bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ouabain‐induced changes in MAP kinase phosphorylation in primary culture of rat cerebellar cells
Authors: Lopachev Alexander V. , Lopacheva Olga M. , Osipova Ekaterina A. , Vladychenskaya Elizaveta A. , Smolyaninova Larisa V. , Fedorova Tatiana N. , Koroleva Olga V. , Akkuratov Evgeny E.
Published: June 2016

Cardiotonic steroid (CTS) ouabain is a well‐established inhibitor of Na,K‐ATPase capable of inducing signalling processes including changes in the activity of the mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK) in various cell types. With increasing evidence of endogenous CTS in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid, it is of particular interest to study ouabain‐induced signalling in neurons, especially the activation of MAPK, because they are the key kinases activated in response to extracellular signals and regulating cell survival, proliferation and apoptosis. In this study we investigated the effect of ouabain on the level of phosphorylation of three MAPK (ERK1/2, JNK and p38) and on cell survival in the primary culture of rat cerebellar cells. Using Western blotting we described the time course and concentration dependence of phosphorylation for ERK1/2, JNK and p38 in response to ouabain. We discovered that ouabain at a concentration of 1 μM does not cause cell death in cultured neurons while it changes the phosphorylation level of the three MAPK: ERK1/2 is phosphorylated transiently, p38 shows sustained phosphorylation, and JNK is dephosphorylated after a long‐term incubation. We showed that ERK1/2 phosphorylation increase does not depend on ouabain‐induced calcium increase and p38 activation. Changes in p38 phosphorylation, which is independent from ERK1/2 activation, are calcium dependent. Changes in JNK phosphorylation are calcium dependent and also depend on ERK1/2 and p38 activation. Ten‐micromolar ouabain leads to cell death, and we conclude that different effects of 1‐μM and 10‐μM ouabain depend on different ERK1/2 and p38 phosphorylation profiles. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Saddlepoint tests for quantile regression
Authors: Ronchetti Elvezio , Sabolová Radka
Published: June 2016

Quantile regression is a flexible and powerful technique which allows us to model the quantiles of the conditional distribution of a response variable given a set of covariates. Regression quantile estimators can be viewed asM‐estimators and standard asymptotic inference is readily available based on likelihood‐ratio, Wald, and score‐type test statistics. However these statistics require the estimation of the sparsity functionwhereGandgare the cumulative distribution function and the density of the regression errors, respectively, and this can lead to nonparametric density estimation. Moreover the asymptoticdistribution for these statistics can provide an inaccurate approximation of tail probabilities and this can lead to inaccurateP‐values, especially for moderate sample sizes. Alternative methods which do not require the estimation of the sparsity function include rank techniques and resampling methods to obtain confidence intervals, which can be inverted to test hypotheses. These are typically more accurate than the standardM‐tests. In this article we show how accurate tests can be obtained by using a nonparametric saddlepoint test statistic. The proposed statistic is asymptoticallydistributed, does not require the specification of the error distribution, and does not require the estimation of the sparsity function. The validity of the method is demonstrated through a simulation study, which shows both the robustness and the accuracy of the new test compared to the best available alternatives.The Canadian Journal of Statistics44: 271–299; 2016 © 2016 Statistical Society of Canada
Gustatory and general visceral centers and their connections in the brain of adult zebrafish: a carbocyanine dye tract‐tracing study
Authors: Yáñez Julián , Souto Yara , Piñeiro Laura , Folgueira Mónica , Anadón Ramón
Published: June 2016

The central connections of the gustatory/general visceral system of the adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) were examined by means of carbocyanine dye tracing. Main primary gustatory centers (facial and vagal lobes) received sensory projections from the facial and vagal nerves, respectively. The vagal nerve also projects to the commissural nucleus of Cajal, a general visceral sensory center. These primary centers mainly project on a prominent secondary gustatory and general visceral nucleus (SGN/V) located in the isthmic region. Secondary projections on the SGN/V were topographically organized, those of the facial lobe mainly ending medially to those of the vagal lobe, and those from the commissural nucleus ventrolaterally. Descending facial lobe projections to the medial funicular nucleus were also noted. Ascending fibers originating from the SGN/V mainly projected to the posterior thalamic nucleus and the lateral hypothalamus (lateral torus, lateral recess nucleus, hypothalamic inferior lobe diffuse nucleus) and an intermediate cell‐ and fiber‐rich region termed here the tertiary gustatory nucleus proper, but not to a nucleus formerly considered as the zebrafish tertiary gustatory nucleus. The posterior thalamic nucleus, tertiary gustatory nucleus proper, and nucleus of the lateral recess gave rise to descending projections to the SGN/V and the vagal lobe. The connectivity between diencephalic gustatory centers and the telencephalon was also investigated. The present results showed that the gustatory connections of the adult zebrafish are rather similar to those reported in other cyprinids, excepting the tertiary gustatory nucleus. Similarities between the gustatory systems of zebrafish and other fishes are also discussed. J. Comp. Neurol. 525:333–362, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Fluid‐structure interaction including volumetric coupling with homogenised subdomains for modeling respiratory mechanics
Authors: Yoshihara Lena , Roth Christian J. , Wall Wolfgang A.
Published: June 2016

