bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
HOMA-IR increase after antidepressant treatment in depressed patients with the Met allele of the Val66Met BDNF genetic polymorphism
Authors: Martin Séverine , Colle Romain , El Asmar Khalil , Rigal Adrien , Vievard Albane , Feve Bruno , Becquemont Laurent , Verstuyft Céline , Corruble Emmanuelle
Published: December 2018

Background

The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphism is associated with response to antidepressant drugs in depressed patients and with metabolic side effects after antipsychotic treatment. This study aims to assess the association between this polymorphism and insulin resistance after antidepressant treatment in depressed patients.

Methods

One hundred forty-eight Caucasian patients with a current unipolar major depressive episode (DSM IV-TR) were genotyped for the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and assessed at baseline and after 3 and 6 months of antidepressant treatment for the ‘Homoeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance’ (HOMA-IR) index, a valid measure of insulin resistance based on fasting plasma insulinaemia and glycaemia. Because validity assumptions were fulfilled, data were analysed using analysis of variance for repeated measures.

Results

The 52 (35%) Met carriers and 96 (65%) Val/Val patients were not different at baseline for clinical characteristics and HOMA-IR. A significant Val66Met × time interaction (p= 0.02), a significant time effect (p= 0.03) and a significant Val66Met effect (p= 0.0497) were shown for HOMA-IR. A significant Val66Met × time interaction (p= 0.01) and a significant time effect (p= 0.003) were shown for fasting glycaemia. HOMA-IR and fasting glycaemia changes after antidepressant treatment were significantly higher in Met carrier than in Val/Val patients (HOMA-IR changes: Met: 0.71 ± 3.29v.Val/Val: −0.16 ± 1.34,t= 2.3, df = 146,p= 0.02, glycaemia changes: Met: 0.09 ± 0.30v.Val/Val: 0.02 ± 0.16,t= −2.0, df = 146,p= 0.045).

Conclusions

The Met allele of the Val66Met BDNF polymorphism confers to depressed patients a higher risk of insulin-resistance after antidepressant treatment. These patients could benefit from specific monitoring of metabolism and preventive measures.
Signatures of automaticity during practice: Explicit instruction about L1 processing routines can improve L2 grammatical processing
Authors: MCMANUS KEVIN , MARSDEN EMMA
Published: December 2018

This study examined the extent to which explicit instruction about first language (L1) and second language (L2) processing routines improved the accuracy, speed, and automaticity of learners’ responses during sentence interpretation practice. Fifty-three English-speaking learners of L2 French were assigned to one of the following treatments: (a) a “core” treatment consisting of L2 explicit information (EI) with L2 interpretation practice (L2-only group); (b) the same L2 core+L1 practice with L1 EI (L2+L1 group); or (c) the same L2 core+L1 practice but without L1 EI (L2+L1prac group). Findings indicated that increasing amounts of practice led to more accurate and faster performance only for learners who received L1 EI (L2+L1 group). Coefficient of variation analyses (Segalowitz & Segalowitz, 1993) indicated knowledge restructuring early on that appeared to lead to gradual automatization over time (Solovyeva & DeKeyser, 2017; Suzuki, 2017). Our findings that EI and practice about L1 processing routines benefited the accuracy, speed, and automaticity of L2 performance have major implications for theories of L2 learning, the role of L1 EI in L2 grammar learning, and L2 pedagogy.
Lifecourse and housing careers of childless and poor older Malaysians
Authors: Ng Yin Mei , Tilse Cheryl , Wilson Jill
Published: December 2018

Secure, affordable housing is strongly linked to wellbeing in older age. This paper reports on a study of childless and poor older Malaysians who are potentially a vulnerable group in relation to accumulating such housing resources for older age. Childless is defined as a person without biological, step or adopted children, and poverty is defined following the national guideline. The research explores the cumulative advantages and disadvantages over the lifecourse that may influence their routes to attaining, or failing to attain, secure and stable housing in older age. Semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of 34 childless and poor older Malaysians in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, were analysed using a lifecourse perspective to identify the events/experiences that had shaped their housing arrangements in old age. Housing arrangements are hierarchical in structure and can be categorised into four types: home-ownership, public-rental, private-rental and informal housing arrangements. The capacity to afford secure housing (i.e. public rental or ownership) decreased with ill-health and reduced opportunities to work. Structural and policy factors such as eligibility for public housing had also contributed to shaping current housing arrangements. Family poverty, low levels of education and, consequently, reduced employment opportunities affected the ability to accumulate the financial resources needed to afford housing in older age. Some individual decisions and situational disadvantages also contributed to reductions in housing choice. From the social and cultural context, some participants with greater networks had more choices and advantages in the accumulation of housing resources. Initiatives to provide retirement entitlements for workers have not favoured those in low-level informal employment or have come too late to assist those who are now older people. In conclusion, more disadvantages than advantages were accumulated earlier in their life, impacting on their ability to have affordable, secure and stable housing in older age.
Nest building by Darwin’s finches as an overlooked seed dispersal mechanism
Authors: Camacho Carlos , Beausoleil Marc-Olivier , Rabadán-González Julio , Richard Roxanne
Published: December 2018

