series.

Methods

Skin samples from cetaceans were analyzed using continuous‐flow elemental analyzer isotope ratio mass spectrometry. We used ANOVAs to compare the variability of δ13C and δ15N values within and among layers and columns (“cores”) of the skin of a fin, humpback, and sperm whale. We then used mixed‐effects models to analyze isotopic variability among layers of 28 sperm whale skin samples, over the course of a season and among years.

Results

We found layer to be a significant predictor of δ13C values in the sperm whale's skin, and δ15N values in the humpback whale's skin. There was no evidence for significant differences in δ15N or δ13C values among cores for any species. Mixed‐effects models selected layer and day of the year as significant predictors of δ13C and δ15N values in sperm whale skin across individuals sampled during the summer months in the Gulf of Alaska.

Conclusions

These results suggest that skin samples from cetaceans may be subsampled to reflect diet during a narrower time period; specifically different layers of skin may contain a dietary time series. This underscores the importance of selecting an appropriate portion of skin to analyze based on the species and objectives of the study.
Are stable isotope ratios and oscillations consistent in all baleen plates along the filtering apparatus? Validation of an increasingly used methodology
Authors: García‐Vernet Raquel , Sant Pol , Víkingsson Gísli , Borrell Asunción , Aguilar Alex
Published: May 2018

Rationale

Baleen plates are anatomical structures composed of inert tissue that hang from the upper jaw in mysticetes. Baleen plates may differ in size and in coloration between different segments of the filtering row or between sides of the mouth. Concern has been raised that variation in baleen plate characteristics may reflect dissimilar structural composition and growth rates liable to affect stable isotope ratios and their oscillation patterns.

Methods

We measured stable carbon (δ13C values) and nitrogen (δ15N values) isotope ratios at intervals of 1 cm along the longitudinal axis of six baleen plates collected from different positions along the mouth of a fin whale. All samples were analysed using a continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometer. Generalized additive models were fitted to the data from each baleen plate and the results of the models were compared visually.

Results

A total of 206 samples were analysed. Visually, all baleen plates presented nearly identical oscillations, independent of the position or the coloration of the baleen plate. However, the variation in δ13C and δ15N values occurring between the different baleen plates was higher in the segments of oscillations exhibiting steeper slopes.

Conclusions

Differences in size between plates in an individual are due to differential erosion rates according to their position in the mouth. Therefore, the position of sampling along the baleen plate row should not be a reason for concern when conducting stable isotope studies.
Factors Influencing the Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cell Industry: An Evolving Treatment Landscape
Authors: Dessels Carla , Alessandrini Marco , Pepper Michael Sean
Published: May 2018

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is common practice today for life threatening malignant and non-malignant diseases of the blood and immune systems. Umbilical cord blood (UCB) is rich in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and is an attractive alternative to harvesting HSCs from bone marrow or when mobilized into peripheral blood. One of the most appealing attributes of UCB is that it can be banked for future use and hence provides an off-the-shelf solution for patients in urgent need of a transplantation. This has led to the establishment of publicly funded and private UCB banks, as seen by the rapid growth of the UCB industry in the early part of this century. However, from about 2010, the release of UCB units for treatment purposes plateaued and started to decrease year-on-year from 2013 to 2016. Our interest has been to investigate the factors contributing to these changes. Key drivers influencing the UCB industry include the emergence of haploidentical HSCT and the increasing use of UCB units for regenerative medicine purposes. Further influencing this dynamic is the high cost associated with UCB transplantation, the economic impact of sustaining public bank operations and an active private UCB banking sector. We foresee that these factors will continue in a tug-of-war fashion to shape and finally determine the fate of the UCB industry.
Autologous Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells Improve the Quality and Stability of Vascularized Flap Surgery of Irradiated Skin in Pigs
Authors: Linard Christine , Brachet Michel , Strup-Perrot Carine , L'homme Bruno , Busson Elodie , Squiban Claire , Holler Valerie , Bonneau Michel , Lataillade Jean-Jacques , Bey Eric , Benderitter Marc
Published: May 2018

