bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stress‐Related Changes in Body Form: Results from the Whitehall II Study
Authors: Kubera Britta , Leonhard Claudine , Rößler Andreas , Peters Achim
Published: August 2017

Objective

Stress is associated with body mass gain in some people but with body mass loss in others. When the stressor persists, some people adapt with their stress responses, whereas others do not. Heart rate variability (HRV) reflects autonomic variability and is related to stress responses to psychosocial challenges. It was hypothesized that the combined effects of stress exposure and autonomic variability predict long‐term changes in body form.

Methods

Data of 1,369 men and 612 women from the Whitehall II cohort were analyzed. BMI, hip‐to‐height ratio, and waist‐to‐height ratio were measured at three time points over a 10‐year period. HRV and psychological distress (General Health Questionnaire) were assessed.

Results

Men with high psychological distress were at risk of developing an increased waist‐to‐height ratio (F = 3.4, P = 0.038). Men with high psychological distress and low HRV were prone to develop an increased body mass and hip‐to‐height ratio (psychological distress: F = 4.3, P = 0.016; HRV: F = 5.0, P = 0.008). Statistical trends showed that women displayed similar patterns of stress‐related changes in body form (P = 0.061; P = 0.063).

Conclusions

Assessing psychological distress and autonomic variability predicts changes in body form. Psychological distress was found to be associated with an increased risk of developing the wide‐waisted phenotype, while psychological distress combined with low autonomic variability was associated with an increased risk of developing the corpulent phenotype.
Do Higher Minimum Wages Benefit Health? Evidence From the UK
Authors: Lenhart Otto
Published: August 2017

This study examines the link between minimum wages and health outcomes by using the introduction of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) in the United Kingdom in 1999 as an exogenous variation of earned income. A test for health effects by using longitudinal data from the British Household Panel Survey for a period of ten years was conducted. It was found that the NMW significantly improved several measures of health, including self‐reported health status and the presence of health conditions. When examining potential mechanisms, it was shown that changes in health behaviors, leisure expenditures, and financial stress can explain the observed improvements in health.
A case of neuroblastoma in DICER1 syndrome: Chance finding or noncanonical causation?
Authors: Saskin Avi , de Kock Leanne , Sabbaghian Nelly , Apellaniz‐Ruiz Maria , Bozkurt Ceyhun , Bouron‐Dal Soglio Dorothée , Foulkes William D.
Published: August 2017

DICER1 syndrome is an inherited disorder associated with at least a dozen rare, mainly pediatric‐onset tumors. Its characterization remains incomplete. Some studies suggested that neuroblastoma (NB) may be involved in this syndrome. Here, we describe the case of a 14‐year‐old female presenting with a multinodular goiter (MNG) and a collision tumor composed of NB and cystic nephroma (CN). She is a carrier of a deleterious germline mutation in exon 23 of DICER1 and harbored different somatic mutations in the CN and MNG. However, no second hit was found in the NB, questioning its status as a DICER1‐related tumor.
Monitoring of plexiform neurofibroma in children and adolescents with neurofibromatosis type 1 by [18F]FDG‐PET imaging. Is it of value in asymptomatic patients?
Authors: Azizi Amedeo A. , Slavc Irene , Theisen Benjamin Emile , Rausch Ivo , Weber Michael , Happak Wolfgang , Aszmann Oskar , Hojreh Azadeh , Peyrl Andreas , Amann Gabriele , Benkoe Thomas M. , Wadsak Wolfgang , Kasprian Gregor , Staudenherz Anton , Hacker Marcus , Traub‐Weidinger Tatjana
Published: August 2017

Purpose

About 10% of patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF‐1) develop malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumours (MPNST) mostly arising in plexiform neurofibroma (PN); 15% of MPNST arise in children and adolescents. 2‐[18F]fluoro‐2‐deoxy‐d‐glucose ([18F]FDG)‐PET (where PET is positron emission tomography) is a sensitive method in differentiating PN and MPNST in symptomatic patients with NF‐1. This study assesses the value of [18F]FDG‐PET imaging in detecting malignant transformation in symptomatic and asymptomatic children with PN.

Methods

Forty‐one patients with NF‐1 and extensive PN underwent prospective [18F]FDG imaging from 2003 to 2014. Thirty‐two of the patients were asymptomatic. PET data, together with histological results and clinical course were re‐evaluated retrospectively. Maximum standardised uptake values (SUVmax) and lesion‐to‐liver ratio were assessed.

Results

A total of 104 examinations were performed. Mean age at first PET was 13.5 years (2.6–22.6). Eight patients had at least one malignant lesion; four of these patients were asymptomatic. Two of four symptomatic patients died, while all patients with asymptomatic malignant lesions are alive. All malignant tumours could be identified by PET imaging in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. All lesions judged as benign by [18F]FDG imaging and clinical judgment were either histologically benign if removed or remained clinically silent during follow‐up. SUVmax of malignant and benign lesions overlapped, but no malignant lesion showed FDG uptake ≤3.15. Asymptomatic malignant lesions were detected with a sensitivity of 100%, a negative predictive value of 100% and a specificity of 45.1%.

