bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tingkah Laku Kewargaan Organisasi sebagai Mediator dalam Hubungan di antara Kepuasan Kerja dan Komitmen Organisasi terhadap Prestasi Tugas dalam kalangan Pensyarah Universiti
Authors: Ibrahim Muhamad Ariff , Wan Sulaiman Wan Shahrazad , Muhammad Hafidz Sarah Waheeda
Published: September 2018

Organizational citizenship behavior and task performance is an integral part of job performance. This study aims to examine the relationship between job satisfaction, organizational commitment, organizational citizenship behavior and task performance. In addition, this study aims to examine the role of organizational citizenship behavior as a mediator linking job satisfaction and organizational commitment to task performance among academicians in a higher learning instutution. A total of 211 respondents participated in this study. Four instruments were used, namely job satisfaction questionnaire, organizational commitment questionnaire, organizational citizenship behavior scale and task performance scale developed by the researchers. Results showed that there was a significant correlation between job satisfaction, organizational commitment and organizational citizenship behavior with task performance. Results of multiple regression showed that organizational citizenship behavior significantly mediated the relationship between organisational commitment and task performance. The study also found that organizational citizenship behavior did not mediate the link between job satisfaction and task performance among academic staff. Implication of the study indicate the important of job satisfaction, organizational commitment and organizational citizenship behavior in influencing organization effectiveness dan performance.
A Comparison of Some Parameters of Football Players According to the Leagues They Play In
Authors: Kilic Tahir , Tosur Mehmet Ali Anil
Published: September 2018

The purpose of this study was to compare some parameters of football players playing in 3rd League, BAL (Regional Amateur League) and SAL (Super Amateur League) according to the leagues they play in.Body height, body weight, body mass index, age, age of becoming a registered football player, vertical jump, anaerobic power, shuttle run, aerobic capacity (MaxVO2), leg strength, back strength, right-hand grip strength and left-hand grip strength parameters were measured in this study. ANOVA test, which is one of the parametric tests, were applied for the analysis of the data and significance level of p˂0.05 was sought.In conclusion, significant differences among the leagues were found according to height, vertical jump, anaerobic power, shuttle run, aerobic capacity, leg strength and back strength. However, no significant differences were found on body mass index, age, and age of becoming a registered football player, right-hand grip strength and left-hand grip strength parameters.
An acoustical analogue of a galactic-scale gravitational-wave detector
Authors: Lam Michael T. , Romano Joseph D. , Key Joey S. , Normandin Marc , Hazboun Jeffrey S.
Published: September 2018

By precisely monitoring the “ticks” of Nature's most precise clocks (millisecond pulsars), scientists are trying to detect the “ripples in spacetime” (gravitational waves) produced by the inspirals of supermassive black holes in the centers of distant merging galaxies. Here, we describe a relatively simple demonstration that uses two metronomes and a microphone to illustrate several techniques used by pulsar astronomers to search for and detect gravitational waves. An adapted version of this demonstration could be used as an instructional laboratory investigation at the undergraduate level.
Facilitating understanding of image formation through the luminous ray model mediated by virtual simulation
Authors: Wang Hong-Syuan , Chen Sufen , Yen Miao-Hsuan
Published: September 2018

The ray model is usually applied to explain optical phenomena involving light propagation through an optical system and the formation of an image. However, students have difficulties understanding the image formation in some cases because the traditional ray model only represents special light rays. In the present study, we replaced the traditional ray model with the luminous ray model (LRM) to help students understand image formation. In addition, the positive impact of virtual simulation (VS) in the learning process has been documented over the past few decades. The purposes of this study were to investigate high school students' conceptual change in learning image formation through the LRM, and to explore the learning effectiveness of VS on learning different optical concepts. The results indicated that the LRM is helpful in improving students' conceptual understanding. A further analysis showed that VS+LRM was more beneficial than other groups regarding the concept that the object lying on the horizontal central axis could form a real image. These results will help science teachers develop an instructional module to facilitate students' learning of image formation.
The origins of human prosociality: Cultural group selection in the workplace and the laboratory
Authors: Francois Patrick , Fujiwara Thomas , van Ypersele Tanguy
Published: September 2018

As predicted by cultural group selection, increases in firm-level competition raise the generalized trust of workers.
Tracking the weight of Hurricane Harvey’s stormwater using GPS data
Authors: Milliner Chris , Materna Kathryn , Bürgmann Roland , Fu Yuning , Moore Angelyn W. , Bekaert David , Adhikari Surendra , Argus Donald F.
Published: September 2018

GPS can track terrestrial water storage following extreme precipitation events, with potential to improve flood planning.
Repurposing ciclopirox as a pharmacological chaperone in a model of congenital erythropoietic porphyria
Authors: Urquiza Pedro , Laín Ana , Sanz-Parra Arantza , Moreno Jorge , Bernardo-Seisdedos Ganeko , Dubus Pierre , González Esperanza , Gutiérrez-de-Juan Virginia , García Sandra , Eraña Hasier , San Juan Itxaso , Macías Iratxe , Ben Bdira Fredj , Pluta Paula , Ortega Gabriel , Oyarzábal Julen , González-Muñiz Rosario , Rodríguez-Cuesta Juan , Anguita Juan , Díez Emilio , Blouin Jean-Marc , de Verneuil Hubert , Mato José M. , Richard Emmanuel , Falcón-Pérez Juan M. , Castilla Joaquín , Millet Oscar
Published: September 2018

