bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A single-cell survey of the human first-trimester placenta and decidua
Authors: Suryawanshi Hemant , Morozov Pavel , Straus Alexander , Sahasrabudhe Nicole , Max Klaas E. A. , Garzia Aitor , Kustagi Manjunath , Tuschl Thomas , Williams Zev
Published: October 2018

Single-cell transcriptomics reveal cellular diversity in the human first-trimester placenta and decidua.
An integrated system for perception-driven autonomy with modular robots
Authors: Daudelin Jonathan , Jing Gangyuan , Tosun Tarik , Yim Mark , Kress-Gazit Hadas , Campbell Mark
Published: October 2018

A robot autonomously completes tasks by transforming its body to match its capabilities to newly encountered environments.
Epidermal electronics for noninvasive, wireless, quantitative assessment of ventricular shunt function in patients with hydrocephalus
Authors: Krishnan Siddharth R. , Ray Tyler R. , Ayer Amit B. , Ma Yinji , Gutruf Philipp , Lee KunHyuck , Lee Jong Yoon , Wei Chen , Feng Xue , Ng Barry , Abecassis Zachary A. , Murthy Nikhil , Stankiewicz Izabela , Freudman Juliet , Stillman Julia , Kim Natalie , Young Grace , Goudeseune Camille , Ciraldo John , Tate Matthew , Huang Yonggang , Potts Matthew , Rogers John A.
Published: October 2018

A soft, wearable sensor noninvasively and wirelessly detects ventricular catheter shunt malfunction in patients with hydrocephalus.
Safe and effective superoxide dismutase 1 silencing using artificial microRNA in macaques
Authors: Borel Florie , Gernoux Gwladys , Sun Huaming , Stock Rachel , Blackwood Meghan , Brown Robert H. , Mueller Christian
Published: October 2018

Intrathecal delivery of artificial microRNA reduced SOD1 expression in motor neurons in macaques.
Don’t just blame the hospital, bloodborne pathogens were hiding inside the whole time
Authors: Cohen Louis J.
Published: October 2018

Microbial sequencing reveals incorrect assumptions about the origin of certain infections, possibly altering prevention and treatment strategies.
Complete Genome Sequence of Lactobacillus reuteri Byun-re-01, Isolated from Mouse Small Intestine
Authors: Kim Dongjun , Cho Mun-ju , Cho Seungchan , Lee Yongjun , Byun Sung June , Lee Sukchan
Published: October 2018

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are generally recognized as safe (GRAS) and serve as probiotic bacteria when consumed in adequate amounts. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of
Lactobacillus reuteri
Byun-re-01, isolated from mouse small intestine.
Complete Genome Sequence of the Arcobacter skirrowii Type Strain LMG 6621
Authors: Miller William G. , Yee Emma
Published: October 2018

Arcobacter skirrowii
is a species of veterinary importance, originally recovered from the feces, aborted fetuses, and preputial fluids of livestock. We present here the whole-genome sequence of the
A. skirrowii
type strain LMG 6621 (= 449/80
T
= CCUG 10374
T
), isolated in the United Kingdom from a lamb diarrheal fecal sample.
County lines: how gang crime is affecting our young people
Authors: Glover Williams Alessandra , Finlay Fiona
Published: October 2018

‘County lines’ is the term used for the proliferating mobile phone lines used by gangs to infiltrate county towns where a profitable drug market is identified. The National Crime Agency reports that 88% of police areas in England and Wales have either an established or emerging County Lines problem in their area. With an estimated 46 053 aged 10–18 years in England in a gang, the activities of gangs and County Lines have a devastating impact on young people, vulnerable adults and local communities. Young people engaged in County Lines activities are at hugely increased risk of child sexual exploitation, criminal conviction, violence, drug addiction and trafficking. It is essential that healthcare staff receive a high standard of training as seen in other organisations and that time is taken to try to identify and intervene with those at risk of gang exploitation at an early stage, to try to prevent significant harm.
Linezolid-associated serotonin toxicity after escitalopram discontinuation: concomitant drug considerations
Authors: Khoury Adonice , Runnstrom Martin , Ebied Alex , Penny Ellen S
Published: October 2018

We report a case of a hospitalised patient who developed probable serotonin toxicity shortly after the initiation of linezolid in whom the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) escitalopram had been recently discontinued. On day 2 of linezolid administration, the patient reported severe anxiety and was observed to have full body jerking and twitching motions without mental status change. Notably, the patient was concomitantly receiving the antidepressant, trazodone and the benzodiazepine, clonazepam possibly affecting the severity and manifestations of serotonin toxicity. Linezolid was discontinued after 5 days and the patient’s symptoms resolved. Serotonin toxicity can present with an array of symptoms and be life threatening if left unrecognised. This report highlights the clinical lessons that discontinuation of an SSRI upon initiation of linezolid does not eliminate the risk of serotonin toxicity and that other concomitant medications may worsen or improve some of the symptoms lending delay and uncertainty to the diagnosis.
Association between ambient temperature and mortality risk and burden: time series study in 272 main Chinese cities
Authors: Chen Renjie , Yin Peng , Wang Lijun , Liu Cong , Niu Yue , Wang Weidong , Jiang Yixuan , Liu Yunning , Liu Jiangmei , Qi Jinlei , You Jinling , Kan Haidong , Zhou Maigeng
Published: October 2018

Objectives

To examine the association between temperature and cause specific mortality, and to quantify the corresponding disease burden attributable to non-optimum ambient temperatures.