Cutaneous radiation syndrome has severe long-term health consequences. Because it causes an unpredictable course of inflammatory waves, conventional surgical treatment is ineffective and often leads to a fibronecrotic process. Data about the long-term stability of healed wounds, with neither inflammation nor resumption of fibrosis, are lacking. In this study, we investigated the effect of injections of local autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (BM-MSCs), combined with plastic surgery for skin necrosis, in a large-animal model. Three months after irradiation overexposure to the rump, minipigs were divided into three groups: one group treated by simple excision of the necrotic tissue, the second by vascularized-flap surgery, and the third by vascularized-flap surgery and local autologous BM-MSC injections. Three additional injections of the BM-MSCs were performed weekly for 3 weeks. The quality of cutaneous wound healing was examined 1 year post-treatment. The necrotic tissue excision induced a pathologic scar characterized by myofibroblasts, excessive collagen-1 deposits, and inadequate vascular density. The vascularized-flap surgery alone was accompanied by inadequate production of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins (decorin, fibronectin); the low col1/col3 ratio, associated with persistent inflammatory nodules, and the loss of vascularization both attested to continued immaturity of the ECM. BM-MSC therapy combined with vascularized-flap surgery provided mature wound healing characterized by a col1/col3 ratio and decorin and fibronectin expression that were all similar to that of nonirradiated skin, with no inflammation, and vascular stability. In this preclinical model, vascularized flap surgery successfully and lastingly remodeled irradiated skin only when combined with BM-MSC therapy.
Spatial Micropatterning of Growth Factors in 3D Hydrogels for Location‐Specific Regulation of Cellular Behaviors
Authors: Jeon Oju , Lee Keewon , Alsberg Eben
Published: May 2018

Growth factors are potent stimuli for regulating cell function in tissue engineering strategies, but spatially patterning their presentation in 3D in a facile manner using a single material is challenging. Micropatterning is an attractive tool to modulate the cellular microenvironment with various biochemical and physical cues and study their effects on stem cell behaviors. Implementing heparin's ability to immobilize growth factors, dual‐crosslinkable alginate hydrogels are micropatterned in 3D with photocrosslinkable heparin substrates with various geometries and micropattern sizes, and their capability to establish 3D micropatterns of growth factors within the hydrogels is confirmed. This 3D micropatterning method could be applied to various heparin binding growth factors, such as fibroblast growth factor‐2, vascular endothelial growth factor, transforming growth factor‐betas and bone morphogenetic proteins while retaining the hydrogel's natural degradability and cytocompability. Stem cells encapsulated within these micropatterned hydrogels have exhibited spatially localized growth and differentiation responses corresponding to various growth factor patterns, demonstrating the versatility of the approach in controlling stem cell behavior for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications.
Chromatographic separation of vildagliptin and l‐proline as in‐process impurity with the application of Youden's test and statistical analysis to test the robustness of the HPLC method
Authors: Yehia Ali M. , El‐ghobashy Mohamed Refaat , Helmy Aya Hosam , Youssef Nadia F.
Published: May 2018

Robust high‐performance liquid chromatography and thin‐layer chromatography methods were adopted for the determination of vildagliptin in the presence of l‐proline, an in‐process impurity. The high‐performance liquid chromatography separation of vildagliptin and l‐proline was achieved on a cyano 250 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm column using 0.04 M phosphate buffer containing 0.2% triethylamine pH 5.5/methanol (22:78 v/v) as a mobile phase with an isocratic elution at 1 mL/min and 210 nm UV detection. Vildagliptin determination was in range of 5–40 μg/mL with a detection limit of 0.532 μg/mL. Qualitative and quantitative responses were evaluated by the application of Youden's test and statistical analysis to assess the high‐performance liquid chromatography method robustness, and system suitability limits were calculated based on the robustness test results. The thin‐layer chromatography method is based on the separation of vildagliptin and l‐proline on silica gel F254 using chloroform/methanol/glacial acetic acid (7:2:1 v/v/v) as a developing system, visualization was achieved by exposure to iodine vapor and densitometric measurement at 210 nm in range of 1–40 μg/band with a detection limit of 0.403 μg/band. Least squares regression analysis revealed a linear calibration for high‐performance liquid chromatography and a binomial relationship for thin‐layer chromatography. Full validation agreed with International Conference on Harmonization Q2 (R1) guidelines. Good recoveries were obtained for vildagliptin in drug substance, drug product and by applying the standard addition technique.
Pigmentation Is Associated with Stemness Hierarchy of Progenitor Cells Within Cultured Limbal Epithelial Cells
Authors: Liu Lei , Nielsen Frederik Mølgaard , Emmersen Jeppe , Bath Chris , Østergaard Hjortdal Jesper , Riis Simone , Fink Trine , Pennisi Cristian Pablo , Zachar Vladimir
Published: May 2018

