bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Frontal eye field in prosimian galagos: Intracortical microstimulation and tracing studies
Authors: Stepniewska Iwona , Pouget Pierre , Kaas Jon H.
Published: November 2017

The frontal eye field (FEF) in prosimian primates was identified as a small cortical region, above and anterior to the anterior frontal sulcus, from which saccadic eye movements were evoked with electrical stimulation. Tracer injections revealed FEF connections with cortical and subcortical structures participating in higher order visual processing. Ipsilateral cortical connections were the densest with adjoining parts of the dorsal premotor and prefrontal cortex (PFC). Label in a region corresponding to supplementary eye field (SEF) of other primates, suggests the existence of SEF in galagos. Other connections were with ventral premotor cortex (PMV), the caudal half of posterior parietal cortex, cingulate cortex, visual areas within the superior temporal sulcus, and inferotemporal cortex. Callosal connections were mostly with the region of the FEF of another hemisphere, SEF, PFC, and PMV. Most subcortical connections were ipsilateral, but some were bilateral. Dense bilateral connections were to caudate nuclei. Densest reciprocal ipsilateral connections were with the paralamellar portion of mediodorsal nucleus, intralaminar nuclei and magnocellular portion of ventral anterior nucleus. Other FEF connections were with the claustrum, reticular nucleus, zona incerta, lateral posterior and medial pulvinar nuclei, nucleus limitans, pretectal area, nucleus of Darkschewitsch, mesencephalic and pontine reticular formation and pontine nuclei. Surprisingly, the superior colliculus (SC) contained only sparse anterograde label. Although most FEF connections in galagos are similar to those in monkeys, the FEF‐SC connections appear to be much less. This suggests that a major contribution of the FEF to visuomotor functions of SC emerged with the evolution of anthropoid primates.
Parallel and distributed core label propagation with graph coloring
Authors: Attal Jean‐Philippe , Malek Maria , Zolghadri Marc
Published: November 2017

Label propagation is one of the fastest methods for community detection with near linear time complexity. It is a local method where each node interacts with its neighbors to change its own label. Unfortunately, it has two major drawbacks. The first is a bad propagation, sometimes leading to huge communities without meaning (the giant communities problem). The second is related to its instability. Trials of a label propagation algorithm rarely give the same result. We propose to use a more stable variant of label propagation with a core method attached in order to obtain a more deterministic algorithm. This implementation will be done in a parallel and distributed environment on Hadoop using the MapReduce framework in order to apply this method with graphs having millions of nodes and edges. The main contribution of this paper is to model a parallel and distributed algorithm to achieve this purpose. A case study of the algorithm proposed is described at the end of the article along with the comparison of our results with other well‐known algorithms.
Performance evaluation of linked stream data processing engines for situational awareness applications
Authors: Lachhab Fadwa , Bakhouya Mohamed , Ouladsine Radouane , Essaaidi Mohammed
Published: November 2017

The easy deployment of wireless sensors allows the development of context‐aware applications that could react to the environment changes and users preferences. For example, data extracted from mobile phones, IoT devices, and embedded computers in buses and taxis could be processed in real time to understand city dynamics. However, gathering and real‐time processing of relevant data are still a challenging task. For instance, the high volume of streaming data requires real‐time processing in order to generate immediate mitigation actions. Complex‐event processing (CEP) techniques and predictive analytics have been recently proposed for analyzing streaming data in order to generate fast insights and then take suitable actions according to the situations' changes. These techniques could be also used to predict future situations and react to them properly before happening. The work presented in this paper focuses mainly on the performance evaluation of three CEP engines, CQELS, C‐SPARQL, and ETALIS, that are widely used by researchers for linked stream data processing. Experiments have been conducted using two existing benchmarks, CityBench and SP2Bench. Several performance metrics have been evaluated to assess on their ability to process high streaming data using complex queries. Results are reported to show the efficiency and scalability of these CEP engines for both social‐based data (SP2Bench) and physical‐based data (CityBench). Reported results show that ETALIS outperforms CQELS and C‐SPARQL in terms of throughput and memory utilization. ETALIS was integrated as a use case scenario for occupancy and air quality comfort in energy‐efficient buildings. Results show the usefulness of CEP for real‐time data processing and reasoning.
Excited‐State Dipole Moments and Transition Dipole Orientations of Rotamers of 1,2‐, 1,3‐, and 1,4‐Dimethoxybenzene
Authors: Schneider Michael , Wilke Martin , Hebestreit Marie‐Luise , Henrichs Christian , Meerts W. Leo , Schmitt Michael
Published: November 2017

Rotationally resolved electronic Stark spectra of rotamers of 1,2‐, 1,3‐, and 1,4‐dimethoxybenzene have been recorded and analyzed using evolutionary strategies. The experimentally determined dipole moments as well as the transition dipole moments are compared to the results of ab initio calculations. For the electronic ground states of the experimentally observed dimethoxybenzenes, the permanent dipole moments can be obtained from vectorial addition of the monomethoxybenzene dipole moment. However, this is not the case for the electronically excited states. This behavior can be traced back to a state mixing of the lowest electronically excited singlet states for the asymmetric rotamers. For the symmetric rotamers however, this is not valid. We discuss several possible reasons for the non‐additivity of the dipole moments in the excited states of the symmetric rotamers.
Thermochemical Insights into Fullerene Aggregation and the Phthalocyanine–Fullerene Interaction in Efficient Solvents
Authors: Lebedeva Nathalya S. , Gubarev Yuri A. , Kolker Arkadiy M. , Borovkov Nicholas Y.
Published: November 2017