Caliochory, or seed dispersal by birds as nest material, has been reported for several species, but its effectiveness remains unclear in most cases. Darwin’s finches are traditionally regarded as seed predators, but the observation of two nests challenges this assumption by demonstrating that they can act as seed dispersers via caliochory. Darwin’s finches incorporate cotton-like materials into their nests, including seeds of Darwin’s cotton (Gossypium darwinii), a shrub endemic to the Galápagos (Ecuador). Bird nests typically break down after intense rainfall, so the seeds incorporated into nests might benefit from suitable conditions for germination. By simulating the germination conditions experienced over a 72-h period by cotton seeds in a naturally fallen nest, this study qualitatively confirms the long-term viability of at least a small fraction of the seeds at the surface of the nest. Darwin’s finches might therefore provide seed-dispersal services to Darwin’s cotton and possibly, other native and exotic plants of the Galápagos commonly incorporated into nests. However, larger confirmatory studies are needed.
Are Changes Needed for Therapeutic Recreation Undergraduate Curricula? Perceived Competencies of Therapeutic Recreationists and Recreation Staff Working with Seniors in Long Term Care Homes
Authors: Prentice Kristin , McCleary Lynn , Narushima Miya
Published: December 2018

L’objectif de cette étude était d’identifier les lacunes dans les compétences gérontologiques autoperçues par le personnel en loisir dans les centres de soins de longue durée en Ontario. Deux séries de compétences gérontologiques ont été présentées dans un sondage en ligne qui a été distribué à du personnel en loisir œuvrant dans 500 centres de soins de longue durée. Parmi eux, 487 membres du personnel ont répondu au sondage. Ce sondage comportait des questions concernant les compétences actuelles du personnel et les compétences dont ils avaient eu connaissance avant d’entrer sur le marché du travail. Les facteurs perçus comme favorables à une plus grande confiance en ces compétences gérontologiques étaient l’expérience, la formation continue et les sessions de formation en cours d’emploi. Une meilleure compréhension des lacunes dans les compétences gérontologiques est nécessaire pour améliorer la formation en loisirs thérapeutiques, dont la formation continue dans ce domaine.
The organization of burial places in post-medieval English cities: Bristol and Exeter c. 1540–1850
Authors: BARRY JONATHAN
Published: December 2018

This article analyses the changing options for the provision of burial places between the Reformation and the mid-nineteenth century in two major provincial cities, Bristol and Exeter. The two cities experienced very different patterns of change, especially in their Anglican provision, reflecting medieval differences of organization as well as the differential impact of dissent. Common factors include the effect of epidemics (plague, cholera) and population pressure, but also great conservatism regarding use of inner-city burial places. The major changes are associated with the three great shocks to church–state relations: the Reformation, the mid-seventeenth-century crisis and the reform period of the 1830s and 1840s.
Extreme exercise dislike of a toddler due to a patent foramen ovale
Authors: Grootaers Charlotte , Roggen Mieke , Gewillig Marc
Published: December 2018

A 5-year-old girl presented with chronic fatigue and extreme exercise intolerance. After countless doctor visits, investigations, and hospital admissions, striking desaturation during exercise test pointed to a cardiovascular problem. Desaturation as a result of right-to-left shunting through a patent foramen ovale during upright exercise was hypothesised. A cardiac catheterisation confirmed the presence of an unusually cranially located patent foramen ovale; the defect was subsequently closed. Physical re-evaluation 6 weeks later showed spectacular physical and mental improvement and stabile saturation during exercise.
Broadcast network model of pulsars as beacons of extraterrestrial civilizations
Authors: Haliki Emir
Published: December 2018

According to the Kardashev scale, likely extraterrestrial civilizations above Type-I might use natural energy sources of the Universe, which is also true for transmitting their signals out to distances. A variety of studies have shown that radio pulsars are most likely candidates for this. First, the current study examined how the radio beams of pulsars scan across their environment. Later when the radio beams of pulsars have been modulated, a network model has been proposed on how many habitable planets possible to be home for other assumed advanced civilizations could be reached. It has been found that size of each pulsar's broadcast network depends on the inclination angle. If a civilization controls multiple pulsars, it could comb a considerable fraction of their own celestial sphere and pulsars share their signals in a decentralized fashion as in the mail servers. Moreover, it is briefly cited how beam-modulating mechanisms can be built and searched around pulsars.

Highlights

•  It has been shown how pulsars would behave like beacons only when they have been used by modulating their radio signals.

•  It has also been indicated how each pulsar could constitute an increasingly growing broadcast network by sweeping geometries and in what way it would emerge as number of controlled pulsars increases.

•  It has been interpreted how a modulation mechanism could be established and searched under basic physical principles.
Genetic analysis of a heritage variety collection
Authors: Preston J. M. , Ford-Lloyd B. V. , Smith L. M. J. , Sherman R. , Munro N. , Maxted N.
Published: December 2018

Landraces (including heritage varieties) are an important agrobiodiversity resource offering considerable value as a buffer against crop failures, as a crop for niche markets, and as a source of diversity for crop genetic improvement activities underpinning future food security. Home gardens are reservoirs of landrace diversity, but some of the accessions held in them are vulnerable or threatened with extinction. Those associated with seed saving networks have added security, for example, ca. 800 varieties are stored in the Heritage Seed Library (HSL) of Garden Organic, UK. In this study, Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms-based genetic analysis of accessions held in the HSL was used to (a) demonstrate the range of diversity in the collection, (b) characterize accessions to aid collection management and (c) promote broader use of the collection. In total, 171 accessions were included from six crops: Vicia faba L., Pisum sativum L., Daucus carota L., Cucumis sativus L., Lactuca sativa L. and Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala (DC.) Metzq. Average expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.18 to 0.28 in D. carota; 0.02–0.18 in P. sativum; 0.05–0.18 in L. sativa; 0.15–0.26 in B. oleracea var. acephala; 0.15–0.37 in C. sativus and 0.07–0.36 in V. faba. Genetic diversity and Fst values generally reflected the breeding system and cultivation history of the different crops. Comparisons of the diversity found in heritage varieties with that found in commercial varieties did not show a consistent pattern. Principal coordinates analysis and Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean cluster analysis were used to identify four potential duplicate accession pairs.
See-Tauchunfälle – eine retrospektive Studie eines Level-1-Notfallzentrums der Schweiz
Authors: Braun Christian T. , Kollow Patricia , Kollow German , Klukowska-Rötzler Jolanta , Schedler Olaf , Lehmann Beat , Exadaktylos Aristomenis K.
Published: December 2018

