bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The role and relevance of mast cells in urticaria
Authors: Church Martin K. , Kolkhir Pavel , Metz Martin , Maurer Marcus
Published: February 2018

This review presents evidence that the skin mast cell, in particular the MCTC subtype, is the primary effector cell in urticaria. Mast cells are located in the upper dermis, the ideal situation for wheal formation and sensory nerve stimulation. Increased numbers of mast cells are found in both lesional and non‐lesional skin in CSU and inducible urticaria. Mast cell degranulation in the area of wheals has been demonstrated repeatedly by light and electron microscopy. Histamine, PGD2 and tryptase are found in the venous blood draining wheal formation. The last 2 are specific for mast cells rather than basophils. Mast cell reactivity is increased in active urticaria by local inflammatory cytokines and neuropeptides. Mast cell cytokines and neuropeptides, particularly nerve growth factor, induce a Th2 type inflammation that is particularly obvious at the sites of whealing. In conclusion, autoimmunity, either of Type 1 viz. IgE antibodies to local autoallergens, or Type 2b, viz. IgG autoantibodies to IgE or its receptor, are considered to be the most frequent causes of CSU. In both cases, the mast cell is likely to be the axial cell in producing the wheals.
Mast cells as sources of cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors
Authors: Mukai Kaori , Tsai Mindy , Saito Hirohisa , Galli Stephen J.
Published: February 2018

Mast cells are hematopoietic cells that reside in virtually all vascularized tissues and that represent potential sources of a wide variety of biologically active secreted products, including diverse cytokines and growth factors. There is strong evidence for important non‐redundant roles of mast cells in many types of innate or adaptive immune responses, including making important contributions to immediate and chronic IgE‐associated allergic disorders and enhancing host resistance to certain venoms and parasites. However, mast cells have been proposed to influence many other biological processes, including responses to bacteria and virus, angiogenesis, wound healing, fibrosis, autoimmune and metabolic disorders, and cancer. The potential functions of mast cells in many of these settings is thought to reflect their ability to secrete, upon appropriate activation by a range of immune or non‐immune stimuli, a broad spectrum of cytokines (including many chemokines) and growth factors, with potential autocrine, paracrine, local, and systemic effects. In this review, we summarize the evidence indicating which cytokines and growth factors can be produced by various populations of rodent and human mast cells in response to particular immune or non‐immune stimuli, and comment on the proven or potential roles of such mast cell products in health and disease.
Genetic structuring and secondary contact in the white‐chestedAmaziliahummingbird species complex
Authors: Rodríguez‐Gómez Flor , Ornelas Juan Francisco
Published: February 2018

Pleistocene climate cycles have been recognized to be a major driver of postglacial northward range expansion of North American bird populations. During glacial maxima, allopatric lineages that were reproductively isolated might have come into secondary contact with one another during expansion periods and the genetic signatures of past hybridization as a result of secondary contact events should produce detectable hybrid zones. The white‐chested hummingbirdsAmazilia violicepsandA. viridifrons, constitute a species complex showing phenotypic similarity across its range. One exception is the subspecies found in the Central Depression of Chiapas (A. viridifrons villadai), which shares some plumage traits with the endemic but allopatric green‐fronted populations in Oaxaca. Phylogenetic relationships, taxonomy and species limits amongvioliceps,viridifronsandvilladaihave been controversial for decades. We assessed genetic structure of populations and introgression in this species complex by analysing 95 individuals at ten nuclear microsatellites and morphology. Bayesian analysis yielded four clusters. However, only two clusters generally match previously described mtDNA haplogroups, one parental taxon in the south (villadai) and a cluster with two admixed taxa (viridifronsandvioliceps) that cannot be attributed to any pure parental population. High genetic admixture was recorded in thevioliceps/viridifronsrange, probably as a consequence of a postglacial northern expansion ofvioliceps. Signs of admixture and gene flow betweenvioliceps/viridifronsandvilladaiwere low. Historical and contemporary migration rates and Approximate Bayesian computations support a scenario of divergence with gene flow: a Pleistocene basal split separatingA. violicepsand the other two clades are derived from a second split (villadaiandviridifrons) or from a merger ofviolicepsandvilladaiintoviridifronsdue to gene flow.
Fish biogeography in the “Lost World” of the Guiana Shield: Phylogeography of the weakly electric knifefish Gymnotus carapo (Teleostei: Gymnotidae)
Authors: Lehmberg Emma S. , Elbassiouny Ahmed A. , Bloom Devin D. , López‐Fernández Hernán , Crampton William G.R. , Lovejoy Nathan R.
Published: February 2018

Aim

The Guiana Shield region exhibits extraordinary topography that includes sheer, flat‐topped mountains (tepuis) atop an upland platform. Rivers of the eastern Pakaraima Mountains descend to Atlantic coastal lowlands, often traversing spectacular rapids and waterfalls. For fish species distributed in both uplands and lowlands, it is unclear whether these rapids and waterfalls present population or biogeographical boundaries. We sought to test this using the geographically widespread banded‐electric knifefish (Gymnotus carapo) as a model.

Location

The Guiana Shield region of South America.

Methods

We sampled 60 Gymnotus carapo specimens from the Guiana Shield region, and 75 G. carapo and closely related species from other parts of South America. We sequenced the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene and an intron from the nuclear S7 ribosomal protein gene, and used maximum likelihood and Bayesian tree‐building approaches to generate phylogenetic trees of haplotypes.

