bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An energy stable monolithic Eulerian fluid‐structure finite element method
Authors: Hecht Frédéric , Pironneau Olivier
Published: April 2017

When written in an Eulerian frame, the conservation laws of continuum mechanics are similar for fluids and solids leading to a single set of variables for a monolithic formulation. Such formulations are well adapted to large displacement fluid‐structure configurations, but stability is a challenging problem because of moving geometries. In this article, the method is presented; time implicit discretizations are proposed with iterative algorithms well posed at each step, at least for small displacements; stability is discussed for an implicit in time finite element method in space by showing that energy decreases with time. The key numerical ingredient is the Characterics‐Galerkin method coupled with a powerful mesh generator. A numerical section discusses implementation issues and presents a few simple tests. It is also shown that contacts are easily handled by extending the method to variational inequalities. This paper deals only with incompressible neo‐Hookean Mooney‐Rivlin hyperelastic material in 2 dimensions in a Newtonian fluid, but the method is not limited to these; compressible and 3D cases will be presented later.
Exploring the flavor life cycle of beers with varying alcohol content
Authors: Missbach Benjamin , Majchrzak Dorota , Sulzner Raphael , Wansink Brian , Reichel Martin , Koenig Juergen
Published: April 2017

Decreasing alcohol in beer and increasing the pleasure of lower alcohol beers is a potential way to limit total alcohol consumption. Consumers’ willingness to drink alcohol‐reduced beers is mainly limited by unfavorable flavor characteristics that arise during consumption. To investigate the temporal flavor dominance during consumption, we analyzed the five most dominant beer flavors from nine different beers among three types of beer with varying alcohol content to assess the Flavor Life Cycle. Results show that beers with different alcohol content displayed similar flavor dominance (e.g., bitterness) and displayed differences in worty‐off flavor, malty flavor, and astringency. In alcohol‐free beers, worty‐off flavor was most pronounced in dominating between 5 and 30 s and malty flavor increased after swallowing. For bitterness and astringency, higher alcohol content resulted in higher flavor dominance, especially prior to swallowing (≤40 sec). Based on these findings, we provide some brief advice to minimize unfavorable flavor experience during consumption of beer with lower alcohol. For now, consumers who want to enjoy beers with lower alcohol should consider flavor changes and focus on the favored and defocus on the less favored flavors.
Investigation of the thermal regime and subsurface properties of a tidally affected, variably saturated streambed
Authors: Halloran Landon J. S. , Andersen Martin S. , Rau Gabriel C.
Published: April 2017

Temperature and moisture content in the variably saturated subsurface are two of the most important physical parameters that govern a wide variety of geochemical and ecological processes. An understanding of thermal and hydraulic processes and properties of transient vadose zones is therefore fundamental in the evaluation of such processes. Here, an investigation of the thermal regime and subsurface properties of a tidally affected, variably saturated streambed is presented. Field and laboratory measurements, as well as a forward numerical model, are jointly employed in the investigation. Temperature, soil moisture, surface level, and water level data were recorded in a transect perpendicular to a tidally driven stream. Frequency‐domain analysis of the subsurface temperature measurements revealed the rapid decay of the tidal temperature driver within the top ∼30 cm of sediment. Several techniques were used to evaluate subsurface thermal and hydraulic properties, including thermal conductivity and the soil water retention curve. These properties were used to constrain a forward numerical model that included coupled treatment of relevant variable saturation thermal and hydraulic physics. Even though the investigated vadose zone is intermittent and relatively shallow (
20 cm), the results illustrate how error can be introduced into heat‐transport calculations if unsaturated conditions are not taken into account.
p53‐competent cells and p53‐deficient cells display different susceptibility to oxygen functionalized graphene cytotoxicity and genotoxicity
Authors: Petibone Dayton M. , Mustafa Thikra , Bourdo Shawn E. , Lafont Andersen , Ding Wei , Karmakar Alokita , Nima Zeid A. , Watanabe Fumiya , Casciano Daniel , Morris Suzanne M. , Dobrovolsky Vasily N. , Biris Alexandru S.
Published: April 2017

Due to the distinctive physical, electrical, and chemical properties of graphene nanomaterials, numerous efforts pursuing graphene‐based biomedical and industrial applications are underway. Oxidation of pristine graphene surfaces mitigates its otherwise hydrophobic characteristic thereby improving its biocompatibility and functionality. Yet, the potential widespread use of oxidized graphene derivatives raises concern about adverse impacts on human health. The p53 tumor suppressor protein maintains cellular and genetic stability after toxic exposures. Here, we show that p53 functional status correlates with oxygen functionalized graphene (f‐G) cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in vitro. The f‐G exposed p53‐competent cells, but not p53‐deficient cells, initiated G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest, suppressed reactive oxygen species, and entered apoptosis. There was p53‐dependent f‐G genotoxicity evident as increased structural chromosome damage, but not increased gene mutation or chromatin loss. In conclusion, the cytotoxic and genotoxic potential for f‐G in exposed cells was dependent on the p53 functional status. These findings have broad implications for the safe and effective implementation of oxidized graphene derivatives into biomedical and industrial applications. Published 2017. This article has been contributed to by US Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.
A novel technique for decellularization of allogenic nerves and in vivo study of their use for peripheral nerve reconstruction
Authors: Boriani F. , Fazio N. , Fotia C. , Savarino L. , Nicoli Aldini N. , Martini L. , Zini N. , Bernardini M. , Baldini N.
Published: April 2017