In this article, a novel approach is presented for combining standard fluid‐structure interaction with additional volumetric constraints to model fluid flow into and from homogenised solid domains. The proposed algorithm is particularly interesting for investigations in the field of respiratory mechanics as it enables the mutual coupling of airflow in the conducting part and local tissue deformation in the respiratory part of the lung by means of a volume constraint. In combination with a classical monolithic fluid‐structure interaction approach, a comprehensive model of the human lung can be established that will be useful to gain new insights into respiratory mechanics in health and disease. To illustrate the validity and versatility of the novel approach, three numerical examples including a patient‐specific lung model are presented. The proposed algorithm proves its capability of computing clinically relevant airflow distribution and tissue strain data at a level of detail that is not yet achievable, neither with current imaging techniques nor with existing computational models. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fluid–structure interaction and structural analyses using a comprehensive mitral valve model with 3D chordal structure
Authors: Toma Milan , Einstein Daniel R. , Bloodworth Charles H. , Cochran Richard P. , Yoganathan Ajit P. , Kunzelman Karyn S.
Published: June 2016

Over the years, three‐dimensional models of the mitral valve have generally been organized around a simplified anatomy. Leaflets have been typically modeled as membranes, tethered to discrete chordae typically modeled as one‐dimensional, non‐linear cables. Yet, recent, high‐resolution medical images have revealed that there is no clear boundary between the chordae and the leaflets. In fact, the mitral valve has been revealed to be more of a webbed structure whose architecture is continuous with the chordae and their extensions into the leaflets. Such detailed images can serve as the basis of anatomically accurate, subject‐specific models, wherein the entire valve is modeled with solid elements that more faithfully represent the chordae, the leaflets, and the transition between the two. These models have the potential to enhance our understanding of mitral valve mechanics and to re‐examine the role of the mitral valve chordae, which heretofore have been considered to be ‘invisible’ to the fluid and to be of secondary importance to the leaflets. However, these new models also require a rethinking of modeling assumptions. In this study, we examine the conventional practice of loading the leaflets only and not the chordae in order to study the structural response of the mitral valve apparatus. Specifically, we demonstrate that fully resolved 3D models of the mitral valve require a fluid–structure interaction analysis to correctly load the valve even in the case of quasi‐static mechanics. While a fluid–structure interaction mode is still more computationally expensive than a structural‐only model, we also show that advances in GPU computing have made such models tractable. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A video recommendation algorithm based on the combination of video content and social network
Authors: Cui Laizhong , Dong Linyong , Fu Xianghua , Wen Zhenkun , Lu Nan , Zhang Guanjing
Published: June 2016

Recently, social network has been one of the biggest information exchange platforms of the Internet. Moreover, the users in social network used to watch videos through social network application. To provide a proper recommended video list, the video recommendation algorithm for social network is becoming a hot research issue. On one hand, more and more researchers introduce the concept of trust into video recommendation algorithms. However, most of them only select the trust friends based on the similarity and neglect the characteristics of social network. On the other hand, most previous video recommendation algorithms are only based on the number that a video is viewed to evaluate a video's quality. They do not make good use of the social relationship in social network and the video's reputation. This paper mainly focuses on the challenge that the effectiveness and performance of current video recommendation algorithm in social network cannot satisfy the users. In this paper, we propose a novel video recommendation algorithm based on the combination of video content and social network. Our proposed algorithm consists of the trust friends computing model and video's quality evaluation model. The trust friends computing method takes into account similarity between users, interaction between users, and the active degree of a user. In our video's quality evaluation model, we combine the acceptance ratio of a video with a video's reputation. The video can be given an appropriate rating score through this model. We design corresponding trust friends computing algorithm and video recommendation algorithm respectively for two proposed models. Our integral video recommendation algorithm consists of these two algorithms. The experimental results indicate that the performance and effectiveness of our algorithm are better than those of two classical video recommendation algorithms (i.e., user‐based collaborative filtering algorithm and TBR‐d algorithm), in terms of precision, recall and F1‐measure. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Implementation of a simplified flow cytometric assays for minimal residual disease monitoring in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Vinhas Ester , Lucena‐Silva Norma , Pedrosa Francisco
Published: June 2016

Background

Monitoring minimal residual disease (MRD) in B‐lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) to assess treatment response is crucial for risk assignment. Flow cytometry can be used to monitor MRD in ALL but the implementation of this approach requires extensive expertise. If resources are limited, the costs of full flow cytometric MRD testing might be prohibitive.

Objective

We evaluated the applicability of a previously reported simplified MRD assay, designed to distinguish leukemic from normal lymphoblastic during remission induction therapy.

Methods

Fifty‐nine samples from children with ALL, enrolled in the RE‐LLA study at a pediatric oncology center in Recife (Brazil), were evaluated for MRD on day 19 and on day 26 of remission induction therapy. We compared results obtained by a trainee in Recife and an expert.

Results

The method was implemented successfully and the concordance between results obtained by the trainee and the expert was practically absolute at the end of the study.