Results

Haplotype sharing is minimal between populations separated by elevational barriers. We found evidence for two main haplotype clades in the Guiana Shield: one distributed in Atlantic coastal regions that includes most lowland samples, and one inland that includes most upland samples. Inland Guiana samples are more closely related to samples from the Amazon basin than to those of Atlantic coastal regions. A single sample from Tafelberg tepui in Suriname was most closely related to the Atlantic coastal lineages.

Main conclusions

Riverine barriers that result from steep elevational gradients in the Guiana Shield inhibit gene flow between uplands and lowlands, even for a widely distributed species. Biogeographical relationships of Guiana Shield G. carapo are complex, with most upland lineages showing affinities to the Amazon basin, rather than to nearby lowland drainages of the Atlantic coast.
Human introduction or natural dispersion? Atlantic Ocean occurrence of the Indo‐Pacific whitetip reef shark Triaenodon obesus
Authors: Bornatowski H. , Loose R. , Sampaio C. L. S. , Gadig O. B. F. , Carvalho‐Filho A. , Domingues R. R.
Published: February 2018

Occurrence of multiple whitetip reef sharks Triaenodon obesus in the Atlantic Ocean is reported for the first time from near a sunken ferry off the Paraná coast in south‐eastern Brazil. This occurrence is hypothesized to have been caused by either a human introduction or a remarkably long oceanic displacement.
Overdenture Prostheses with Metal Copings: A Retrospective Analysis of Survival and Prosthodontic Complications
Authors: Chhabra Anuj , Chhabra Nidhi , Jain Anurag , Kabi Debipada
Published: February 2018

Purpose

To retrospectively evaluate complications associated with overdentures and abutment teeth restored with metal copings, including post‐procedural and prosthetic problems; also to analyze the frequency and influencing factors associated with these problems.

Materials and Methods

A total of 80 subjects (48 females, 32 males, mean age 62 years) wearing root‐supported overdentures were enrolled in the study. All participants were thoroughly examined by a single examiner, and appropriate maintenance care was performed. The 80 subjects had 270 abutments, which were endodontically treated teeth. All 80 subjects were carefully interviewed, inspected, and evaluated for post‐procedural and clinical problems with their overdentures for an observation period of up to 5 years.

Results

Of the post‐procedural problems evaluated, the most common problems were gingival inflammation (69%) and root caries (36%) because of poor oral hygiene (41%) and loss of metal copings (34%), followed by overdenture base fracture over abutment teeth (34%). Other post‐procedural problems reported were loss of overdenture stability (23%), incidence of overdenture repair (20%), poor retention (18%), incidental finding of root fragments (unplanned) in the jaws (15%), and up to two grade net change in the mobility of overdenture abutments (8%). All prostheses were in use at the time of data collection and observation up to 5 years.

Conclusions

Overdenture therapy was satisfactory; however, post‐procedural and prosthetic complications and aftercare maintenance must not be underestimated.
“It's Just a Lot of Work”: Adolescents’ Self‐Presentation Norms and Practices on Facebook and Instagram
Authors: Yau Joanna C. , Reich Stephanie M.
Published: February 2018

We explored adolescents’ (12‐ to 18‐year‐olds; n = 51) awareness of their audience and subsequent self‐presentation practices on Facebook and Instagram through focus group discussions. Findings suggest that teens, who are developmentally able to perceive a situation from the third‐person perspective and who value peer approval, purposefully share content to appear interesting, well liked, and attractive. Some teens invested great effort into posting by these norms, even asking their friends to help; however, this was more common among girls. Older teens especially discussed taking the perspective of their audience when deciding what to post, which is consistent with the finding that perspective taking continues to develop throughout adolescence. These findings suggest that perspective taking skills and need for peer approval influence self‐presentation online.
Defining Primary Care Shortage Areas: Do GIS‐based Measures Yield Different Results?
Authors: Daly Michael R. , Mellor Jennifer M. , Millones Marco
Published: February 2018

Purpose

To examine whether geographic information systems (GIS)‐based physician‐to‐population ratios (PPRs) yield determinations of geographic primary care shortage areas that differ from those based on bounded‐area PPRs like those used in the Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) designation process.

Methods

We used geocoded data on primary care physician (PCP) locations and census block population counts from 1 US state to construct 2 shortage area indicators. The first is a bounded‐area shortage indicator defined without GIS methods; the second is a GIS‐based measure that measures the populations’ spatial proximity to PCP locations. We examined agreement and disagreement between bounded shortage areas and GIS‐based shortage areas.

Findings

Bounded shortage area indicators and GIS‐based shortage area indicators agree for the census blocks where the vast majority of our study populations reside. Specifically, 95% and 98% of the populations in our full and urban samples, respectively, reside in census blocks where the 2 indicators agree. Although agreement is generally high in rural areas (ie, 87% of the rural population reside in census blocks where the 2 indicators agree), agreement is significantly lower compared to urban areas. One source of disagreement suggests that bounded‐area measures may “overlook” some shortages in rural areas; however, other aspects of the HPSA designation process likely mitigate this concern. Another source of disagreement arises from the border‐crossing problem, and it is more prevalent.