The physicochemical behavior of fullerene C60 in hydrocarbon solvents is examined by isothermal titration calorimetry, photocalorimetry, and UV spectroscopy. The obtained data are summarized to substantiate the idea of the binary fullerene/solvent cluster as a colloidal nanoentity that moderates noncovalent interactions of the C60 molecule in solution. This idea serves to aid understanding of the complex physicochemical behavior of tert‐butyl‐substituted phthalocyanine in C60‐saturated o‐xylene under illumination with low‐energy photons. The proposed experimental approach, which focuses on concentrated solutions and is applicable to multicomponent systems, is discussed as a potential tool of materials science.
Photocurrent Enhancement in DNA‐Scaffolded Chromophore–Aggregate‐Functionalized Systems Containing Multiple Types of Chromophores
Authors: Nakamura Mitsunobu , Jomura Ayumi , Takada Tadao , Yamana Kazushige
Published: November 2017

The construction of one‐dimensional chromophore aggregates of naphthalenediimide (NDI) and bis(2‐thienyl)diketopyrrolopyrrole (TDPP) using 40‐mer oligodeoxythymidines (dT40) as a scaffold was previously reported. Furthermore, the chromophore‐aggregate (NDI‐dT40/TDPP‐dT40) co‐immobilized heterojunction gold electrode exhibited a more efficient photocurrent than the TDPP–dT40‐immobilized electrode with selective photoexcitation of TDPP‐dT40. In this work, a system comprising three components (in which the chromophore aggregates of diphenyl‐diketopyrrolopyrrole (PDPP‐dT40) are employed as a third component) was examined in order to enhance photocurrent efficiency. Selective photoexcitation of TDPP‐dT40 on the NDI‐dT40/TDPP‐dT40/PDPP‐dT40 electrode shows photocurrent responses with greater quantum yield than those of the TDPP‐dT40, NDI‐dT40/TDPP‐dT40 and TDPP‐dT40/PDPP‐dT40 electrodes. The results suggest the addition of PDPP‐dT40 can control charge separation and charge recombination between the electron and the hole (generated by an electron transfer from the photoexcited TDPP‐dT40 to NDI‐dT40).
Solubilization and Upgrading of High Polyethylene Terephthalate Loadings in a Low‐Costing Bifunctional Ionic Liquid
Authors: Sun Jian , Liu Dajiang , Young Robert P. , Cruz Alejandro G. , Isern Nancy G. , Schuerg Timo , Cort John R. , Simmons Blake A. , Singh Seema
Published: November 2017

The solubilization and efficient upgrading of high loadings of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) are important challenges, and most solvents for PET are highly toxic. Herein, a low‐cost (ca. $1.2 kg−1) and biocompatible ionic liquid (IL), cholinium phosphate ([Ch]3[PO4]), is demonstrated for the first time to play bifunctional roles in the solubilization and glycolytic degradation of PET. A high loading of PET (10 wt %) was readily dissolved in [Ch]3[PO4] at relatively low temperatures (120 °C, 3 h) and under water‐rich conditions. In‐depth analysis of the solution revealed that high PET solubilization in [Ch]3[PO4] could be ascribed to significant PET depolymerization. Acid precipitation yielded terephthalic acid as the dominant depolymerized monomer with a theoretical yield of approximately 95 %. Further exploration showed that in the presence of ethylene glycol (EG), the [Ch]3[PO4]‐catalyzed glycolysis of PET could efficiently occur with approximately 100 % conversion of PET and approximately 60.6 % yield of bis(2‐hydroxyethyl)terephthalate under metal‐free conditions. The IL could be reused at least three times without an apparent decrease in activity. NMR spectroscopy analysis revealed that strong hydrogen‐bonding interactions between EG and the IL played an important role in the activation of EG and promotion of the glycolysis reaction. This study opens up avenues for exploring environmentally benign and efficient IL technology for solubilizing and recycling postconsumer polyester plastics.
Global mtDNA genetic structure and hypothesized invasion history of a major pest of citrus, Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae)
Authors: Luo Yufa , Agnarsson Ingi
Published: November 2017

The Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri Kuwayama is a key pest of citrus as the vector of the bacterium causing the “huanglongbing” disease (HLB). To assess the global mtDNA population genetic structure, and possible dispersal history of the pest, we investigated genetic variation at the COI gene collating newly collected samples with all previously published data. Our dataset consists of 356 colonies from 106 geographic sites worldwide. High haplotype diversity (H‐mean = 0.702 ± 0.017), low nucleotide diversity (π‐mean = 0.003), and significant positive selection (Ka/Ks = 32.92) were observed. Forty‐four haplotypes (Hap) were identified, clustered into two matrilines: Both occur in southeastern and southern Asia, North and South America, and Africa; lineages A and B also occur in eastern and western Asia, respectively. The most abundant haplotypes were Hap4 in lineage A (35.67%), and Hap9 in lineage B (41.29%). The haplotype network identified them as the ancestral haplotypes within their respective lineages. Analysis of molecular variance showed significant genetic structure (FST = 0.62, p < .0001) between the lineages, and population genetic analysis suggests geographic structuring. We hypothesize a southern and/or southeastern Asia origin, three dispersal routes, and parallel expansions of two lineages. The hypothesized first route involved the expansion of lineage B from southern Asia into North America via West Asia. The second, the expansion of some lineage A individuals from Southeast Asia into East Asia, and the third involved both lineages from Southeast Asia spreading westward into Africa and subsequently into South America. To test these hypotheses and gain a deeper understanding of the global history of D. citri, more data‐rich approaches will be necessary from the ample toolkit of next‐generation sequencing (NGS). However, this study may serve to guide such sampling and in the development of biological control programs against the global pest D. citri.
Development of Biosignal Recording Board System with Agile Control of Circuit Characteristics for Various Biosignals
Authors: ITO KEITA , TANI TAKAHARU , IWAGAMI TAKUMA , NISHINO SATORU , KIYOYAMA KOJI , TANAKA TETSU
Published: November 2017