Conclusions

It is possible to implement reliable measurements of MRD during remission induction therapy in childhood ALL despite limited resources. The simplicity of the MRD method used in this study does not require extensive prior training in leukemia immunophenotyping. © 2016 International Clinical Cytometry Society
Decadal shifts in grass and woody plant cover are driven by prolonged drying and modified by topo‐edaphic properties
Authors: Munson Seth M. , Sankey Temuulen T. , Xian George , Villarreal Miguel L. , Homer Collin G.
Published: June 2016

Woody plant encroachment and overall declines in perennial vegetation in dryland regions can alter ecosystem properties and indicate land degradation, but the causes of these shifts remain controversial. Determining how changes in the abundance and distribution of grass and woody plants are influenced by conditions that regulate water availability at a regional scale provides a baseline to compare how management actions alter the composition of these vegetation types at a more local scale and can be used to predict future shifts under climate change. Using a remote‐sensing‐based approach, we assessed the balance between grasses and woody plants and how climate and topo‐edaphic conditions affected their abundances across the northern Sonoran Desert from 1989 to 2009. Despite widespread woody plant encroachment in this region over the last 150 years, we found that leguminous trees, including mesquite (Prosopis spp.), declined in cover in areas with prolonged drying conditions during the early 21st century. Creosote bush (Larrea tridentata) also had moderate decreases with prolonged drying but was buffered from changes on soils with low clay that promote infiltration and high available water capacity that allows for retention of water at depth. Perennial grasses have expanded and contracted over the last two decades in response to summer precipitation and were especially dynamic on shallow soils with high clay that have large fluctuations in water availability. Our results suggest that topo‐edaphic properties can amplify or ameliorate climate‐induced changes in woody plants and perennial grasses. Understanding these relationships has important implications for ecosystem function under climate change in the southwestern USA and can inform management efforts to regulate grass and woody plant abundances.
Assessing performance of single‐sample molecular genetic methods to estimate effective population size: empirical evidence from the endangered Gochu Asturcelta pig breed
Authors: Menéndez Juan , Álvarez Isabel , Fernandez Iván , Menéndez‐Arias Nuria A. , Goyache Félix
Published: June 2016

Estimating effective population size (Ne) using linkage disequilibrium (LD) information (Ne(LD)) has the operational advantage of using a single sample. However, Ne(LD) estimates assume discrete generations and its performance are constrained by demographic issues. However, such concerns have received little empirical attention so far. The pedigree of the endangered Gochu Asturcelta pig breed includes individuals classified into discrete filial generations and individuals with generations overlap. Up to 780 individuals were typed with a set of 17 microsatellites. Performance of Ne(LD) was compared with Ne estimates obtained using genealogical information, molecular coancestry (Ne(M)) and a temporal (two‐sample) method (Ne(JR)). Molecular‐based estimates of Ne exceeded those obtained using pedigree data. Estimates of Ne(LD) for filial generations F3 and F4 (17.0 and 17.3, respectively) were lower and steadier than those obtained using yearly or biannual samplings. Ne(LD) estimated for samples including generations overlap could only be compared with those obtained for the discrete filial generations when sampling span approached a generation interval and demographic correction for bias was applied. Single‐sample Ne(M) estimates were lower than their Ne(LD) counterparts. Ne(M) estimates are likely to partially reflect the number of founders rather than population size. In any case, estimates of LD and molecular coancestry tend to covary and, therefore, Ne(M) and Ne(LD) can hardly be considered independent. Demographically adjusted estimates of Ne(JR) and Ne(LD) took comparable values when: (1) the two samples used for the former were separated by one equivalent to discrete generations in the pedigree and (2) sampling span used for the latter approached a generation interval. Overall, the empirical evidence given in this study suggested that the advantage of using single‐sample methods to obtain molecular‐based estimates of Ne is not clear in operational terms. Estimates of Ne obtained using methods based in molecular information should be interpreted with caution.
Food web structure shaped by habitat size and climate across a latitudinal gradient
Authors: Romero Gustavo Q. , Piccoli Gustavo C. O. , de Omena Paula M. , Gonçalves‐Souza Thiago
Published: June 2016

Habitat size and climate are known to affect the trophic structure and dynamics of communities, but their interactive effects are poorly understood. Organisms from different trophic levels vary in terms of metabolic requirements and heat dissipation. Indeed, larger species such as keystone predators require more stable climatic conditions than their prey. Likewise, habitat size disproportionally affects large‐sized predators, which require larger home ranges and are thus restricted to larger habitats. Therefore, food web structure in patchy ecosystems is expected to be shaped by habitat size and climate variations. Here we investigate this prediction using natural aquatic microcosm (bromeliad phytotelmata) food webs composed of litter resources (mainly detritus), detritivores, mesopredators, and top predators (damselflies). We surveyed 240 bromeliads of varying sizes (water retention capacity) across 12 open restingas in SE Brazil spread across a wide range of tropical latitudes (−12.6° to −27.6°, ca. 2,000 km) and climates (Δ mean annual temperature = 5.3°C). We found a strong increase in predator‐to‐detritivore mass ratio with habitat size, which was representative of a typical inverted trophic pyramid in larger ecosystems. However, this relationship was contingent among the restingas; slopes of linear models were steeper in more stable and favorable climates, leading to inverted trophic pyramids (and top‐down control) being more pronounced in environments with more favorable climatic conditions. By contrast, detritivore‐resource and mesopredator‐detritivore mass ratios were not affected by habitat size or climate variations across latitudes. Our results highlight that the combined effects of habitat size, climate and predator composition are pivotal to understanding the impacts of multiple environmental factors on food web structure and dynamics.
Why do trees die? Characterizing the drivers of background tree mortality
Authors: Das Adrian J. , Stephenson Nathan L. , Davis Kristin P.
Published: June 2016