Conclusions

The GIS‐based PPRs we employed would yield shortage area determinations that are similar to those based on bounded‐area PPRs defined for Primary Care Service Areas. Disagreement rates were lower than previous studies have found.
Comparison of milk and plasma pharmacokinetics of meloxicam in postpartum versus mid‐lactation Holstein cows
Authors: Gorden P. J. , Burchard M. , Ydstie J. A. , Kleinhenz M. D. , Wulf L. W. , Rajewski S. J. , Wang C. , Gehring R. , Mochel J. P. , Coetzee J. F.
Published: February 2018

The objective of this study reported here was determine whether differences occurred in meloxicam pharmacokinetics between postpartum cows and mid‐lactation cows. Preliminary data from a separate study (P. J. Gorden, unpublished data) in postpartum cows demonstrated elevated plasma and milk concentration profiles compared to previously published data (Malreddy, Coetzee, KuKanich, & Gehring, ). Two different groups were enrolled, each with 10 cows. The treatment group (TRT) was postpartum cows treated with meloxicam, and the positive control (PC) group was cows in mid‐lactation treated with meloxicam. Plasma and milk meloxicam concentrations between the TRT and PC group were compared. Significant differences in meloxicam concentration in plasma were determined at all time points from 8 hr to 120 hr post‐treatment. In milk, there was a treatment (p = .003), time (p < .001), and treatment by time interaction (p < .001). Significant differences in milk meloxicam concentration were determined at all time points from 8 hr to 96 hr post‐treatment, except for the 16‐hr time point. The time needed for meloxicam to no longer be detected in milk of the TRT group was longer compared to the PC group, indicating that a longer milk withdrawal is needed. These data suggest higher bioavailability as the underlying mechanism. Further research is needed to determine the mechanisms underlying differences this outcome.
Endogenous norms in wage and price setting and hysteresis in the real exchange rate
Authors: Libman Emiliano
Published: February 2018

Real exchange rates are often ‘disconnected’ from fundamentals. Mean reversion toward equilibrium operates at a slow pace (if it operates at all), and when inflation is low the real exchange rate tracks closely the nominal exchange rate for prolonged periods of time. Using a simple open economy model, we show that including endogenous norms in wage and price setting in an open economy set‐up can lead to hysteresis in the real exchange rate. For a given set of fundamentals, the real exchange rate may settle down at different equilibria and exchange rate policies are not necessarily neutral in the long‐run.
Indeterministic intuitions and the Spinozan strategy
Authors: Kissel Andrew
Published: February 2018

This article focuses on philosophical views that attempt to explain widespread belief in indeterministic choice by following a strategy that harkens back at least to Spinoza. According to thisSpinozan strategy, people draw an inference from the absence of experiences of determined choice to the belief in indeterministic choice. Accounts of this kind are historically liable to overgeneralization. The pair of accounts defended in Shaun Nichols’ recent book,Bound: Essays on Free Will and Responsibility,are the most complete and empirically plausible representatives of this strategy. I argue that both accounts ultimately fail, and overgeneralization worries remain for Spinozan strategists.
Renal fungus ball in a patient with retroperitoneal fibrosis: Unique complication in a rare disease
Authors: Alobaid Khaled , Faty Mostafa , El‐Nahas Ahmed , Al‐Terki Abdullatif , Khan Zia
Published: February 2018

Candida fungus ball is a rare presentation of urinary tract infections among adult patients and is associated with considerable morbidity. Because clinical signs are not specific, diagnosis is often delayed. Furthermore, treatment is occasionally difficult, and the approach to such cases varies widely among different centers. In this report, we describe a patient with retroperitoneal fibrosis who developed a renal fungus ball. Management of this challenging case is discussed, and review of the literature is presented.
Deciphering drought‐induced metabolic responses and regulation in developing maize kernels
Authors: Yang Liming , Fountain Jake C. , Ji Pingsheng , Ni Xinzhi , Chen Sixue , Lee Robert D. , Kemerait Robert C. , Guo Baozhu
Published: February 2018

Drought stress conditions decrease maize growth and yield, and aggravate preharvest aflatoxin contamination. While several studies have been performed on mature kernels responding to drought stress, the metabolic profiles of developing kernels are not as well characterized, particularly in germplasm with contrasting resistance to both drought and mycotoxin contamination. Here, following screening for drought tolerance, a drought‐sensitive line, B73, and a drought‐tolerant line, Lo964, were selected and stressed beginning at 14 days after pollination. Developing kernels were sampled 7 and 14 days after drought induction (DAI) from both stressed and irrigated plants. Comparative biochemical and metabolomic analyses profiled 409 differentially accumulated metabolites. Multivariate statistics and pathway analyses showed that drought stress induced an accumulation of simple sugars and polyunsaturated fatty acids and a decrease in amines, polyamines and dipeptides in B73. Conversely, sphingolipid, sterol, phenylpropanoid and dipeptide metabolites accumulated in Lo964 under drought stress. Drought stress also resulted in the greater accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and aflatoxin in kernels of B73 in comparison with Lo964 implying a correlation in their production. Overall, field drought treatments disordered a cascade of normal metabolic programming during development of maize kernels and subsequently caused oxidative stress. The glutathione and urea cycles along with the metabolism of carbohydrates and lipids for osmoprotection, membrane maintenance and antioxidant protection were central among the drought stress responses observed in developing kernels. These results also provide novel targets to enhance host drought tolerance and disease resistance through the use of biotechnologies such as transgenics and genome editing.
DNA methylation analyses of the candidate genes identified by a methylome‐wide association study revealed common epigenetic alterations in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder
Authors: Sugawara Hiroko , Murata Yui , Ikegame Tempei , Sawamura Rie , Shimanaga Shota , Takeoka Yusuke , Saito Takeo , Ikeda Masashi , Yoshikawa Akane , Nishimura Fumichika , Kawamura Yoshiya , Kakiuchi Chihiro , Sasaki Tsukasa , Iwata Nakao , Hashimoto Mamoru , Kasai Kiyoto , Kato Tadafumi , Bundo Miki , Iwamoto Kazuya
Published: February 2018

Aim

Schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BD) have been known to share genetic and environmental risk factors, and complex gene–environmental interactions may contribute to their pathophysiology. In contrast to high genetic overlap between SZ and BD, as revealed by genome‐wide association studies, the extent of epigenetic overlap remains largely unknown. In the present study, we explored whether SZ and BD share epigenetic risk factors in the same manner as they share genetic components.