Autografts represent the gold standard for peripheral nerve reconstruction but their limited availability, the discrepancy of nerve caliber, and long surgical times are drawbacks. Allografts have therefore become a valid alternative option. In particular, acellular nerve allografts (ANAs) rather than fresh allografts do not need immunosuppression and appear to be safe and effective based on recent studies. An innovative method was conceived to obtain ANAs, so as to speed up nerve decellularization, without compromising nerve architecture, and without breaking the asepsis chain. Several detergent‐based techniques, integrated with sonication and mechanical stirring, were tested in vitro on rabbit nerves, to identify, by microscopy and immunohistochemistry, the most effective protocol in terms of cell lysis and cellular debris clearance, while maintaining nerve architecture. Furthermore, a pilot in vivo study was performed: ANAs were implanted into tibial nerve defects of three rabbits, and autografts, representing the gold standard, in other three animals. Twelve weeks postoperatively, rabbits were clinically evaluated and euthanasized; grafts were harvested and microscopically and histomorphometrically analyzed. The method proved to be effective in vitro: the treatment removed axons, myelin and cells, without altering nerve architecture. The in vivo study did not reveal any adverse effect: animals maintained normal weight and function of posterior limb during the entire experimental time. A mild fibrotic reaction was observed, macrophages and leukocytes were rare or absent; ANAs regenerated fascicles and bundles were comparable versus autografts. Based on these results, this decellularization protocol is encouraging and deserves deeper investigations with further preclinical and clinical studies. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 2228–2240, 2017.
High Dose Supplementation of Vitamin D Affects Measures of Systemic Inflammation: Reductions in High Sensitivity C‐Reactive Protein Level and Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) Distribution
Authors: Tabatabaeizadeh Seyed‐Amir , Avan Amir , Bahrami Afsane , Khodashenas Ezzat , Esmaeili Habibollah , Ferns Gordon A. , Abdizadeh Mojtaba Fattahi , Ghayour‐Mobarhan Majid
Published: April 2017

The prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency is increasing worldwide, which has be shown to be associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), autoimmune disease, and metabolic syndrome. These conditions are also associated with a heightened state of inflammation. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of vitamin D supplementation on serum C‐Reactive Protein (CRP) level and Neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR) distribution in a large cohort of adolescent girls. A total of 580 adolescent girls were recruited follow by evaluation of CRP and hematological parameters before and after supplementation with vitamin D supplements as 9 of 50000 IU cholecalciferol capsules for 9 weeks taken at weekly intervals. At baseline, serum hs‐CRP level was 0.9 (95%CI: 0.5–1.8), while this value after intervention was reduced to 0.8 (95%CI: 0.3–1.6; P = 0.007). Similar results were also detected for NLR (e.g., NLR level was 1.66 ± 0.72 and 1.53 ± 0.67, P = 0.002, before and after therapy with compliance rate of >95.2%). Moreover, we found an association between hs‐CRP and BMI, triglyceride, white blood cell count, and lymphocytes. Interestingly we observed a significant reduction in neutrophil count and CRP level after high dose vitamin D supplementation. Our findings showed that the high dose supplementation of vitamin D affects measures of systemic inflammation: reductions in High Sensitivity C‐Reactive Protein level and Neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR) distribution. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 4317–4322, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Psychomotor Tremor and Proprioceptive Control Problems in Current and Former Stimulant Drug Users: An Accelerometer Study of Heavy Users of Amphetamine, MDMA, and Other Recreational Stimulants
Authors: Downey Luke A. , Tysse Brenda , Ford Talitha C. , Samuels Angela C. , Wilson Rory P. , Parrott Andrew C.
Published: April 2017

The recreational use of various stimulant drugs has been implicated in the development of movement disorders through dysregulation of the dopaminergic and serotoninergic neurotransmitter systems. The present study investigated psychomotor differences in current and former recreational stimulant drug users compared with nonusing controls. Sixty participants comprised 3 groups: 20 current stimulant drug users (CSUs; 11 men, aged 31.4 ± 9.1 years), 20 former stimulant drug users (FSUs; 5 men, aged 39.1 ± 8.5 years), and 20 nonuser controls (NUCs; 5 men, aged 35.7 ± 6.4 years). Psychomotor arm steadiness for each participant was assessed with a wrist‐attached accelerometer during 5 arm positions with eyes open and then eyes closed. Arm‐drop of arm position was indicated by the arm longitudinal rotation axis (ALoRA), and tremor was indicated by the overall vector of dynamic body acceleration (VeDBA). Overall, CSUs performed the most poorly on ALoRA (P < .05) and VeDBA indices (P < .05), and FSUs perform almost as poorly on VeDBA indices (P < .05) compared with NUCs. It was concluded that stimulant drug use, primarily MDMA and amphetamines, may result in acute stimulant‐induced tremor as well as long‐term proprioceptive deficits in terms of arm‐droop.
Effect of platinum on sintering morphology of porous YSZ ceramics
Authors: Fang Pan , Wang Junmei , Li Xian , Wu Shijie , Zhang Wenlei , Li Sufang
Published: April 2017