The drivers of background tree mortality rates—the typical low rates of tree mortality found in forests in the absence of acute stresses like drought—are central to our understanding of forest dynamics, the effects of ongoing environmental changes on forests, and the causes and consequences of geographical gradients in the nature and strength of biotic interactions. To shed light on factors contributing to background tree mortality, we analyzed detailed pathological data from 200,668 tree‐years of observation and 3,729 individual tree deaths, recorded over a 13‐yr period in a network of old‐growth forest plots in California's Sierra Nevada mountain range. We found that: (1) Biotic mortality factors (mostly insects and pathogens) dominated (58%), particularly in larger trees (86%). Bark beetles were the most prevalent (40%), even though there were no outbreaks during the study period; in contrast, the contribution of defoliators was negligible. (2) Relative occurrences of broad classes of mortality factors (biotic, 58%; suppression, 51%; and mechanical, 25%) are similar among tree taxa, but may vary with tree size and growth rate. (3) We found little evidence of distinct groups of mortality factors that predictably occur together on trees. Our results have at least three sets of implications. First, rather than being driven by abiotic factors such as lightning or windstorms, the “ambient” or “random” background mortality that many forest models presume to be independent of tree growth rate is instead dominated by biotic agents of tree mortality, with potentially critical implications for forecasting future mortality. Mechanistic models of background mortality, even for healthy, rapidly growing trees, must therefore include the insects and pathogens that kill trees. Second, the biotic agents of tree mortality, instead of occurring in a few predictable combinations, may generally act opportunistically and with a relatively large degree of independence from one another. Finally, beyond the current emphasis on folivory and leaf defenses, studies of broad‐scale gradients in the nature and strength of biotic interactions should also include biotic attacks on, and defenses of, tree stems and roots.
The importance of biodiversity and dominance for multiple ecosystem functions in a human‐modified tropical landscape
Authors: Lohbeck Madelon , Bongers Frans , Martinez‐Ramos Miguel , Poorter Lourens
Published: June 2016

Many studies suggest that biodiversity may be particularly important for ecosystem multifunctionality, because different species with different traits can contribute to different functions. Support, however, comes mostly from experimental studies conducted at small spatial scales in low‐diversity systems. Here, we test whether different species contribute to different ecosystem functions that are important for carbon cycling in a high‐diversity human‐modified tropical forest landscape in Southern Mexico. We quantified aboveground standing biomass, primary productivity, litter production, and wood decomposition at the landscape level, and evaluated the extent to which tree species contribute to these ecosystem functions. We used simulations to tease apart the effects of species richness, species dominance and species functional traits on ecosystem functions. We found that dominance was more important than species traits in determining a species’ contribution to ecosystem functions. As a consequence of the high dominance in human‐modified landscapes, the same small subset of species mattered across different functions. In human‐modified landscapes in the tropics, biodiversity may play a limited role for ecosystem multifunctionality due to the potentially large effect of species dominance on biogeochemical functions. However, given the spatial and temporal turnover in species dominance, biodiversity may be critically important for the maintenance and resilience of ecosystem functions.
Bi(OTf)3‐Catalysed Access to 2,3‐Substituted Isoindolinones and Tricyclic N,O‐Acetals by Trapping of Bis‐N‐Acyliminium Species in a Tandem Process
Authors: Aliyenne Ahmed , Pin Frédéric , Nimbarte Vijaykumar D. , Lawson Ata Martin , Comesse Sébastien , Sanselme Morgane , Tognetti Vincent , Joubert Laurent , Daïch Adam
Published: June 2016

New 1,3‐bis‐N‐acyliminium species generated easily with nontoxic Bi(OTf)3 catalyst at very low loadings (2 mol‐%) were trapped inter‐ and intramolecularly with various poly‐nucleophiles. This mild, efficient, practical and general tandem approach provides an array of substituted isoindolinones and cyclic N,O‐acetals.
Altered Integration of Structural Covariance Networks in Young Children With Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Hosseini S.M. Hadi , Mazaika Paul , Mauras Nelly , Buckingham Bruce , Weinzimer Stuart A. , Tsalikian Eva , White Neil H. , Reiss Allan L. ,   for the Diabetes Research in Children Network (DirecNet)
Published: June 2016