Recently, a novel recording system is strongly required for agile and precise recording of biosignals in various fields, such as medicine, neuroscience, BMI (brain machine interface), and so on. To enable such various biosignal recording, we have proposed an agile biosignal recording system with a newly designed analog front‐end LSI chip having amplification, filtering, and A/D conversion functions. In this paper, we designed and evaluated a neural signal recording circuit and a portable front‐end motherboard. The neural signal recording circuit chip and discrete ICs were mounted on the motherboard. We confirmed that our functional LNA (low noise amplifier) had variable gains and cutoff frequencies appropriate for various biosignals, and also confirmed that biosignal recording board system successfully measured a human electrocardiogram.
Delineating and mapping riparian areas for ecosystem service assessment
Authors: de Sosa Laura L. , Glanville Helen C. , Marshall Miles R. , Abood Sinan A. , Williams A. Prysor , Jones Davey L.
Published: November 2017

Riparian buffers, the interface between terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems, have the potential to protect water bodies from land‐based pollution, and also for enhancing the delivery of a range of ecosystem services. The UK currently has no defined optimal width or maximum extent of riparian buffers for specific ecosystem services. Here, we present the first study, which attempts to (a) compare and critique different riparian buffer delineation methods and (b) investigate how ecological processes, for example, pollutant removal, nutrient cycling, and water temperature regulation, are affected spatially by proximity to the river and also within a riparian buffer zone. Our results have led to the development of new concepts for riparian delineation based on ecosystem service‐specific scenarios. Results from our study suggest that choice of delineation method will influence not only the total area of potential riparian buffers but also the proportion of land cover types included, which in turn will determine their main ecosystem provision. Thus, for some ecological processes (e.g., pollutant removal), a fixed‐distance approach will preserve and protect its ecosystem function, whereas for processes such as denitrification, a variable‐width buffer will reflect better riparian spatial variability maximizing its ecological value. In summary, riparian delineation within UK habitats should be specific to the particular ecosystem service(s) of interest (e.g., uptake of nutrients and shading), and the effectiveness of the buffer should be ground‐truthed to ensure the greatest level of protection.
Synthesis of Bio‐Based Polyurethanes from Jojoba Oil
Authors: Mokhtari Chakib , Malek Fouad , Caillol Sylvain , Negrell Claire
Published: November 2017

Jojoba grows easily in harsh conditions and is the only plant species known to use liquid wax esters as a primary seed storage reserve. Jojoba oil is composed by two mono unsaturated hydrocarbon chains linked by an ester moiety and represents 50% of the weight of seeds. Hence, this atypical oil is, for the first time, dedicated to the synthesis of innovative polymer materials. Novel partially biobased polyurethanes materials are obtained with various structures. New biobased diol is first achieved by addition of mercaptoethanol by thiol‐ene coupling on jojoba oil and characterized by 1H NMR and 13C NMR. The functionalized oil is used to synthesize polyurethane prepolymers by catalyst‐free reaction with various diisocyanates: 1,6‐hexamethylene diisocyanate and 4,4‐methylene diphenyl diisocyanate. After the addition of chain extenders, the obtained polyurethane materials are characterized by 1H NMR, TGA, DSC, and DMA analyses. Various PUs are obtained in terms of flexibility and thermal stability.

Practical Applications: The synthesized jojoba oil‐based PUs exhibit a good flexibility. Hence, these biobased PUs could replace petroleum‐based polyurethanes in industry and particularly as coatings, binders or compounds for automotive and aircraft industries.

Innovative greener polyurethanes are achieved from jojoba oil with one‐step thiol‐ene reaction and various diisocyanates.
A Copper‐Catalyzed Tandem C–H ortho‐Hydroxylation and N–N Bond‐Formation Transformation: Expedited Synthesis of 1‐(ortho‐Hydroxyaryl)‐1H‐indazoles
Authors: Chen Cheng‐yi , He Fengxian , Tang Guangrong , Ding Han , Wang Zhaobin , Li Dawei , Deng Lujiang , Faessler Roger
Published: November 2017

A facile, one‐pot synthesis of 1H‐indazoles featuring a Cu‐catalyzed C–H ortho‐hydroxylation and N–N bond‐formation sequence with the use of pure oxygen as the terminal oxidant was developed. The reaction of readily available 2‐arylaminobenzonitriles with various organometallic reagents led to ortho‐arylamino N–H ketimine species. Subsequent Cu‐catalyzed hydroxylation at the ortho position of the aromatic ring followed by N–N bond formation in DMSO under a pure‐oxygen atmosphere afforded a wide variety of 1‐(ortho‐hydroxyaryl)‐1H‐indazoles in good to excellent yields. This efficient method does not require the utilization of noble‐metal catalysts, elaborate directing groups, or privileged ligands.
Simple Synthesis of Aryl p‐Nitroarylacetonitriles by Vicarious Nucleophilic Substitution with Carbanions of Protected Cyanohydrins
Authors: Rad Nazar , Mąkosza Mieczysław
Published: November 2017