Zusammenfassung. Die Schweiz ist ein Land in der Mitte Europas ohne Anbindung an ein offenes Meer. Man vermutet hierzulande keine nennenswerte Anzahl von Tauchunfällen, jedoch zeigt diese Studie eine grosse Zahl von Tauchunfällen und versucht, die Hauptunfallgefahren zu erforschen. Die Patientendaten wurden von 2001 bis 2016 in der elektronischen Datenbank des Universitären Notfallzentrums des Inselspitals Bern gesammelt und retrospektiv ausgewertet. Das Barotrauma des Ohrs (69,0 %), Dekompressionsunfälle (20,7 %) sowie Herz-Kreislauf-Komplikationen (13,8 %) traten beim SCUBA-Tauchen in der Schweiz vergleichsweise häufig auf, Otitiden hingegen hatten einen nur sehr geringen Anteil (3,5 %). Das Risiko von Tauchunfällen wird deutlich unterschätzt. Als Präventionsmassnahmen sollten in der Tauchausbildung das vertikale Tauchprofil mit höheren Tauchtiefen in der Schweiz und die Gefahren durch Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen mit steigendem Alter stärker betont werden.
Moderne Aspekte der Lungenkrebschirurgie
Authors: Opitz Isabelle , Schneiter Didier
Published: December 2018

Zusammenfassung. Die Chirurgie ist ein zentraler Bestandteil der Behandlung des nicht-kleinzelligen Bronchialkarzinoms. Dieser Beitrag beschreibt verschiedene chirurgische Aspekte für die Behandlung des Frühstadiums sowie für Resektionen bei lokal fortgeschrittenen Stadien. Minimalinvasive Techniken – video- bzw. roboterassistiert – gelten für die Behandlung der Lungen-Frühkarzinome als Standard. Die postoperative Mortalität liegt bei <1 % und das onkologische Resultat ist dem offenen Vorgehen ebenbürtig. Die Lernkurve liegt bei 50 thorakoskopischen Lobektomien in einem Programm mit mindestens 25 thorakoskopischen Lobektomien/Jahr. Weit fortgeschrittene Tumoren (T4) können in spezialisierten Zentren bei ausreichender Erfahrung der Operateure und der mitbetreuenden Spezialisten technisch und onkologisch sicher reseziert werden, mit akzeptabler Morbidität und Mortalität. Bei umsichtiger Planung und genauer Patientenselektion kann das 5-Jahres-Überleben bis zu 48 % erreichen.
Outreach Events Engage Queer and Transgender Youth in STEM
Authors: Cartier Kimberly
Published: December 2018

Run by queer and transgender scientists, a new program aims to help high school students of similar identities see a future for themselves in science.
Illustrating Casual Sexism in Science
Authors: Bedford Bailey
Published: December 2018

Little sexist comments are a big issue that can be difficult to talk about. These illustrations help strike at how such comments can harm and can serve as a starting place for conversations.
Neanderthals Likely Ate Rotten Meat
Authors: Duncombe Jenessa
Published: December 2018

Neanderthals have long been painted as meat-eating machines. But could a new look at a dietary proxy and how it changes when meat rots uncover insights into what these extinct hominids really ate?
Laboratory Investigation of Rate of Electrostatic Dust Lofting Over Time on Airless Planetary Bodies
Authors: Hood N. , Carroll A. , Mike R. , Wang X. , Schwan J. , Hsu H.‐W. , Horányi M.
Published: December 2018

We present the laboratory results on electrostatic dust lofting rates expected on airless planetary bodies. Dust lofting is shown to be a time‐dependent process that begins at a relatively fast rate on an initialized surface and slows down as time progresses. The slowdown is likely due to the filling of interparticle microcavities as a result of dust movement or the removal of loose upper layers, which reduces the microcavity charging effect. It is suggested that the transient dust lofting rate under the charging conditions at 1 AU may reach several particles·cm−2·s−1 lasting over a short duration. Such intense electrostatic dust lofting could be responsible for transient phenomena such as the lunar horizon glow and could be intermittently sustained by other processes that reinitialize the surface conditions. The average dust lofting rate on a geological timescale is expected to remain low due to the rate decrease over time.
Lake Level and Surface Topography Measured With Spaceborne GNSS‐Reflectometry From CYGNSS Mission: Example for the Lake Qinghai
Authors: Li Weiqiang , Cardellach Estel , Fabra Fran , Ribó Serni , Rius Antonio
Published: December 2018

This paper demonstrates inland water altimetry of spaceborne Global Navigation Satellite System‐Reflectometry (GNSS‐R) using the Cyclone GNSS (CYGNSS) mission data. From 12 tracks of raw data overpassing the Lake Qinghai, the bistatic group delay and carrier phase delay are extracted from the quasi‐specular GNSS reflections. The water levels derived from the group delay observations are consistent with the Cryosat‐2 and in situ gauge measurements. The surface topography profiles from the phase delay measurements show good self‐consistence along the coincident tracks. Decimeter‐level surface height anomalies are resolved with the phase delay measurements, which can be associated with the accuracy degradation of the geoid model in this region. Systematic errors remain in both group delay and phase delay altimetry measurements, which are attributed to the receiver orbit errors and ionospheric correction residuals. These limitations can be eliminated in further GNSS‐R missions dedicated to altimetry applications.
A Climatological Analysis of the Benguela Coastal Low‐Level Jet
Authors: Lima Daniela C. A. , Soares Pedro M. M. , Semedo Alvaro , Cardoso Rita M. , Cabos William , Sein Dmitry V.
Published: December 2018