The off-patent marketed antifungal ciclopirox improves symptoms in a mouse model of congenital erythropoietic porphyria.
The hallmarks of successful anticancer immunotherapy
Authors: Galluzzi Lorenzo , Chan Timothy A. , Kroemer Guido , Wolchok Jedd D. , López-Soto Alejandro
Published: September 2018

Various features of the tumor and immune system influence the success of immunotherapy.
Comparative Analysis of the Capacity of the
Candida
Species To Elicit Vaginal Immunopathology
Authors: Willems Hubertine M. E. , Lowes David J. , Barker Katherine S. , Palmer Glen E. , Peters Brian M.
Published: September 2018

The human fungal pathogen
Candida albicans
is the major etiological agent of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). Despite this fact, other non-
albicans Candida
(NAC) species have frequently been reported, as well.
Draft Genome Sequence of
Bacillus subtilis
TLO3, Isolated from Olive Tree Rhizosphere Soil
Authors: Choubane Slimane , Gabed Noujoud , Khelil Omar , Cheba Ben Amar
Published: September 2018

In this paper, we report
Bacillus subtilis
TLO3, which was isolated from olive tree rhizosphere and exhibits high amylolytic activity. The genome of
Bacillus subtilis
TLO3 contains 4,071 protein-coding sequences carried on one chromosome (4,232,155 bp) with an average G+C content of 44.1% and 119 RNA molecules.
Sequences of Seven Complete Genomes of Human Parvovirus B19
Authors: Qiu Yuhuan , Zhao Zehui , Qiu Jianming
Published: September 2018

We are reporting the sequences of seven complete genomes of parvovirus B19, which were extracted from human plasma specimens collected in the United States. The seven B19 genome sequences, which are 5,596 nucleotides long and include the inverted terminal repeats (ITRs), share an identity of 96.73%.
Complete Genome Sequences of Monongahela Hantavirus from Pennsylvania, USA
Authors: Albariño César G. , Wiggleton Guerrero Lisa , Chakrabarti Ayan K. , Rollin Pierre E. , Nichol Stuart T.
Published: September 2018

Monongahela hantavirus was first identified in deer mice and was later found responsible for hantavirus pulmonary syndrome cases in Pennsylvania and West Virginia in the United States. Here, we report the complete sequences of Monongahela virus S, M, and L genomic segments obtained from a fatal clinical case reported in 1997.
Genome Sequence of a Gyrovirus Associated with Ashy Storm-Petrel
Authors: Waits Kara , Bradley Russell W. , Warzybok Pete , Kraberger Simona , Fontenele Rafaela S. , Varsani Arvind
Published: September 2018

Ashy storm-petrels (order Procellariiformes) are seabirds that are found along the coast of California to Baja Mexico. A novel gyrovirus was identified from a cloacal swab of an ashy storm-petrel, which is the second gyrovirus to be identified in sea birds, the first being found in the related northern fulmar.
Genome Sequences of Zika Virus Strains Recovered from Amniotic Fluid, Placenta, and Fetal Brain of a Microcephaly Patient in Thailand, 2017
Authors: Wongsurawat Thidathip , Jenjaroenpun Piroon , Athipanyasilp Niracha , Kaewnapan Bualan , Leelahakorn Nattawat , Angkasekwinai Nasikarn , Kantakamalakul Wannee , Sutthent Ruengpung , Ussery David W. , Horthongkham Navin , Nookaew Intawat
Published: September 2018

We present here the complete genome sequences of Zika virus strains isolated from aborted fetal tissue (brain and placenta) and amniotic fluid of a microcephaly patient in Thailand in 2017. The virus genomes that were sequenced have an average length of 10,807 nucleotides.
Draft Genome Sequence of Streptomyces cavourensis YBQ59, an Endophytic Producer of Antibiotics Bafilomycin D, Nonactic Acid, Prelactone B, and 5,11-Epoxy-10-Cadinanol
Authors: Nguyen Huy Quang , Vu Nguyen Thi-Hanh , Chu Ha Hoang , Chu Son Ky , Hoang Ha , Tran Thanh Trung , Nguyen Cuong , Dinh Linh Thi-My , Trinh Hien Thi-Thu , Phi Tien Quyet
Published: September 2018

This study reports the draft genome sequence of the endophytic
Streptomyces cavourensis
strain YBQ59, produces the antibiotics bafilomycin D, nonactic acid, prelactone B, and 5,11-epoxy-10-cadinanol. The draft genome sequence comprises ∼10.2 Mb, with a GC content of 64% and 8,958 predicted protein-coding genes, of which 14 gene clusters were found to associate with antibiotic biosynthetic pathways.
Genome Sequence of Weissella cibaria M2, a Potential Probiotic Strain Isolated from the Feces of a Giant Panda
Authors: Du Xin , Dai Fuying , Yao Fang , Tan Mingzheng , Pan Qu
Published: September 2018

Here, we report the complete genome sequence of
Weissella cibaria
M2, a potential probiotic strain isolated from the feces of a giant panda (
Ailuropoda melanoleuca
). The genome consists of one chromosome of 2.56 Mb and two plasmids.
Primary intratracheal schwannoma resected during bronchoscopy using argon plasma coagulation
Authors: Sharma Purva V , Jobanputra Yash B , Perdomo Miquel Tatiana , Schroeder J Ryan , Wellikoff Adam
Published: September 2018