Platinum/yttria‐stabilized zirconia (Pt/YSZ) porous ceramics were prepared by sintering of the Pt/PMMA/YSZ stripe‐like membrane with a porogen of spherical polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and a precursor of platinum (Pt) of chloroplatinic acid. The microstructure of raw and processed material and Pt/ZrO2 calcination process at different sintering temperatures were investigated. The results showed that the spherically porous structure of Pt/YSZ was observed at a sintering temperature below 400 °C due to the thermal decomposition of PMMA. However, the pores were shrunk about 35% in diameter when YSZ compacts were sintered at the temperature of 1,450 °C. In addition, the spherical pores can be retained in the compacts when the content of Pt <5% and then gradually merged into changing when the content of Pt increased to 50%. The relative density was increased from 42% to 90% and the open porosity was decreased from 60% to 10% when Pt was added with content from 5% to 80%. The change of microstructure for Pt/YSZ is due to the migration of Pt and YSZ in the composites. The preferential migration and coalescence proceeded for Pt in Pt/YSZ is about 500 °C and YSZ clusters can keep stable until up to 900 °C. However, the growth of YSZ particle in the sintering process was hindered by the scattering of Pt phase.
Long‐term study of the occurrence and time of passage of sea breeze in São Paulo, 1960–2009
Authors: Perez Gabriel M. P. , Silva Dias Maria A. F.
Published: April 2017

This paper presents a simple methodology to identify sea breeze frontal passage in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, based in hourly wind direction data. Fifty‐year time series of annual frequency of sea breeze frontal passage and of its time of arrival in São Paulo are generated and related to global climate indicators and local variables. The frequency of occurrence and time of arrival of sea breeze shows long‐term oscillations in the interannual and decadal time scales. Multiple regression is used to identify the variables that explain the observed variance of both frequency of occurrence and timing of the sea breeze in São Paulo. Local variables such as air temperature in São Paulo and sea surface temperature (SST) in the vicinity of the coast explain more than 95% of the total R2 (R2 = 51%) in a multiple regression model of the frequency of sea breeze frontal passage. Global climate indices such as the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation, the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation explain about 85% of the total R2 (R2 = 52%) in a multiple regression model of the time of arrival of the sea breeze in São Paulo. The sea breeze circulation is shown to impact the rainfall in São Paulo and vicinity and to be associated with extreme rainfall events.
Characterization of the Medieval Climate Anomaly, Little Ice Age and recent warming in northern Lapland
Authors: Luoto Tomi P. , Kivilä E. Henriikka , Rantala Marttiina V. , Nevalainen Liisa
Published: April 2017

The major climate events of the Common Era (CE) have global imprints but significant variations in their timing and magnitude have been suggested. For reliable assessments of the past climate patterns and their applications for evaluations of the ongoing changes, spatially comprehensive network of high‐fidelity paleorecords are necessary. In this study, we reconstruct summer air temperatures of the past 2000 years from northern Lapland (Utsjoki, Finland). We use fossil Chironomidae (Diptera) assemblages from sediments of a remote subarctic lake (Loažžejávri) and the transfer function approach for quantitative temperature reconstruction. The results indicate that the Chironomidae fauna were responding to air temperature and the core assemblages had good modern analogues in the calibration set allowing reliable paleoclimate reconstruction. In our reconstruction, a warm period between ∼900 and 1300 CE is synchronous with the globally defined extent of the Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA), though beginning considerably later than previously reconstructed for eastern Scandinavia. The MCA was also relatively mild, as the temperatures were only 0.5 °C higher than the record average. Similar to eastern Scandinavia, a cold period corresponding to the Little Ice Age (LIA) was longer that typically observed in hemispheric reconstructions beginning already at ∼1400 CE and lasting very close to modern times. We also found confirming evidence that the LIA was interrupted by a short‐lived warmer period dividing it into two separate cold events in the region. Based on our results, the present is warmer than during any time of the MCA displaying how rapid and severe the ongoing climate change is.
Mass spectrometry analysis and in silico prediction of allergenicity of peptides in tryptic hydrolysates of the proteins from Ruditapes philippinarum
Authors: Yu Yue , Liu Hongwei , Tu Maolin , Qiao Meiling , Wang Zhenyu , Du Ming
Published: April 2017

BACKGROUND

Ruditapes philippinarum is nutrient‐rich and widely‐distributed, but little attention has been paid to the identification and characterization of the bioactive peptides in the bivalve. In the present study, we evaluated the peptides of the R. philippinarum that were enzymolysised by trypsin using a combination of ultra‐performance liquid chromatography separation and electrospray ionization quadrupole time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry, followed by data processing and sequence‐similarity database searching. The potential allergenicity of the peptides was assessed in silico.

RESULTS

The enzymolysis was performed under the conditions: E:S 3:100 (w/w), pH 9.0, 45 °C for 4 h. After separation and detection, the Swiss‐Prot database and a Ruditapes philippinarum sequence database were used: 966 unique peptides were identified by non‐error tolerant database searching; 173 peptides matching 55 precursor proteins comprised highly conserved cytoskeleton proteins. The remaining 793 peptides were identified from the R. philippinarum sequence database. The results showed that 510 peptides were labeled as allergens and 31 peptides were potential allergens; 425 peptides were predicted to be nonallergenic.