Ex vivo cultured human limbal epithelial stem/progenitor cells (hLESCs) are the main source for regenerative therapy of limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD), which is worldwide one of the major causes of corneal blindness. Despite many stemness-associated markers have been identified within the limbal niche, the phenotype of the earliest hLESCs has not been hitherto identified. We sought to confirm or refute the use of tumor protein p63 (p63) and ATP binding cassette subfamily B member 5 (ABCB5) as surrogate markers for hLESCs early within the limbal differentiation hierarchy. Based on a robust fluorescence-activated cell sorting and subsequent RNA isolation protocol, a comprehensive transcriptomic profile was obtained from four subpopulations of cultured hLESCs. The subpopulations were defined by co-expression of two putative stem/progenitor markers, the p63 and ABCB5, and the corneal differentiation marker cytokeratin 3. A comparative transcriptomic analysis yielded novel data that indicated association between pigmentation and differentiation, with the p63 positive populations being the most pigmented and immature of the progenitors. In contrast, ABCB5, either alone or in co-expression patterns, identified more committed progenitor cells with less pigmentation. In conclusion, p63 is superior to ABCB5 as a marker for stemness.
Smart grid governance: An international review of evolving policy issues and innovations
Authors: Brown Marilyn A. , Zhou Shan , Ahmadi Majid
Published: May 2018

The electric power systems of many industrialized nations are challenged by the need to accommodate distributed renewable generation, increasing demands of a digital society, growing threats to infrastructure security, and concerns over global climate disruption. The “smart grid”—with a two‐way flow of electricity and information between utilities and consumers—can help address these challenges, but various financial, regulatory, and technical obstacles hinder its rapid deployment. An overview of experiences with smart grids policies in pioneering countries shows that many governments have designed interventions to overcome these barriers and to facilitate grid modernization. Smart grid policies include a new generation of regulations and finance models such as regulatory targets, requirements for data security and privacy, renewable energy credits, and various interconnection tariffs and utility subsidies.

This article is categorized under:

Energy Infrastructure > Economics and Policy

Energy Policy and Planning > Economics and Policy

Energy Infrastructure > Climate and Environment
The topological structure of supergravity: an application to supersymmetric localization
Authors: Imbimbo Camillo , Rosa Dario
Published: May 2018

Abstract

The BRST algebra of supergravity is characterized by two different bilinears of the commuting supersymmetry ghosts: a vector γ

μ
and a scalar ϕ, the latter valued in the Yang-Mills Lie algebra. We observe that under BRST transformations γ and ϕ transform as the superghosts of, respectively, topological gravity and topological Yang-Mills coupled to topological gravity. This topological structure sitting inside any supergravity leads to universal equivariant cohomological equations for the curvatures 2-forms which hold on supersymmetric bosonic backgrounds. Additional equivariant cohomological equations can be derived for supersymmetric backgrounds of supergravities for which certain gauge invariant scalar bilinears of the commuting ghosts exist. Among those, N = (2, 2) in d = 2, which we discuss in detail in this paper, and N = 2 in d = 4.
Good IR duals of bad quiver theories
Authors: Dey Anindya , Koroteev Peter
Published: May 2018