The Benguela coastal low‐level jet (CLLJ) is characterized by intense winds that occur around 400 m above sea level, within or at the top of the marine atmospheric boundary layer. The semipermanent St. Helen high‐pressure system, over the South Atlantic Ocean, and the inland thermal low‐pressure system, over the Namib Desert, are the synoptic forcing behind the Benguela CLLJ. This coastal jet is an important mesoscale feature in the Namibia and Angola coastal areas, since it is present virtually all year round, with a marked seasonal cycle. This study investigates the climatology of the frequency and the intensity of the Benguela CLLJ and its relationship with synoptic and local forcing's, using high‐resolution modeling. An uncoupled ROM (REMO‐OASIS‐MPIOM) hindcast simulation, with 25‐km horizontal resolution, for the period 1980–2014, is used to analyze the features of the Benguela CLLJ. It is shown that Benguela CLLJ is characterized by two local maxima of frequency of occurrence at around 26°S and 17.5°S. During austral summer, the jet has a frequency of occurrence of about 60% and it is in its southern core. During autumn and winter, the frequency of occurrence decreases to nearly half and migrates equatorward. During spring, the jet has a frequency of occurrence of 45% and is found at the northern core. The jet wind speed is higher in the south core but is found at higher altitudes in the north core. The seasonal cycle of horizontal momentum budget defines the seasonality of Benguela CLLJ frequency of occurrence.
External validation of a bifactor model of oppositional defiant disorder
Authors: Waldman Irwin D. , Rowe Richard , Boylan Khrista , Burke Jeffrey D.
Published: December 2018

Dimensions of irritability and defiant behavior, though correlated within the structure of ODD, convey separable developmental risks through adolescence and adulthood. Irritability predicts depression and anxiety, whereas defiant behavior is a precursor to antisocial outcomes. Previously we demonstrated that a bifactor model comprising irritability and defiant behavior dimensions, in addition to a general factor, provided the best-fitting structure of ODD symptoms in five large datasets. Herein we extend our previous work by externally validating the bifactor model of ODD using multiple regression and multivariate behavior genetic analyses. We used parent ratings of DSM IV ODD symptoms, and symptom dimensions for ADHD (i.e., inattention and hyperactivity−impulsivity), conduct disorder (CD), depression/dysthymia, and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) from 846 6−18-year-old twin pairs. We found that the ODD irritability factor was associated only with depression/dysthymia and GAD and the ODD defiant behavior factor was associated only with inattention, hyperactivity−impulsivity, and CD, whereas the ODD general factor was associated with all five symptom dimensions. Multivariate behavior genetic analyses found all five symptom dimensions shared genetic influences in common with the ODD general, irritability, and defiant behavior factors. In contrast, the defiant behavior factor shared genetic influences uniquely with inattention and hyperactivity−impulsivity, whereas the irritability factor shared genetic influences uniquely with depression/dysthymia and GAD, but not vice versa. This suggests that genes that influence irritability in early childhood also predispose to depression and anxiety in adolescence and adulthood. These multivariate genetic findings also support the external validity of the three ODD dimensions at the etiological level. Our study provides additional support for subtyping ODD based on these symptom dimensions, as in the revisions in the ICD-11, and suggests potential mechanisms underlying the development from ODD to behavioral or affective disorders.
The soil organic matter decomposition mechanisms in ectomycorrhizal fungi are tuned for liberating soil organic nitrogen
Authors: Nicolás César , Martin-Bertelsen Tomas , Floudas Dimitrios , Bentzer Johan , Smits Mark , Johansson Tomas , Troein Carl , Persson Per , Tunlid Anders
Published: December 2018

Many trees form ectomycorrhizal symbiosis with fungi. During symbiosis, the tree roots supply sugar to the fungi in exchange for nitrogen, and this process is critical for the nitrogen and carbon cycles in forest ecosystems. However, the extents to which ectomycorrhizal fungi can liberate nitrogen and modify the soil organic matter and the mechanisms by which they do so remain unclear since they have lost many enzymes for litter decomposition that were present in their free-living, saprotrophic ancestors. Using time-series spectroscopy and transcriptomics, we examined the ability of two ectomycorrhizal fungi from two independently evolved ectomycorrhizal lineages to mobilize soil organic nitrogen. Both species oxidized the organic matter and accessed the organic nitrogen. The expression of those events was controlled by the availability of glucose and inorganic nitrogen. Despite those similarities, the decomposition mechanisms, including the type of genes involved as well as the patterns of their expression, differed markedly between the two species. Our results suggest that in agreement with their diverse evolutionary origins, ectomycorrhizal fungi use different decomposition mechanisms to access organic nitrogen entrapped in soil organic matter. The timing and magnitude of the expression of the decomposition activity can be controlled by the below-ground nitrogen quality and the above-ground carbon supply.
Sarm1 induction and accompanying inflammatory response mediates age-dependent susceptibility to rotenone-induced neurotoxicity
Authors: Sur Malinki , Dey Puja , Sarkar Ankita , Bar Sudipta , Banerjee Dipanjana , Bhat Swati , Mukherjee Piyali
Published: December 2018