Acetals of the cyanohydrins of aromatic aldehydes were deprotonated to generate carbanions, which were used in the vicarious nucleophilic substitution of the hydrogen atom of aromatic and heteroaromatic nitro compounds to form p‐nitro‐substituted diarylacetonitriles. The reaction selectively occurred para to the nitro group. The anion of the hemiacetal of acetaldehyde was shown to be an efficient leaving group in the base‐induced β‐elimination step.
Synthesis and Binding Studies of a Tetra‐α Aryl‐Extended Photoresponsive Calix[4]pyrrole Receptor Bearing meso‐Alkyl Substituents
Authors: Escobar Luis , Arroyave Frank A. , Ballester Pablo
Published: November 2017

We report the synthesis of the tetra‐α isomer of a meso‐azobenzene‐extended calix[4]pyrrole receptor bearing alkyl substituents at its lower rim. In solution, the photo‐irradiation of the all‐trans receptor induces the isomerization of its azobenzene units producing at the photostationary state a mixture of cis‐enriched counterparts in which the all‐cis receptor is the major component (85 %). Simple molecular modelling studies show that the cone conformation of the all‐trans isomer possesses a deep aromatic cavity open at one end. Otherwise, the isomers containing cis‐azobenzene groups display a significant reduction of the cavity size and a diminution of the number of CH–π and π–π interactions that can be established with the included guest. The interaction of the all‐trans isomer, as well as of the mixture mainly containing the all‐cis receptor, with electron‐rich molecular guests (neutral and anionic) was probed, in dichloromethane and acetonitrile solutions, using 1H NMR spectroscopic titrations. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) experiments enabled the accurate determination of the binding constants of the inclusion complexes.
Quantitative modeling of a greenhouse as a bioreactor to process power station emissions
Authors: Stacey Neil T. , Hildebrandt Diane
Published: November 2017

This article presents a quantitative model that envisions a greenhouse as a bioreactor converting power station flue gas into biomass. Through the use of this model, power‐generating capacity is correlated with greenhouse growing output and the potential benefits of such a setup are examined in terms of CO2 elimination and water recovery. It is well established in existing literature that elevated CO2 increases greenhouse plant yield by as much as 20% for suitable crop species. Our quantitative model reveals further that suitable flue gas can supply as much as 45% of the water content of plants grown in a greenhouse. Quantitative modeling indicates that for a simple flue gas‐fed greenhouse without separation or storage of flue gas, attached to a gas‐fired power station with a load factor of 35%, each 1 MW of name‐plate power producing capacity corresponds to a greenhouse growing capacity of 3.39 tons per day of plant material, with 1.64 tons per day of CO2 emissions eliminated and 1.34 tons per day of water recovered from the flue gas stream. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 37: 1774–1780, 2018
Biodegradation of phenol by a moderately halophilic bacterial consortium
Authors: Chandrasekaran Sivaraman , Pugazhendi Arulazhagan , Banu Rajesh J. , Ismail Iqbal M.I. , Qari Huda A.
Published: November 2017

Bacterial degradation of phenols in the environment is influenced by number of factors such as salinity, pH, temperature, and nutrient availability. Halophiles are the group of microorganisms which could grow at saline conditions and thus renders a variety of environmental applications. Moderate halophiles can grow at 3–5% NaCl concentration and are able to utilize a diverse class of toxic pollutants persists in the environment as a result of industrial activities. The moderately halophilic bacterial consortia enriched from wastewater collected from Industrial Effluent Treatment Plant of Yanbu, Saudi Arabia utilized phenol as sole carbon source for its growth. The halophilic consortia could survive and utilize phenol at higher salt concentrations (8% and 12% NaCl). Yeast extract supplied as additional substrate significantly enhanced the phenol biodegradation at higher salt concentrations. The consortia effectively degraded 100% of added phenol within 4 days at haloalkaline conditions (4% NaCl, pH 10). Addition of urea as alternate nitrogen substrate greatly reduced the lag time of the bacterial consortia for the phenol biodegradation. PCR‐DGGE analysis of the moderately halophilic bacterial consortia revealed the presence of three dominant strains which are identified as Ochrobactrum sp. SAR1, Pseudomonas sp. SAR2, and Ochrobactrum sp. SAR3. Through this study, the moderately halophilic bacterial consortia can serve as versatile candidate for the treatment of phenol present in saline and alkaline industrial wastewaters. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 37: 1587–1593, 2018
Transport measurement with a horizontal and a vertical pipe microphone in a mountain stream: taking account of particle saltation
Authors: Tsutsumi Daizo , Fujita Masaharu , Nonaka Michinobu
Published: November 2017