A 63-year-old man presented with intermittent, progressively worsening dyspnoea associated with cough and blood-tinged sputum. Initial work-up showed left axis deviation on ECG, chest X-ray with an elevated left hemidiaphragm and a non-contrast CT chest that showed a multilobulated mass in the proximal trachea. Bronchoscopy showed a whitish-appearing lesion, which was then sampled and partially resected with pathology showing a schwannoma with no malignant cells. He felt partial relief post procedure; however, he presented a month later with similar symptoms of dyspnoea and a repeat CT scan showed enlargement of the mass in the same location. The patient underwent another flexible bronchoscopy and resection with argon plasma coagulation (APC)/electrocautery snare. APC/electrocautery is an effective interventional bronchoscopy technique that can be used to resect endoluminal lesions or extraluminal lesions that have infiltrated into the airway using flexible/rigid bronchoscopy. It is more cost-effective, safe, works well with vascular lesions and achieves excellent haemostasis as compared with Nd:YAG lasers.
Cutaneous angioleiomyoma of the auricle: a painless variant of a painful tumour
Authors: Newman Andrew J , Mullens Dustin , Estrada Sarah , Barr Jason
Published: September 2018

Cutaneous angioleiomyomas (ALMs) are uncommon benign tumours of the skin which derive from the smooth muscle layer of dermal blood vessels. They usually present as tender nodules in the fifth or sixth decade of life, predominantly in the legs of females. These tumours rarely present on the head and neck, especially the ear. Head and neck ALMs differ from their more common leg counterparts in that they are painless. Additionally, they do not manifest with a female predominance. Herein, a new case of a painless auricular ALM in a 63-year-old man is reported.
Serum PCSK9 is modified by interleukin-6 receptor antagonism in patients with hypercholesterolaemia following non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction
Authors: Ueland Thor , Kleveland Ola , Michelsen Annika E , Wiseth Rune , Damås Jan Kristian , Aukrust Pål , Gullestad Lars , Halvorsen Bente , Yndestad Arne
Published: September 2018

Objective

It is unclear if activation of inflammatory pathways regulates proprotein convertase subtilisin-kexin type 9 (PCSK9) levels.

Approach

We evaluated (1) the temporal course of serum PCSK9 during hospitalisation following acute coronary syndrome and associations with markers of inflammation (leucocyte counts, interleukin (IL)-6, C-reactive protein) and lipid levels and (2) the effect of inhibition of IL-6 signalling with the IL-6 receptor antibody tocilizumab on PCSK9 levels in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial release in patients with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Results

Serum PCSK9 increased during the acute phase and this response was modestly associated with neutrophil counts (r=0.24, p=0.009) and presence of hypercholesterolaemia (r=0.019, p=0.045), but was not modified by tocilizumab. However, a modifying effect of tocilizumab on PCSK9 levels was observed in patients with hypercholesterolaemia (p=0.024, repeated measures analysis of variance) and this effect was strongly correlated with the decrease in neutrophils (r=0.66, p=0.004).

Conclusions

Our study suggests that patients with a more atherogenic profile may benefit from anti-IL-6 therapy with regard to PCSK9.

Trial registration number

NCT01491074.
Comparing the effect of intestinal bacteria from rabbit, pig, and chicken on inflammatory response in cultured rabbit crypt and villus
Authors: Cui Hong Xiao , Xu Xiu Rong
Published: September 2018

Rabbit is susceptible to intestinal infection, which often results in severe inflammatory response. To investigate whether the special community structure of rabbit intestinal bacteria contributes to this susceptibility, we compared the inflammatory responses of isolated rabbit crypt and villus to heat-treated total bacteria in pig, chicken, and rabbit ileal contents. The dominant phylum in pig and chicken ileum was Firmicutes, while Bacteroidetes was dominant in rabbit ileum. The intestinal bacteria from rabbit induced higher expression of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in rabbit crypt and villus (P < 0.05). TLR2 and TLR3 expression was obviously stimulated by chicken and pig intestinal bacteria (P < 0.05) but not by those of rabbit. The ileal bacteria from those three animals all increased the expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in crypts and villus (P < 0.05). Chicken and pig ileal bacteria also stimulated the expression of anti-inflammatory factors interferon beta (IFN-β) and IL-10 (P < 0.05), while those of rabbit did not (P > 0.05). In conclusion, a higher abundance of Gram-negative bacteria in rabbit ileum did not lead to more expressive pro-inflammatory cytokines in isolated rabbit crypt and villus, but a higher percentage of Lactobacillus in chicken ileum might result in more expressive anti-inflammatory factors.
A lemma for relative conormals spaces
Authors: Gaffney Terence , Massey David B.
Published: September 2018