Design

Time series analysis.

Setting

272 main cities in China.

Population

Non-accidental deaths in 272 cities covered by the Disease Surveillance Point System of China, from January 2013 to December 2015.

Main outcomes and measures

Daily numbers of deaths from all non-accidental causes and main cardiorespiratory diseases. Potential effect modifiers included demographic, climatic, geographical, and socioeconomic characteristics. The analysis used distributed lag non-linear models to estimate city specific associations, and multivariate meta-regression analysis to obtain the effect estimates at national and regional levels.

Results

1 826 186 non-accidental deaths from total causes were recorded in the study period. Temperature and mortality consistently showed inversely J shaped associations. At the national average level, relative to the minimum mortality temperature (22.8°C, 79.1st centile), the mortality risk of extreme cold temperature (at −1.4°C, the 2.5th centile) lasted for more than 14 days, whereas the risk of extreme hot temperature (at 29.0°C, the 97.5th centile) appeared immediately and lasted for two to three days. 14.33% of non-accidental total mortality was attributable to non-optimum temperatures, of which moderate cold (ranging from −1.4 to 22.8°C), moderate heat (22.8 to 29.0°C), extreme cold (−6.4 to −1.4°C), and extreme heat (29.0 to 31.6°C) temperatures corresponded to attributable fractions of 10.49%, 2.08%, 1.14%, and 0.63%, respectively. The attributable fractions were 17.48% for overall cardiovascular disease, 18.76% for coronary heart disease, 16.11% for overall stroke, 14.09% for ischaemic stroke, 18.10% for haemorrhagic stroke, 10.57% for overall respiratory disease, and 12.57% for chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases. The mortality risk and burden were more prominent in the temperate monsoon and subtropical monsoon climatic zones, in specific subgroups (female sex, age ≥75 years, and ≤9 years spent in education), and in cities characterised by higher urbanisations rates and shorter durations of central heating.

Conclusions

This nationwide study provides a comprehensive picture of the non-linear associations between ambient temperature and mortality from all natural causes and main cardiorespiratory diseases, as well as the corresponding disease burden that is mainly attributable to moderate cold temperatures in China. The findings on vulnerability characteristics can help improve clinical and public health practices to reduce disease burden associated with current and future abnormal weather.
‘MOVEdiabetes’: a cluster randomized controlled trial to increase physical activity in adults with type 2 diabetes in primary health in Oman
Authors: Alghafri Thamra S , Alharthi Saud Mohamed , Al-Farsi Yahya , Alrawahi Abdul Hakeem , Bannerman Elaine , Craigie Angela M , Anderson Annie S
Published: October 2018

Objective

This study examined the impact of a multicomponent intervention to increase physical activity (PA) in adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Oman.

Research design and methods

This is a cluster randomized controlled trial in eight primary health centers. Participants were physically inactive, aged ≥18 years, and with no contraindication to PA. Patients attending intervention health centers (n=4) received the ‘MOVEdiabetes’ intervention, which consisted of personalized, individual face-to-face consultations by dietitians. Pedometers and monthly telephone WhatsApp messages were also used. Patients attending comparison health centers received usual care. The primary outcome was change in PA [Metabolic Equivalent(MET).min/week] after 12 months assessed by the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. The secondary outcomes were changes in daily step counts, sitting time, weight, body mass index, glycated hemoglobin, blood pressure and lipids.

Results

Of the 232 participants (59.1% female, mean (SD) age 44.2 (8.1) years), 75% completed the study. At 12 months, the mean change in MET.min/week was +631.3 (95% CI 369.4 to 893.2) in the intervention group (IG) vs +183.2 (95% CI 83.3 to 283.0) in the comparison group, with a significant between-group difference of +447.4 (95% CI 150.7 to 744.1). The odds of meeting PA recommendations were 1.9 times higher in the IG (95% CI 1.2 to 3.3). Significant between-group differences in favor of IG were detected for mean steps/day (+757, 95% CI 18 to 1531) and sitting time hours/ per day (−1.5, 95% CI −2.4 to −0.7). Clinical measures of systolic and diastolic blood pressure and triglycerides also showed significant intervention effects.

Conclusions

‘MOVEdiabetes’ was effective in increasing PA, the likelihood of meeting PA recommendations, and providing cardioprotective benefits in adults with T2D attending primary care.
Disability status, intimate partner violence and perceived social support among married women in three districts of the Terai region of Nepal
Authors: Gupta Jhumka , Cardoso Lauren F , Ferguson Gemma , Shrestha Binita , Shrestha Prabin Nanicha , Harris Courtney , Groce Nora , Clark Cari Jo
Published: October 2018

Introduction

Women living with disabilities are disproportionately vulnerable to intimate partner violence (IPV). Existing research on the topic largely takes place in high-income settings and treats disability as a dichotomous experience—an individual either has a disability or does not. Disability experiences, however, are diverse such that some individuals face minimal impairment, while for others impairment can be severe. With this spectrum in mind, this study sought to examine the associations between severity of disability impairment, past-year IPV, past-year in-law violence and perceived social support among married women in Nepal.