Methods

We performed DNA methylation analyses of the CpG sites in the top five candidate regions (FAM63B, ARHGAP26, CTAGE11P, TBC1D22A, and intergenic region [IR] on chromosome 16) reported in a previous methylome‐wide association study (MWAS) of SZ, using whole blood samples from subjects with BD and controls.

Results

Among the five candidate regions, the CpG sites in FAM63B and IR on chromosome 16 were significantly hypomethylated in the samples from subjects with BD as well as those from subjects with SZ. On the other hand, the CpG sites in TBC1D22A were hypermethylated in the samples from subjects with BD, in contrast to hypomethylation in the samples from subjects with SZ.

Conclusion

Hypomethylation of FAM63B and IR on chromosome 16 could be common epigenetic risk factors for SZ and BD. Further comprehensive epigenetic studies for BD, such as MWAS, will uncover the extent of similarity and uniqueness of epigenetic alterations.
Pediatric renal transplantation: A retrospective single‐center study on epidemiology and morbidity due to EBV
Authors: Laurent A. , Klich A. , Roy P. , Lina B. , Kassai B. , Bacchetta J. , Cochat P.
Published: February 2018

Pediatric R‐Tx patients are at high risk of developing EBV primary infection. Although high DNA replication is a risk factor for PTLD, some patients develop PTLD with low viral load. In this retrospective single‐center study including all pediatric patients having received R‐Tx (2003‐2012 period), we aimed to identify risk factors for uncontrolled reactions to EBV (defined as the presence of a viral load >10 000 copies/mL or PTLD). A Cox proportional hazard model was performed. A total of 117 patients underwent R‐Tx at a mean age of 9.7 ± 5.3 years, 46 of them being seronegative for EBV at the time of R‐Tx. During follow‐up, 54 patients displayed positive EBV viral load, 22 of whom presenting with primary infection. An uncontrolled reaction to EBV was observed in 24 patients, whilst 4 patients developed PTLD. Univariate and multivariate analyses suggested the following risk factors for an uncontrolled reaction: age below 5 years, graft from a deceased donor, ≥5 HLA mismatches, EBV‐seronegative status at the time of R‐Tx, and a secondary post‐Tx loss of anti‐EBNA. Monitoring anti‐EBNA after R‐Tx may contribute to the early identification of patients at risk for uncontrolled reaction.
Using image analysis for quantitative assessment of needle bladder rust disease of Norway spruce
Authors: Ganthaler A. , Losso A. , Mayr S.
Published: February 2018

High elevation spruce forests of the European Alps are frequently infected by the needle rust Chrysomyxa rhododendri, a pathogen causing remarkable defoliation, reduced tree growth and limited rejuvenation. Exact quantification of the disease severity on different spatial scales is crucial for monitoring, management and resistance breeding activities. Based on the distinct yellow discolouration of attacked needles, it was investigated whether image analysis of digital photographs can be used to quantify disease severity and to improve phenotyping compared to conventional assessment in terms of time, effort and application range. The developed protocol for preprocessing and analysis of digital RGB images enabled identification of disease symptoms and healthy needle areas on images obtained in ground surveys (total number of analysed images n = 62) and by the use of a semiprofessional quadcopter (n = 13). Obtained disease severities correlated linearly with results obtained by manual counting of healthy and diseased needles for all approaches, including images of individual branches with natural background (R2 = 0.87) and with black background (R2 = 0.95), juvenile plants (R2 = 0.94), and top views and side views of entire tree crowns of adult trees (R2 = 0.98 and 0.88, respectively). Results underline that a well‐defined signal related to needle bladder rust symptoms of Norway spruce can be extracted from images recorded by standard digital cameras and using drones. The presented protocol enables precise and time‐efficient quantification of disease symptoms caused by C. rhododendri and provides several advantages compared to conventional assessment by manual counting or visual estimations.
Plant cell wall sugars: sweeteners for a bio‐based economy
Authors: Van de Wouwer Dorien , Boerjan Wout , Vanholme Bartel
Published: February 2018

Global warming and the consequent climate change is one of the major environmental challenges we are facing today. The driving force behind the rise in temperature is our fossil‐based economy, which releases massive amounts of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. In order to reduce greenhouse gas emission, we need to scale down our dependency on fossil resources, implying that we need other sources for energy and chemicals to feed our economy. Here, plants have an important role to play; by means of photosynthesis, plants capture solar energy to split water and fix carbon derived from atmospheric carbon dioxide. A significant fraction of the fixed carbon ends up as polysaccharides in the plant cell wall. Fermentable sugars derived from cell wall polysaccharides form an ideal carbon source for the production of bio‐platform molecules. However, a major limiting factor in the use of plant biomass as feedstock for the bio‐based economy is the complexity of the plant cell wall and its recalcitrance towards deconstruction. To facilitate the release of fermentable sugars during downstream biomass processing, the composition and structure of the cell wall can be engineered. Different strategies to reduce cell wall recalcitrance will be described in this review. The ultimate goal is to obtain a tailor‐made biomass, derived from plants with a cell wall optimized for particular industrial or agricultural applications, without affecting plant growth and development.
Do “Resource‐Cursed States” Have Lower Levels of Social and Institutional Trust? Evidence from Africa and Latin America
Authors: Ishiyama John , Martinez Melissa , Ozsut Melda
Published: February 2018

Objective

This study examines whether a state's abundance of natural resource wealth, such as oil or gas, leads to lower levels of social and institutional trust than in countries that are not as “cursed” with resources.