Aging is a complex biological process and environmental risk factors like pesticide exposure have been implicated in the increased incidence of age-related neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s disease (PD) but the etiology remains unknown. There is also lack of a proper animal model system to study the progressive effect of these environmental toxins on age-associated neurodegeneration. In this study, we established a drosophila model of aging to study the age-dependent vulnerability to the environmental toxin rotenone that has been implicated in sporadic cases of PD. We demonstrate that age plays a determining role in the increased susceptibility to chronic rotenone exposure that is accompanied by severe locomotor deficits, decreased lifespan and loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons. Chronic low dose exposure to rotenone results in the rapid induction of the neurodegenerative molecule SARM1/dSarm. Further, the age-dependent dSarm induction is accompanied by a heightened inflammatory response (increased expression ofEigerandRelish) that is independent of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in the observed rotenone-induced neurotoxicity. dSarm induction and subsequent locomotor deficits is reversed in the presence of the anti-inflammatory molecule resveratrol. Thus, dSarm and heightened inflammatory responses may play a crucial role in age-dependent vulnerability to the pesticide rotenone thus making it an attractive target to help develop cost-effective therapeutic strategies to prevent ongoing dopaminergic neuronal loss as seen in PD.
Synthesis and Kinetic evaluation of an azido analogue of methylerythritol phosphate: a Novel Inhibitor of E. coli YgbP/IspD
Authors: Baatarkhuu Zoljargal , Chaignon Philippe , Borel Franck , Ferrer Jean-Luc , Wagner Alain , Seemann Myriam
Published: December 2018

As multidrug resistant pathogenic microorganisms are a serious health menace, it is crucial to continuously develop novel medicines in order to overcome the emerging resistance. The methylerythritol phosphate pathway (MEP) is an ideal target for antimicrobial development as it is absent in humans but present in most bacteria and in the parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Here, we report the synthesis and the steady-state kinetics of a novel potent inhibitor (MEPN3) of Escherichia coli YgbP/IspD, the third enzyme of the MEP pathway. MEPN3 inhibits E. coli YgbP/IspD in mixed type mode regarding both substrates. Interestingly, MEPN3 shows the highest inhibitory activity when compared to known inhibitors of E. coli YgbP/IspD. The mechanism of this enzyme was also studied by steady-state kinetic analysis and it was found that the substrates add to the enzyme in sequential manner.
De novo transcriptomic profiling of the clonal Leymus chinensis response to long-term overgrazing-induced memory
Authors: Ren Weibo , Hou Xiangyang , Wu Zinian , Kong Lingqi , Guo Huiqin , Hu Ningning , Wan Dongli , Zhang Jize
Published: December 2018

Sheepgrass (Leymus chinensis) is one of the dominant grass species present on typical steppes of the Inner Mongolia Plateau. However, L. chinensis has developed a dwarfing phenotype in response to the stressful habitat in grasslands that are severely degraded due to heavy grazing. The lack of transcriptomic and genomic information has prohibited the understanding of the transgenerational effect on physiological alterations in clonal L. chinensis at the molecular level in response to livestock grazing. To solve this problem, transcriptomic information from the leaves of clonal L. chinensis obtained from overgrazed (GR) and non-grazed (NG) grasslands was studied using a paired-end Illumina HiSeq 2500 sequencing platform. First, despite the influence of grazing being absent during the growth of clonal offspring in our hydroponic experiment, compared with those from the NG group, clonal L. chinensis from the GR group exhibited significant dwarf-type morphological traits. A total of 116,356 unigenes were subsequently generated and assembled de novo, of which 55,541 could be annotated to homologous matches in the NCBI non-redundant (Nr), Swiss-Prot, Clusters of Orthologous Groups (COG), gene ontology (GO), or Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) databases. The expression of 3,341 unigenes significantly differed between the GR group and the NG group with an absolute value of Log2 ratio ≥ 1. The altered expression of genes involved in defence and immune responses, pathogenic resistance and cell development indicates that livestock grazing induces a transgenerational effect on the growth inhibition of clonal L. chinensis. The results of the present study will provide important large-scale transcriptomic information on L. chinensis. Furthermore, the results facilitated our investigation of grazing-induced transgenerational effects on both the morphological and physiological characteristics of L. chinensis at the molecular levels.
Shape changes of erythrocytes during blood clot contraction and the structure of polyhedrocytes
Authors: Tutwiler Valerie , Mukhitov Alexander R. , Peshkova Alina D. , Le Minh Giang , Khismatullin R. R. , Vicksman Jacqueline , Nagaswami Chandrasekaran , Litvinov Rustem I. , Weisel John W.
Published: December 2018

Polyhedral erythrocytes, named polyhedrocytes, are formed in contracted blood clots and thrombi, as a result of compression by activated contractile platelets pulling on fibrin. This deformation was shown to be mechanical in nature and polyhedrocytes were characterized using light and electron microscopy. Through three-dimensional reconstruction, we quantified the geometry of biconcave, intermediate, and polyhedral erythrocytes within contracting blood clots. During compression, erythrocytes became less oblate and more prolate than the biconcave cells and largely corresponded to convex, irregular polyhedra with a total number of faces ranging from 10 to 16. Faces were polygons with 3 to 6 sides. The majority of the faces were quadrilaterals, though not all sides were straight and not all faces were flat. There were no changes in the surface area or volume. These results describe the gradual natural deformation of erythrocytes as a part of compaction into a tightly packed array that is an important but understudied component of mature blood clots and thrombi.
Correcting for natural isotope abundance and tracer impurity in MS-, MS/MS- and high-resolution-multiple-tracer-data from stable isotope labeling experiments with IsoCorrectoR
Authors: Heinrich Paul , Kohler Christian , Ellmann Lisa , Kuerner Paul , Spang Rainer , Oefner Peter J. , Dettmer Katja
Published: December 2018