The pipe microphone has been shown to be an effective means for monitoring bedload transport in mountain streams. It is commonly installed perpendicular to the flow direction on a stable river bed, such as that of a check dam. Acoustic pulses caused by bedload collisions with the pipe are detected by a microphone. However, bedload particles saltating over the pipe remain undetected. To overcome this disadvantage, we installed a horizontal as well as a vertical pipe microphone in the Ashi‐arai‐dani supercritical channel located in the Hodaka mountain range, Japan. The vertical pipe was installed on the wall of the channel and the horizontal pipe was installed on the channel bed. The acoustic response of the horizontal pipe is expected to be larger than that of the vertical pipe, because the bedload concentration decreases with increasing height above the bed. However, at high amplifications, the peak pulse value from the vertical pipe is higher than that from the horizontal pipe. We explain this observation as follows: under high bedload discharge conditions, the pulses of the horizontal pipe are saturated but those of the vertical pipe are not. We proposed a ratio (Rhv) between the pulses detected by these sensors, and applied this ratio for calibrating the contemporaneous pulses detected by a microphone located immediately upstream of a bedload slot sampler. Indeed the Rhv‐corrected pulses correlated well with the bedload discharge calculated from the sampler, supporting our explanation. We conclude that bedload monitoring using concomitant vertical and horizontal pipe microphones can be used to calibrate centrally located pipe microphones when the bedload concentration is approximately homogeneous laterally across the width of the channel cross‐section, and thereby represent bedload discharges more accurately than with only a single pipe microphone. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Influence of processing conditions on apparent viscosity and system parameters during extrusion of distiller's dried grains‐based snacks
Authors: Singha Poonam , Muthukumarappan Kasiviswanathan , Krishnan Padmanaban
Published: November 2017

A combination of different levels of distillers dried grains processed for food application (FDDG), garbanzo flour and corn grits were chosen as a source of high‐protein and high‐fiber extruded snacks. A four‐factor central composite rotatable design was adopted to study the effect of FDDG level, moisture content of blends, extrusion temperature, and screw speed on the apparent viscosity, mass flow rate or MFR, torque, and specific mechanical energy or SME during the extrusion process. With increase in the extrusion temperature from 100 to 140°C, apparent viscosity, specific mechanical energy, and torque value decreased. Increase in FDDG level resulted in increase in apparent viscosity, SME and torque. FDDG had no significant effect (p > .5) on mass flow rate. SME also increased with increase in the screw speed which could be due to the higher shear rates at higher screw speeds. Screw speed and moisture content had significant negative effect (p < .05) on the torque. The apparent viscosity of dough inside the extruder and the system parameters were affected by the processing conditions. This study will be useful for control of extrusion process of blends containing these ingredients for the development of high‐protein high‐fiber extruded snacks.
Nanomaterial Fungicides: In Vitro and In Vivo Antimycotic Activity of Cobalt and Nickel Nanoferrites on Phytopathogenic Fungi
Authors: Sharma Parul , Sharma Adikshita , Sharma Monica , Bhalla Nikhil , Estrela Pedro , Jain Aditya , Thakur Preeti , Thakur Atul
Published: November 2017

Recent advances in engineering lead to the fabrication of nanomaterials with unique properties targeted toward specific applications. The use of nanotechnology in agriculture, in particular for plant protection and production, is an under‐explored area in the research community. Fungal diseases are one of the leading causes of crop destruction and, in this context, the antifungal effect of nanoparticles of cobalt and nickel ferrite against phytopathogenic fungi is reported here. As a proof of concept, it is also shown how such nanoparticles can be used as fungicides in plants. The developed cobalt and nickel ferrite nanoparticles (CoFe2O4 and NiFe2O4) are successfully tested for antimycotic activity against three plant‐pathogenic fungi: Fusarium oxysporum, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, and Dematophora necatrix. In addition, it is also observed that these ferrite nanoparticles reduce the incidence of Fusarium wilt in capsicum. The study suggests that nanoparticles of CoFe2O4 and NiFe2O4 can be used as an effective fungicide in plant disease management.
Glial hypothalamic inhibition of GLUT2 expression alters satiety, impacting eating behavior
Authors: Barahona María J. , Llanos Paula , Recabal Antonia , Escobar‐Acuña Kathleen , Elizondo‐Vega Roberto , Salgado Magdiel , Ordenes Patricio , Uribe Elena , Sepúlveda Fernando J. , Araneda Ricardo C. , García‐Robles María A.
Published: November 2017

Glucose is a key modulator of feeding behavior. By acting in peripheral tissues and in the central nervous system, it directly controls the secretion of hormones and neuropeptides and modulates the activity of the autonomic nervous system. GLUT2 is required for several glucoregulatory responses in the brain, including feeding behavior, and is localized in the hypothalamus and brainstem, which are the main centers that control this behavior. In the hypothalamus, GLUT2 has been detected in glial cells, known as tanycytes, which line the basal walls of the third ventricle (3V). This study aimed to clarify the role of GLUT2 expression in tanycytes in feeding behavior using 3V injections of an adenovirus encoding a shRNA against GLUT2 and the reporter EGFP (Ad‐shGLUT2). Efficient in vivo GLUT2 knockdown in rat hypothalamic tissue was demonstrated by qPCR and Western blot analyses. Specificity of cell transduction in the hypothalamus and brainstem was evaluated by EGFP‐fluorescence and immunohistochemistry, which showed EGFP expression specifically in ependymal cells, including tanycytes. The altered mRNA levels of both orexigenic and anorexigenic neuropeptides suggested a loss of response to increased glucose in the 3V. Feeding behavior analysis in the fasting‐feeding transition revealed that GLUT2‐knockdown rats had increased food intake and body weight, suggesting an inhibitory effect on satiety. Taken together, suppression of GLUT2 expression in tanycytes disrupted the hypothalamic glucosensing mechanism, which altered the feeding behavior.
Quantitative assessment of liver fibrosis reveals a nonlinear association with fibrosis stage in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Masugi Yohei , Abe Tokiya , Tsujikawa Hanako , Effendi Kathryn , Hashiguchi Akinori , Abe Masanori , Imai Yasuharu , Hino Keisuke , Hige Shuhei , Kawanaka Miwa , Yamada Gotaro , Kage Masayoshi , Korenaga Masaaki , Hiasa Yoichi , Mizokami Masashi , Sakamoto Michiie
Published: November 2017