Methods

Baseline data (2016) from a randomised controlled trial aiming to reduce IPV among women aged 18–49 (n=1800) were analysed using generalised estimating equations logistic regressions to assess associations.

Results

Women with severe impairment reported higher levels of physical and/or sexual, emotional, economic and in-law violence than women without a disability (adjusted OR (AOR)=1.68, 95%  CI 1.04 to 2.72; AOR=1.65, 95%  CI 1.03 to 2.65; AOR=1.75, 95%  CI 1.02 to 3.02; AOR=2.80, 95%  CI 2.53 to 5.11, respectively). Differences in IPV between women reporting some impairment versus no disability were observed for economic (AOR=1.47, 95%  CI 1.11 to 1.94) and in-law violence (AOR=1.50, 95%  CI 1.07 to 2.10). Women with severe or some impairment versus no disability were less likely to perceive their in-laws as supportive.

Conclusion

Disability status was associated with increased vulnerability to IPV. A gradient was observed; the highest levels of IPV were experienced by women with severe impairment, followed by some impairment. Future research should examine the mechanisms driving such observations.
Another look at what teachers and students think about interprofessional learning as a shared experience in Iran: a qualitative research
Authors: Ahmady Soleiman , Khabaz Mafinejad Mahboobeh
Published: October 2018

Objectives

To explore experiences of interprofessional learning (IPL), and how faculty and students might want to participate in IPL opportunities as a form of shared learning.

Design

Qualitative study.

Setting

The Ministry of Health and Medical Education which is accountable for rendering service to the public, providing healthcare needs and improving the quality of medical education was established in Iran in 1985, to integrate medical education with healthcare services.

Participants

A sample of six faculty members and seven students, purposively sampled for demographic characteristics and their experience regarding shared learning.

Methods

A descriptive qualitative study using thematic analysis of content was conducted. Data were obtained using semistructured interviews and then analysed thematically. Data collection and analysis were concurrent.

Results

Three categories were identified: the role of prologues in IPL, the role of structured IPL, and the role of context and structure in such a system for learning, representing seven subcategories.

Conclusion

The findings indicate that experiences of learning with different professionals are complex, and these experiences shape their present and future workplace relations. Matching the existing educational context and structure with IPL and providing planned interaction and reflection among professionals are necessary to support IPL.
Exploring differentially expressed genes associated with coat color in goat skin using RNA-seq
Authors: Peng Yongdong , Wang Yaqi , Wang Ruining , Geng Liying , Ma Ruxue , Zhang Chuansheng , Liu Zhengzhu , Gong Yuanfang , Li Jingshi , Li Xianglong
Published: October 2018

Fur color in domestic goats is an important, genetically determined characteristic that is associated with economic value. This study was designed to perform a comprehensive expression profiling of genes expressed in the skin tissues from Laiwu Black goat and Lubei White goat. Comparisons of black and white goat skin transcriptomes revealed 102 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), of which 38 were upregulated and 64 downregulated in black skin compared with white skin. Among the DEGs, we identified six genes involved in pigmentation, including agouti signaling protein (ASIP), CAMP responsive element binding protein 3-like 1 (CREB3L1), dopachrome tautomerase (DCT), premelanosome protein (PMEL), transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily M member 1 (TRPM1), and tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TYRP1). Notably, there were no significant differences in the expression of melanocortin 1 receptor, microphthalmia-associated transcription factor, tyrosinase, and KIT proto-oncogene receptor tyrosine kinase between the black and white skin samples, whereas ASIP expression was detected only in white skin. PMEL, TRPM1, TYRP1, and DCT showed higher expression in black goat skin, but ASIP and CREB3L1 had higher expression in white goat skin. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction results for PMEL, TRPM1, DCT, TYRP1, and CREB3L1 expression were consistent with those for RNA-seq. These results will expand our understanding of the complex molecular mechanisms of skin physiology and melanogenesis in goats, and provide a foundation for future studies.
Effects of oral administration of essential oils on anti-immune stress, antimicrobial properties, and repairing the intestinal damage in broilers challenged by lipopolysaccharide
Authors: Liu S.D. , Song M.H. , Yun W. , Lee J.H. , Kim H.B. , Cho J.H.
Published: October 2018

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of oral administration of essential oils (carvacrol, thyme, and oregano) on anti-immune stress, antimicrobial properties, and repairing the intestinal damage caused by Salmonella enterica lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in broilers. A total of 100 Ross 308 broilers (21-d-old; 1.10 ± 0.11 kg) were randomly allocated to five groups: T1, basal diet + saline; T2, basal diet + LPS; T3, basal diet + 200 μL carvacrol oils + LPS; T4, basal diet + 200 μL thyme oils + LPS; T5, basal diet + 200 μL oregano oils + LPS, with 20 replicates each, and one chicken per replicate per cage. Those challenged by LPS resulted in an immune stress, which manifests as the abnormal growth (P < 0.05) in immune organs, and the content of immunoglobulin G (P < 0.05), tumor necrosis factor-α (P < 0.05), and the rectum temperature (P < 0.05) increased compared with other groups. The oral administration of essential oils controlled the immune stress to a certain extent. The essential oils could reduce harmful bacteria, such as Escherichia coli (P < 0.05) and Salmonella enumeration (P < 0.05), in vivo of broilers. Meanwhile, the essential oils repaired the intestinal damage, which showed a reduction in the villi height (P < 0.05) and goblet cell (P < 0.05) caused by LPS. In conclusion, the essential oils (carvacrol, thyme, and oregano essential oils) controlled the stress reaction and maintained intestinal health to a certain extent.
Research on Neural Information Coding of Spiking Neural Network Based on Synaptic Plasticity Under AC Electric Field Stimulation
Authors: Guo Lei , Lv Huan , Huang Fengrong , Shi Hongyi
Published: October 2018