We prove a result on the relationship between the relative conormal space of an analytic function [Formula: see text] on affine space and the relative conormal space of [Formula: see text] restricted to a hyperplane slice, at a point where the relative conormal space of [Formula: see text] is “microlocally trivial”. This result is intended to be used as a lemma to prove other conormal results by induction via hyperplane slicing. We present two proofs, one algebraic and one topological, since the methods may lead to other results in this area.
Synthesis of PSMA-targeted 131- and 152-substituted chlorin e6 derivatives and their biological properties
Authors: Suvorov Nikita V. , Machulkin Alexey E. , Ivanova Anna V. , Popkov Alexander M. , Bondareva Elizaveta A. , Plotnikova Ekaterina A. , Yakubovskaya Raisa I. , Majouga Alexander G. , Mironov Andrey F. , Grin Mikhail A.
Published: September 2018

Prostate cancer is an extremely common cancer among older men. Conventional chemotherapy has proven to be not effective enough in battling it due to its high systemic toxicity and low selectivity. An alternative method of cancer treatment known as photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been shown to be effective. It is not without its faults either: one of the issues it’s been known to have is the insufficient selectivity of photosensitizer accumulation in tumor tissues. Recent studies, however, seem to indicate that introducing a PSMA-targeted moiety into photosensitizer might prove to be a solution to this problem. The present paper is concerned with synthesis of PSMA-targeted 131- and 152-substituted chlorin e6 conjugates and their biological characteristics. Our data suggests that the developed conjugates show potential as targeted agents for photodynamic therapy.
PAvessel
Authors: Li Zhengxiong , Wang Yuehang , Rathore Aditya Singh , Song Chen , Nyayapathi Nikhila , Vu Tri , Xia Jun , Xu Wenyao
Published: September 2018

The blood vessels are the most critical part of the human circulatory system. Information acquired on the structure and status of blood vessels drives the development of numerous medical and biometric applications. Therefore, it is of paramount importance to find an effective way to sense vessel structures. Traditional methods, including infrared and Doppler sensing modalities, are limited by optical diffusion and ultrasonic scattering that are not good at vessel sensing with high performance. In comparison, we argue photoacoustic (PA) sensing is an emerging technique that can image 3D vessel structure deep in tissue with high-resolution visualization, maintaining the advantages of both optical and ultrasound methods. In this work, we propose and develop PAvessel, a practical 3D vessel structure sensing system based on PA effects. The entire sensing system comprises two key components, PA sensing hardware and PA sensing software. Specifically, the hardware mainly consists of a linear ultrasound transducer array, an ultrasound data acquisition system, and a neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser. After receiving the PA raw data, we use the advanced image reconstruction and 3D photoacoustic vein model to establish the 3D vessel structure model. We validated its effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and high resolution of PAvessel in the evaluation. The system achieves 52% higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) compared to the other methods. Furthermore, considering the 3D palm vein contains high dimensional human features and is almost impossible to forge, we also explored its applications in palm biometrics. In a pilot study with 10 participants, PAvessel, combined with a 3D vessel structure matching algorithm (EMD-VT), has proven to possess high accuracy and robustness as a biometric. PAvessel achieves the precision and recall of 98.33% and 97.37%, respectively.
Augmenting User Identification with WiFi Based Gesture Recognition
Authors: Shahzad Muhammad , Zhang Shaohu
Published: September 2018

Over the last few years, researchers have proposed several WiFi based gesture recognition systems that can recognize predefined gestures performed by users at runtime. As most environments are inhabited by multiple users, the true potential of WiFi based gesture recognition can be unleashed only when each user can independently define the actions that the system should take when the user performs a certain predefined gesture. To enable this, a gesture recognition system should not only be able to recognize any given predefined gesture, but should also be able to identify the user that performed it. Unfortunately, none of the prior WiFi based gesture recognition systems can identify the user performing the gesture. In this paper, we propose WiID, a WiFi and gesture based user identification system that can identify the user as soon as he/she performs a predefined gesture at runtime. WiID integrates with the WiFi based gesture recognition systems as an add-on module whose sole objective is to identify the users that perform the predefined gestures. The design of WiID is based on our novel result which states that the timeseries of the frequencies that appear in WiFi channel's frequency response while performing a given gesture are different in the samples of that gesture performed by different users, and are similar in the samples of that gesture performed by the same user. We implemented and extensively evaluated WiID in a variety of environments using a comprehensive data set comprising over 25,000 gesture samples.
Data and Expert Models for Sleep Timing and Chronotype Estimation from Smartphone Context Data and Simulations
Authors: Wahl Florian , Amft Oliver
Published: September 2018

We present a sleep timing estimation approach that combines data-driven estimators with an expert model and uses smartphone context data. Our data-driven methodology comprises a classifier trained on features from smartphone sensors. Another classifier uses time as input. Expert knowledge is incorporated via the human circadian and homeostatic two process model. We investigate the two process model as output filter on classifier results and as fusion method to combine sensor and time classifiers. We analyse sleep timing estimation performance, in data from a two-week free-living study of 13 participants and sensor data simulations of arbitrary sleep schedules, amounting to 98280 nights. Five intuitive sleep parameters were derived to control the simulation. Moreover, we investigate model personalisation, by retraining classifiers based on participant feedback. The joint data and expert model yields an average relative estimation error of -2±62 min for sleep onset and -5±70 min for wake (absolute errors 40±48 min and 42±57 min, mean median absolute deviation 22 min and 15 min), which significantly outperforms data-driven methods. Moreover, the data and expert models combination remains robust under varying sleep schedules. Personalising data models with user feedback from the last two days showed the largest performance gain of 57% for sleep onset and 59% for wake up. Our power-efficient smartphone app makes convenient everyday sleep monitoring finally realistic.
MultiSoft
Authors: Yoon Sang Ho , Paredes Luis , Huo Ke , Ramani Karthik
Published: September 2018