Accurate staging of liver fibrosis is crucial to guide therapeutic decisions for patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Digital image analysis has emerged as a promising tool for quantitative assessment of fibrosis in chronic liver diseases. We sought to determine the relationship of histologic fibrosis stage with fiber amounts quantified in liver biopsy specimens for the better understanding of NAFLD progression. We measured area ratios of collagen and elastin fibers in Elastica van Gieson‐stained biopsy tissues from 289 patients with NAFLD from four hospitals using an automated computational method and examined their correlations with Brunt's fibrosis stage. As a secondary analysis, we performed multivariable logistic regression analysis to assess the associations of the combined area ratios of collagen and elastin with noninvasive fibrosis markers. The combined fiber area ratios correlated strongly with Brunt's stage (Spearman correlation coefficient, 0.78; P < 0.0001), but this relationship was nonlinear (P = 0.007) with striking differences between stage 4 (median area ratios, 12.3%) and stages 0‐3 (2.1%, 2.8%, 4.3%, and 4.8%, respectively). Elastin accumulation was common in areas of thick bridging fibrosis and thickened venous walls but not in areas of perisinusoidal fibrosis. The highest tertile of the combined fiber area ratios was associated with the fibrosis‐4 index and serum type IV collagen 7s domain (7s collagen) levels, whereas the upper two tertiles of the fiber amounts significantly associated with body mass index, aspartate aminotransferase, and 7s collagen in the multivariable analysis. Conclusion: Quantitative fibrosis assessment reveals a nonlinear relationship between fibrosis stage and fiber amount, with a marked difference between stage 4 and stage 3 and much smaller differences among stages 0‐3, suggesting a heterogeneity in disease severity within NAFLD‐related cirrhosis. (Hepatology Communications 2018;2:58–68)
Effectiveness of different numbers of simulation training models on medical students’ cervical examination performance
Authors: Lin Wei , Song Yingna
Published: November 2017

Objective

To estimate whether different numbers of simulation training models affect medical students’ cervical examination performance.

Methods

In a prospective study at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China, between August 1, 2016, and April 30, 2017, fifth‐year medical students without obstetric experience were randomly assigned to the large or small number training groups. Participants in the large number group performed cervical examinations on 10 dilation models and nine effacement/consistency models; those in the small number group practiced on four dilation models and three effacement/consistency models. In the examination, both groups evaluated 10 models in the same sequence and reported findings. Participants also completed confidence surveys. Mann‐Whitney U test was used to compare the assessment accuracy and confidence improvement between the groups.

Results

There were 91 students randomized to the large (n=45) or small (n=46) number training groups. As compared with the small number group, the large number group demonstrated higher accuracy in assessing exact dilation (P=0.028), exact effacement (P=0.002), effacement within 0.5 cm (P=0.017), and consistency (P=0.045). There was no difference in assessing dilation within 1 cm or in confidence improvement between the groups.

Conclusion

A small number of simulation training models was sufficient to improve students’ accuracy and confidence in assessing cervical dilatation, although a large number was needed to improve accuracy in cervical effacement and consistency.
Depression and somatic symptoms in Japanese and American college students: Negative mood regulation expectancies as a personality correlate
Authors: Hamamura Toshitaka , Mearns Jack
Published: November 2017

This study clarified contradictory findings regarding whether depression and somatic symptoms are associated more strongly with each other in non‐Western countries than in Western countries, by examining the relationships of the two variables with negative mood regulation expectancies (NMRE). NMRE are beliefs about one's ability to improve one's negative moods. Participants were 155 Japanese and 176 American undergraduates. They completed self‐report measures of NMRE, coping, depression and somatic symptoms. Results showed that depression significantly correlated with somatic symptoms for both men and women in both countries, and there was no cultural difference in the relationship between depression and somatic symptoms. The relationships of depression and somatic symptoms with NMRE did not differ between cultures. NMRE explained variance in depression in both countries but variance in somatic symptoms only for women in both countries. The relationship of NMRE with depression and somatic symptoms paralleled that between depression and somatic symptoms for both cultures. These results were consistent with the previous literature that found no difference between cultures. Results support the cross‐cultural validity of measuring NMRE in the context of coping and distress.
Impairment of Bone Remodeling in LIGHT/TNFSF14-Deficient Mice
Authors: Brunetti Giacomina , Faienza Maria Felicia , Colaianni Graziana , Gigante Isabella , Oranger Angela , Pignataro Paolo , Ingravallo Giuseppe , Di Benedetto Adriana , Bortolotti Sara , Di Comite Mariasevera , Storlino Giuseppina , Lippo Luciana , Ward-Kavanagh Lindsay , Mori Giorgio , Reseland Janne E , Passeri Giovanni , Schipani Ernestina , Tamada Koji , Ware Carl F , Colucci Silvia , Grano Maria
Published: November 2017