Neural information coding is helpful in understanding the working mechanism of the nervous system. Currently, most of the studies are based on the neural network which is based on excitatory synaptic plasticity. However, the inhibitory synaptic plasticity also plays an important role in the regulation of neural network. For presenting better biological authenticity, a spiking neural network was constructed based on the synaptic plasticity regulation mechanism in this study. The synaptic plasticity regulation mechanism contains excitatory and inhibitory synapses. The characteristics of neural information coding under AC electric field stimulation were studied from the perspective of time coding (inter-spike interval coding) and rate coding (average rate coding). The experimental results indicate that inter-spike intervals decrease and the firing rate of neurons increases under AC electric field stimulation. With the increase of the stimulation intensity, inter-spike intervals are decreased and the firing rate of neurons is increased. The neurons whose average firing rate increases can be raised as a neuron cluster to express the information. The results of this paper help us to understand the mechanism of information processing of the brain, and bring new ideas to the engineering applications such as neural computation and artificial intelligence.
Fully Integrable/Cascadable CM Universal Filter and CM Quadrature Oscillator Using VDCC and Only Grounded Passive Elements
Authors: Arora Tajinder Singh , Rohil Bhargavi , Gupta Soumya
Published: October 2018

This paper proposes a current mode universal filter circuit, employing two active elements along with four grounded passive components only. The derived circuit realizes all five filtering responses, i.e., low pass (LP), band pass (BP), high pass (HP), band reject (BR) and all pass (AP), simultaneously from high-impedance ports along with the input being fed to low-impedance port, thus making it a fully cascadable filter. In addition, the designed circuit exhibits independent tunability of its quality factor. With the idea of making the proposed filter fully integrable, a resistor-less approach of the configuration has also been discussed. By making slight modifications in the filter configuration, a current mode single-resistance-controlled quadrature oscillator circuit has also been derived. The ideal, nonideal, sensitivity and parasitic analysis have been conducted for the designed configurations. The functionality of the proposed structures is verified by PSPICE simulations using 0.18[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m CMOS technology. The designs have also been verified using PSPICE macro-model of the commercially available IC, i.e., OPA860.
An Efficient Privacy-Preserving Attribute-Based Encryption with Hidden Policy for Cloud Storage
Authors: Huang Chanying , Wei Songjie , Fu Anmin
Published: October 2018

Cloud storage is one of the most widely-used storage services, because it can provide users with unlimited, scalable, low-cost and convenient resource services. When data is outsourced to cloud for storage, data security and access control are the two essential issues that need to be addressed. Attribute-based encryption (ABE) scheme can provide sufficient data security and fine-grained access control for cloud data. As more and more attention is drawn to privacy protection, privacy preservation becomes another urgent issue for cloud storage. In ABE, since the access policies are generally stored in clear text, it will lead to the disclosure of users’ privacy. Some works sacrifice computational efficiency, key length or ciphertext size for privacy concerns. To solve these problems, this paper proposes an efficient privacy-preserving attribute-based encryption scheme with hidden policy for outsourced data. Using the idea of Boolean equivalent transformation, the proposed scheme achieves fast encryption and privacy protection for both data owner and legitimate visitors. In addition, the proposed scheme can satisfy constant secret key length and reasonable size of ciphertext requirements. We also conduct theoretical security analysis, and carry out experiments to prove that the proposed scheme has good performance in terms of computation, communication and storage overheads.
INVESTIGATION OF STRUCTURAL, OPTICAL, AND DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES OF PVA-KI FOR TEMPERATURE SENSOR APPLICATIONS
Authors: HANAFY T. A. , ZEDAN I. T. , BEKHEET A. E.
Published: October 2018

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) films doped with potassium iodide (KI) have been prepared by casting from their aqueous solutions. The structure of the doped samples was investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The addition of KI to PVA structure leads to form crosslinking as well as the increase of the amorphous ratio within the investigated sample. The optical measurements were recorded at room temperature in the range of 200–2500[Formula: see text]nm. It was found that the optical energy gap of the investigated sample increases with increasing KI ratio. The effect of the addition increment of KI on the optical parameters of PVA has been investigated. Dielectric spectra of PVA doped with KI were studied in the temperature and the frequency ranges of 303–373[Formula: see text]K and 100[Formula: see text]Hz–5[Formula: see text]MHz, respectively. The behavior of dielectric constant ([Formula: see text]) and dielectric loss index ([Formula: see text]) of PVA sample doped with KI exhibits good linearity with temperature. The obtained results suggest strongly the applicability of these materials in the temperature sensor applications.
HisCoM-GGI: Hierarchical structural component analysis of gene–gene interactions
Authors: Choi Sungkyoung , Lee Sungyoung , Kim Yongkang , Hwang Heungsun , Park Taesung
Published: October 2018