We introduce MultiSoft, a multilayer soft sensor capable of sensing real-time contact localization, classification of deformation types, and estimation of deformation magnitudes. We propose a multimodal sensing pipeline that carries out both inverse problem solving and machine learning tasks. Specifically, we employ an electrical impedance tomography (EIT) for contact localization and a support vector machine (SVM) for classifying deformations and regressing their magnitudes. We propose a deformation-aware system which enables maintaining a persistent single-point contact localization throughout the deformation. By updating a time-varying distribution of conductivity change caused by deformations, a single-point contact localization can be maintained and restored to support interaction using both contact localization and deformations.We devise a multilayer structure to fabricate a highly stretchable and flexible soft sensor with a short sensor settlement after excitations. Through a series of experiments and evaluations, we validate both raw sensor and multimodal sensing performance with the proposed method. We further demonstrate applicability and feasibility of MultiSoft with example applications.
TeamSense
Authors: Zhang Yanxia , Olenick Jeffrey , Chang Chu-Hsiang , Kozlowski Steve W. J. , Hung Hayley
Published: September 2018

Continuous monitoring with unobtrusive wearable social sensors is becoming a popular method to assess individual affect states and team effectiveness in human research. A large number of applications have demonstrated the effectiveness of applying wearable sensing in corporate settings; for example, in short periodic social events or in a university campus. However, little is known of how we can automatically detect individual affect and group cohesion for long duration missions. Predicting negative affect states and low cohesiveness is vital for team missions. Knowing team members' negative states allows timely interventions to enhance their effectiveness. This work investigates whether sensing social interactions and individual behaviors with wearable sensors can provide insights into assessing individual affect states and group cohesion. We analyzed wearable sensor data from a team of six crew members who were deployed on a four-month simulation of a space exploration mission at a remote location. Our work proposes to recognize team members' affect states and group cohesion as a binary classification problem using novel behavior features that represent dyadic interaction and individual activities. Our method aggregates features from individual members into group levels to predict team cohesion. Our results show that the behavior features extracted from the wearable social sensors provide useful information in assessing personal affect and team cohesion. Group task cohesion can be predicted with a high performance of over 0.8 AUC. Our work demonstrates that we can extract social interactions from sensor data to predict group cohesion in longitudinal missions. We found that quantifying behavior patterns including dyadic interactions and face-to-face communications are important in assessing team process.
Intermediary Asset Pricing and the Financial Crisis
Authors: He Zhiguo , Krishnamurthy Arvind
Published: September 2018

Intermediary asset pricing understands asset prices and risk premia through the lens of frictions in financial intermediation. Perhaps motivated by phenomena in the financial crisis, intermediary asset pricing has been one of the fastest-growing areas of research in finance. This article explains the theory behind intermediary asset pricing and, in particular, how it is different from other approaches to asset pricing. This article also covers selective empirical evidence in favor of intermediary asset pricing.
Chemical Modifications in the Life of an mRNA Transcript
Authors: Nachtergaele Sigrid , He Chuan
Published: September 2018

Investigations over the past eight years of chemical modifications on messenger RNA (mRNA) have revealed a new level of posttranscriptional gene regulation in eukaryotes. Rapid progress in our understanding of these modifications, particularly, N6-methyladenosine (m6A), has revealed their roles throughout the life cycle of an mRNA transcript. m6A methylation provides a rapid mechanism for coordinated transcriptome processing and turnover that is important in embryonic development and cell differentiation. In response to cellular signals, m6A can also regulate the translation of specific pools of transcripts. These mechanisms can be hijacked in human diseases, including numerous cancers and viral infection. Beyond m6A, many other mRNA modifications have been mapped in the transcriptome, but much less is known about their biological functions. As methods continue to be developed, we will be able to study these modifications both more broadly and in greater depth, which will likely reveal a wealth of new RNA biology.
The Caring Continuum: Evolved Hormonal and Proximal Mechanisms Explain Prosocial and Antisocial Extremes
Authors: Marsh Abigail A.
Published: September 2018

Implicit in the long-standing disagreements about whether humans’ fundamental nature is predominantly caring or callous is an assumption of uniformity. This article reviews evidence that instead supports inherent variation in caring motivation and behavior. The continuum between prosocial and antisocial extremes reflects variation in the structure and function of neurohormonal systems originally adapted to motivate parental care and since repurposed to support generalized forms of care. Extreme social behaviors such as extraordinary acts of altruism and aggression can often be best understood as reflecting variation in the neural systems that support care. A review of comparative, developmental, and neurobiological research finds consistent evidence that variations in caring motivations and behavior reflect individual differences in sensitivity to cues that signal vulnerability and distress and in the tendency to generalize care outward from socially close to distant others. The often complex relationships between caring motivation and various forms of altruism and aggression are discussed.
Microbiota modulation by eating patterns and diet composition: impact on food intake
Authors: Klingbeil Elizabeth , de La Serre Claire B.
Published: September 2018