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D), one of the most frequent chronic diseases in children, is associated with glucose dysregulation that contributes to an increased risk for neurocognitive deficits. While there is a bulk of evidence regarding neurocognitive deficits in adults with T1D, little is known about how early‐onset T1D affects neural networks in young children. Recent data demonstrated widespread alterations in regional gray matter and white matter associated with T1D in young children. These widespread neuroanatomical changes might impact the organization of large‐scale brain networks. In the present study, we applied graph‐theoretical analysis to test whether the organization of structural covariance networks in the brain for a cohort of young children with T1D (N = 141) is altered compared to healthy controls (HC; N = 69). While the networks in both groups followed a small world organization—an architecture that is simultaneously highly segregated and integrated—the T1D network showed significantly longer path length compared with HC, suggesting reduced global integration of brain networks in young children with T1D. In addition, network robustness analysis revealed that the T1D network model showed more vulnerability to neural insult compared with HC. These results suggest that early‐onset T1D negatively impacts the global organization of structural covariance networks and influences the trajectory of brain development in childhood. This is the first study to examine structural covariance networks in young children with T1D. Improving glycemic control for young children with T1D might help prevent alterations in brain networks in this population. Hum Brain Mapp 37:4034–4046, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Risk of neuroblastoma, birth‐related characteristics, congenital malformations and perinatal exposures: A pooled analysis of the ESCALE and ESTELLE French studies (SFCE)
Authors: Rios Paula , Bailey Helen D , Orsi Laurent , Lacour Brigitte , Valteau‐Couanet Dominique , Levy Dominique , Corradini Nadège , Leverger Guy , Defachelles Anne‐Sophie , Gambart Marion , Sirvent Nicolas , Thebaud Estelle , Ducassou Stéphane , Clavel Jacqueline
Published: June 2016

Neuroblastoma (NB), an embryonic tumour arising from neural crest cells, is the most common malignancy among infants. The aetiology of NB is largely unknown. We conducted a pooled analysis to explore whether there is an association between NB and preconception and perinatal factors using data from two French national population‐based case‐control studies. The mothers of 357 NB cases and 1783 controls younger than 6 years, frequency‐matched by age and gender, responded to a telephone interview that focused on demographic, socioeconomic and perinatal characteristics, childhood environment, life‐style and maternal reproductive history. Unconditional logistic regression was used to estimate pooled odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. After controlling for matching variables, study of origin and potential confounders, being born either small (OR 1.4 95% CI 1.0‐2.0) or large (OR 1.5 95% CI 1.1–2.2) for gestational age and, among children younger than 18 months, having congenital malformations (OR 3.6 95% CI 1.3–8.9), were significantly associated with NB. Inverse associations were observed with breastfeeding (OR 0.7 95% CI 0.5–1.0) and maternal use of any supplements containing folic acid, vitamins or minerals (OR 0.5 95% CI 0.3–0.9) during the preconception period. Our findings reinforce the hypothesis that fetal growth anomalies and congenital malformations may be associated with an increased risk of NB. Further investigations are needed in order to clarify the role of folic acid supplementation and breastfeeding, given their potential importance in NB prevention.
Novel enhanced applications of QSPR models: Temperature dependence of aqueous solubility
Authors: Klimenko Kyrylo , Kuz'min Victor , Ognichenko Liudmila , Gorb Leonid , Shukla Manoj , Vinas Natalia , Perkins Edward , Polishchuk Pavel , Artemenko Anatoly , Leszczynski Jerzy
Published: June 2016

A model developed to predict aqueous solubility at different temperatures has been proposed based on quantitative structure–property relationships (QSPR) methodology. The prediction consists of two steps. The first one predicts the value of k parameter in the linear equation
, where Sw is the value of solubility and T is the value of temperature. The second step uses Random Forest technique to create high‐efficiency QSPR model. The performance of the model is assessed using cross‐validation and external test set prediction. Predictive capacity of developed model is compared with COSMO‐RS approximation, which has quantum chemical and thermodynamic foundations. The comparison shows slightly better prediction ability for the QSPR model presented in this publication. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
On the use of mass scaling for stable and efficient simulated tempering with molecular dynamics
Authors: Nagai Tetsuro , Pantelopulos George A. , Takahashi Takuya , Straub John E.
Published: June 2016

Simulated tempering (ST) is a generalized‐ensemble algorithm that employs trajectories exploring a range of temperatures to effectively sample rugged energy landscapes. When implemented using the molecular dynamics method, ST can require the use of short time steps for ensuring the stability of trajectories at high temperatures. To address this shortcoming, a mass‐scaling ST (MSST) method is presented in which the particle mass is scaled in proportion to the temperature. Mass scaling in the MSST method leads to velocity distributions that are independent of temperature and eliminates the need for velocity scaling after the accepted temperature updates that are required in conventional ST simulations. The homogeneity in time scales with changing temperature improves the stability of simulations and allows for the use of longer time steps at high temperatures. As a result, the MSST is found to be more efficient than the standard ST method, particularly for cases in which a large temperature range is employed. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal microbial and noxious gas emission in weaning pigs
Authors: Lan Ruixia , Koo Jinmo , Kim Inho
Published: June 2016

BACKGROUND

Antibiotics used as growth promoters in livestock have been banned in the European Union since 2006. Antibiotics alternatives have focused on probiotics, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus. The concentration of L. acidophilus is considered crucial for obtaining the desired effects. However, limited studies have been conducted to test the dose‐dependent effects of L. acidophilus. Therefore, the present study aimed to test the dose‐dependent effects of L. acidophilus on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal microbial flora and fecal noxious gas emission in weaning pigs.

RESULTS

Lactobacillus acidophilus supplementation increased (P < 0.05) average daily gain, average daily feed intake, apparent nutrient digestibility of dry matter, nitrogen and gross energy, and Lactobacillus counts compared to the basal diet treatment, and a linear effect (P < 0.05) was observed on those criteria. Escherichia coli counts and NH3 emission were decreased (P < 0.05) by L. acidophilus supplementation, and a linear effect (P < 0.05) was observed on E. coli counts.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that L. acidophilus could be used as an antibiotic alternative by improving growth performance, nutrient digestibility and gut balance (i.e. increased Lactobacillus counts and decreased E. coli counts), and decreasing NH3 emission, of weaning pigs. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Qualitative characteristics and comparison of volatile fraction of vodkas made from different botanical materials by comprehensive two‐dimensional gas chromatography and the electronic nose based on the technology of ultra‐fast gas chromatography
Authors: Wiśniewska Paulina , Śliwińska Magdalena , Dymerski Tomasz , Wardencki Waldemar , Namieśnik Jacek
Published: June 2016

BACKGROUND

Vodka is a spirit‐based beverage made from ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin. At present, increasingly more vodka brands have labels that specify the botanical origin of the product. Until now, the techniques for distinguishing between vodkas of different botanical origin have been costly, time‐consuming and insufficient for making a distinction between vodka produced from similar raw materials. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to find a fast and relatively inexpensive technique for conducting such tests.

RESULTS

In the present study, we employed comprehensive two‐dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) and an electronic nose based on the technology of ultra‐fast GC with chemometric methods such as partial least square discriminant analysis, discriminant function analysis and soft independent modeling of class analogy.

CONCLUSION

Both techniques allow a distinction between the vodkas produced from different raw materials. In the case of GC×GC, the differences between vodkas were more noticeable than in the analysis by electronic nose; however, the electronic nose allowed the significantly faster analysis of vodkas. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Effects of probiotic supplementation in different nutrient density diets on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profiles, fecal microflora and noxious gas emission in weaning pig
Authors: Lan Ruixia , Tran Hoainam , Kim Inho
Published: June 2016

BACKGROUND

Probiotics can serve as alternatives to antibiotics to increase the performance of weaning pigs, and the intake of probiotics is affected by dietary nutrient density. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a probiotic complex in different nutrient density diets on growth performance, digestibility, blood profiles, fecal microflora and noxious gas emission in weaning pigs.

RESULTS

From day 22 to day 42, both high‐nutrient‐density and probiotic complex supplementation diets increased (P < 0.05) the average daily gain. On day 42, the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of dry matter, nitrogen and gross energy (GE), blood urea nitrogen concentration and NH3 and H2S emissions were increased (P < 0.05) in pigs fed high‐nutrient‐density diets. Pigs fed probiotic complex supplementation diets had higher (P < 0.05) ATTD of GE than pigs fed non‐supplemented diets. Fecal Lactobacillus counts were increased whereas Escherichia coli counts and NH3 and H2S emissions were decreased (P < 0.05) in pigs fed probiotic complex supplementation diets. Interactive effects on average daily feed intake (ADFI) were observed from day 22 to day 42 and overall, where probiotic complex improved ADFI more dramatically in low‐nutrient‐density diets.

CONCLUSION

The beneficial effects of probiotic complex (Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus subtilis and Clostridium butyricum) supplementation on ADFI is more dramatic with low‐nutrient‐density diets. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Prognostic modeling in pediatric acute liver failure
Authors: Jain Vandana , Dhawan Anil
Published: June 2016

Liver transplantation (LT) is the only proven treatment for pediatric acute liver failure (PALF). However, over a period of time, spontaneous native liver survival is increasingly reported, making us wonder if we are overtransplanting children with acute liver failure (ALF). An effective prognostic model for PALF would help direct appropriate organ allocation. Only patients who would die would undergo LT, and those who would spontaneously recover would avoid unnecessary LT. Deriving and validating such a model for PALF, however, encompasses numerous challenges. In particular, the heterogeneity of age and etiology in PALF, as well as a lack of understanding of the natural history of the disease, contributed by the availability of LT has led to difficulties in prognostic model development. Several prognostic laboratory variables have been identified, and the incorporation of these variables into scoring systems has been attempted. A reliable targeted prognostic model for ALF in Wilson's disease has been established and externally validated. The roles of physiological, immunological, and metabolomic parameters in prognosis are being investigated. This review discusses the challenges with prognostic modeling in PALF and describes predictive methods that are currently available and in development for the future. Liver Transplantation 22 1418–1430 2016 AASLD.
Depressive Symptoms are Frequent in Atypical Parkinsonian Disorders
Authors: Almeida Leonardo , Ahmed Bilal , Walz Roger , De Jesus Sol , Patterson Addie , Martinez‐Ramirez Daniel , Vaillancourt David , Bowers Dawn , Ward Herbert , Okun Michael S. , McFarland Nikolaus R.
Published: June 2016

Background

The objective of this study was to compare the incidence and prevalence of depressive symptoms in atypical parkinsonian (APD) syndromes versus Parkinson disease (PD).

Methods

In a large, retrospective patient cohort, the authors analyzed the incidence and prevalence of depressive symptoms using the Beck Depression Inventory and evaluated patients longitudinally on subsequent visits. For individuals who were followed at subsequent visits, incidence rates were calculated in person‐years as a measure of incidence.

Results

In total, 361 patients were identified who had APD syndromes, including progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal degeneration, multiple system atrophy, and dementia with Lewy bodies; and 2352 patients with PD were used as a control group. The mean Beck Depression Inventory values were significantly higher in patients with APD (F = 14.19; P < 0.001). A significantly higher proportion of those with APD screened positive for depressive symptoms both at the initial visit and on subsequent visits (P < 0.001), and depressive symptoms appeared to be more severe in the APD subgroups. Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale motor scores and disease duration were correlated with depressive symptoms.

Conclusions

The current results suggest that the incidence and prevalence of depressive symptoms are higher in patients with APD syndromes and also appear to be more severe than those in patients with PD. Depressive symptoms in APD are common and affect patients regardless of disease duration or motor severity.
A Comparative Docking Strategy to Identify Polyphenolic Derivatives as Promising Antineoplastic Binders of G‐quadruplex DNA c‐myc and bcl‐2 Sequences
Authors: Costa Giosuè , Rocca Roberta , Moraca Federica , Talarico Carmine , Romeo Isabella , Ortuso Francesco , Alcaro Stefano , Artese Anna
Published: June 2016

Polyphenols are compounds ubiquitously expressed in plants and used for their multiple healthy effects in humans as anti‐inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, anticancer and immunomodulatory agents. Due to their ability to modulate the activity of multiple targets involved in carcinogenesis, polyphenols can be employed to inhibit the growth of cancer cells. Several studies reported their high affinity to different G‐quadruplex DNA structures, including the oncogene promoters c‐myc and bcl‐2. In this work we applied a structure‐based virtual screening approach in order to screen a database of polyphenolic derivatives and human metabolites against both c‐myc and bcl‐2 DNA G‐quadruplex structures. A Delphinidine derivative was identified as the best “dual” candidate and, after molecular dynamics simulations, resulted able to well stabilize both receptors.
Urolithin A suppresses the proliferation of endometrial cancer cells by mediating estrogen receptor‐α‐dependent gene expression
Authors: Zhang Wei , Chen Jo‐Hsin , Aguilera‐Barrantes Irene , Shiau Chung‐Wai , Sheng Xiugui , Wang Li‐Shu , Stoner Gary D. , Huang Yi‐Wen
Published: June 2016

Scope

Obese and overweight women are at high risk of developing endometrial cancer; indeed, many of endometrial cancer patients are obese. The increased number and size of adipocytes due to obesity elevate levels of circulating estrogens that stimulate cell proliferation in the endometrium. However, black raspberries are a promising approach to preventing endometrial cancer.

Methods and results

We examined 17 black raspberry constituents and metabolites (10 μM or 10 μg/mL, 48 h) for their ability to prevent endometrial cancer cells from proliferating. Urolithin A (UA) was most able to suppress proliferation in a time‐ and dose‐dependent manner (p < 0.05). It arrested the G2/M phase of the cell cycle by upregulating cyclin‐B1, cyclin‐E2, p21, phospho‐cdc2, and CDC25B. UA also acted as an estrogen agonist by modulating estrogen receptor‐α (ERα) dependent gene expression in ER‐positive endometrial cancer cells. UA enhanced the expression of ERβ, PGR, pS2, GREB1 while inhibiting the expression of ERα and GRIP1. Coincubating UA‐treated cells with the estrogen antagonist ICI182,780 abolished UA's estrogenic effects. Knocking down ERα suppressed PGR, pS2, and GREB gene expression but increased GRIP1 expression. Thus, UA's actions appear to be mediated through ERα.

Conclusion

This study suggests that UA modulates ERα‐dependent gene expression, thereby inhibiting endometrial cancer proliferation.
Directed self‐assembly of block copolymer‐based nanocomposites in thin films
Authors: Michman E. , Shenhar R.
Published: June 2016

Exploiting the full potential of metal and semiconductor nanoparticles for advanced nanotechnological applications requires their organization into predefined structures with high orientational control. Nanofabrication approaches that combine high resolution lithography and self‐assembly afford the advantages of accurate placement, compositional diversity, and reduced production costs. This review concentrates on the creation of organized nanoparticle superstructures assisted by recent developments in the directed self‐assembly of block copolymers, and delineates possible applications. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Thermosensitive and photocleavable polyaspartamide derivatives for drug delivery
Authors: Du Xiao , Jiang Yibo , Zhuo Renxi , Jiang Xulin
Published: June 2016