Abstract

The infrared dynamics of generic 3d N = 4 bad theories (as per the good-bad-ugly classification of Gaiotto and Witten) are poorly understood. Examples of such theories with a single unitary gauge group and fundamental flavors have been studied recently, and the low energy effective theory around some special point in the Coulomb branch was shown to have a description in terms of a good theory and a certain number of free hypermultiplets. A classification of possible infrared fixed points for bad theories by Bashkirov, based on unitarity constraints and superconformal symmetry, suggest a much richer set of possibilities for the IR behavior, although explicit examples were not known. In this note, we present a specific example of a bad quiver gauge theory which admits a good IR description on a sublocus of its Coulomb branch. The good description, in question, consists of two decoupled quiver gauge theories with no free hypermultiplets.
Pure spinor superspace action for D = 6, N = 1 super-Yang-Mills theory
Authors: Cederwall Martin
Published: May 2018

Abstract

A Batalin-Vilkovisky action for D = 6, N = 1 super-Yang-Mills theory, including coupling to hypermultiplets, is given. The formalism involves pure spinor superfields. The geometric properties of the D = 6, N = 1 pure spinors (which differ from Cartan pure spinors) are examined. Unlike the situation for maximally supersymmetric models, the fields and antifields (including ghosts) of the vector multiplet reside in separate superfields. The formalism provides an off-shell superspace formulation for matter hypermultiplets, which in a traditional treatment are on-shell.
Fermionic halos at finite temperature in AdS/CFT
Authors: Argüelles Carlos R. , Grandi Nicolás E.
Published: May 2018

Abstract

We explore the gravitational backreaction of a system consisting in a very large number of elementary fermions at finite temperature, in asymptotically AdS space. We work in the hydrodynamic approximation, and solve the Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff equations with a perfect fluid whose equation of state takes into account both the relativistic effects of the fermionic constituents, as well as its finite temperature effects. We find a novel dense core-diluted halo structure for the density profiles in the AdS bulk, similarly as recently reported in flat space, for the case of astrophysical dark matter halos in galaxies. We further study the critical equilibrium configurations above which the core undergoes gravitational collapse towards a massive black hole, and calculate the corresponding critical central temperatures, for two qualitatively different central regimes of the fermions: the diluted-Fermi case, and the degenerate case. As a probe for the dual CFT, we construct the holographic two-point correlator of a scalar operator with large conformal dimension in the worldline limit, and briefly discuss on the boundary CFT effects at the critical points.
The International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium (IMPC): a functional catalogue of the mammalian genome that informs conservation
Authors:   the IMPC consortium, Muñoz-Fuentes Violeta , Cacheiro Pilar , Meehan Terrence F. , Aguilar-Pimentel Juan Antonio , Brown Steve D. M. , Flenniken Ann M. , Flicek Paul , Galli Antonella , Mashhadi Hamed Haseli , Hrabě de Angelis Martin , Kim Jong Kyoung , Lloyd K. C. Kent , McKerlie Colin , Morgan Hugh , Murray Stephen A. , Nutter Lauryl M. J. , Reilly Patrick T. , Seavitt John R. , Seong Je Kyung , Simon Michelle , Wardle-Jones Hannah , Mallon Ann-Marie , Smedley Damian , Parkinson Helen E.
Published: May 2018

The International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium (IMPC) is building a catalogue of mammalian gene function by producing and phenotyping a knockout mouse line for every protein-coding gene. To date, the IMPC has generated and characterised 5186 mutant lines. One-third of the lines have been found to be non-viable and over 300 new mouse models of human disease have been identified thus far. While current bioinformatics efforts are focused on translating results to better understand human disease processes, IMPC data also aids understanding genetic function and processes in other species. Here we show, using gorilla genomic data, how genes essential to development in mice can be used to help assess the potentially deleterious impact of gene variants in other species. This type of analyses could be used to select optimal breeders in endangered species to maintain or increase fitness and avoid variants associated to impaired-health phenotypes or loss-of-function mutations in genes of critical importance. We also show, using selected examples from various mammal species, how IMPC data can aid in the identification of candidate genes for studying a condition of interest, deliver information about the mechanisms involved, or support predictions for the function of genes that may play a role in adaptation. With genotyping costs decreasing and the continued improvements of bioinformatics tools, the analyses we demonstrate can be routinely applied.
Discovering simple phenylboronic acid and benzoxaborole derivatives for experimental oncology – phase cycle-specific inducers of apoptosis in A2780 ovarian cancer cells
Authors: Psurski Mateusz , Łupicka-Słowik Agnieszka , Adamczyk-Woźniak Agnieszka , Wietrzyk Joanna , Sporzyński Andrzej
Published: May 2018

Objective The aim of the study was to evaluate the antiproliferative potential of simple phenylboronic acid and benzoxaborole derivatives as well as to provide preliminary insight into their mode of action in cancer cells in vitro. Methods The antiproliferative activity was assessed in five diverse cancer cell lines via the SRB method (sulforhodamine B) or MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) method after 72 h of treatment. Further studies of the mechanism of action consisted of the influence of the compounds on cell cycle progression and apoptosis induction, which was assessed by flow cytometry, caspase-3 enzymatic activity, fluorescence microscopy and western blot analysis. Results A clear structure-activity relationship was observed for both groups of compounds with several representatives evaluated as highly active antiproliferative agents with low micromolar $$ {\mathrm{IC}}_{50}^{72\mathrm{h}} $$

IC
50

72
h

values. 2-Fluoro-6-formylphenylboronic acid (18) and 3-morpholino-5-fluorobenzoxaborole (27) exhibited strong cell cycle arrest induction in G2/M associated with caspase-3 activation in an A2780 ovarian cancer cell line. These events were accompanied by a mitotic catastrophe cell morphology and an increased percentage of aneuploid and tetraploid cells. Further experiments indicated that the compounds were phase cycle-specific agents since cells co-treated with hydroxyurea were less sensitive. The observed cell cycle arrest resulted from significant p21 accumulation and was associated neither with cyclin B1 nor β-tubulin degradation. Conclusion Phenylboronic acid and benzoxaborole derivatives were found to be highly promising antiproliferative and proapoptotic compounds with a cell cycle-specific mode of action. The presented data support their candidacy for further studies as a novel class of potential anticancer agents.
A global forum on ultramafic ecosystems: from ultramafic ecology to rehabilitation of degraded environments
Authors: Echevarria Guillaume , Baker Alan J. M. , Boyd Robert S. , van der Ent Antony , Mizuno Takafumi , Rajakaruna Nishanta , Sakaguchi Shota , Bani Aida
Published: May 2018

The 9th International Conference on Serpentine Ecology (ICSE) was held in Tirana and Pogradec (Albania) from June 5 to 9, 2017. More than 100 delegates from 29 countries around the world gathered to present their research on recent advances in: (i) ultramafic soils, (ii) biogeochemistry, (iii) diversity of ultramafic flora, microflora and fauna, (iv) ecophysiology of ultramafic‐adapted organisms, (v) interactions between ultramafic organisms and their ecology, (vi) nature rehabilitation of degraded ultramafic environments (resulting from mining activities), and (vii) the production of bio‐based metals through agromining technology. Additionally, the ICSE featured the first symposium on ultramafic aquatic ecology and ecotoxicology. Albania has one of the most diverse ultramafic floras in Europe. During the conference delegates visited some of the most emblematic ultramafic sites in Albania as well as the first agromining field trial in Europe. Here, we present the major topics and provide some highlights of the 25 contributions in this Special Issue (Vol. 33 no.3 and 4).
Perceptions of nature conservation by future biologists attending private universities in São Paulo State, Brazil
Authors: Gheler‐Costa Carla , Soncksen Beatriz Malaghine , Santos Gláucia Maria Costa , Rosalino Luís Miguel
Published: May 2018