Experiments with stable isotope tracers such as 13C and 15N are increasingly used to gain insights into metabolism. However, mass spectrometric measurements of stable isotope labeling experiments should be corrected for the presence of naturally occurring stable isotopes and for impurities of the tracer substrate. Here, we analyzed the effect that such correction has on the data: omitting correction or performing invalid correction can result in largely distorted data, potentially leading to misinterpretation. IsoCorrectoR is the first R-based tool to offer said correction capabilities. It is easy-to-use and comprises all correction features that comparable tools can offer in a single solution: correction of MS and MS/MS data for natural stable isotope abundance and tracer impurity, applicability to any tracer isotope and correction of multiple-tracer data from high-resolution measurements. IsoCorrectoR’s correction performance agreed well with manual calculations and other available tools including Python-based IsoCor and Perl-based ICT. IsoCorrectoR can be downloaded as an R-package from: http://bioconductor.org/packages/release/bioc/html/IsoCorrectoR.html.
Neuroticism predicts the impact of serotonin challenges on fear processing in subgenual anterior cingulate cortex
Authors: Hornboll Bettina , Macoveanu Julian , Nejad Ayna , Rowe James , Elliott Rebecca , Knudsen Gitte M. , Siebner Hartwig R. , Paulson Olaf B.
Published: December 2018

The personality trait neuroticism is associated with increased vulnerability to anxiety and mood disorders, conditions linked with abnormal serotonin neurotransmission and emotional processing. The interaction between neuroticism and serotonin during emotional processing is however not understood. Here we investigate how individual neuroticism scores influence the neural response to negative emotional faces and their sensitivity to serotonergic tone. Twenty healthy participants performed an emotional face task under functional MRI on three occasions: increased serotonin tone following infusion of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), decreased serotonin tone following acute tryptophan depletion (ATD) protocol, and no serotonin challenge (control). During the task, participants performed a gender-discrimination task of neutral, fearful or angry facial expressions. Individual variations in neuroticism scores were associated with neural response of subgenual anterior cingulate cortex to fearful facial expressions. The association was however opposite under the two serotoninergic challenges. The fear-related response in this region and individual neuroticism scores correlated negatively during citalopram challenge and positively during ATD. Thus, neuroticism scores were associated with the relative impact of serotonin challenges on fear processing in subgenual anterior cingulate cortex. This finding may link to a neural mechanism for the variable therapeutic effect of SSRI treatment observed in clinical populations.
CT Slice Thickness and Convolution Kernel Affect Performance of a Radiomic Model for Predicting EGFR Status in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Li Yajun , Lu Lin , Xiao Manjun , Dercle Laurent , Huang Yue , Zhang Zishu , Schwartz Lawrence H. , Li Daiqiang , Zhao Binsheng
Published: December 2018

We evaluated whether the optimal selection of CT reconstruction settings enables the construction of a radiomics model to predict epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation status in primary lung adenocarcinoma (LAC) using standard of care CT images. Fifty-one patients (EGFR:wildtype = 23:28) with LACs of clinical stage I/II/IIIA were included in the analysis. The LACs were segmented in four conditions, two slice thicknesses (Thin: 1 mm; Thick: 5 mm) and two convolution kernels (Sharp: B70f/B70s; Smooth: B30f/B31f/B31s), which constituted four groups: (1) Thin-Sharp, (2) Thin-Smooth, (3) Thick-Sharp, and (4) Thick-Smooth. Machine learning algorithms selected and combined 1,695 quantitative image features to build prediction models. The performance of prediction models was assessed by calculating the area under the curve (AUC). The best prediction model yielded AUC (95%CI) = 0.83 (0.68, 0.92) using the Thin-Smooth reconstruction setting. The AUC of models using thick slices was significantly lower than that of thin slices (P < 10−3), whereas the impact of reconstruction kernel was not significant. Our study showed that the optimal prediction of EGFR mutational status in early stage LACs was achieved by using thin CT-scan slices, independently of convolution kernels. Results from the prediction model suggest that tumor heterogeneity is associated with EGFR mutation.
Author Correction: An episomal vector-based CRISPR/Cas9 system for highly efficient gene knockout in human pluripotent stem cells
Authors: Xie Yifang , Wang Daqi , Lan Feng , Wei Gang , Ni Ting , Chai Renjie , Liu Dong , Hu Shijun , Li Mingqing , Li Dajin , Wang Hongyan , Wang Yongming
Published: December 2018

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has not been fixed in the paper.
Switching excitonic recombination and carrier trapping in cesium lead halide perovskites by air
Authors: Wang Yue , Ren Yinjuan , Zhang Shengli , Wu Jianfeng , Song Jizhong , Li Xiaoming , Xu Jiayue , Sow Chorng Haur , Zeng Haibo , Sun Handong
Published: December 2018

All-inorganic cesium lead halide perovskites have been emerging as the promising semiconductor materials for next-generation optoelectronics. However, the fundamental question of how the environmental atmosphere affects their photophysical properties, which is closely related to the practical applications, remains elusive. Here, we report the dynamic switching between radiative exciton recombination and non-radiative carrier trapping in CsPbBr3 by controlling the atmospheric conditions. Specifically, we show that the photoluminescence (PL) intensity from the CsPbBr3 crystals can be boosted by ~ 60 times by changing the surrounding from vacuum to air. Based on the comprehensive optical characterization, near-ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (NAP-XPS) as well as density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we unravel that the physisorption of oxygen molecules, which repairs the trap states by passivating the PL-quenching bromine vacancies, is accountable for the enhanced PL in air. These results are helpful for better understanding the optical properties of all-inorganic perovskites.
Nationwide registry of sepsis patients in Japan focused on disseminated intravascular coagulation 2011–2013
Authors: Hayakawa Mineji , Yamakawa Kazuma , Saito Shinjiro , Uchino Shigehiko , Kudo Daisuke , Iizuka Yusuke , Sanui Masamitsu , Takimoto Kohei , Mayumi Toshihiko
Published: December 2018

Sepsis is a syndrome with physiologic, pathologic, and biochemical abnormalities induced by infection. Sepsis can induce the dysregulation of systemic coagulation and fibrinolytic systems, resulting in disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), which is associated with a high mortality rate. Although there is no international consensus on available treatments for sepsis-induced DIC, DIC diagnosis and treatment are commonly performed in Japanese clinical settings. Therefore, clinical data related to sepsis-induced DIC diagnosis and treatment can be obtained from Japanese clinical settings. We performed a retrospective nationwide observational study (Japan Septic Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation [J-SEPTIC DIC] study) to collect data regarding characteristics of sepsis patients in Japan, with a focus on coagulofibrinolytic dysregulation and DIC treatment received by each patient. The J-SEPTIC DIC study collected information for a total of 3,195 patients with severe sepsis and septic shock and is the largest data set in Japan on DIC diagnosis and treatment in clinical settings.
Building an octaploid genome and transcriptome of the medicinal plant Pogostemon cablin from Lamiales
Authors: He Yang , Peng Fu , Deng Cao , Xiong Liang , Huang Zi-yan , Zhang Ruo-qi , Liu Meng-jia , Peng Cheng
Published: December 2018

The Lamiales order presents highly varied genome sizes and highly specialized life strategies. Patchouli, Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth. from the Lamiales, has been widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical areas of Asia owing to high demand for its essential oil. Here, we generated ~681 Gb genomic sequences (~355X coverage) for the patchouli, and the assembled genome is ~1.91 Gb and with 110,850 predicted protein-coding genes. Analyses showed clear evidence of whole-genome octuplication (WGO) since the pan-eudicots γ triplication, which is a recent and exclusive polyploidization event and occurred at ~6.31 million years ago. Analyses of TPS gene family showed the expansion of type-a, which is responsible for the synthesis of sesquiterpenes and maybe highly specialization in patchouli. Our datasets provide valuable resources for plant genome evolution, and for identifying of genes related to secondary metabolites and their gene expression regulation.
Fully inkjet-printed distance-based paper microfluidic devices for colorimetric calcium determination using ion-selective optodes
Authors: Shibata Hiroyuki , Hiruta Yuki , Citterio Daniel
Published: December 2018

Fully inkjet-printed and low-cost microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs) demonstrate the simple naked-eye colorimetric determination of calcium ions in drinking and tap water samples.
Black and white anatase, rutile and mixed forms: band-edges and photocatalytic activity
Authors: Zhou Xuemei , Wierzbicka Ewa , Liu Ning , Schmuki Patrik
Published: December 2018

Polymorphs of “black” TiO2 in their mixed phase forms provide efficient junctions for photocatalytic H2 generation in absence of any external co-catalyst.
Sustainable cycling enabled by a high-concentration electrolyte for lithium-organic batteries
Authors: Huang Ying , Fang Chun , Zhang Wang , Liu Qingju , Huang Yunhui
Published: December 2018

A high-concentration electrolyte is proposed to improve the reversibility and cycling stability of the cuprous tetracyano-quinodimethane (CuTCNQ) cathode.
UV photofragmentation dynamics of acetaldehyde cations prepared by single-photon VUV ionization
Authors: Kapnas Kara M. , McCaslin Laura M. , Murray Craig
Published: December 2018

UV excitation of cold acetaldehyde cations prepared by single-photon VUV ionization results in remarkably rich photochemistry.
Correction: An overview on enhancing the stability of lead halide perovskite quantum dots and their applications in phosphor-converted LEDs
Authors: Wei Yi , Cheng Ziyong , Lin Jun
Published: December 2018

Correction for ‘An overview on enhancing the stability of lead halide perovskite quantum dots and their applications in phosphor-converted LEDs’ by Yi Wei et al., Chem. Soc. Rev., 2019, DOI: 10.1039/c8cs00740c.
Bulky cationic β-diketiminate magnesium complexes
Authors: Friedrich Alexander , Pahl Jürgen , Elsen Holger , Harder Sjoerd
Published: December 2018

Cationic β-diketiminate Mg complexes with the bulky tBuBDI ligand and the weakly coordinating anion B(C6F5)4− have been prepared by the reaction of (tBuBDI)MgnBu with [Ph3C]+[B(C6F5)4]−; tBuBDI = CH[C(tBu)N-Dipp]2 and Dipp = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl.
Alkyl-dependent self-assembly of the first red-emitting zwitterionic {Cu4I6} clusters from [alkyl-P(2-Py)3]+ salts and CuI: when size matters
Authors: Artem'ev Alexander V. , Pritchina Elena A. , Rakhmanova Marianna I. , Gritsan Nina P. , Bagryanskaya Irina Yu. , Malysheva Svetlana F. , Belogorlova Nataliya A.
Published: December 2018