Multiple cytokines produced by immune cells induce remodeling and aid in maintaining bone homeostasis through differentiation of bone-forming osteoblasts and bone-resorbing osteoclasts. Here, we investigate bone remodeling controlled by the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily cytokine LIGHT. LIGHT-deficient mice (Tnfsf14-/-) exhibit spine deformity and reduced femoral cancellous bone mass associated with an increase in the osteoclast number and a slight decrease of osteoblasts compared with WT mice. The effect of LIGHT in bone cells can be direct or indirect, mediated by both the low expression of the anti-osteoclastogenic osteoprotegerin (OPG) in B and T cells and reduced levels of the pro-osteoblastogenic Wnt10b in CD8+ T cells in Tnfsf14-/-mice. LIGHT stimulation increases OPG levels in B, CD8+ T, and osteoblastic cells, as well as Wnt10b expression in CD8+ T cells. The high bone mass in Light and T- and B-cell-deficient mice (Rag-/Tnfsf14-) supports the cooperative role of the immune system in bone homeostasis. These results implicate LIGHT as a potential target in bone disease. © 2017 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
A greedy algorithm for finding a large 2‐matching on a random cubic graph
Authors: Bal Deepak , Bennett Patrick , Bohman Tom , Frieze Alan
Published: November 2017

A 2‐matching of a graph G is a spanning subgraph with maximum degree two. The size of a 2‐matching U is the number of edges in U and this is at least where n is the number of vertices of G and κ denotes the number of components. In this article, we analyze the performance of a greedy algorithm 2greedy for finding a large 2‐matching on a random 3‐regular graph. We prove that with high probability, the algorithm outputs a 2‐matching U with .
Shape disparity of bovid (Mammalia, Artiodactyla) horn sheaths and horn cores allows discrimination by species in 3D geometric morphometric analyses
Authors: Calamari Zachary T. , Fossum Ryanna
Published: November 2017

The bony cranial structures of even‐toed hoofed mammals are important for understanding ecology and behavior of ruminants. Horns, the cranial appendages of the family Bovidae, are covered in a layer of keratin that is often not preserved in the fossil record; however, this keratin sheath is intimately involved in the processes that influence horn shape evolution. To understand the relationship between these two components of horns, we quantified both core and sheath shape for four extant species using three‐dimensional geometric morphometric analyses in separate, core‐ and sheath‐specific morphospaces as well as a combined morphospace. We assessed correlations between the horn and sheath morphospaces using two‐block partial least squares regression, a Mantel test of pairwise distances between species, and Procrustes ANOVA. We measured disparity in the combined morphospace as Procrustes distances between mean shapes of cores and sheaths within and between species and as Procrustes variance. We also tested whether core and sheath shapes could be discriminated by taxon with a canonical variate analysis. Results show that horn core and sheath morphospaces are strongly correlated. The differences in shape between a species' core and sheath were statistically significant, but not as great as those between the cores and sheaths of different species when close relatives were not considered, and core and sheath Procrustes variances are not significantly different within species. Cores and sheath shapes were highly identifiable and were assigned to the correct clade 93% of the time in the canonical variate analysis. Based on these tests, horn cores are distinguishable in geometric morphometric analyses, extending the possibility of using geometric morphometrics to study the ecology and evolution of bovid horns to the fossil record.
Diffusion‐weighted MRI characteristics associated with prognostic pathological factors and recurrence risk in invasive ER+/HER2– breast cancers
Authors: Amornsiripanitch Nita , Nguyen Vicky T. , Rahbar Habib , Hippe Daniel S. , Gadi Vijayakrishna K. , Rendi Mara H. , Partridge Savannah C.
Published: November 2017

Background

Hormone receptor‐positive breast cancer is the most common subtype; better tools to identify which patients in this group would derive clear benefit from chemotherapy are needed.

Purpose

To evaluate the prognostic potential of diffusion‐weighted MRI (DWI) by investigating associations with pathologic biomarkers and a genomic assay for 10‐year recurrence risk.

Study Type

Retrospective.

Subjects

In all, 107 consecutive patients (from 2/2010 to 1/2013) with estrogen receptor (ER)‐positive/HER2neu‐negative invasive breast cancer who had the 21‐gene recurrence score (RS) test (Oncotype DX, Genomic Health).

Field Strength/Sequence

Each subject underwent presurgical 3T breast MRI, which included DWI (b = 0, 800 s/mm2).

Assessment

Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and contrast‐to‐noise ratio (CNR) were measured for each lesion by a fifth year radiology resident. Pathological markers (Nottingham histologic grade, Ki‐67, RS) were determined from pathology reports. Medical records were reviewed to assess recurrence‐free survival.

Statistical Tests

RS was stratified into low (<18), moderate (18–30), and high (>30)‐risk groups. Associations of DWI characteristics with pathologic biomarkers were evaluated by binary or ordinal logistic regression, as appropriate, with adjustment for multiple comparisons. Post‐hoc comparisons between specific groups were also performed.

Results

ADCmean (odds ratio [OR] = 0.61 per 1 standard deviation [SD] increase, adj. P = 0.044) and CNR (OR = 1.76 per 1‐SD increase, adj. P = 0.026) were significantly associated with increasing tumor grade. DWI CNR was also significantly associated with a high (Ki‐67 ≥14%) proliferation rate (OR = 2.55 per 1‐SD increase, adj. P = 0.026). While there were no statistically significant linear associations in ADC (adj. P = 0.80–0.85) and CNR (adj. P = 0.56) across all three RS groups by ordinal logistic regression, post‐hoc analyses suggested that high RS lesions exhibited lower ADCmean (P = 0.037) and ADCmax (P = 0.004) values and higher CNR (P = 0.008) compared to lesions with a low or moderate RS.