Conclusion

Malignant transformation of PN also occurs in asymptomatic children and adolescents. Detection of MPNST at early stages could increase the possibility of oncologically curative resections.
Montmorillonite–graphene oxide hybrids and montmorillonite–graphene oxide/epoxy composite: Synthesis, characterization, and properties
Authors: Li Shengjuan , Yang Zhihong , Xu Jianmei , Xie Jing
Published: August 2017

The hybrids composed of two kinds of layered solids—functionalized graphene oxide (FGO) and organic montmorillonite (OMMT)—were primarily prepared, following which the epoxy matrix composites reinforced with FGO–OMMT hybrids were synthesized. The microstructure of the hybrids with different MMT/FGO ratios and the physical properties of the nanocomposites filled with the hybrids were investigated. The results indicate that d‐spacing of the hybrids is between that of FGO and OMMT, and the FGO flake‐pillared OMMT structure is observed. Among the hybrids with different OMMT/FGO ratios, the hybrid with the mass ratio of 5:1 presents better dispersibility and enhances the mechanical strength of epoxy‐based composites more effectively. Compared with FGO and OMMT fillers, FGO–OMMT hybrids greatly improve the mechanical property of epoxy, especially the impact strength. However, FGO–OMMT hybrids contribute little to the improvement of thermal stability. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:E2084–E2095, 2018. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers
Patterns of abuse and routes of administration for immediate‐release hydrocodone combination products
Authors: Cassidy Theresa A. , Oyedele Natasha , Mickle Travis C. , Guenther Sven , Budman Simon H.
Published: August 2017

Purpose

Prescriptions for hydrocodone immediate‐release (IR) combination products have recently decreased, yet they represent the majority of opioid prescriptions dispensed and are commonly abused analgesics among both adults and adolescents. Little data exist to understand the contribution of IR products to the problem of prescription opioid abuse. This study aimed to better understand abuse patterns for hydrocodone IR combination products among adult and adolescent substance abusers.

Methods

This cross‐sectional study examines abuse prevalence (including abuse adjusted for prescription volume and morphine milligram equivalents) and abuse characteristics for hydrocodone IR combination products and other prescription opioids among separate samples of adults and adolescents assessed for substance abuse problems or entering treatment from January 2012 through June 2015.

Results

Results indicate higher abuse for hydrocodone IR combination products than other opioid categories per 100 assessments but lower per prescriptions dispensed. Hydrocodone IR combination products had similar abuse prevalence to all extended‐release and long‐acting opioids when considering abuse measured per morphine milligram equivalents dispensed. An upward trend in hydrocodone IR combination product abuse was observed among adult substance abusers comparing the period prior to and after Drug Enforcement Administration rescheduling of these products in October 2014. Most individuals reported oral abuse of hydrocodone IR combination products, but snorting, reported by 23% of hydrocodone IR combination product abusers, also appears to be a route of abuse that may have public health relevance.

Conclusions

Given their high prescription volume, hydrocodone IR combination products, even at a relatively low prevalence of abuse, may contribute substantially to the overall problem of prescription opioid abuse. Additional public health interventions, including development of abuse‐deterrent formulations for these types of opioid products may aid in reducing their abuse.
A Simple Theoretical Method for Determining the Sensitivity of Bare Explosives to Detonation by Projectile Impact
Authors: Lee Peter R.
Published: August 2017

The Walker‐Wasley Critical Initiation Energy, Ec, cited by several authors as a means of comparing the sensitivity of explosives to projectile impact, is imprecise. Moreover, energy is not a necessary and sufficient condition upon which to compare sensitivities, since it might be delivered over picoseconds or years with vastly different results. Shock to detonation initiation conditions are conventionally represented by log−log relationships in Pop Plots. Historical experimental flat‐fronted projectile attack data for two explosives, PBX 9404 and Tetryl were transformed using Hugoniot data into log−log form like Pop Plots. Consistent with recent research at LASL and LLNL in the US, near coincidence between such plots and Pop Plots was demonstrated. This procedure led to a method of comparing the sensitivities of these and four other explosives, two types of Composition B, TNT and Nitroguanidine/Estane (95/5), to shock initiation by projectile impact. A slight modification of this procedure can be used to generate critical projectile velocity vs. diameter curves from Hugoniot and Pop Plot data which confirm the experimental data for PBX 9404 and Tetryl. An alternative comparative sensitivity criterion to that of Walker and Wasley that is derived from Pop Plot data is proposed based on the critical power per unit mass of explosive transmitted from the initiating shock.
Xplor‐NIH for molecular structure determination from NMR and other data sources
Authors: Schwieters Charles D. , Bermejo Guillermo A. , Clore G. Marius
Published: August 2017

Xplor‐NIH is a popular software package for biomolecular structure determination from nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and other data sources. Here, some of Xplor‐NIH's most useful data‐associated energy terms are reviewed, including newer alternative options for using residual dipolar coupling data in structure calculations. Further, we discuss new developments in the implementation of strict symmetry for the calculation of symmetric homo‐oligomers, and in the representation of the system as an ensemble of structures to account for motional effects. Finally, the different available force fields are presented, among other Xplor‐NIH capabilities.
Enhanced Oral Bioavailability of Diltiazem by the Influence of Gallic Acid and Ellagic Acid in Male Wistar Rats: Involvement of CYP3A and P‐gp Inhibition
Authors: Athukuri Bhargavi Latha , Neerati Prasad
Published: August 2017