Although genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have successfully identified thousands of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with common diseases, these observations are limited for fully explaining “missing heritability”. Determining gene–gene interactions (GGI) are one possible avenue for addressing the missing heritability problem. While many statistical approaches have been proposed to detect GGI, most of these focus primarily on SNP-to-SNP interactions. While there are many advantages of gene-based GGI analyses, such as reducing the burden of multiple-testing correction, and increasing power by aggregating multiple causal signals across SNPs in specific genes, only a few methods are available. In this study, we proposed a new statistical approach for gene-based GGI analysis, “Hierarchical structural CoMponent analysis of Gene–Gene Interactions” (HisCoM-GGI). HisCoM-GGI is based on generalized structured component analysis, and can consider hierarchical structural relationships between genes and SNPs. For a pair of genes, HisCoM-GGI first effectively summarizes all possible pairwise SNP–SNP interactions into a latent variable, from which it then performs GGI analysis. HisCoM-GGI can evaluate both gene-level and SNP-level interactions. Through simulation studies, HisCoM-GGI demonstrated higher statistical power than existing gene-based GGI methods, in analyzing a GWAS of a Korean population for identifying GGI associated with body mass index. Resultantly, HisCoM-GGI successfully identified 14 potential GGI, two of which, (NCOR2 [Formula: see text] SPOCK1) and (LINGO2 [Formula: see text] ZNF385D) were successfully replicated in independent datasets. We conclude that HisCoM-GGI method may be a valuable tool for genome to identify GGI in missing heritability, allowing us to better understand the biological genetic mechanisms of complex traits. We conclude that HisCoM-GGI method may be a valuable tool for genome to identify GGI in missing heritability, allowing us to better understand biological genetic mechanisms of complex traits. An implementation of HisCoM-GGI can be downloaded from the website ( http://statgen.snu.ac.kr/software/hiscom-ggi ).
Systematic analysis and integrative discovery of active-site subpocket-specific dehydroquinate synthase inhibitors combating antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection
Authors: Liu Quanfeng , Li Liping , Xu Fei
Published: October 2018

Shikimate pathway plays an essential role in the biosynthesis of aromatic amino acids in various plants and bacteria, which consists of seven key enzymes and they are all attractive targets for antibacterial agent development due to their absence in humans. The Staphylococcus aureus dehydroquinate synthase (SaDHQS) is involved in the second step of shikimate pathway, which catalyzes the NAD[Formula: see text]-dependent conversion of 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate-7-phosphate to dehydroquinate via multiple steps. The enzyme active site can be characterized by two spatially separated subpockets 1 and 2, which represent the reaction center of substrate adduct with NAD[Formula: see text] nicotinamide moiety and the assistant binding site of NAD[Formula: see text] adenine moiety, respectively. In silico virtual screening is performed against a biogenic compound library to discover SaDHQS subpocket-specific inhibitors, which were then tested against both antibiotic-sensitive and antibiotic-resistant S. aureus strains by using in vitro susceptibility test. The activity profile of hit compounds has no considerable difference between the antibiotic-sensitive and -resistant strains. The subpocket 1-specific inhibitors exhibit a generally higher activity than subpocket 2-specific inhibitors, and they also hold a strong selectivity between their cognate and noncognate subpockets. Dynamics and energetics analyses reveal that the SaDHQS active site prefers to interact with amphipathic and polar inhibitors by forming multiple hydrogen bonds and van der Waals packing at the complex interfaces of the two subpockets with their cognate inhibitors.
Non-Riemmanian geometry, force-free magnetospheres and the generalized Grad-Shafranov equation
Authors: Cirilo-Lombardo Diego Julio
Published: October 2018

The magnetosphere structure of a magnetar is considered in the context of a theory of gravity with dynamical torsion field beyond the standard General Relativity (GR). To this end, the axially symmetric version of the Grad-Shafranov equation (GSE) is obtained in this theoretical framework. The resulting GSE solution in the case of the magnetosphere corresponds to a stream function containing also a pseudoscalar part. This function solution under axisymmetry presents a complex character that (as in the quantum field theoretical case) could be associated with an axidilaton field. Magnetar–pulsar mechanism is suggested and the conjecture about the origin of the excess energy due the GSE describing the magnetosphere dynamics is claimed. We also show that two main parameters of the electrodynamic processes (as described in GR framework by Goldreich and Julian (GJ) [Astrophys. J. 157 (1969) 869]) are modified but the electron-positron pair rate [Formula: see text] remains invariant. The possible application of our generalized equation (defined in a non-Riemannian geometry) to astrophysical scenarios involving emission of energy by gravitational waves, as described in the context of GR in [S. Capozziello, M. De Laurentis, I. De Martino, M. Formisano and D. Vernieri, Astrophys. Space Sci. 333 (2011) 29–35], is briefly discussed.
Making Friends with Neighbors?: Local Perceptions of Russia and China in Kyrgyzstan
Authors: Owen Catherine
Published: October 2018