CONCLUSION

The abundant peptide information contributes to further investigations of the structure and potential function of R. philippinarum. Additional in vitro studies are required to demonstrate and ensure the correct production of the hydrolysates for use in the food industry with respect to R. philippinarum. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
UHPLC–MS/MS method for the simultaneous quantitation of five anthraquinones and gallic acid in rat plasma after oral administration of prepared rhubarb decoction and its application to a pharmacokinetic study in normal and acute blood stasis rats
Authors: Zhu Hui , Liu Xiao , Zhu Ting Ting , Wang Xiao Li , Qin Kun Ming , Pei Ke , Cai Bao Chang
Published: April 2017

Prepared rhubarb, as one of the main processed products of rhubarb, has a good effect on promoting blood circulation. In this paper we describe a rapid, sensitive, and selective ultra‐fast liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method for simultaneous quantification of five anthraquinones (rhein, aloe‐emodin, chrysophanol, emodin, and physcion) and gallic acid in plasma. Chromatographic separation was performed on an Extend C18 column at the temperature of 30°C using a mobile phase that consisted of 0.1% aqueous formic acid and acetonitrile. Satisfactory linearity, precision, accuracy, extraction recovery, and matrix effect have been achieved. Then, the validated method was successfully applied to a comparative pharmacokinetic study. The results might be helpful for guiding clinical application of prepared rhubarb in the future.
Some posterior branches of extralaryngeal recurrent laryngeal nerves have motor fibers
Authors: Cho Ilyoung , Jo Min‐Gyu , Choi Sung‐Won , Jang Jeon Yeob , Wang Soo‐Geun , Cha Wonjae
Published: April 2017

Objectives/Hypothesis

Anatomical variations of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN), such as extralaryngeal branching, are a well‐known risk factor for RLN injury during thyroid surgery. This study aimed to analyze the surgical anatomy and to investigate the existence of posterior branch motor fibers of extralaryngeal RLNs.

Study Design

Prospective consecutive observational study.

Methods

This was a prospective cohort study of 366 patients between January 2014 and February 2016. Operative data included the type of operation, incidence of nerve bifurcation, the distances among anatomical landmarks. The motor fibers were evaluated using neurostimulation with laryngeal palpation.

Results

A total of 667 RLNs at risk were analyzed in this study, and of these 103 (14.5%) nerves were bifurcated or trifurcated before the laryngeal entry point (LEP). More extralaryngeal branched RLNs were observed on the right side than on the left (17.5% vs. 13.3%, P = .294). The mean distance of the LEP point of division was longer on the left side (16.2 ± 6.7 mm) than on the right (14.7 ± 5.9 mm, P = .132). All branched RLNs had a palpable laryngeal twitch when stimulating anterior branches. When stimulating posterior branches, 28.2%(29/103) of branched RLNs showed palpable laryngeal twitch. Overall incidence of posterior motor branch in total RLNs was 4.3% (29/667).

Conclusions

The motor fibers of the RLN are all located in the anterior branch, whereas some posterior branches have motor function. Identification of all of the branches of the RLN may be mandatory to decrease the risk of postoperative nerve injury.

Level of Evidence

4. Laryngoscope, 127:2678–2685, 2017
Dynamic pricing policies for an inventory model with random windows of opportunities
Authors: den Boer Arnoud , Perry Ohad , Zwart Bert
Published: April 2017

We study a single‐product fluid‐inventory model in which the procurement price of the product fluctuates according to a continuous time Markov chain. We assume that a fixed order price, in addition to state‐dependent holding costs are incurred, and that the depletion rate of inventory is determined by the sell price of the product. Hence, at any time the controller has to simultaneously decide on the selling price of the product and whether to order or not, taking into account the current procurement price and the inventory level. In particular, the controller is faced with the question of how to best exploit the random time windows in which the procurement price is low. We consider two policies, derive the associated steady‐state distributions and cost functionals, and apply those cost functionals to study the two policies.© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 65: 660–675, 2018
Competing structures in (In,Ga)Se and (In,Ga)2Se3 semiconductors
Authors: Srour J. , Postnikov A. , Badawi M. , El Haj Hassan F.
Published: April 2017

The electronic structure of four polytypes (, , , and ) of hexagonal GaSe and InSe is calculated from first principles, using the WIEN2k and VASP codes and PBEsol prescription for the exchange–correlation potential, aiming specifically at elucidating the crystallographic parameters and comparing the energy placement of corresponding competing structures. Further on, the compounds with different composition of the same constituents, namely the ordered‐vacancies systems GaSe and InSe were subject to a similar study, of which the relaxed crystal structure data for three different phases is reported. Comparison is done with the nominal wurtzite structure over which the cation vacancies are introduced, and the relaxation pattern discussed.
Universal vs selective ultrasonography to screen for large‐for‐gestational‐age infants and associated morbidity
Authors: Sovio U. , Moraitis A. A. , Wong H. S. , Smith G. C. S.
Published: April 2017

Objectives

To compare the diagnostic effectiveness of selective vs universal ultrasonography as a screening test for large‐for‐gestational‐age (LGA) infants, and to determine whether previously described ultrasound markers of excessive fetal growth could identify suspected LGA fetuses that are at increased risk of adverse neonatal outcome.