Methods

To test this we use survey data from both the Afrobarometer survey (2008–2009) and comparable data on Latin America from the Latin American Public Opinion Project (LAPOP), using 44 countries, as well as subnational data from two large oil‐producing countries (Nigeria and Mexico).

Results

Using multilevel logit analysis we find that individuals in countries that are oil and gas producers are less likely to exhibit high levels of social or institutional trust than individuals in countries that are not oil or gas producers. However, when examining oil‐producing regions within Nigeria and Mexico, we find that individuals in such regions tend to express relatively higher levels of individual social and institutional trust than regions that are not oil producers.

Conclusion

These findings can be explained by the differential effects of oil and gas wealth—at the national level, oil and gas wealth promotes corruption and a general erosion of both institutional and interpersonal trust, especially for those who live in regions that do not directly benefit from oil and gas revenues. However, in regions within countries, people who reside in such regions are more likely to directly benefit from the economic spoils and patronage derived from resource revenues.
Assessing the Influence of Amicus Curiae Briefs on the Roberts Court*
Authors: Pacelle Richard L. , Scheb John M. , Sharma Hemant K. , Scott David H.
Published: February 2018

Objectives

Our objective is to assess the influence of amicus curiae briefs on judicial behavior on the U.S. Supreme Court. Our primary hypothesis is that amicus briefs have an impact on the justices across the ideological spectrum. Our secondary hypothesis is that this influence will be greater for justices nearer the ideological center.

Methods

Our analysis is confined to the Roberts Court (2005 through 2014 terms, inclusive). The unit of analysis is the justice‐vote in each of the 793 full‐opinion decisions during this 10‐term period; thus, our data set contains 7,135 observations. We employ logistic regression to test the impact of amicus filings on the ideological direction of the vote cast by each justice in each case. We control for the direction of the lower court decision, the ideological orientations of the justices, the presence of the federal government (or agency or official) as party, and the presence of the solicitor general as amicus curiae.

Results

We find statistical support for both the primary and secondary hypotheses. Amicus briefs appear to influence the justices across the ideological spectrum. The influence is somewhat greater among the more moderate justices, although the relationship between amicus influence and judicial moderation is a weak one.

Conclusions

Supreme Court justices appear to respond positively to the persuasive attempts of amici. This impact is most noticeable for the justices in the middle of the Court—those who tend to be most influential in steering the Court's decision making.
Identification of the new HLA‐DPB1 allele, DPB1*647:01, in an Italian patient with leukemia
Authors: Fornaciari S. , Sciarrino R. , Biagini C. , Mariotti M. L. , Curcio M.
Published: February 2018

A novel HLA‐DPB1 allele, named HLA‐DPB1*647:01, identified in a leukemia patient.
Breeding systems and seed production for six weedy taxa ofBidens
Authors: Hao Jian‐Hua , Bhattacharya Saurav , Ma Liang , Wang Li‐Xin
Published: February 2018

Successful reproduction is considered to be the major determining factor for a weedy population to establish, colonize and infest. The breeding systems and seed production of six weedy taxa ofBidenswere studied at an experimental garden in Jiangsu province in China. The results from four treatments (open pollination, bagged capitulum, decapitated capitulum, and pollen supplement) indicated that, with the exception ofBidenspilosavar.radiata, all the other fiveBidenstaxa; namely,B.pilosavar.pilosa,B.pilosavar.minor,B.frondosa,B.bipinnata, andB.biternata, were self‐fertile with a high seed‐set in bagged capitula, and a high autofertility index. Including the trait of vegetative propagation in self‐incompatibleB. pilosavar.radiata, all the six weedy taxa ofBidenshad the capacity of uniparental reproduction. The pollen limitation values for all sixBidenstaxa were low in the present study. However, the seed production ofB. pilosavar.radiatais likely to decrease in the absence of sufficient pollinators, related to its high pollen contribution and potential pollen limitation indices. The seed production per plant and per capitulum of the three varieties ofB. pilosawas the highest among the six taxa and might contribute to their serious weediness. The breeding system type and seed number per capitulum could be used as a classification reference forBidenstaxa.
EVOLUTION OF RELIGIOUS CAPACITY IN THE GENUS HOMO: COGNITIVE TIME SEQUENCE
Authors: Rappaport Margaret Boone , Corbally Christopher
Published: February 2018

Intrigued by the possible paths that the evolution of religious capacity may have taken, the authors identify a series of six major building blocks that form a foundation for religious capacity in genus Homo. Homo neanderthalensis and Homo sapiens idaltu are examined for early signs of religious capacity. Then, after an exploration of human plasticity and why it is so important, the analysis leads to a final building block that characterizes only Homo sapiens sapiens, beginning 200,000–400,000 years ago, when all the other cognitive and neurological underpinnings gradually came together. Because the timing of cognitive evolution has become an issue, the authors identify the time periods for these building blocks based on findings from modern cognitive science, neuroscience, genomic science, the new cognitive archaeology, and traditional stones‐and‐bones archaeology. The result is a logical, and even a likely story 55–65 million years long, which leads to the evolution of religious capacity in modern human beings.
THE UNSUITABILITY OF EMERGENCE THEORY FOR PENTECOSTAL THEOLOGY: A RESPONSE TO BRADNICK AND MCCALL
Authors: Leidenhag Mikael , Leidenhag Joanna
Published: February 2018

In this response to David Bradnick's and Bradford McCall's defense of Amos Yong's usage of emergence theory, we defend our previous argument regarding the tension between Yong's Pentecostal commitments and the philosophical entailments of emergence theory. We clarify and extend our previous concerns in three ways. First, we explore the difficulties of construing divine action naturalistically (i.e.natural divine causation). Second, we clarify the problems of employing supervenience in theology. Third, we show why Bradnick's and McCall's advice to Yong to adoptweak emergenceis theologically costly. In conclusion, it is suggested that theologians within the science and religion dialogue should not fear, but recover, the language of supernaturalism and dualism.
VAISHNAVISM, ANTIEVOLUTIONISM, AND AMBIGUITIES: REVISITING ISKCON'S DARWIN‐SKEPTICISM
Authors: Zambon Oliver , Aechtner Thomas
Published: February 2018

The International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), commonly known as the Hare Krishna Movement, has disseminated a flurry of antievolutionist media since its inception in 1966. Such communications frequently co‐opt arguments employed by Christian creationists and Intelligent Design theorists. At the same time, however, there are indications that a scattering of ISKCON publications have articulated relatively ambiguous, less oppositional statements about evolutionary theory. This article reconsiders ISKCON's Darwin‐skepticism by appraising recent, largely unexamined Hare Krishna publications, as well as responses to evolutionary theory expressed by ISKCON's founder, A. C. Bhaktivedanta, and his immediate Vaishnava forerunners. The analysis reveals that, although the majority of contemporary ISKCON materials are vehemently opposed to evolution, some leading voices demonstrate less combative, cautiously accommodating stances. These cases are suggestive of complexities in ISKCON's responses to evolution, both past and present, which are not necessarily encapsulated in the terms Vedic creationism or antievolutionism.
El desafío de la verdad al diálogo interreligioso
Authors: Gómez Carlos Miguel
Published: February 2018

Este artículo defiende la posibilidad de evaluar la verdad de las posturas presentadas en el diálogo interreligioso como una de sus condiciones de posibilidad. Con esto se separa de las teorías del diálogo que pretenden formular criterios argumentativos, pragmáticos o éticos dejando en suspenso la pretensión de verdad de las religiones. En la primera parte se explora el lugar de la verdad en el diálogo; en la segunda se analizan las características de las pretensiones de verdad religiosa y sus diferencias con otros tipos de verdad; finalmente, se proponen dos criterios para evaluar la verdad en un diálogo interreligioso basados en la función dadora de sentido de las religiones y en el carácter relacional e histórico de la verdad religiosa.
A Probabilistic Approach to Investigate the Size and Boundary Condition Effects on the Fracture Response of Brittle Materials Loaded in Diametral Compression
Authors: Saadati Mahdi , Weddfelt Kenneth , Larsson Per-Lennart
Published: February 2018

The focus in this work is toward an investigation of the fracture response of brittle materials with different specimen size loaded in diametral compression using different boundary conditions. The compacted zone underneath the loading points is assumed to be limited and only responsible for the load transition to the rest of the material. Therefore, the theory of elasticity is used to define the stress state within a circular specimen. A tensile failure criterion is used, and the final load capacity is related to the formation of a subsurface crack initiated in a probabilistic manner in a region in the vicinity of the loaded diameter of the specimen. This process is described by Weibull theory, and it is assumed here that the growth of the subsurface crack occurs in an unstable manner. Therefore, the assumption in Weibull theory that the final failure occurs as soon as a macroscopic fracture initiates from a microcrack is fulfilled. The concept of disk effective volume used in Weibull size effect is presented in a convenient way that facilitates the application of the model to transfer the tensile strength obtained from different methods such as three point bending and Brazilian test. The experimental results for Brazilian test on a selected hard rock are taken from the literature and a fairly close agreement is obtained with the model predictions.
Male Flat Jockeys Do Not Display Deteriorations in Bone Density or Resting Metabolic Rate in Accordance With Race Riding Experience: Implications for RED-S
Authors: Wilson George , Martin Dan , Morton James P. , Close Graeme L.
Published: February 2018

Despite consistent reports of poor bone health in male jockeys, it is not yet known if this is a consequence of low energy availability or lack of an osteogenic stimulus. Given the rationale that low energy availability is a contributing factor in low bone health, we tested the hypothesis that both hip and lumbar bone mineral density (BMD) should progressively worsen in accordance with the years of riding. In a cross-sectional design, male apprentice (n = 17) and senior (n = 14) jockeys (matched for body mass and fat-free mass) were assessed for hip and lumbar spine BMD, as well as both measured and predicted resting metabolic rate (RMR). Despite differences (p < .05) in years of race riding (3.4 ± 2 vs. 16.3 ± 6.8), no differences were apparent (p > .05) in hip (−0.9 ± 1.1 vs. −0.8 ± 0.7) and lumbar Z-scores (−1.3 ± 1.4 vs. −1.5 ± 1) or measured RMR (1,459 ± 160 vs. 1,500 ± 165 kcal/day) between apprentices and senior jockeys, respectively. Additionally, years of race riding did not demonstrate any significant correlations (p > .05) with either hip or lumbar spine BMD. Measured RMR was also not different (p > .05) from predicted RMR in either apprentice (1,520 ± 44 kcal/day) or senior jockeys (1,505 ± 70 kcal/day). When considered with previously published data examining underreporting of energy intake and direct assessments of energy expenditure, we suggest that low BMD in jockeys is not due to low energy availability per se but rather the lack of an osteogenic stimulus associated with riding.
Multiday Pomegranate Extract Supplementation Decreases Oxygen Uptake During Submaximal Cycling Exercise, but Cosupplementation With N-acetylcysteine Negates the Effect
Authors: Crum Emma M. , Barnes Matthew J. , Stannard Stephen R.
Published: February 2018

Pomegranate extract (POMx) has been suggested as an ergogenic aid due to its rich concentration of polyphenols, which are proposed to enhance nitric oxide bioavailability, thereby improving the efficiency of oxygen usage and, consequently, endurance exercise performance. Although acute POMx supplementation improves aerobic exercise performance in untrained individuals, trained athletes appear to require chronic supplementation for a similar effect. Furthermore, the combination of POMx with a thiol antioxidant may prove more effective than POMx alone, due to the protective effects of thiols on nitric oxide. Thus, this study hypothesized that multiday POMx supplementation would decrease the oxygen uptake (VO2) required by trained cyclists to perform submaximal exercise and increase performance during a time trial, and that thiol (N-acetylcysteine [NAC]) cosupplementation would enhance these effects. Eight cyclists completed four 8-day supplementation periods: POMx only, NAC only, POMx + NAC (BOTH), and placebo. Following supplementation, they performed submaximal cycling and a 5-min time trial, with VO2 and muscle oxygen saturation (SmO2) being recorded. A three-way (POMx × NAC × Intensity) repeated-measures analysis of variance with a Fisher’s least significant difference post hoc assessment was performed for dependent variables (p ≤ .05). VO2 during submaximal exercise was reduced with POMx versus placebo (−2.6 ml·min−1·kg−1, p = .009) and BOTH (−2.5 ml·min−1·kg−1, p < .05) and increased with NAC (+1.9 ml·min−1·kg−1, p < .03), despite no main effect of treatment on SmO2 or performance. It appears that POMx’s high polyphenol content reduced the VO2 required during submaximal exercise. However, NAC cosupplementation annulled this effect; thus, NAC may interact with nitric oxide to reduce its bioavailability.
Wheelchair Mobility Performance Enhancement by Changing Wheelchair Properties: What Is the Effect of Grip, Seat Height, and Mass?
Authors: van der Slikke Rienk M.A. , de Witte Annemarie M.H. , Berger Monique A.M. , Bregman Daan J.J. , Veeger Dirk Jan H.E.J.
Published: February 2018

Purpose: To provide insight on the effect of wheelchair settings on wheelchair mobility performance (WMP). Methods: Twenty elite wheelchair basketball athletes of low (n = 10) and high classification (n = 10) were tested in a wheelchair-basketball-directed field test. Athletes performed the test in their own wheelchairs, which were modified for 5 additional conditions regarding seat height (high–low), mass (central–distributed), and grip. The previously developed inertial-sensor-based WMP monitor was used to extract wheelchair kinematics in all conditions. Results: Adding mass showed most effect on WMP, with a reduced average acceleration across all activities. Once distributed, additional mass also reduced maximal rotational speed and rotational acceleration. Elevating seat height had an effect on several performance aspects in sprinting and turning, whereas lowering seat height influenced performance minimally. Increased rim grip did not alter performance. No differences in response were evident between low- and high-classified athletes. Conclusions: The WMP monitor showed sensitivity to detect performance differences due to the small changes in wheelchair configuration. Distributed additional mass had the most effect on WMP, whereas additional grip had the least effect of conditions tested. Performance effects appear similar for both low- and high-classified athletes. Athletes, coaches, and wheelchair experts are provided with insight into the performance effect of key wheelchair settings, and they are offered a proven sensitive method to apply in sport practice, in their search for the best wheelchair–athlete combination.
World Records in Half-Marathon Running by Sex and Age
Authors: Nikolaidis Pantelis T. , Di Gangi Stefania , Knechtle Beat
Published: February 2018

The relationship between age and elite marathon race times is well investigated, but little is known for half-marathon running. This study investigated the relationship between half-marathon race times and age in 1-year intervals by using the world single age records in half-marathon running and the sex difference in performance from 5 to 91 years in men and 5 to 93 years in women. We found a fourth-order polynomial relationship between age and race time for both women and men. Women achieve their best half-marathon race time earlier in life than men, 23.89 years compared with 28.13 years, but when using a nonlinear regression analysis, the age of the fastest race time does not differ between men and women, with 26.62 years in women and 26.80 years in men. Moreover, the sex difference in half-marathon running performance increased with advancing age.
Dipole-like electrostatic asymmetry of gold nanorods
Authors: Kim Ji-Young , Han Myung-Geun , Lien Miao-Bin , Magonov Sergei , Zhu Yimei , George Heather , Norris Theodore B. , Kotov Nicholas A.
Published: February 2018

Seemingly symmetric nanoscale cylinders have hidden asymmetry of charge distribution.
Psychiatrists begin to map genetic architecture of mentaldisorders
Authors: Dengler Roni
Published: February 2018

Gene expression findings from study of hundreds of human brains could lead to diagnostic tests, therapies.
Tobacco giant's research largesse ignitescontroversy
Authors: Enserink Martin
Published: February 2018

Philip Morris's $1 billion effort to promote studies of "harm reduction" prompts some researchers to call for a boycott.
The happiness project
Authors: Grimm David
Published: February 2018

Advocates are pushing to enrich the lives of rodents and fish in the lab, but critics worry about the impact on research.
Programming gene and engineered-cell therapies with synthetic biology
Authors: Kitada Tasuku , DiAndreth Breanna , Teague Brian , Weiss Ron
Published: February 2018

Toward programmed therapeutics

Advances in synthetic biology are enabling the development of new gene and cell therapies. Kitada
et al.
review recent successes in areas such as cancer immunotherapy and stem cell therapy, point out the limitations of current approaches, and describe prospects for using synthetic biology to overcome these challenges. Broader adoption of these therapies requires precise, context-specific control over cellular behavior. Gene circuits can be built to give sophisticated control over cellular behaviors so that therapeutic functions can, for example, be programmed to activate in response to disease biomarkers.

Science
, this issue p.
eaad1067
Shared molecular neuropathology across major psychiatric disorders parallels polygenic overlap
Authors: Gandal Michael J. , Haney Jillian R. , Parikshak Neelroop N. , Leppa Virpi , Ramaswami Gokul , Hartl Chris , Schork Andrew J. , Appadurai Vivek , Buil Alfonso , Werge Thomas M. , Liu Chunyu , White Kevin P. ,   CommonMind Consortium,   PsychENCODE Consortium,   iPSYCH-BROAD Working Group, Horvath Steve , Geschwind Daniel H. , Sestan Nenad , Vaccarino Flora , Gerstein Mark , Weissman Sherman , Pochareddy Sirisha , State Matthew , Knowles James , Farnham Peggy , Akbarian Schahram , Pinto Dalila , Van Baekl Harm , Dracheva Stella , Jaffe Andrew , Hyde Thomas , Zandi Peter , Crawford Gregory , Sullivan Pat , Thompson Wesley Kurt , Mortensen Preben Bo , Agerbo Esben , Pedersen Marianne Giørtz , Pedersen Carsten Bøcker , Mors Ole , Børglum Anders D. , Nordentoft Merete , Hougaard David M. , Bybjerg-Grauholm Jonas , Bækvad-Hansen Marie , Martin Alicia R. , Dumont Ashley , Stevens Christine , Churchhouse Claire , Howrigan Daniel P. , Palmer Duncan S. , Robinson Elise B. , Satterstrom Kyle F. , Cerrato Felecia , Huang Hailiang , Goldstein Jacqueline , Moran Jennifer , Julian Joanna Martin , Kimberly Maller , Patrick Chambert , Turley Patrick , Walters Raymond , Belliveau Rich , Ripke Stephan , Poterba Timothy , Daly Mark J. , Neale Benjamin , Fromer Menachem , Roussos Panos , Johnson Jessica S. , Shah Hardik R. , Mahajan Milind C. , Schadt Eric , Haroutunian Vahram , Ruderfer Douglas M. , Buxbaum Joseph D. , Sieberts Solveig K. , Dang Kristen , Logsdon Ben , Mangravite Lara M. , Peters Mette , Gur Raquel E. , Hahn Chang-Gyu , Devlin Bernie , Klei Lambertus L. , Lewis David , Lipska Barbara , Hirai Keisuke , Toyoshiba Hiroyoshi , Domenici Enrico
Published: February 2018

Genes overlap across psychiatric disease

Many genome-wide studies have examined genes associated with a range of neuropsychiatric disorders. However, the degree to which the genetic underpinnings of these diseases differ or overlap is unknown. Gandal
et al.
performed meta-analyses of transcriptomic studies covering five major psychiatric disorders and compared cases and controls to identify coexpressed gene modules. From this, they found that some psychiatric disorders share global gene expression patterns. This overlap in polygenic traits in neuropsychiatric disorders may allow for better diagnosis and treatment.

Science
, this issue p.
693
Live imaging of neurogenesis in the adult mouse hippocampus
Authors: Pilz Gregor-Alexander , Bottes Sara , Betizeau Marion , Jörg David J. , Carta Stefano , April Simon , Simons Benjamin D. , Helmchen Fritjof , Jessberger Sebastian
Published: February 2018

Neural stem and progenitor cells (NSPCs) generate neurons throughout life in the mammalian hippocampus. We used chronic in vivo imaging and followed genetically labeled individual NSPCs and their progeny in the mouse hippocampus for up to 2 months. We show that NSPCs targeted by the endogenous Achaete-scute homolog 1 (Ascl1) promoter undergo limited rounds of symmetric and asymmetric divisions, eliciting a burst of neurogenic activity, after which they are lost. Further, our data reveal unexpected asymmetric divisions of nonradial glia-like NSPCs. Cell fates of Ascl1-labeled lineages suggest a developmental-like program involving a sequential transition from a proliferative to a neurogenic phase. By providing a comprehensive description of lineage relationships, from dividing NSPCs to newborn neurons integrating into the hippocampal circuitry, our data offer insight into how NSPCs support life-long hippocampal neurogenesis.