First examples of zwitterionic CuI-based complexes showing red photoluminescence are reported.
Four different emissions from a Pt(Bodipy)(PEt3)2(S-Pyrene) dyad
Authors: Irmler Peter , Gogesch Franciska S. , Larsen Christopher B. , Wenger Oliver S. , Winter Rainer F.
Published: December 2018

A bodipy-Pt-mercaptopyrene diad emits from a pyrene-to-bodipy charge-transfer, the bodipy 1ππ* and 3ππ* and the pyrene 3ππ* states.
Effect of blending landfill leachate with activated sludge on the domestic wastewater treatment process
Authors: Zheng Min , Li Siqi , Dong Qian , Huang Xia , Liu Yanchen
Published: December 2018

A sludge contact is proposed to form high-level free ammonia exposure for co-treatment of landfill leachate with domestic wastewater.
The effect of gel structure on the in vitro digestibility of wheat starch-Mesona chinensis polysaccharide gels
Authors: Yuris Anynda , Goh Kelvin Kim Tha , Hardacre Allan Keith , Matia-Merino Lara
Published: December 2018

The digestibility of wheat starch gels in the presence of Mesona chinensis polysaccharide (MCP) was studied.
Preparation and properties of AlN (aluminum nitride) powder/thin films by single source precursor
Authors: Chaurasia Himanshi , Tripathi Santosh K. , Bilgaiyan Kamlesh , Pandey Akhilesh , Mukhopadhyay K. , Agarwal Kavita , Prasad N. Eswara
Published: December 2018

The precursor hexa urea aluminate(iii) was pyrolysed at various temperature (800 °C to 1000 °C) and pressure (100 Torr to 1 Torr) under inert atmosphere to study the effect of temperature, pressure and inert gases for the conversion of precursor to AlN material/thin films.
Hydrogenation of nitroarenes to anilines in a flow reactor using polystyrene supported rhodium in a catalyst-cartridge (Cart-Rh@PS)
Authors: Sharma Saurabh , Yamini Yamini , Das Pralay
Published: December 2018

The present methodology described the chemo-selective hydrogenation of various nitroarenes in a flow reactor under polystyrene supported rhodium in a catalyst-cartridge (Cart-Rh@PS) as a heterogeneous nano-catalyst.
Interaction between gut microbiota and ethnomedicine constituents
Authors: Wu Xue Ming , Tan Ren Xiang
Published: December 2018

This highlight reviews the interaction processes between gut microbiota and ethnomedicine constituents, which may conceptualize future therapeutic strategies.
Synthesis of (Z)-β-halo α,β-unsaturated carbonyl systems via the combination of halotrimethylsilane and tetrafluoroboric acid
Authors: da Silva Vitor A. F. , da Silva Gustavo P. , Matsuo Bianca T. , Ali Akbar , Davis Rebecca L. , Zukerman-Schpector Julio , Corrêa Arlene G. , Paixão Márcio W.
Published: December 2018

A procedure for the stereoselective synthesis of β-halovinyl derivatives via a conjugate addition of HX to ynones has been developed.
Ciliatasecones A–C, three rearranged limonoids from Toona ciliata var. yunnanensis
Authors: Zhang Pan-Pan , Cui Zhi-Rong , Li Yi , Heng Li , Wei Shan-Shan , Wang Xiao-Bing , Yang Ming-Hua , Luo Jun , Kong Ling-Yi
Published: December 2018

Three rearranged limonoids with a novel ring-seco model and an unprecedented cycle system were isolated from Toona ciliata var. yunnanensis.
Heterologous biosynthesis of a fungal macrocyclic polylactone requires only two iterative polyketide synthases
Authors: Bunnak Waraporn , Wonnapinij Passorn , Sriboonlert Ajaraporn , Lazarus Colin M. , Wattana-Amorn Pakorn
Published: December 2018

Formation of macrocyclic polylactone catalysed by only reducing and non-reducing polyketide synthases.
Gold nanorod-based multifunctional nanocarrier for synergistic chemo-photothermal therapy in tumors
Authors: Wang Yi , Cui Qiyao , Zhao Xiaoshuang , Qin Tang , Wang Wenjing , Sun Hongmei , Zhu Hongda , Guo Huiling , Sun Honghao
Published: December 2018

Synergistic photothermal therapy (PTT) and chemotherapy is an efficient strategy for tumor therapy.
Improved performances of lithium-ion batteries using intercalated a-Si–Ag thin film layers as electrodes
Authors: Wang Pan , Tong Ling , Wang Rongfei , Chen Anran , Fang Wenzhong , Yue Kun , Sun Tao , Yang Yu
Published: December 2018

A novel silver interlayer is used to improve the electrochemical performance of the binder-free Si-based thin film anodes.
Determination of the absolute CH4 adsorption using simplified local density theory and comparison with the modified Langmuir adsorption model
Authors: Zhang Yeyu , Zhang Shaonan , Wang Zhicheng , Deng Hucheng , Qi Minghui , Peng Xianfeng , Liu Yueliang
Published: December 2018

Accurately determining the adsorbed amount of CH4 on shale is significant for understanding the mechanisms of shale gas storage and shale methane recovery from shale gas reservoirs.
Synthesis of 5-amino-N′-(9H-fluoren-9-ylidene)-8-nitro-7-aryl-1,2,3,7-tetrahydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-6-carbohydrazide derivatives based on heterocyclic ketene aminals
Authors: Hosseini Hajar , Bayat Mohammad
Published: December 2018

A new class of tetrahydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivatives has been successfully prepared via a five-component domino reaction using cyanoacetohydrazide, 9-fluorenone, aromatic aldehydes, 1,1-bis(methylthio)-2-nitroethene and ethylenediamine in ethanol at reflux.