The development of novel thermo‐ and photo‐dual‐responsive biodegradable polymeric micelles based on amphiphilic polyaspartamide derivatives (NB‐g‐PHPA‐g‐mPEG) for anticancer drug delivery is reported. The obtained polymers containing hydrophobic photocleavable o‐nitrobenzyl groups exhibit thermo‐ and photosensitivity. The micelles and paclitaxel‐loaded micelles based on the thermo‐ and photo‐dual‐sensitive polymers were prepared by a quick heating method without using toxic organic solvent. The paclitaxel release from the drug‐loaded micelles can be triggered under photoirradiation. Enhancement of the anticancer activity against HeLa cells was observed for paclitaxel‐loaded NB‐g‐PHPA‐g‐mPEG micelles after light irradiation, while the empty NB‐g‐PHPA‐g‐mPEG micelles with or without irradiation did not show any toxicity. Therefore, the thermo‐ and photo‐dual‐responsive NB‐g‐PHPA‐g‐mPEG micelles have a promising future applied as a light controlled drug delivery system for anticancer drugs. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016, 54, 2855–2863
Beyond basins: φ,ψ preferences of a residue depend heavily on the φ,ψ values of its neighbors
Authors: Hollingsworth Scott A. , Lewis Matthew C. , Karplus P. Andrew
Published: June 2016

The Ramachandran plot distributions of nonglycine residues from experimentally determined structures are routinely described as grouping into one of six major basins: β, PII, α, αL, ξ and γ'. Recent work describing the most common conformations adopted by pairs of residues in folded proteins [i.e., (φ,ψ)2‐motifs] showed that commonly described major basins are not true single thermodynamic basins, but are composed of distinct subregions that are associated with various conformations of either the preceding or following neighbor residue. Here, as documentation of the extent to which the conformational preferences of a central residue are influenced by the conformations of its two neighbors, we present a set of φ,ψ‐plots that are delimited simultaneously by the φ,ψ‐angles of its neighboring residues on both sides. The level of influence seen here is typically greater than the influence associated with considering the identities of neighboring residues, implying that the use of this heretofore untapped information can improve the accuracy of structure prediction algorithms and low resolution protein structure refinement.
Secure principal component analysis in multiple distributed nodes
Authors: Won Hee‐Sun , Kim Sang‐Pil , Lee Sanghun , Choi Mi‐Jung , Moon Yang‐Sae
Published: June 2016

Privacy preservation becomes an important issue in recent big data analysis, and many secure multiparty computations have been proposed for the purpose of privacy preservation in the environment of distributed nodes. As a secure multiparty computations of principal component analysis (PCA), in this paper, we propose S‐PCA, which compute PCA securely among the distributed nodes. PCA is widely used in many applications including time‐series analysis, text mining, and image compression. In general, we compute PCA after concentrating all data in a single server, but this approach discloses data privacy of each node. In contrast, the proposed S‐PCA computes PCA without disclosing the sensitive data of individual nodes. In S‐PCA, the nodes share non‐sensitive mean vectors first and compute covariance matrices and PCA securely using the shared mean vectors. In this paper, we formally prove the correctness and secureness of S‐PCA and apply it to an application of secure similar document detection. Experimental results show that the performance of S‐PCA is slightly worse than that of PCA due to guarantee of secureness, but it significantly improves the performance of secure similar document detection by up to two orders of magnitudes. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The risk of carriage of Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes in food animals in dynamic populations
Authors: Stipetic Korana , Chang Yu‐Chen , Peters Kenlyn , Salem Ahmed , Doiphode Sanjay H. , McDonough Patrick L. , Chang Yung Fu , Sultan Ali , Mohammed Hussni O.
Published: June 2016

Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes are foodborne pathogens of global importance. We assessed their risks and associated factors in a highly dynamic population of animals. Animal and environmental samples were collected from dairy cattle, sheep, camel and chickens at either the farms or the abattoirs. The pathogens were detected using a combination of bacterial enrichment culture and real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Data on putative risk factors were collect and analysed for their significance of association with these pathogens.

Salmonella spp. were detected at higher proportions in sheep faeces and sheep carcasses in comparison to cattle faeces (odds ratio = 2.4 and 2.2, respectively). This pathogen was less common in milk or carcasses samples from cattle or chickens. Sheep and camel carcass samples were highly contaminated with Salmonella spp. Faecal samples from cattle had the most diverse serovars of Salmonella enterica including S. Newport, S. Haifa, S. Kedougou, S. Kentucky, S. Mbandaka and S. Goettingen. Exotic serovars in sheep included S. Eastbourne, S. Chester and S. Kottnus. Serovars that were shed in camel faeces included S. Newport, S. Bovismorbificans and S. Infantis. In all sampled populations, detection of Salmonella spp. was more likely during warmer months than cold months. Listeria monocytogenes was not common in the targeted populations and was detected at a rate of 2.4%, mainly from sheep carcasses. The study highlights the role of food animals as reservoirs of pathogens across boundaries since all feed are imported in that population from different parts of the world.