Many studies have compared the Russian and Chinese projects currently underway in the Central Asian region, namely the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the Silk Road Economic Belt (SREB), both of which seek to increase integration with Central Asian states. Yet little attention has been paid to how these endeavors are perceived locally by Central Asians themselves. This article aims to fill this gap by presenting the findings of a comparative discourse analysis of perceptions of Russia and China in online Russian-language media in Kyrgyzstan. The research reveals that while Russia’s role in the region has been seen primarily in political terms and China’s role chiefly in economic terms, these perceptions are changing, and that a growing percentage of articles are devoted to economics in the case of Russia and politics in the case of China. Another finding from this research is that China receives a greater percentage of positive coverage than Russia. It is suggested that as two important poles in the emerging multi-polar world, China and Russia should ensure their respective projects complement, rather than conflict, with one another in the region.
Geometry and kinematics of buried structures in the piedmont of the central Longmen Shan: implication for the growth of the Eastern Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Lu Renqi , He Dengfa , Xu Xiwei , Tan Xibin , Li Yingqiang , Cai Minggang , Wang Zhennan
Published: October 2018

Structural geometry and kinematics are important to understand the growth of the Tibetan Plateau margins. In this study, several high-resolution seismic reflection profiles were combined with well data and the fault-bend fold theory to determine the geometric and kinematic characteristics of the Pengxian buried structures located in the piedmont of central Longmen Shan (LMS). Seismic interpretations indicate that the Pengxian buried structures were involved in multi-period, superimposed deformation during the Cenozoic. The structural deformation of the frontal LMS was controlled by a Triassic detachment fault (f
2
), which extended forward at a low angle, and formed a fault-bend fold during the Late Miocene. The high-angle Pengxian blind fault developed on the f
2
with little offset during the Pleistocene. Three-dimensional imaging of the Pengxian buried structures shows that the f
2
horizontally propagated into the western Sichuan Basin with a fault slip of
c
. 3.3–3.5 km. The Longquan Shan (LQS) anticline has a total slip of
c
. 3.0 km since its initiation. Our study suggests that the average slip rate of the f
2
is <0.4 mm a
−1
in the central LMS front. The Pengxian buried structures and the LQS anticline have been slowly shortening since the Late Cenozoic, which could provide a constraint on the growth pattern of the eastern Tibetan Plateau margin.
Metallicity and Superconductivity in Doped Strontium Titanate
Authors: Collignon Clément , Lin Xiao , Rischau Carl Willem , Fauqué Benoît , Behnia Kamran
Published: October 2018

Strontium titanate is a wide-gap semiconductor avoiding a ferroelectric instability thanks to quantum fluctuations. This proximity leads to strong screening of static Coulomb interaction and paves the way for the emergence of a very dilute metal with extremely mobile carriers at liquid-helium temperature. Upon warming, mobility decreases by several orders of magnitude. Yet, metallicity persists above room temperature even when the apparent mean free path falls below the electron wavelength. The superconducting instability survives at exceptionally low concentrations and beyond the boundaries of Migdal–Eliashberg approximation. An intimate connection between dilute superconductivity and aborted ferroelectricity is widely suspected. In this review, we give a brief account of ongoing research on bulk strontium titanate as an insulator, a metal, and a superconductor.
Multilayer Networks in a Nutshell
Authors: Aleta Alberto , Moreno Yamir
Published: October 2018

Complex systems are characterized by many interacting units that give rise to emergent behavior. A particularly advantageous way to study these systems is through the analysis of the networks that encode the interactions among the system constituents. During the past two decades, network science has provided many insights in natural, social, biological, and technological systems. However, real systems are often interconnected, with many interdependencies that are not properly captured by single-layer networks. To account for this source of complexity, a more general framework, in which different networks evolve or interact with each other, is needed. These are known as multilayer networks. Here, we provide an overview of the basic methodology used to describe multilayer systems as well as of some representative dynamical processes that take place on top of them. We round off the review with a summary of several applications in diverse fields of science.
Redirected T Cell Cytotoxicity in Cancer Therapy
Authors: Clynes Raphael A. , Desjarlais John R.
Published: October 2018

Bispecific antibodies that recruit and redirect T cells to attack tumor cells have tremendous potential for the treatment of various malignancies. In general, this class of therapeutics, known as CD3 bispecifics, promotes tumor cell killing by cross-linking a CD3 component of the T cell receptor complex with a tumor-associated antigen on the surface of the target cell. Importantly, this mechanism does not rely on a cognate interaction between the T cell receptor and a peptide:HLA complex, thereby circumventing HLA (human leukocyte antigen) restriction. Hence, CD3 bispecifics may find a key role in addressing tumors with low neoantigen content and/or low inflammation, and this class of therapeutics may productively combine with checkpoint blockade. A wide array of formats and optimization approaches has been developed, and a wave of CD3 bispecifics is proceeding into human clinical trials for a range of indications, with promising signs of therapeutic activity.
Employee Psychoactive Substance Involvement: Historical Context, Key Findings, and Future Directions
Authors: Frone Michael R.
Published: October 2018