As conservation agents, biologists play a central role in nature preservation as information‐gatherers, promoters of environmental education, lobbyists, and members of societies. Consequently, it is important to understand what factors determine their attitudes towards conservation. We aimed to assess which taxa and recovery measures students from biology core courses consider priorities for conservation and to determine the value students associate with conservation compared to other topics. We asked students (n = 122) from two private universities in São Paulo State, Brazil to fill out an anonymous questionnaire. They highlighted rarity, vanishing habitats and endemism as important criteria in prioritizing species. Carnivores were identified as the most threatened mammals and habitat recovery was deemed to be the most efficient conservation action. Students valued healthcare, cultural heritage and science over conservation. Our results reveal a two‐sided perspective of conservation among students from biology core courses; they possess knowledge of conservation issues but are greatly influenced by anthropocentric and utilitarian views of nature.
New road anomaly detection and characterization algorithm for autonomous vehicles
Authors: Bello-Salau H. , Aibinu A.M. , Onumanyi A.J. , Onwuka E.N. , Dukiya J.J. , Ohize H.
Published: May 2018

This paper presents a new algorithm for detecting and characterizing potholes and bumps directly from noisy signals acquired using an Accelerometer. A wavelet transformation based filter was used to decompose the signals into multiple scales. These coefficients were correlated across adjacent scales and filtered using a spatial filter. Road anomalies were then detected based on a fixed threshold system, while characterization was achieved using unique features extracted from the filtered wavelet coefficients. Our analyses show that the proposed algorithm detects and characterizes road anomalies with high levels of accuracy, precision and low false alarm rates.
Biopsychosocial Management of Female Sexual Dysfunction: A Pilot Study of Patient Perceptions From 2 Multi-Disciplinary Clinics
Authors: Rullo Jordan , Faubion Stephanie S. , Hartzell Rose , Goldstein Sue , Cohen Deborah , Frohmader Karla , Winter Ashley G. , Mara Kristin , Schroeder Darrell , Goldstein Irwin
Published: May 2018

Background

Sexual dysfunction is often complex and biopsychosocial. Traditional sexual health care management involves individual providers not in a multi-disciplinary setting. A multi-disciplinary team may consist of a medical provider, pelvic floor physical therapist, and sex therapist.

Aim

The aim was to explore the patient perceptions of benefit from management of their sexual dysfunction by a biopsychosocial multi-disciplinary team.

Methods

A survey was e-mailed to women patients seen by multi-disciplinary teams at 2 different settings: San Diego Sexual Medicine or Mayo Clinic Women's Health Clinic during a 27-month period. Data are reported using summary statistics for age and count for remaining survey responses. Cochran-Armitage tests for trend were used to compare pre- and post-comfort levels.

Outcomes

Main outcome measures included perceived benefit of being managed in a team-based model of care, level of benefit and satisfaction from each provider, and difference from pre-conceived level of comfort to actual comfort after each provider visit.

Results

89 of 270 e-mailed surveys were analyzed. Patient populations (mean age 47.6, range 23–77 years) were similar between sites. Overall, 82% of respondents reported moderate/great benefit from the team-based model; 72.1% reported management by all 3 providers valuable/extremely valuable; and 84.3% were somewhat/very satisfied with the model. Women endorsed specific ways in which they benefitted from the team-based model including: improved sexual function (58.1%), feeling validated (72.1%) and listened to (62.8%), that they better understood their health concerns (65.1%), that their partner better understood their health concerns (46.5%), and feeling normal (46.5%). There were no significant differences between the 2 clinics in terms of patient-perceived benefit, value, or satisfaction.

Conclusions

The team-based model of care for management of sexual dysfunction in women including a medical provider, physical therapist, and sex therapist is associated with patient-perceived benefit, satisfaction, and value.
Functional outcome and social cognition in bipolar disorder: Is there a connection?
Authors: Vlad Maria , Raucher-Chéné Delphine , Henry Audrey , Kaladjian Arthur
Published: May 2018

Background:

Interest in social cognition in bipolar disorder (BD) has increased considerably over the past decade, with studies highlighting major impairments, especially in mental state reasoning, even during euthymia. A causal relationship between social cognition deficits and social functioning has already been established in individuals with schizophrenia, but there is still little information about links between social cognition and social functioning in BD. Our aim was therefore to review the relationship between functional outcome and social cognition in patients with BD.

Methods:

We conducted a systematic review of the literature. Relevant articles were identified through literature searches in the MEDLINE/PubMed, EBSCOHost and Google Scholar databases for the years 2000–2017, using the keywordsbipolar, social cognition, theory of mind, mentalizing, emotion recognition, emotion processing, andfunctioning.A total of 20 studies met our inclusion/exclusion criteria.

Results:

We found that functioning was significantly correlated with three domains of social cognition (ToM, emotion processing, and attribution bias). Twelve of 13 studies reported a correlation with emotion processing, but a correlation with ToM was only found in three of the 11 studies that assessed it. Six studies found an effect of depressive symptoms on emotion processing and no significant association was found with manic symptomatology.

Conclusions:

To the best of our knowledge, the present review is the first to specifically explore the relationship between social cognition and social functioning in patients with BD. This exploration is of interest, as it enhances current understanding of this disorder and, by so doing, should improve patient outcomes.
Long term outcomes of acute and transient psychotic disorders: The missed opportunity of preventive interventions
Authors: Rutigliano Grazia , Merlino Sergio , Minichino Amedeo , Patel Rashmi , Davies Cathy , Oliver Dominic , De Micheli Andrea , McGuire Philip , Fusar-Poli Paolo
Published: May 2018

Background:

Acute and transient psychotic disorders (ATPD) are characterized by an acute onset and a remitting course, and overlap with subgroups of the clinical high-risk state for psychosis. The long-term course and outcomes of ATPD are not completely clear.

Methods:

Electronic health record-based retrospective cohort study, including all patients who received a first index diagnosis of ATPD (F23, ICD-10) within the South London and Maudsley (SLaM) National Health Service Trust, between 1 st April 2006 and 15th June 2017. The primary outcome was risk of developing persistent psychotic disorders, defined as the development of any ICD-10 diagnoses of non-organic psychotic disorders. Cumulative risk of psychosis onset was estimated through Kaplan-Meier failure functions (non-competing risks) and Greenwood confidence intervals.

Results:

A total of 3074 patients receiving a first index diagnosis of ATPD (F23, ICD-10) within SLaM were included. The mean follow-up was 1495 days. After 8-year, 1883 cases (61.26%) retained the index diagnosis of ATPD; the remaining developed psychosis. The cumulative incidence (Kaplan-Meier failure function) of risk of developing any ICD-10 non-organic psychotic disorder was 16.10% at 1-year (95%CI 14.83–17.47%), 28.41% at 2-year (95%CI 26.80–30.09%), 33.96% at 3-year (95% CI 32.25–35.75%), 36.85% at 4-year (95%CI 35.07–38.69%), 40.99% at 5-year (95% CI 39.12–42.92%), 42.58% at 6-year (95%CI 40.67–44.55%), 44.65% at 7-year (95% CI 42.66–46.69%), and 46.25% at 8-year (95% CI 44.17–48.37%). The cumulative risk of schizophrenia-spectrum disorder at 8-year was 36.14% (95% CI 34.09–38.27%).

Conclusions:

Individuals with ATPD have a very high risk of developing persistent psychotic disorders and may benefit from early detection and preventive treatments to improve their outcomes.
Current frontline endocrine treatment options for women with hormone receptorpositive, Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2)-negative advanced-stage breast cancer
Authors: Abdel-Razeq Hikmat
Published: May 2018

Despite the recent advances in breast cancer early detection and awareness, a significant portion of patients present with an advanced-stage disease and more patients will progress to stage IV despite adequate treatment of their initial early-stage disease. Hormone receptor (HR)-positive, Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-2 (HER2)-negative subtype is the commonest among all breast cancer subtypes. The management of the advanced-stage disease of this subtype has evolved significantly over the past few years. The emergence of estrogen receptor down regulators (fulvestrant), mTOR-inhibitors and the recent introduction of CDK4/6 inhibitors, like palbociclib, abemaciclib and ribociclib, has resulted in a significant and a historical improvement in treatment outcomes.

In this paper, we review many of the recently reported clinical trials that led to the approval of these new drugs in the first-line settings, along with the current international guidelines.