Methods

Data from the Pregnancy Outcome Prediction study, a prospective cohort study of nulliparous women with a viable singleton pregnancy at the time of the dating ultrasound scan, were analyzed. Women were selected for clinically indicated ultrasound assessment in the third trimester as per routine clinical care, and the results of these scans were reported (‘selective ultrasonography’). In addition, all participants underwent research ultrasound scans, including estimated fetal weight (EFW) assessment, at around 36 weeks' gestation, in which both the women and their clinicians were blinded to the results (‘universal ultrasonography’). Participants who attended the 36‐week research scan and had a live birth at the Rosie Hospital were included in the study. Screen positive for LGA was defined as EFW > 90th percentile at ≥ 34 weeks.

Results

The current analysis included 3866 eligible women, of whom 1354 (35%) had a clinically indicated ultrasound scan at or after 34 weeks' gestation. A total of 177 (4.6%) infants had a birth weight > 90th percentile. The sensitivity for detection of LGA infants was 27% for selective ultrasonography and 38% for universal ultrasonography. The specificity of both approaches was high (99% and 97%, respectively). Using universal ultrasonography, neonatal outcome differed (P for interaction) by abdominal circumference growth velocity (ACGV) for both any neonatal morbidity (P = 0.08) and severe adverse neonatal outcome (P = 0.03). LGA fetuses with increased ACGV had a relative risk of any neonatal morbidity of 2.0 (95% CI, 1.1–3.6; P = 0.04) and of severe adverse neonatal outcome of 6.5 (95% CI, 2.0–21.1; P = 0.01), whereas LGA fetuses with normal ACGV were not at increased risk.

Conclusions

Third‐trimester screening of nulliparous women by universal ultrasound fetal biometry increases the detection rate of LGA infants and, combined with ACGV, identifies those at increased risk of adverse neonatal outcome. Copyright © 2017 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
A History of Reading and Writing
Authors: Lyons Martyn
Published: April 2017

Martyn Lyons surveys the changing relationships enjoyed by men and women with the written word, from early times to the present day. He provides a highly-readable account of the social history of reading and writing, relating it to key historical moments such as the Renaissance, the Reformation and the Enlightenment.

Offering a fresh history centred on the reactions and experiences of ordinary readers and writers, Lyons deals with key turning points that occurred throughout the centuries, such as the invention of the codex, the transition from scribal to print culture, the reading revolution and the industrialisation of the book. Tracing the major historical developments across Europe and North America which revolutionised our relationship with texts, this book provides an engaging and invaluable overview of the history of scribal and print culture.
History of anticlinal traps and oil and gas fields in Jurassic reservoirs in the northern West Siberian basin
Authors: Pervukhina N.V. , Shemin G.G. , Moskvin V.I.
Published: April 2017

The paper presents new paleotectonic data on the Bovanenkovo, Taz, and Gubkin dome-shaped uplifts and the Novyi Port, Urengoi, Kharampur, and Medvezh’e swells, with implications for the history of zone J2 and the Jurassic reservoir as a whole. Most of the large uplifts originated in the Early–Middle Jurassic and completed their evolution in the early Late Cretaceous (latest Cenomanian), generally (Bovanenkovo, Novyi Port, Kharampur, and Taz) or to a large extent (Urengoi and Gubkin), except for the much younger Medvezh’e swell, which formed in the Paleogene–Quaternary interval. The conditions for oil storage and retention in anticlinal traps of Jurassic zones J1 and J2 were the most favorable between the middle Late Cretaceous and the Eocene, inclusive. Gas accumulation lasted for a much longer time, from the Late Jurassic to the Present, and was especially rapid in the Late Cretaceous–Paleogene.
Dynamic associations of network isolation and smoking behavior
Authors: COPELAND MOLLY , BARTLETT BRYCE , FISHER JACOB C.
Published: April 2017

Prevailing social network frameworks examine the association between peer ties and behaviors, such as smoking, but the role of social isolates is poorly understood. Some theories predict isolated adolescents are protected from peer influence that increases smoking, while others suggest isolates are more likely to initiate smoking because they lack the social control provided by peer friendships. Building on a growing literature that seeks to explain these contradictions by moving beyond a homogeneous understanding of isolation, we identify the relationship between smoking and three distinct dimensions of isolation: avoided (adolescents who do not receive ties), withdrawn (adolescents who do not send ties), and externally oriented (adolescents who claim close out-of-grade friends). We examine the co-evolutionary effects of these dimensions and cigarette smoking using an autoregressive latent trajectory model with PROSPER Peers, a unique, longitudinal network dataset. These data include students (47% male and 86% white) from rural Iowa and Pennsylvania, ranging successively from grades 6–12 in eight waves of data. We find avoided isolation is associated with decreased subsequent smoking in high school. Smoking increases subsequent avoided and withdrawn isolation, but decreases external orientation.
Gaining insights into the ecological role of the New Zealand sole (Peltorhamphus novaezeelandiae) through parasites
Authors: Anglade T. , Randhawa H.S.
Published: April 2017

Despite the fact that tapeworms comprise the bulk of parasite communities of sharks in marine ecosystems, little is known about their life cycles and, more specifically, about the potential intermediate hosts they utilize as transmission routes. In the absence of morphological features required for specific identification of larval tapeworms from potential intermediate hosts, recent molecular advances have contributed to linking larval and adult parasites and, in some instances, uncovering unknown trophic links. Host–parasite checklists are often the first source of information consulted to assess the diversity and host specificity of parasites, and provide insights into parasite identification. However, these host–parasite checklists are only useful if they encompass the full spectrum of associations between hosts and parasites. A checklist of New Zealand fishes and their parasites has been published, but recent parasitological examinations of commercial fish species reveal that the checklist appears to be far from complete. We focused our current study on a comprehensive survey of macroparasites of a commercial species, the New Zealand sole (Peltorhamphus novaezeelandiae) off the coast of Otago, New Zealand. Specifically, we were expecting to recover marine tapeworms using sharks as their definitive hosts that are generally underreported in parasite surveys. The parasites recovered included tapeworms, flukes, round worms and thorny-headed worms. Surprisingly, a large proportion of the non-tapeworm parasites we recovered were not previously reported from this fish species. A discussion on the potential ecological roles played by this fish species in the transmission of parasites is included.
Olfactory disturbances in ageing with and without dementia: towards new diagnostic tools
Authors: Gros A , Manera V , De March C A , Guevara N , König A , Friedman L , Robert P , Golebiowski J , David R
Published: April 2017

Background:

Olfactory disorders increase with age and often affect elderly people who have pre-dementia or dementia. Despite the frequent occurrence of olfactory changes at the early stages of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, olfactory disorders are rarely assessed in daily clinical practice, mainly due to a lack of standardised assessment tools. The aims of this review were to (1) summarise the existing literature on olfactory disorders in ageing populations and patients with neurodegenerative disorders; (2) present the strengths and weaknesses of current olfactory disorder assessment tools; and (3) discuss the benefits of developing specific olfactory tests for neurodegenerative diseases.

Methods:

A systematic review was performed of literature published between 2000 and 2015 addressing olfactory disorders in elderly people with or without Alzheimer's disease or other related disorders to identify the main tools currently used for olfactory disorder assessment.

Results:

Olfactory disorder assessment is a promising method for improving both the early and differential diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. However, the current lack of consensus on which tests should be used does not permit the consistent integration of olfactory disorder assessment into clinical settings.

Conclusion:

Otolaryngologists are encouraged to use olfactory tests in older adults to help predict the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Olfactory tests should be specifically adapted to assess olfactory disorders in Alzheimer's disease patients.
Multiple-scale kinetic simulations with the energy conserving semi-implicit particle in cell method
Authors: Lapenta Giovanni , Gonzalez-Herrero Diego , Boella Elisabetta
Published: April 2017

The recently developed energy conserving semi-implicit method (ECsim) for particle-in-cell (PIC) simulation is applied to multiple-scale problems where the electron-scale physics needs to be only partially retained and the interest is on the macroscopic or ion-scale processes. Unlike hybrid methods, the ECsim is capable of providing kinetic electron information, such as wave–electron interaction (Landau damping or cyclotron resonance) and non-Maxwellian electron velocity distributions. However, like hybrid methods, the ECsim does not need to resolve all electron scales, allowing time steps and grid spacings orders of magnitude larger than in explicit PIC schemes. The additional advantage of the ECsim is that the stability at large scale is obtained while conserving energy exactly. Three examples are presented: ion acoustic waves, electron acoustic instability and reconnection processes.
“Where our commonality is necessary…”: Rethinking the End of the Habsburg Monarchy
Authors: Judson Pieter M.
Published: April 2017

As the hundredth anniversary ofNovember1918 approaches, this article suggests some ways in which historians might rethink dominant narratives about the character of the Habsburg monarchy in its final years, the reasons for its collapse, and its complex legacies to the postwar world. Currently, most accounts that narrate the fall of the empire are still shaped to some extent by outcomes whose character was defined at the time by the nationalist architects of the states that replaced the monarchy. Even accounting for a sensible revisionism of their versions of events over the past century, their general reasoning, their ideological claims, and their worldviews frame the predominant explanations for why the monarchy fell when it did. Concomitantly, they continue to influence our understanding of the character of the regimes that replaced the monarchy after its fall.
The cellular senescence of leukemia-initiating cells from acute lymphoblastic leukemia is postponed by β-Arrestin1 binding with P300-Sp1 to regulate hTERT transcription
Authors: Liu Shan , Liu Haiyan , Qin Ru , Shu Yi , Liu Zhidai , Zhang Penghui , Duan Caiwen , Hong Dengli , Yu Jie , Zou Lin
Published: April 2017

Although we previously reported that the self-renewal of leukemia-initiating cells of B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL LICs) was regulated by β-Arrestin1, a multiple-function protein, the cellular senescence is critical for LICs fate and leukemia progress, and worthy for further investigation. Here we found that depletion of β-Arrestin1 extended the population doubling time and the percentage of senile cells, the signatures of cellular senescence, of B-ALL LICs. Moreover, lack of β-Arrestin1 enhanced the expression of proteins (CBX, HIRA) and genes (P53, P16) related to senescence in leukemic Reh cells and B-ALL-LICs-derived leukemic mice. Further results showed that loss of β-Arrestin1 induced senescence of Reh cells through mediating hTERT-telomerase-telomere axis, which was reversed by BIBR1532, the telomerase activity inhibitor. Importantly, depletion of β-Arrestin1 decreased the binding of Sp1 to hTERT promoter at the region of −28 to −36 bp. The anti-sense oligonucleotide of this key region downregulated the transcription of hTERT and aggravated the senescence of Reh cells. Further data demonstrated that the depleted β-Arrestin1 reduced the interaction of P300 with Sp1, thus to reduce Sp1 binding to hTERT promoter, downregulate hTERT transcription, decrease telomerase activity, shorten telomere length, and promote Reh cell senescence. Interestingly, the percentage of senile cells in B-ALL LICs was decreased, which was negatively correlated to good prognosis and β-Arrestin1 mRNA expression in childhood B-ALL patients. Our study shed a light on the senescence of B-ALL LICs and is regulated by β-Arrestin1, providing the potential therapeutic target of leukemia by promoting cellular senescence with a key region of hTERT promoter.
Activation of the hypothalamic feeding centre upon visual prey detection
Authors: Muto Akira , Lal Pradeep , Ailani Deepak , Abe Gembu , Itoh Mari , Kawakami Koichi
Published: April 2017

The visual system plays a major role in food/prey recognition in diurnal animals, and food intake is regulated by the hypothalamus. However, whether and how visual information about prey is conveyed to the hypothalamic feeding centre is largely unknown. Here we perform real-time imaging of neuronal activity in freely behaving or constrained zebrafish larvae and demonstrate that prey or prey-like visual stimuli activate the hypothalamic feeding centre. Furthermore, we identify prey detector neurons in the pretectal area that project to the hypothalamic feeding centre. Ablation of the pretectum completely abolishes prey capture behaviour and neurotoxin expression in the hypothalamic area also reduces feeding. Taken together, these results suggest that the pretecto-hypothalamic pathway plays a crucial role in conveying visual information to the feeding centre. Thus, this pathway possibly converts visual food detection into feeding motivation in zebrafish.
Histamine and Histamine H4 Receptor Promotes Osteoclastogenesis in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Kim Kyoung-Woon , Kim Bo-Mi , Lee Kyung-Ann , Lee Sang-Heon , Firestein Gary S. , Kim Hae-Rim
Published: April 2017

Histamine H4 receptor (H4R) has immune-modulatory and chemotaxic effects in various immune cells. This study aimed to determine the osteoclastogenic role of H4R in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The concentration of histamine in synovial fluid (SF) and sera in patients with RA was measured using ELISA. After RA SF and peripheral blood (PB) CD14+ monocytes were treated with histamine, IL-17, IL-21 and IL-22, and a H4R antagonist (JNJ7777120), the gene expression H4R and RANKL was determined by real-time PCR. Osteoclastogenesis was assessed by counting TRAP–positive multinucleated cells in PB CD14+ monocytes cultured with histamine, Th17 cytokines and JNJ7777120. SF and serum concentration of histamine was higher in RA, compared with osteoarthritis and healthy controls. The expression of H4R was increased in PB monocytes in RA patients. Histamine, IL-6, IL-17, IL-21 and IL-22 induced the expression of H4R in monocytes. Histamine, IL-17, and IL-22 stimulated RANKL expression in RA monocytes and JNJ7777120 reduced the RANKL expression. Histamine and Th17 cytokines induced the osteoclast differentiation from monocytes and JNJ7777120 decreased the osteoclastogenesis. H4R mediates RANKL expression and osteoclast differentiation induced by histamine and Th17 cytokines. The blockage of H4R could be a new therapeutic modality for prevention of bone destruction in RA.
Delivering Prolonged Intensive Care to a Non-human Primate: A High Fidelity Animal Model of Critical Illness
Authors: Poliquin P. Guillaume , Biondi Mia , Ranadheera Charlene , Hagan Mable , Bello Alexander , Racine Trina , Allan Mark , Funk Duane , Hansen Gregory , Hancock BJ , Kesselman Murray , Mortimer Todd , Kumar Anand , Jones Shane , Leung Anders , Grolla Allen , Tran Kaylie N. , Tierney Kevin , Qiu Xiangguo , Kobasa Darwyn , Strong James E.
Published: April 2017

Critical care needs have been rising in recent decades as populations age and comorbidities increase. Sepsis-related admissions to critical care contribute up to 50% of volume and septic shock carries a 35–54% fatality rate. Improvements in sepsis-related care and mortality would have a significant impact of a resource-intensive area of health care delivery. Unfortunately, research has been hampered by the lack of an animal model that replicates the complex care provided to humans in an intensive care unit (ICU). We developed a protocol to provide full ICU type supportive care to Rhesus macaques. This included mechanical ventilation, continuous sedation, fluid and electrolyte management and vasopressor support in response to Ebolavirus-induced septic shock. The animals accurately recapitulated human responses to a full range of ICU interventions (e.g. fluid resuscitation). This model can overcome current animal model limitations by accurately emulating the complexity of ICU care and thereby provide a platform for testing new interventions in critical care and sepsis without placing patients at risk.
Peripheral blood AKAP7 expression as an early marker for lymphocyte-mediated post-stroke blood brain barrier disruption
Authors: O’Connell Grant C. , Treadway Madison B. , Petrone Ashley B. , Tennant Connie S. , Lucke-Wold Noelle , Chantler Paul D. , Barr Taura L.
Published: April 2017

Our group recently identified 16 genes whose peripheral blood expression levels are differentially regulated in acute ischemic stroke. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the early expression levels of any of these 16 genes are predictive for post-stroke blood brain barrier (BBB) disruption. Transcriptional expression levels of candidate genes were measured in peripheral blood sampled from ischemic stroke patients at emergency department admission, and BBB permeability was assessed at 24 hour follow up via perfusion-weighted imaging. Early heightened expression levels of AKAP7, a gene encoding a protein kinase A-binding scaffolding molecule, were significantly associated with BBB disruption 24 hours post-hospital admission. We then determined that AKAP7 is predominantly expressed by lymphocytes in peripheral blood, and strongly co-expressed with ITGA3, a gene encoding the adhesion molecule integrin alpha 3. Subsequent in vitro experiments revealed that heightened expression of AKAP7 and ITGA3 in primary human lymphocytes is associated with a highly adherent phenotype. Collectively, our results suggest that AKAP7 expression levels may have clinical utility as a prognostic biomarker for post-stroke BBB complications, and are likely elevated early in patients who later develop post-stroke BBB disruption due to the presence of an invasive lymphocyte population in the peripheral blood.
Instability of 8E5 calibration standard revealed by digital PCR risks inaccurate quantification of HIV DNA in clinical samples by qPCR
Authors: Busby Eloise , Whale Alexandra S. , Ferns R. Bridget , Grant Paul R. , Morley Gary , Campbell Jonathan , Foy Carole A. , Nastouli Eleni , Huggett Jim F. , Garson Jeremy A.
Published: April 2017

Abtract

Establishing a cure for HIV is hindered by the persistence of latently infected cells which constitute the viral reservoir. Real-time qPCR, used for quantification of this reservoir by measuring HIV DNA, requires external calibration; a common choice of calibrator is the 8E5 cell line, which is assumed to be stable and to contain one HIV provirus per cell. In contrast, digital PCR requires no external calibration and potentially provides ‘absolute’ quantification. We compared the performance of qPCR and dPCR in quantifying HIV DNA in 18 patient samples. HIV DNA was detected in 18 by qPCR and in 15 by dPCR, the difference being due to the smaller sample volume analysed by dPCR. There was good quantitative correlation (R2 = 0.86) between the techniques but on average dPCR values were only 60% of qPCR values. Surprisingly, investigation revealed that this discrepancy was due to loss of HIV DNA from the 8E5 cell calibrant. 8E5 extracts from two other sources were also shown to have significantly less than one HIV DNA copy per cell and progressive loss of HIV from 8E5 cells during culture was demonstrated. We therefore suggest that the copy number of HIV in 8E5 extracts be established by dPCR prior to use as calibrator.
Phonon-mediated repulsion, sharp transitions and (quasi)self-trapping in the extended Peierls-Hubbard model
Authors: Sous J. , Chakraborty M. , Adolphs C. P. J. , Krems R. V. , Berciu M.
Published: April 2017

We study two identical fermions, or two hard-core bosons, in an infinite chain and coupled to phonons by interactions that modulate their hopping as described by the Peierls/Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) model. We show that exchange of phonons generates effective nearest-neighbor repulsion between particles and also gives rise to interactions that move the pair as a whole. The two-polaron phase diagram exhibits two sharp transitions, leading to light dimers at strong coupling and the flattening of the dimer dispersion at some critical values of the parameters. This dimer (quasi)self-trapping occurs at coupling strengths where single polarons are mobile. This illustrates that, depending on the strength of the phonon-mediated interactions, the coupling to phonons may completely suppress or strongly enhance quantum transport of correlated particles.
A reconfigurable all-optical ultrasound transducer array for 3D endoscopic imaging
Authors: Alles Erwin J. , Fook Sheung Nora , Noimark Sacha , Zhang Edward Z. , Beard Paul C. , Desjardins Adrien E.
Published: April 2017

A miniature all-optical ultrasound imaging system is presented that generates three-dimensional images using a stationary, real acoustic source aperture. Discrete acoustic sources were sequentially addressed by scanning a focussed optical beam across the proximal end of a coherent fibre bundle; high-frequency ultrasound (156% fractional bandwidth centred around 13.5 MHz) was generated photoacoustically in the corresponding regions of an optically absorbing coating deposited at the distal end. Paired with a single fibre-optic ultrasound detector, the imaging probe (3.5 mm outer diameter) achieved high on-axis resolutions of 97 μm, 179 μm and 110 μm in thex,yandzdirections, respectively. Furthermore, the optical scan pattern, and thus the acoustic source array geometry, was readily reconfigured. Implementing four different array geometries revealed a strong dependency of the image quality on the source location pattern. Thus, by employing optical technology, a miniature ultrasound probe was fabricated that allows for arbitrary source array geometries, which is suitable for three-dimensional endoscopic and laparoscopic imaging, as was demonstrated onex vivoporcine cardiac tissue.