Data Conclusion

DWI characteristics correlated with tumor grade, proliferation index, and RS, and may potentially help to identify those with highest recurrence risk and most potential benefit from chemotherapy.

Level of Evidence: 3

Technical Efficacy Stage 3

J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2017.
The structural organization of N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone in binary mixtures probed by Raman spectroscopy: Experimental and quantum chemical results
Authors: Xu Wenwen , Wang Huigang , Tao Yinsong , Zheng Xuming
Published: November 2017

The isotropic and anisotropic Raman spectra of N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone (NMP) in the binary mixture at a variety of volume fractions have been measured. The noncoincidence effect (NCE) of NMP was determined separately in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) solution and acetonitrile solution. The NCE of the ν10(C=O) stretching mode versus concentration in the NMP/acetonitrile mixtures exhibits a linear plot; however, the NCE behavior in the NMP/CCl4 mixtures shows an upward (convex) curvature. The dimer structure (short‐range orientational order) of NMP may play a major role in exhibitions of different NCE behavior in the NMP/CAN and NMP/CCl4 mixtures; thus, the geometries of monomer and dimer of NMP were calculated at the B3LYP‐D3/6‐311G (d,p) level of theory. We proposed aggregated model to explain the NMP C=O vibration NCE phenomenon and its concentration effect and found it largely consistent with our experimental findings. Solvent‐dependent experiment shows the value of NCE declined with increase the solvent dielectric constant under the same condition.
Temperature‐programmed multicapillary gas chromatograph microcolumn for the analysis of odorous sulfur pollutants
Authors: Yuan Huan , Du Xiaosong , Tai Huiling , Xu Ming
Published: November 2017

We report the fabrication and performance of a silicon‐on‐glass micro gas chromatography eight‐capillary column based on microelectromechanical systems technology that is 50 cm long, 30 μm wide, and 300 μm deep. According to the theory of a gas chromatography column, an even gas flow among different capillaries play a vital role in the peak broadening. Thus, a flow splitter structure is designed by the finite element method through the comparison of the velocity distributions of the eight‐capillary columns with and without splitter as well as an open tubular column. The simulation results reveal that eight‐capillary column with flow splitters can receive more uniform flow velocity in different capillaries, hence decreases the peak broadening and in turn increases the separation efficiency. The separation experiment results show that the separation efficiency of about 22 000 plates/m is achieved with the chip column temperature programmed for analysis of odorous sulfur pollutants. This figure is nearly two times higher than that of the commercial capillary column coated the similar stationary phase. And the separation time of all the components in the microcolumn is less than 3.8 min, which is faster than the commercial capillary column.
Band‐tailed pigeon use of supplemental mineral
Authors: Sanders Todd A. , Koch Ryan C.
Published: November 2017

Band‐tailed pigeons (Patagioenas fasciata) congregate at and use mineral sites (mineralized water or soil) throughout their range; however, information needed to interpret counts of pigeons at these sites and make inference to population abundance and distribution is lacking despite current monitoring efforts. Our objectives were to determine if we could create a mineral site used by band‐tailed pigeons; test whether pigeons seek supplemental sodium, calcium, or both; describe the pattern of pigeon use of mineral sites seasonally and within days by individual birds; and evaluate implications of precipitation, fog, temperature, and mineral concentration on pigeon visitation patterns. We attracted hundreds of pigeons/day to a created mineral site that offered sodium, calcium, or both in a forested area in southwestern Washington, USA where we captured and applied passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags to 771 pigeons and monitored mineral use during 2010–2014. When offered paired sodium and calcium stations, pigeons near exclusively consumed sodium, and pigeons continued to use the created mineral site for 3 years when calcium was not available. Pigeons visited sodium stations on average once every 12 days during June through early October; reducing available sodium concentration from 3,500 ppm to 1,000 ppm had no significant effect on visitation rates. Counts of pigeons at mineral sites varied with precipitation, sex, and time of season; consequently, comparison of pigeon counts among mineral sites can be biased if not accounting for these factors. Our results show that pigeons can be attracted to mineral stations, and that counts at mineral sites and stations allow opportunities for population monitoring. Published 2017. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Rate Coefficients for the Gas‐Phase Reaction of Ozone with C5 and C6 Unsaturated Aldehydes
Authors: Kalalian C. , Roth E. , Chakir A.
Published: November 2017

Emissions of biogenic volatile organic compounds are higher than those from anthropogenic sources. In this work, we studied the kinetics of the reaction of three unsaturated aldehydes (trans‐2‐pentenal, trans‐2‐hexenal, and 2‐methyl‐2‐pentenal) with ozone in a rigid atmospheric simulation chamber coupled to an FTIR spectrometer at four different temperatures (273, 298, 333, and 353 K). Reaction rate constants (× 10−18cm3molecule−1 s−1) at 298 K are 1.24 ± 0.06 for trans‐2‐pentenal (t‐2P), 1.37 ± 0.03 for trans‐2‐hexenal (t‐2H), and 1.58 ± 0.20) for 2‐methyl‐2‐pentenal (2M2P). The following Arrhenius expressions were deduced (cm3molecule−1s−1):

urn:x-wiley:05388066:kin21139:equation:kin21139-math-0001urn:x-wiley:05388066:kin21139:equation:kin21139-math-0002urn:x-wiley:05388066:kin21139:equation:kin21139-math-0003

The obtained data are presented and compared to those reported in the literature at room temperature, as well as to homologous alkenes. The atmospheric lifetimes with respect to ozone, derived from this study, are estimated to vary between 7 and 10 days.