There is accumulating evidence that the gut microbiota and its composition dynamics play a crucial role in regulating the host physiological functions and behavior. Diet composition is the primary modulator of bacterial richness and abundance in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Macronutrient (fat, sugar, and protein) and fiber contents are especially important in determining microbiota composition and its effect on health outcomes and behavior. In addition to food composition, time of intake and eating patterns have recently been shown to significantly affect gut bacterial makeup. Diet-driven unfavorable microbiota composition, or dysbiosis, can lead to an increased production of proinflammatory by-products such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Increased inflammatory potential is associated with alteration in gut permeability, resulting in elevated levels of LPS in the bloodstream, or metabolic endotoxemia. We have found that a chronic increase in circulating LPS is sufficient to induce hyperphagia in rodents. Chronic LPS treatment appears to specifically impair the gut-brain axis and vagally mediated satiety signaling. The vagus nerve relays information on the quantity and quality of nutrients in the GI tract to the nucleus of solitary tract in the brain stem. There is evidence that microbiota dysbiosis is associated with remodeling of the vagal afferent pathway and that normalizing the microbiota composition in rats fed a high-fat diet is sufficient to prevent vagal remodeling. Taken together, these data support a role for the microbiota in regulating gut-brain communication and eating behavior. Bacteria-originating inflammation may play a key role in impairment of diet-driven satiety and the development of hyperphagia.
Hemostatic responses to exercise, dehydration, and simulated bleeding in heat-stressed humans
Authors: Borgman Matthew A. , Zaar Morten , Aden James K. , Schlader Zachary J. , Gagnon Daniel , Rivas Eric , Kern Jena , Koons Natalie J. , Convertino Victor A. , Cap Andrew P. , Crandall Craig
Published: September 2018

Heat stress followed by an accompanying hemorrhagic challenge may influence hemostasis. We tested the hypothesis that hemostatic responses would be increased by passive heat stress, as well as exercise-induced heat stress, each with accompanying central hypovolemia to simulate a hemorrhagic insult. In aim 1, subjects were exposed to passive heating or normothermic time control, each followed by progressive lower-body negative pressure (LBNP) to presyncope. In aim 2 subjects exercised in hyperthermic environmental conditions, with and without accompanying dehydration, each also followed by progressive LBNP to presyncope. At baseline, pre-LBNP, and post-LBNP (<1, 30, and 60 min), hemostatic activity of venous blood was evaluated by plasma markers of hemostasis and thrombelastography. For aim 1, both hyperthermic and normothermic LBNP (H-LBNP and N-LBNP, respectively) resulted in higher levels of factor V, factor VIII, and von Willebrand factor antigen compared with the time control trial (all P < 0.05), but these responses were temperature independent. Hyperthermia increased fibrinolysis [clot lysis 30 min after the maximal amplitude reflecting clot strength (LY30)] to 5.1% post-LBNP compared with 1.5% (time control) and 2.7% in N-LBNP ( P = 0.05 for main effect). Hyperthermia also potentiated increased platelet counts post-LBNP as follows: 274 K/µl for H-LBNP, 246 K/µl for N-LBNP, and 196 K/µl for time control ( P < 0.05 for the interaction). For aim 2, hydration status associated with exercise in the heat did not affect the hemostatic activity, but fibrinolysis (LY30) was increased to 6–10% when subjects were dehydrated compared with an increase to 2–4% when hydrated ( P = 0.05 for treatment). Central hypovolemia via LBNP is a primary driver of hemostasis compared with hyperthermia and dehydration effects. However, hyperthermia does induce significant thrombocytosis and by itself causes an increase in clot lysis. Dehydration associated with exercise-induced heat stress increases clot lysis but does not affect exercise-activated or subsequent hypovolemia-activated hemostasis in hyperthermic humans. Clinical implications of these findings are that quickly restoring a hemorrhaging hypovolemic trauma patient with cold noncoagulant fluids (crystalloids) can have serious deleterious effects on the body’s innate ability to form essential clots, and several factors can increase clot lysis, which should therefore be closely monitored.
Hypoxia activates a neuropeptidergic pathway from the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus to the nucleus tractus solitarii
Authors: Ruyle Brian C. , Klutho Paula J. , Baines Christopher P. , Heesch Cheryl M. , Hasser Eileen M.
Published: September 2018

The paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) contributes to both autonomic and neuroendocrine function. PVN lesion or inhibition blunts cardiorespiratory responses to peripheral chemoreflex activation, suggesting that the PVN is required for full expression of these effects. However, the role of efferent projections to cardiorespiratory nuclei and the neurotransmitters/neuromodulators that are involved is unclear. The PVN sends dense projections to the nucleus tractus solitarii (nTS), a region that displays neuronal activation following hypoxia. We hypothesized that acute hypoxia activates nTS-projecting PVN neurons. Using a combination of retrograde tracing and immunohistochemistry, we determined whether hypoxia activates PVN neurons that project to the nTS and examined the phenotype of these neurons. Conscious rats underwent 2 h normoxia (21% O2, n = 5) or hypoxia (10% O2, n = 6). Hypoxia significantly increased Fos immunoreactivity in nTS-projecting neurons, primarily in the caudal PVN. The majority of activated nTS-projecting neurons contained corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH). In the nTS, fibers expressing the CRH receptor corticotropin-releasing factor receptor 2 (CRFR2) were colocalized with oxytocin (OT) fibers and were closely associated with hypoxia-activated nTS neurons. A separate group of animals that received a microinjection of adeno-associated virus type 2-hSyn-green fluorescent protein (GFP) into the PVN exhibited GFP-expressing fibers in the nTS; a proportion of these fibers displayed OT immunoreactivity. Thus, nTS CRFR2s appear to be located on the fibers of PVN OT neurons that project to the nTS. Taken together, our findings suggest that PVN CRH projections to the nTS may modulate nTS neuronal activation, possibly via OTergic mechanisms, and thus contribute to chemoreflex cardiorespiratory responses.
Palmitate aggravates proteinuria-induced cell death and inflammation via CD36-inflammasome axis in the proximal tubular cells of obese mice
Authors: Li Lung-Chih , Yang Jenq-Lin , Lee Wen-Chin , Chen Jin-Bor , Lee Chien-Te , Wang Pei-Wen , Vaghese Zac , Chen Wei-Yu
Published: September 2018