The oral bioavailability of diltiazem is very low due to rapid first pass metabolism in liver and intestine. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of gallic acid and ellagic acid on intestinal transport and oral bioavailability of diltiazem in rats. The intestinal transport and permeability of diltiazem was evaluated byin vitronon‐everted sac method andin situsingle pass intestinal perfusion study. The oral pharmacokinetics was evaluated by conducting oral bioavailability study. The intestinal transport and apparent permeability of diltiazem were significantly enhanced in duodenum, jejunum, and ileum of gallic and ellagic acid‐treated groups. The effective permeability of diltiazem was significantly enhanced in ileum part of gallic and ellagic acid‐treated groups. When compared with control group, the presence of these two phytochemicals significantly enhanced the area under plasma concentration‐time curve and the peak plasma concentration of diltiazem (Cmax). Gallic acid and ellagic acid significantly increased the bioavailability of diltiazem due to the inhibition of both CYP3A‐mediated metabolism and P‐glycoprotein‐mediated efflux in the intestine and/or liver. Based on these results, the clinical experiments are warranted for the confirmation to reduce the dose of diltiazem when concomitantly administered with these phytochemicals. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nussbaum function–based universal cooperative output regulation design for uncertain nonlinear multiagent systems
Authors: Guo Meichen , Xu Dabo , Liu Lu
Published: August 2017

This paper presents a Nussbaum function–based universal cooperative output regulation design for a class of nonlinear multiagent systems with both an unknown exosystem and nonidentical unknown control directions. The major challenges include the nonidentical unknown control directions in a directed communication graph and the concurrence of the unknown parameters in both the plant and the exosystem. To handle the nonidentical unknown control directions, we propose a dynamic compensator–based distributed controller such that the Nussbaum gain technique can be successfully implemented under directed communication graphs. Moreover, to deal with the unknown exosystem, we integrate the distributed controller with a novel internal model candidate. The resulting distributed controller is a universal regulator in the sense that it does not require the unknown parameters to be in known compact sets. Furthermore, the proposed controller is more flexible compared with those in the existing works as any existing Nussbaum gains can be adopted in the controller design and the adopted Nussbaum gains can be nonidentical for each agent.
Multi‐battle Contests: An Experimental Study
Authors: Mago Shakun D. , Sheremeta Roman M.
Published: August 2017

We examine behavior of subjects in simultaneous and sequential multi‐battle contests, where each individual battle is modeled as an all‐pay auction with complete information. In simultaneous best‐of‐three contests, subjects are predicted to make positive bids in all three battles, but we find that subjects often make positive bids in only two battles. In sequential contests, theory predicts sizable bids in the first battle and no bids in the subsequent battles. Contrary to this prediction, subjects significantly underbid in the first battle and overbid in subsequent battles. Consequently, instead of always ending in the second battle, contests often proceed to the third battle. Finally, although the aggregate bid in simultaneous contests is similar to that in sequential contests, in both settings, subjects make higher aggregate bids than predicted. The observed behavior of subjects can be rationalized by a combination of multidimensional iterative reasoning and a nonmonetary utility of winning.
Experimenting with Contests for Experimentation
Authors: Deck Cary , Kimbrough Erik O.
Published: August 2017

We report an experimental test of alternative rules in innovation contests when success may not be feasible and contestants may learn from each other. Following Halac, Kartik, and Liu (in press), the contest designer can vary the prize allocation rule from Winner‐Take‐All (WTA) in which the first successful innovator receives the entire prize to Shared in which all successful innovators during the contest duration share in the prize. The designer can also vary the information disclosure policy from Public in which at each period, all information about contestants' past successes and failures is publicly available, to Private, in which contestants only know their own histories. In our setting, the optimal contest design in terms of maximizing the probability that at least one innovator is successful depends on the probability of successful innovation, given that innovation is feasible. Under some parameters the designer will prefer a WTA‐Public contest; while, under others he will prefer Shared‐Private. Our experiments provide evidence that Private disclosure contests behaviorally dominate Public disclosure, regardless of the prize allocation rule, and moreover that Shared‐Private contests dominate WTA‐Private contests.
Fastening application in concrete using recycled tunnel excavation material
Authors: Dengg Fabian , Zeman Oliver , Voit Klaus , Bergmeister Konrad
Published: August 2017

The demand for construction materials at tunnel construction sites is naturally very high. Thus, tunnel excavation material is increasingly used as a substitute for conventional mineral aggregates. Excavation material is not a standard product in terms of geometric, physical, and chemical properties of the rock as its quality is changes during tunnel driving depending on the geology and excavation method. By using this material as aggregate for concrete, the concrete obtains its characteristic properties. Certain concrete properties do not only influence the construction material itself but also fasten the elements that are assembled to the structural concrete. In this case, experimental validation of the usability of this special concrete for postinstalled anchorages and the effectiveness of different fastening systems are required. Therefore, investigations using various postinstalled anchor systems in different inner shell concrete types made of recycled aggregate (in this context, Bündner schist from the Brenner Base Tunnel) were performed in this study to obtain an assessment of the applicability of these systems in concrete with aggregate made of tunnel excavation material.
Leader‐based community detection algorithm for social networks
Authors: Helal Nivin A. , Ismail Rasha M. , Badr Nagwa L. , Mostafa Mostafa G. M.
Published: August 2017

Community detection has become a crucial task in social network mining. Detecting communities summarizes interactions between members for gaining deep understanding of interesting characteristics shared between members of the same community. In this research, we propose a novel community detection algorithm for the purpose of revealing and analyzing hidden similar behavior of online users. The proposed algorithm is based mainly on similar members’ actions rather than the structure similarity only for the aim of detecting communities that are closely mapped to the underlying behavioral communities in real social networks. First, leaders of the social network are discovered, then, communities are detected based on those leaders. The idea is grounded on the assumption that communities could be formed around people with great influence. Extensive experiments and analysis show the ability of the proposed algorithm to successfully detect real‐world communities with improved accuracy. WIREs Data Mining Knowl Discov 2017, 7:e1213. doi: 10.1002/widm.1213

This article is categorized under:

Technologies > Structure Discovery and Clustering
Relationships between abundances of breeding ducks and attributes of Canadian prairie wetlands
Authors: Bartzen Blake , Dufour Kevin W. , Bidwell Mark T. , Watmough Michael D. , Clark Robert G.
Published: August 2017

Understanding how animals respond to changing habitat conditions can improve predictions about effects of environmental change and also inform conservation planning. We examined relationships between abundances of 5 common dabbling duck species breeding in the Canadian Prairie Pothole Region and basic wetland metrics. Pond area was a well‐supported predictor of duck abundance at the local scale of pond. Relationships for all 5 species varied with their respective regional duck and pond densities. In regions where duck densities were high, there were more ducks per pond; conversely, there were fewer ducks per pond in regions where pond densities were high, indicating that mechanisms influencing local habitat use were, in part, mediated by processes occurring at larger spatial scales. Although models explained small amounts of variation of duck abundance on a per pond basis, these models explained more variation when results were aggregated to the level of survey segment, indicating reasonable performance of models for estimating duck abundance over specific areas with known pond areas. Our results also indicated that the greatest increase in duck abundance with increasing pond size occurs at the low end of the range of pond sizes. It is relatively small wetlands that face the greatest threat of loss and degradation on the prairies; therefore, protection and conservation efforts need to focus on these wetlands if the objective is to increase or maintain populations of the duck species studied. © 2017 The Wildlife Society.
Conformational Rigidity in Complexes [MCl(tBu2PH)3] (M = Rh, Ir)
Authors: Böttcher Hans‐Christian , Mayer Peter
Published: August 2017

Reactions of [{M(μ‐Cl)(coe)2}2] (M = Rh, Ir; coe = cis‐cyclooctene) with the secondary phosphane tBu2PH under various molar ratios were investigated. Probably, for kinetic reasons, the reaction behavior of the rhodium species differed from that of the iridium analogue in some instances. During these studies complexes [MCl(tBu2PH)3] [M = Rh (1), Ir (2)] were isolated, and solution variable‐temperature 31P{1H} NMR studies revealed that these complexes show a conformational rigidity on the NMR time scale. Spectra recorded in the temperature range from 173 to 373 K indicated in each case only one rotamer containing three chemically nonequivalent phosphanes due to the restricted rotation of these ligands about the M–P bonds and the tert‐butyl substituents around the P–C(tBu) bonds, respectively. Compound 1 showed in solution already at room temperature in several solvents a dissociation of a phosphane ligand affording the known complex [{Rh(μ‐Cl)(tBu2PH)2}2] beside the free phosphane. In contrast to these findings, the iridium analogue 2 remained completely unchanged under similar conditions and exhibited, therefore, some kinetic inertness. For a better understanding of the NMR spectroscopic investigations, the molecular structure of 1 in the solid state was confirmed by X‐ray crystallography.
Ultrasound rays in droplets: the role of viscosity and caustics in acoustic streaming
Authors: Bruus Henrik
Published: August 2017

When an acoustic wave propagates through a viscous fluid, it progressively transfers momentum to the fluid through viscous dissipation, which results in the formation of a steady vortical flow called acoustic streaming. Although spawned by viscous effects, the magnitude of the streaming does not depend on the viscosity in most simple geometries. However, viscosity has a profound influence on the acoustic streaming as demonstrated by Riaud et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 821, 2017, pp. 384–420) in their study of sessile mm-sized water–glycerol droplets placed on a piezoelectric substrate with a 20-MHz ultrasound surface acoustic wave propagating along its surface. A detailed experimental and numerical analysis reveals that streaming dynamics is driven by a few ultrasound ray caustics inside the droplet.
Culturally Competent Practice: Experiences of Students, Academics, and Alumni of Clinical Psychology Degrees in Singapore
Authors: Geerlings Lennie R.C. , Thompson Claire L. , Tan Gabriel
Published: August 2017

This is the first research in Singapore into preparation for culturally competent practice in professional clinical psychology training programmes. It analyses experiences of multicultural clinical psychology training and practice and asks how well current programmes are meeting the needs for cultural competency. These questions were explored with qualitative data from interviews about multicultural practice with five students, five academics and five alumni of clinical psychology. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis revealed four themes: highlighting the culture of clinical psychology, the cultural context of training and practice, cultural competencies, and pathways for developing cultural competency. These outcomes demonstrate that the training programmes are considered valuable for improving psychological service provision in Singapore, although improvements to these programmes are desired for cultural competency development. These findings point to the need for particular competencies to be developed, as well as at directions for further research that may benefit clinical psychology training.
Did Sea-Level Changes Affect the Brazilian Amazon Forest during the Holocene?
Authors: Silva Mayra Nina Araujo , Cohen Marcelo C L , Rossetti Dilce F , Pessenda Luiz C R
Published: August 2017

In order to contribute to the discussion of Holocene climate changes, four sediment cores were collected from the northern Brazilian Amazonia lowland. These cores were studied through pollen analysis and sedimentary features, and the results were discussed within a chronological framework provided by radiocarbon dating. The cores were sampled from fluvial terraces representative of channel, floodplain/lake and crevasse splay deposits formed since the mid-Holocene. The pollen samples derive from floodplain/lake deposits and the pollen grains are mainly composed by families Moraceae, Euphorbiaceae, Caesalpiniaceae, Fabaceae, Rubiaceae, Melastomataceae, Combretaceae, Sapindaceae, Poaceae, Cyperaceae, Aizoaceae, Apiaceae and genusSebastiana. The pollen data suggest no significant vegetation changes in the study area for the past 4808–4886 cal yr BP. This led to proposing stable climatic conditions since at least the middle Holocene. Such a finding is contrary to the occurrence of a dry period during the middle Holocene. The stabilization of the relative sea level about 6000 cal yr BP along the northern Brazilian littoral may have influenced the water table, and favored the establishment and maintenance of Amazonian lowland forest during the mid- and late Holocene. In addition, this process may have attenuated the impact of that dry period in areas under most fluvial influence.
Lattice response of the porous coordination framework Zn(hba) to guest adsorption
Authors: Auckett Josie E. , Dharma A. David , Cagnes Marina P. , Darwish Tamim A. , Abrahams Brendan F. , Babarao Ravichandar , Hudson Timothy A. , Robson Richard , White Keith F. , Peterson Vanessa K.
Published: August 2017

Analysis of in situ neutron powder diffraction data collected for the porous framework material Zn(hba) during gas adsorption reveals a two-stage response of the host lattice to increasing CO2 guest concentration, suggesting progressive occupation of multiple CO2 adsorption sites with different binding strengths. The response of the lattice to moderate CH4 guest concentrations is virtually indistinguishable from the response to CO2, demonstrating that the influence of host–guest interactions on the Zn(hba) framework is defined more strongly by the concentration than by the identity of the guests.
The interaction between orientation and motion signals in moving oriented Glass patterns
Authors: PAVAN ANDREA , BIMSON LUCY M. , GALL MARTIN G. , GHIN FILIPPO , MATHER GEORGE
Published: August 2017

Previous psychophysical evidence suggests that motion and orientation processing systems interact asymmetrically in the human visual system, with orientation information having a stronger influence on the perceived motion direction thanvice versa. To investigate the mechanisms underlying this motion-form interaction we used moving and oriented Glass patterns (GPs), which consist of randomly distributed dot pairs (dipoles) that induce the percept of an oriented texture. In Experiment 1 we varied the angle between dipole orientation and motion direction (conflict angle). In separate sessions participants either judged the orientation or motion direction of the GP. In addition, the spatiotemporal characteristics of dipole motion were manipulated as a way to limit (Experiment 1) or favor (Experiment 2) the availability of orientation signals from motion (motion streaks). The results of Experiment 1 showed that apparent GP motion direction is attracted toward dipole orientation, and apparent GP orientation is repulsed from GP motion. The results of Experiment 2 showed stronger repulsion effects when judging the GP orientation, but stronger motion streaks from the GP motion can dominate over the signals provided by conflicting dipole orientation. These results are consistent with the proposal that two separate mechanisms contribute to our perception of stimuli which contain conflicting orientation and motion information: (i) perceived GP motion is mediated by spatial motion-direction sensors, in which signals from motion sensors are combined with excitatory input from orientation-tuned sensors tuned to orientations parallel to the axis of GP motion, (ii) perceived GP orientation is mediated by orientation-tuned sensors which mutually inhibit each other. The two mechanisms are revealed by the different effects of conflict angle and dipole lifetime on perceived orientation and motion direction.
Stereological analysis of gonads from diploid and triploid fish yellowtail tetra Astyanax altiparanae (Garutti & Britski) in laboratory conditions
Authors: Ferreira do Nascimento Nivaldo , de Siqueira-Silva Diógenes Henrique , Pereira-Santos Matheus , Fujimoto Takafumi , Senhorini José Augusto , Nakaghi Laura Satiko Okada , Yasui George Shigueki
Published: August 2017

This study aimed to examine the gonadal morphology of diploid and triploid fish through stereological analysis. Triploid individuals were obtained after temperature shock (40°C for 2 min) at 2 min post-fertilization and reared until 175 days post-fertilization (dpf). Intact eggs were used to obtain the diploids. Gonads were collected for histological analysis at 83, 114, 144 and 175 dpf. Diploid females and males presented normal oogenesis and spermatogenesis through all the experimental period. Conversely, stereological analysis revealed that triploid females were sterile and oogonia were the prevalent cell type in the ovaries. Triploid males presented increased amounts of spermatocyte cysts and a large area of lumen when compared with diploids and in addition the amount of spermatozoa was lower than that observed for diploids. However, some triploid males presented spermatogenesis similar to diploids. Therefore, we concluded that triploidization is an interesting alternative to produce sterile individuals in A. altiparanae.
Tales Bent Backward: Early Modern Local History in Persianate Transregional Contexts
Authors: MANCINI-LANDER DEREK J.
Published: August 2017

This article contributes to a growing body of scholarship on immigrants from Safavid Iran who travelled back and forth between their home cities and Hind during the early modern period. Intending to better comprehend some of the key mentalities and social practices of these cosmopolitan Persianate communities, I explore the literary strategies by which migrants worked to negotiate their place in rapidly transforming and highly competitive political environments in both Hind and Iran. Focusing on migration narratives that were commonly embedded in Persian historical works, I examine a cluster of local and dynastic histories that were composed in dialogue with one another and that emerged around a particular corridor of migration linking the Iranian city of Yazd with various cities in the Deccan. Previous scholarship has argued that immigrants could acquire social capital in their new environments by commemorating ties to Iranian cities through narratives of migration. I demonstrate that migrants also brought migration stories they had found in the Deccan back to their hometowns in Iran, where they redeployed them for similar political ends in new works of history.
Interactions between International Law and Private Fisheries Certification
Authors: Karavias Markos
Published: August 2017

The management of fisheries at the international level is no longer the exclusive preserve of states and international organizations. The proliferation of private certification initiatives – the reach of which defies territorial boundaries – has heralded an era of transnational fisheries governance. Whereas the interactions between private standards and national regulation have attracted scholarly attention, the function of international law in the context of transnational fisheries governance is largely unexplored. This article maps the interactions between international fisheries law and the most prominent among private certification standards, namely the Marine Stewardship Council Fisheries Standard and Guidance (MSC FSG). The article proposes a methodology to assess such interactions at the stage of norm development and argues that the interactions between the two regimes are multidirectional and complex. International law serves as a model for private standard setting and as a yardstick for private decision making. Conversely, the MSC FSG has acted as a model for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Ecolabelling Guidelines. Moreover, the MSC FSG may constitute a benchmark for resolutions adopted by regional fisheries management organizations. The MSC FSG, in incorporating international fisheries law, affirms the latter’s resilience as a global point of reference for the management of fisheries globally. Yet, at the same time, by prompting states to comply with their international obligations in order to secure market access for their fishing industry, the MSC FSG may be exposing the inability of international law to generate compliance autonomously.
Sesame Tolerance to Preplant Applications of 2,4-D and Dicamba
Authors: Sperry Benjamin P. , Ferrell Jason A. , Leon Ramon G. , Rowland Diane L. , Mulvaney Michael J. , Dias Jose Luiz C. S.
Published: August 2017

Two separate experiments were conducted in 2015 and 2016 in Citra, FL to investigate the effects of preplant application timing of 2,4-D and dicamba on sesame stand and yield. Nonlinear regression analysis was performed to determine the application timing that caused 10% stand or yield reduction (GR10) compared to the nontreated control (NTC) and expressed as d before planting (DBP; longer intervals indicate more injury). Likewise, regression analysis was used to determine sesame stand that resulted in 10% yield reduction (YR10) expressed as plants m−1row. Stand measured 3 wk after planting (WAP) revealed 2,4-D applied at 0.53 kg ae ha−1to be the least injurious treatment to sesame stand (GR10=6.4 DBP). Conversely, dicamba at 1.12 kg ha−1produced a GR10of 15.7 DBP for sesame stand at 3 WAP. 2,4-D applied at 0.53 and 1.06 kg ha−1and dicamba applied at 0.56 kg ha−1had the lowest GR10for yield of 2, 3.7, and 3 DBP, respectively. Dicamba applied at 1.12 kg ha−1proved to be the most injurious treatment to yield, which produced a GR10value of 10.3 DBP. To simulate possible stand losses associated with dicamba or 2,4-D and the subsequent effect on yield, a separate experiment was conducted in which sesame was thinned to various plant densities and yield was recorded to determine the relationship between plant stand and seed yield. The regression analysis of these data was then compared to that of the experiment treated with 2,4-D and dicamba to separate any physiological effects of the herbicides that would lead to yield reduction from yield effects due to stand loss only. Rate constants were compared and no statistical differences were detected between herbicide and non-herbicide treatments, suggesting that yield reductions that occur from preplant applications of 2,4-D and dicamba were purely due to stand reductions.
Focal cortical seizures start as standing waves and propagate respecting homotopic connectivity
Authors: Rossi L. Federico , Wykes Robert C. , Kullmann Dimitri M. , Carandini Matteo
Published: August 2017

Focal epilepsy involves excessive cortical activity that propagates both locally and distally. Does this propagation follow the same routes as normal cortical activity? We pharmacologically induced focal seizures in primary visual cortex (V1) of awake mice, and compared their propagation to the retinotopic organization of V1 and higher visual areas. We used simultaneous local field potential recordings and widefield imaging of a genetically encoded calcium indicator to measure prolonged seizures (ictal events) and brief interictal events. Both types of event are orders of magnitude larger than normal visual responses, and both start as standing waves: synchronous elevated activity in the V1 focus and in homotopic locations in higher areas, i.e. locations with matching retinotopic preference. Following this common beginning, however, seizures persist and propagate both locally and into homotopic distal regions, and eventually invade all of visual cortex and beyond. We conclude that seizure initiation resembles the initiation of interictal events, and seizure propagation respects the connectivity underlying normal visual processing.
Plasmonic silver nanoshells for drug and metabolite detection
Authors: Huang Lin , Wan Jingjing , Wei Xiang , Liu Yu , Huang Jingyi , Sun Xuming , Zhang Ru , Gurav Deepanjali D. , Vedarethinam Vadanasundari , Li Yan , Chen Ruoping , Qian Kun
Published: August 2017

In-vitro metabolite and drug detection rely on designed materials-based analytical platforms, which are universally used in biomedical research and clinical practice. However, metabolic analysis in bio-samples needs tedious sample preparation, due to the sample complexity and low molecular abundance. A further challenge is to construct diagnostic tools. Herein, we developed a platform using silver nanoshells. We synthesized SiO2@Ag with tunable shell structures by multi-cycled silver mirror reactions. Optimized nanoshells achieved direct laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry in 0.5 μL of bio-fluids. We applied these nanoshells for disease diagnosis and therapeutic evaluation. We identified patients with postoperative brain infection through daily monitoring and glucose quantitation in cerebrospinal fluid. We measured drug distribution in blood and cerebrospinal fluid systems and validated the function of blood-brain/cerebrospinal fluid-barriers for pharmacokinetics. Our work sheds light on the design of materials for advanced metabolic analysis and precision diagnostics.
Nanogrid single-nucleus RNA sequencing reveals phenotypic diversity in breast cancer
Authors: Gao Ruli , Kim Charissa , Sei Emi , Foukakis Theodoros , Crosetto Nicola , Chan Leong-Keat , Srinivasan Maithreyan , Zhang Hong , Meric-Bernstam Funda , Navin Nicholas
Published: August 2017

Single cell RNA sequencing has emerged as a powerful tool for resolving transcriptional diversity in tumors, but is limited by throughput, cost and the ability to process archival frozen tissue samples. Here we develop a high-throughput 3′ single-nucleus RNA sequencing approach that combines nanogrid technology, automated imaging, and cell selection to sequence up to ~1800 single nuclei in parallel. We compare the transcriptomes of 485 single nuclei to 424 single cells in a breast cancer cell line, which shows a high concordance (93.34%) in gene levels and abundance. We also analyze 416 nuclei from a frozen breast tumor sample and 380 nuclei from normal breast tissue. These data reveal heterogeneity in cancer cell phenotypes, including angiogenesis, proliferation, and stemness, and a minor subpopulation (19%) with many overexpressed cancer genes. Our studies demonstrate the utility of nanogrid single-nucleus RNA sequencing for studying the transcriptional programs of tumor nuclei in frozen archival tissue samples.
Activated NK cells cause placental dysfunction and miscarriages in fetal alloimmune thrombocytopenia
Authors: Yougbaré Issaka , Tai Wei-She , Zdravic Darko , Oswald Brigitta Elaine , Lang Sean , Zhu Guangheng , Leong-Poi Howard , Qu Dawei , Yu Lisa , Dunk Caroline , Zhang Jianhong , Sled John G. , Lye Stephen J. , Brkić Jelena , Peng Chun , Höglund Petter , Croy B. Anne , Adamson S. Lee , Wen Xiao-Yan , Stewart Duncan J. , Freedman John , Ni Heyu
Published: August 2017

Miscarriage and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) are devastating complications in fetal/neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT). We previously reported the mechanisms for bleeding diatheses, but it is unknown whether placental, decidual immune cells or other abnormalities at the maternal–fetal interface contribute to FNAIT. Here we show that maternal immune responses to fetal platelet antigens cause miscarriage and IUGR that are associated with vascular and immune pathologies in murine FNAIT models. Uterine natural killer (uNK) cell recruitment and survival beyond mid-gestation lead to elevated NKp46 and CD107 expression, perforin release and trophoblast apoptosis. Depletion of NK cells restores normal spiral artery remodeling and placental function, prevents miscarriage, and rescues hemorrhage in neonates. Blockade of NK activation receptors (NKp46, FcɣRIIIa) also rescues pregnancy loss. These findings shed light on uNK antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity of invasive trophoblasts as a pathological mechanism in FNAIT, and suggest that anti-NK cell therapies may prevent immune-mediated pregnancy loss and ameliorate FNAIT.
Structural and functional insights into the lipopolysaccharide ABC transporter LptB2FG
Authors: Dong Haohao , Zhang Zhengyu , Tang Xiaodi , Paterson Neil G. , Dong Changjiang
Published: August 2017

The cell surface of most Gram-negative bacteria contains lipopolysaccharide that is essential for their viability and drug resistance. A 134-kDa protein complex LptB2FG is unique among ATP-binding cassette transporters because it extracts lipopolysaccharide from the external leaflet of the inner membrane and propels it along a filament that extends across the periplasm to directly deliver lipopolysaccharide into the external leaflet of the outer membrane. Here we report the crystal structure of the lipopolysaccharide transporter LptB2FG from Klebsiella pneumoniae, in which both LptF and LptG are composed of a β-jellyroll-like periplasmic domain and six α-helical segments in the transmembrane domain. LptF and LptG form a central cavity containing highly conserved hydrophobic residues. Structural and functional studies suggest that LptB2FG uses an alternating lateral access mechanism to extract lipopolysaccharide and traffic it along the hydrophobic cavity toward the transporter’s periplasmic domains.
Structure of the magnetic excitations in the spin-1/2 triangular-lattice Heisenberg antiferromagnet Ba3CoSb2O9
Authors: Ito Saya , Kurita Nobuyuki , Tanaka Hidekazu , Ohira-Kawamura Seiko , Nakajima Kenji , Itoh Shinichi , Kuwahara Keitaro , Kakurai Kazuhisa
Published: August 2017

A spin-1/2 triangular-lattice Heisenberg antiferromagnet (TLHAF) is a prototypical frustrated quantum magnet, which exhibits remarkable quantum many-body effects that arise from the synergy between spin frustration and quantum fluctuation. The ground-state properties of a spin-1/2 TLHAF are theoretically well understood. However, the theoretical consensus regarding the magnetic excitations is limited. The experimental study of the magnetic excitations in spin-1/2 TLHAFs has also been limited. Here we show the structure of magnetic excitations in the spin-1/2 TLHAF Ba3CoSb2O9 investigated by inelastic neutron scattering. Significantly different from theoretical expectations, the excitation spectrum has a three-stage energy structure. The lowest-energy first stage is composed of dispersion branches of single-magnon excitations. The second and third stages are dispersive continua accompanied by a columnar continuum extending above 10 meV, which is six times larger than the exchange interaction J = 1.67 meV. Our results indicate the shortcomings of the current theoretical framework.
Performance of objective functions and optimisation procedures for parameter estimation in system biology models
Authors: Degasperi Andrea , Fey Dirk , Kholodenko Boris N.
Published: August 2017

Mathematical modelling of signalling pathways aids experimental investigation in system and synthetic biology. Ever increasing data availability prompts the development of large dynamic models with numerous parameters. In this paper, we investigate how the number of unknown parameters affects the convergence of three frequently used optimisation algorithms and four objective functions. We compare objective functions that use data-driven normalisation of the simulations with those that use scaling factors. The data-driven normalisation of the simulation approach implies that simulations are normalised in the same way as the data, making both directly comparable. The scaling factor approach, which is commonly used for parameter estimation in dynamic systems, introduces scaling factors that multiply the simulations to convert them to the scale of the data. Here we show that the scaling factor approach increases, compared to data-driven normalisation of the simulations, the degree of practical non-identifiability, defined as the number of directions in the parameter space, along which parameters are not identifiable. Further, the results indicate that data-driven normalisation of the simulations greatly improve the speed of convergence of all tested algorithms when the overall number of unknown parameters is relatively large (74 parameters in our test problems). Data-driven normalisation of the simulations also markedly improve the performance of the non-gradient-based algorithm tested even when the number of unknown parameters is relatively small (10 parameters in our test problems). As the models and the unknown parameters increase in size, the data-driven normalisation of the simulation approach can be the preferred option, because it does not aggravate non-identifiability and allows for obtaining parameter estimates in a reasonable amount of time.
Statistical analysis of mutant allele frequency level of circulating cell-free DNA and blood cells in healthy individuals
Authors: Xia Ligang , Li Zhoufang , Zhou Bo , Tian Geng , Zeng Lidong , Dai Hongyu , Li Xiaohua , Liu Chaoyu , Lu Shixin , Xu Feiyue , Tu Xiaonian , Deng Fang , Xie Yuancai , Huang Weiren , He Jiankui
Published: August 2017

Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in plasma has emerged as a potential important biomarker in clinical diagnostics, particularly in cancer. However, somatic mutations are also commonly found in healthy individuals, which interfere with the effectiveness for cancer diagnostics. This study examined the background somatic mutations in white blood cells (WBC) and cfDNA in healthy controls based on sequencing data from 821 non-cancer individuals and several cancer samples with the aim of understanding the patterns of mutations detected in cfDNA. We determined the mutation allele frequencies in both WBC and cfDNA using a panel of 50 cancer-associated genes that covers 20 K-nucleotide region and ultra-deep sequencing with average depth >40000-fold. Our results showed that most of the mutations in cfDNA were highly correlated to WBC. We also observed that the NPM1 gene was the most frequently mutated gene in both WBC and cfDNA. Our study highlighted the importance of sequencing both cfDNA and WBC to improve the sensitivity and accuracy for calling cancer-related mutations from circulating tumour DNA, and shedded light on developing a strategy for early cancer diagnosis by cfDNA sequencing.