Humans have consumed psychoactive substances for millennia, and these substances have played an important role in human culture and human labor. This article investigates our current understanding of the general association between the workplace and employee involvement with psychoactive substances. I begin by briefly exploring the broad evolutionary and historical intersection of psychoactive substances, human culture, and human labor. I then outline the multidimensional nature of employee psychoactive substance involvement and look at its prevalence. Next, I summarize recent research on workplace antecedents, such as work stressors, substance availability, norms, and social control. I then summarize research on the adverse workplace outcomes experienced by employees who use psychoactive substances as well as the collateral effects of such use on coworkers. Throughout the article, I identify directions for future research.
Phospholipid Remodeling in Physiology and Disease
Authors: Wang Bo , Tontonoz Peter
Published: October 2018

Phospholipids are major constituents of biological membranes. The fatty acyl chain composition of phospholipids determines the biophysical properties of membranes and thereby affects their impact on biological processes. The composition of fatty acyl chains is also actively regulated through a deacylation and reacylation pathway called Lands’ cycle. Recent studies of mouse genetic models have demonstrated that lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferases (LPCATs), which catalyze the incorporation of fatty acyl chains into the sn-2 site of phosphatidylcholine, play important roles in pathophysiology. Two LPCAT family members, LPCAT1 and LPCAT3, have been particularly well studied. LPCAT1 is crucial for proper lung function due to its role in pulmonary surfactant biosynthesis. LPCAT3 maintains systemic lipid homeostasis by regulating lipid absorption in intestine, lipoprotein secretion, and de novo lipogenesis in liver. Mounting evidence also suggests that changes in LPCAT activity may be potentially involved in pathological conditions, including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, atherosclerosis, viral infections, and cancer. Pharmacological manipulation of LPCAT activity and membrane phospholipid composition may provide new therapeutic options for these conditions.
Visceral Pain
Authors: Grundy Luke , Erickson Andelain , Brierley Stuart M.
Published: October 2018

Most of us live blissfully unaware of the orchestrated function that our internal organs conduct. When this peace is interrupted, it is often by routine sensations of hunger and urge. However, for >20% of the global population, chronic visceral pain is an unpleasant and often excruciating reminder of the existence of our internal organs. In many cases, there is no obvious underlying pathological cause of the pain. Accordingly, chronic visceral pain is debilitating, reduces the quality of life of sufferers, and has large concomitant socioeconomic costs. In this review, we highlight key mechanisms underlying chronic abdominal and pelvic pain associated with functional and inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal and urinary tracts. This includes how the colon and bladder are innervated by specialized subclasses of spinal afferents, how these afferents become sensitized in highly dynamic signaling environments, and the subsequent development of neuroplasticity within visceral pain pathways. We also highlight key contributing factors, including alterations in commensal bacteria, altered mucosal permeability, epithelial interactions with afferent nerves, alterations in immune or stress responses, and cross talk between these two adjacent organs.
Neuroinflammatory mechanisms of blood-brain barrier damage in ischemic stroke
Authors: Yang Changjun , Hawkins Kimberly E. , Doré Sylvain , Candelario-Jalil Eduardo
Published: October 2018

As part of the neurovascular unit, the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a unique, dynamic regulatory boundary that limits and regulates the exchange of molecules, ions, and cells between the blood and the central nervous system. Disruption of the BBB plays an important role in the development of neurological dysfunction in ischemic stroke. Blood-borne substances and cells have restricted access to the brain due to the presence of tight junctions between the endothelial cells of the BBB. Following stroke, there is loss of BBB tight junction integrity, leading to increased paracellular permeability, which results in vasogenic edema, hemorrhagic transformation, and increased mortality. Thus, understanding principal mediators and molecular mechanisms involved in BBB disruption is critical for the development of novel therapeutics to treat ischemic stroke. This review discusses the current knowledge of how neuroinflammation contributes to BBB damage in ischemic stroke. Specifically, we provide an updated overview of the role of cytokines, chemokines, oxidative and nitrosative stress, adhesion molecules, matrix metalloproteinases, and vascular endothelial growth factor as well as the role of different cell types in the regulation of BBB permeability in ischemic stroke.
Let-7c regulates proliferation and osteodifferentiation of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells under oxidative stress by targeting SCD-1
Authors: Zhou Zihui , Lu Yuanshan , Wang Yao , Du Lin , Zhang Yunpeng , Tao Jie
Published: October 2018

Osteoporosis is a progressive bone disease characterized by decreased bone mass and density, which usually parallels a reduced antioxidative capacity and increased reactive oxygen species formation. Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs), a population of self-renewing multipotent cells, are a well-recognized source of potential bone precursors with significant clinical potential for tissue regeneration. We previously showed that overexpressing stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD-1) promotes osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. Micro-RNAs (miRNAs) are noncoding RNAs recently recognized to play key roles in many developmental processes, and miRNA let-7c is downregulated during osteoinduction. We found that let-7c was upregulated in the serum of patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis compared with healthy controls. Levels of let-7c during osteogenic differentiation of ADMSCs were examined under oxidative stress in vitro and found to be upregulated. Overexpression of let-7c inhibited osteogenic differentiation, whereas inhibition of let-7c function promoted this process, evidenced by increased expression of osteoblast-specific genes, alkaline phosphatase activity, and matrix mineralization. The luciferase reporter assay was used to validate SCD-1 as a target of let-7c. Further experiments showed that silencing of SCD-1 significantly attenuated the effect of let-7c inhibitor on osteoblast markers, providing strong evidence that let-7c modulates osteogenic differentiation by targeting SCD-1. Inhibition of let-7c promoted the translocation of β-catenin into nuclei, thus activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Collectively, these data suggest that let-7c is induced under oxidative stress conditions and in osteoporosis, reducing SCD-1 protein levels, switching off Wnt/β-catenin signaling, and inhibiting osteogenic differentiation. Thus, let-7c may be a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of osteoporosis and especially postmenopausal osteoporosis.
Dehydroepiandrosterone inhibitsICa,Land its window current in voltage-dependent and -independent mechanisms in arterial smooth muscle cells
Authors: Ochi Rikuo , Chettimada Sukrutha , Kizub Igor , Gupte Sachin A.
Published: October 2018

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is an adrenal steroid hormone, which has the highest serum concentration among steroid hormones with DHEA sulfate (DHEAS). DHEA possesses an inhibitory action on glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), the first pentose-phosphate pathway enzyme that reduces NADP+to NADPH. DHEA induced relaxation of high K+-induced contraction in rat arterial strips, whereas DHEAS barely induced it. We studied the effects of DHEA on L-type Ca2+current ( ICa,L) of A7r5 arterial smooth muscle cells and compared the mechanism of inhibition with that produced by the 6-aminonicotinamide (6-AN) competitive inhibitor of G6PD. DHEA moderately inhibited ICa,Lthat was elicited from a holding potential (HP) of −80 mV [voltage-independent inhibition (VIDI)] and accelerated decay of ICa,Lduring the depolarization pulse [voltage-dependent inhibition (VDI)]. DHEA-induced VDI decreased peak ICa,Lat depolarized HPs. By applying repetitive depolarization pulses from multiple HPs, novel HP-dependent steady-state inactivation curves ( f∞-HP) were constructed. DHEA shifted f∞-HP to the left and inhibited the window current, which was recorded at depolarized HPs and obtained as a product of current-voltage relationship and f∞-HP. The IC50value of ICa,Linhibition was much higher than serum concentration. DHEA-induced VDI was downregulated by the dialysis of guanosine 5′- O-(2-thiodiphosphate), which shifted f∞-voltage to the right before the application of DHEA. 6-AN gradually and irreversibly inhibited ICa,Lby VIDI, suggesting that the inhibition of G6PD is involved in DHEA-induced VIDI. In 6-AN-pretreated cells, DHEA induced additional inhibition by increasing VIDI and generating VDI. The inhibition of G6PD underlies DHEA-induced VIDI, and DHEA additionally induces VDI as described for Ca2+channel blockers.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Dehydroepiandrosterone, the most abundantly released adrenal steroid hormone with dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, inhibited L-type Ca2+current and its window current in aortic smooth muscle cells. The IC50value of inhibition decreased with the depolarization of holding potential to 15 µM at −20 mV. The inhibition occurred in a voltage-dependent manner as described for Ca2+channel blockers and in a voltage-independent manner because of the inhibition of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase.
Bromine inhalation mimics ischemia-reperfusion cardiomyocyte injury and calpain activation in rats
Authors: Ahmad Shama , Masjoan Juncos Juan Xavier , Ahmad Aftab , Zaky Ahmed , Wei Chih-Chang , Bradley Wayne E. , Zafar Iram , Powell Pamela , Mariappan Nithya , Vetal Nilam , Louch William E. , Ford David A. , Doran Stephen F. , Matalon Sadis , Dell’Italia Louis J.
Published: October 2018

Halogens are widely used, highly toxic chemicals that pose a potential threat to humans because of their abundance. Halogens such as bromine (Br2) cause severe pulmonary and systemic injuries; however, the mechanisms of their toxicity are largely unknown. Here, we demonstrated that Br2 and reactive brominated species produced in the lung and released in blood reach the heart and cause acute cardiac ultrastructural damage and dysfunction in rats. Br2-induced cardiac damage was demonstrated by acute (3–24 h) increases in circulating troponin I, heart-type fatty acid-binding protein, and NH2-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated acute (3–24 h) cardiac contraction band necrosis, disruption of z-disks, and mitochondrial swelling and disorganization. Echocardiography and hemodynamic analysis revealed left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic dysfunction at 7 days. Plasma and LV tissue had increased levels of brominated fatty acids. 2-Bromohexadecanal (Br-HDA) injected into the LV cavity of a normal rat caused acute LV enlargement with extensive disruption of the sarcomeric architecture and mitochondrial damage. There was extensive infiltration of neutrophils and increased myeloperoxidase levels in the hearts of Br2- or Br2 reactant-exposed rats. Increased bromination of sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) and increased phosphalamban after Br2 inhalation decreased cardiac SERCA activity by 70%. SERCA inactivation was accompanied by increased Ca2+-sensitive LV calpain activity. The calpain-specific inhibitor MDL28170 administered within 1 h after exposure significantly decreased calpain activity and acute mortality. Bromine inhalation and formation of reactive brominated species caused acute cardiac injury and myocardial damage that can lead to heart failure.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY The present study defines left ventricular systolic and diastolic dysfunction due to cardiac injury after bromine (Br2) inhalation. A calpain-dependent mechanism was identified as a potential mediator of cardiac ultrastructure damage. This study not only highlights the importance of monitoring acute cardiac symptoms in victims of Br2 exposure but also defines calpains as a potential target to treat Br2-induced toxicity.