High levels of serum free fatty acids (FFAs) and proteinuria have been implicated in the pathogenesis of obesity-related nephropathy. CD36, a class B scavenger receptor, is highly expressed in the renal proximal tubules and mediates FFA uptake. It is not clear whether FFA- and proteinuria-mediated CD36 activation coordinates NLRP3 inflammasomes to induce renal tubular injury and inflammation. In this study, we investigated the roles of CD36 and NLRP3 inflammasomes in FFA-induced renal injury in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity. HFD-fed C57BL/6 mice and palmitate-treated HK2 renal tubular cells were used as in vivo and in vitro models. Immunohistochemical staining showed that CD36, IL-1β, and IL-18 levels increased progressively in the kidneys of HFD-fed mice. Sulfo- N-succinimidyl oleate (SSO), a CD36 inhibitor, attenuated the HFD-induced upregulation of NLRP3, IL-1β, and IL-18 and suppressed the colocalization of NLRP3 and ASC in renal tubular cells. In vitro, SSO abolished the palmitate-induced activation of IL-1β, IL-18, and caspase-1 in HK2 proximal tubular cells. Furthermore, treatment with SSO and the knockdown of caspase-1 expression by siRNA both inhibited palmitate-induced cell death and apoptosis in HK2 cells. Collectively, palmitate causes renal tubular inflammation, cell death, and apoptosis via the CD36/NLRP3/caspase-1 axis, which may explain, at least in part, the mechanism underlying FFA-related renal tubular injury. The blockade of CD36-induced cellular processes is therefore a promising strategy for treating obesity-related nephropathy.
Somatosensory perceptual training enhances motor learning by observing
Authors: McGregor Heather R. , Cashaback Joshua G. A. , Gribble Paul L.
Published: September 2018

Action observation activates brain regions involved in sensory-motor control. Recent research has shown that action observation can also facilitate motor learning; observing a tutor undergoing motor learning results in functional plasticity within the motor system and gains in subsequent motor performance. However, the effects of observing motor learning extend beyond the motor domain. Converging evidence suggests that observation also results in somatosensory functional plasticity and somatosensory perceptual changes. This work has raised the possibility that the somatosensory system is also involved in motor learning that results from observation. Here we tested this hypothesis using a somatosensory perceptual training paradigm. If the somatosensory system is indeed involved in motor learning by observing, then improving subjects' somatosensory function before observation should enhance subsequent motor learning by observing. Subjects performed a proprioceptive discrimination task in which a robotic manipulandum moved the arm, and subjects made judgments about the position of their hand. Subjects in a Trained Learning group received trial-by-trial feedback to improve their proprioceptive perception. Subjects in an Untrained Learning group performed the same task without feedback. All subjects then observed a learning video showing a tutor adapting her reaches to a left force field. Subjects in the Trained Learning group, who had superior proprioceptive acuity before observation, benefited more from observing learning than subjects in the Untrained Learning group. Improving somatosensory function can therefore enhance subsequent observation-related gains in motor learning. This study provides further evidence in favor of the involvement of the somatosensory system in motor learning by observing.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY We show that improving somatosensory performance before observation can improve the extent to which subjects learn from watching others. Somatosensory perceptual training may prime the sensory-motor system, thereby facilitating subsequent observational learning. The findings of this study suggest that the somatosensory system supports motor learning by observing. This finding may be useful if observation is incorporated as part of therapies for diseases affecting movement, such as stroke.
Calcium stores regulate excitability in cultured rat hippocampal neurons
Authors: Segal Menahem
Published: September 2018

Extracellular calcium ions support synaptic activity but also reduce excitability of central neurons. In the present study, the effect of calcium on excitability was explored in cultured hippocampal neurons. CaCl2 injected by pressure in the vicinity of a neuron that is bathed only in MgCl2 as the main divalent cation caused a depolarizing shift in action potential threshold and a reduction in excitability. This effect was not seen if the intracellular milieu consisted of Cs+ instead of K-gluconate as the main cation or when it contained ruthenium red, which blocks release of calcium from stores. The suppression of excitability by calcium was mimicked by caffeine, and calcium store antagonists cyclopiazonic acid or thapsigargin blocked this action. Neurons taken from synaptopodin-knockout mice show significantly reduced efficacy of calcium modulation of action potential threshold. Likewise, in Orai1 knockdown cells, calcium is less effective in modulating excitability of neurons. Activation of small-conductance K (SK) channels increased action potential threshold akin to that produced by calcium ions, whereas blockade of SK channels but not big K channels reduced the threshold for action potential discharge. These results indicate that calcium released from stores may suppress excitability of central neurons.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Extracellular calcium reduces excitability of cultured hippocampal neurons. This effect is mediated by calcium-gated potassium currents, possibly small-conductance K channels. Release of calcium from internal stores mimics the effect of extracellular calcium. It is proposed that calcium stores modulate excitability of central neurons.
Functional anatomy of human extraocular muscles during fusional divergence
Authors: Demer Joseph L. , Clark Robert A.
Published: September 2018

We employed magnetic resonance imaging to quantify human extraocular muscle contractility during centered target fusion and fusional divergence repeated with each eye viewing monocularly at 20 cm through 8Δ and at 400 cm through 4Δ base in prism. Contractility, indicated by posterior partial volume (PPV) change, was analyzed in transverse rectus and in medial and lateral superior oblique (SO) muscle compartments and by cross-sectional area change in the inferior oblique (IO). At 20 cm, 3.1 ± 0.5° (SE) diverging eye abduction in 10 subjects was associated with 4.2 ± 1.5% whole lateral rectus (LR) PPV increase ( P < 0.05) and 1.7 ± 1.1% overall medial rectus (MR) PPV decrease attributable to 3.1 ± 1.8% reduction in the superior compartment ( P < 0.025), without change in its inferior compartment or in muscles of the aligned eye. At 400 cm, 2.2 ± 0.5° diverging eye abduction in nine subjects was associated with 6.1 ± 1.3% whole LR PPV increase ( P < 10−5) but no change in MR, with compartmentally similar relaxation in the LR and MR of the aligned eye. Unlike convergence, there were no IO or SO contractile changes for divergence to either target nor any change in rectus pulley positions. Results confirm and extend to proximal divergence the unique role of the superior MR compartment, yet no MR role for far divergence. Corelaxation of aligned eye LR and MR combined with failure of MR relaxation during divergence is consistent with the limited behavioral range of divergence.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Magnetic resonance imaging shows that the lateral rectus muscle must overcome continued contraction by its opponent the medial rectus when humans diverge their visual axes to achieve single, binocular vision. While the upper but not lower compartment of the medial rectus assists by relaxing for near targets, it does not do so when targets are far away. This behavior violates Sherrington’s law of reciprocal action of antagonists and conventional assumptions about the ocular motor system.
The Stability of a Movable High-Strength Inverted-Triangular Steel Bridge
Authors: Gao Lei , Bai Linyue , Jiang Kebin , Wang Qiang , He Xiaohui
Published: September 2018

The overall stability of a movable high-strength inverted-triangular steel bridge is worth studying because of its new truss structure. In this study, an approach was proposed based on the stiffness equivalence principle in which the inverted-triangle truss structure was modeled as a thin-walled triangular beam. On this basis, the calculation of the critical load of elastic stability of a movable high-strength inverted-triangular steel bridge with variable rigidity at both ends and locally uniformly distributed load was carried out based on the energy theory, which was in good agreement with existing theories. A material performance test at BS700 was carried out to establish the material properties, and then a finite element model of the bridge was established, the results of which were compared with those of the experimental load test, in order to verify the accuracy of the finite element model. Considering material nonlinearity and geometric nonlinearity, nonlinear buckling analysis of the bridge was conducted and the factors influencing the bridge’s ultimate bearing capacity were analyzed.
Applying an Ethical Framework to Herbal Medicine
Authors: Chatfield Kate , Salehi Bahare , Sharifi-Rad Javad , Afshar Leila
Published: September 2018

Herbal medicines make a vital contribution to healthcare globally, but from production through to practice, there are ethical challenges that require attention. Ethical challenges are often analysed through application of an ethical framework because this can facilitate a consistent and structured approach. In healthcare, the most commonly used framework over recent decades has been that of the four principles: beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, and justice. However, for various reasons that are explained, this approach to ethical analysis is not the most fitting for the global phenomenon of herbal medicine. In this paper, a relatively new moral framework that is based upon the globally accepted values of care, respect, honesty, and fairness is explored in relation to herbal medicine for the first time. Through application of this framework, the ethical challenges and actions needed to address them become clear, thus resulting in practical recommendations for enhancing ethical standards in herbal medicine.
Mechanisms of Zuogui Pill in Treating Osteoporosis: Perspective from Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Authors: Yang Aofei , Yu Chaochao , You Fang , He Chengjian , Li Zhanghua
Published: September 2018

The current treatment strategies for osteoporosis (OP) involve promoting osteogenic differentiation and inhibiting adipogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). According to a theory of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the kidneys contain an “essence” that regulate bone metabolism and generate marrow. Kidney disorders are therefore considered to be a major cause of OP as per the principles of TCM, which recommends kidney‐tonifying treatments for OP. The Zuogui pill (ZGP) is a classic kidney‐tonifying medication that effectively improves OP symptoms. Studies have shown that ZGP can promote the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs, providing scientific evidence for the TCM theory linking kidneys with bone metabolism. In this review, we have provided an overview of recent studies that examined the underlying mechanisms of ZGP mediated regulation of BMSC osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation.