bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fecal microbiota transplantation results in bacterial strain displacement in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases
Authors: Zou Manli , Jie Zhuye , Cui Bota , Wang Honggang , Feng Qiang , Zou Yuanqiang , Zhang Xiuqing , Yang Huanming , Wang Jian , Zhang Faming , Jia Huijue
Published: October 2019

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), which is thought to have the potential to correct dysbiosis of gut microbiota, has been used to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) for almost a decade. Here, we report an interventional prospective cohort study performed to elucidate the extent of and processes underlying microbiota engraftment in IBD patients after FMT treatment. The cohort included two categories of patients: (a) patients with moderate to severe Crohn’s disease (CD) (Harvey–Bradshaw Index ≥ 7, n = 11) and (b) patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) (Montreal classification S2 and S3, n = 4). All patients were treated with a single FMT (via mid‐gut, from healthy donors), and follow‐up visits were performed at baseline, 3 days, 1 week, and 1 month after FMT (missing time points included). At each follow‐up time point, fecal samples and clinical metadata were collected. For comparative analysis, 10 fecal samples from 10 healthy donors were included to represent the diversity level of normal gut microbiota. Additionally, the metagenomic data of 25 fecal samples from five individuals with metabolic syndrome who underwent autologous FMT treatment were downloaded from a previous published paper to represent fluctuations in microbiota induced during FMT. All fecal samples underwent shotgun metagenomic sequencing. We found that 3 days after FMT, 11 out of 15 recipients were in remission (three out of four UC recipients; 8 out of 11 CD recipients). Generally, bacterial colonization was observed to be lower in CD recipients than in UC recipients at both species and strain levels. Furthermore, across species, different strains displayed disease‐specific displacement advantages under two‐disease status. Finally, most post‐FMT species (> 80%) could be properly predicted (area under the curve > 85%) using a random forest classification model, with the gut microbiota composition and clinical parameters of pre‐FMT recipients acting as factors that contribute to prediction accuracy.
Compartmentalized Jet Polymerization as a High‐Resolution Process to Continuously Produce Anisometric Microgel Rods with Adjustable Size and Stiffness
Authors: Krüger Andreas J. D. , Bakirman Onur , Guerzoni Luis. P. B. , Jans Alexander , Gehlen David B. , Rommel Dirk , Haraszti Tamás , Kuehne Alexander J. C. , De Laporte Laura
Published: October 2019

In the past decade, anisometric rod‐shaped microgels have attracted growing interest in the materials‐design and tissue‐engineering communities. Rod‐shaped microgels exhibit outstanding potential as versatile building blocks for 3D hydrogels, where they introduce macroscopic anisometry, porosity, or functionality for structural guidance in biomaterials. Various fabrication methods have been established to produce such shape‐controlled elements. However, continuous high‐throughput production of rod‐shaped microgels with simultaneous control over stiffness, size, and aspect ratio still presents a major challenge. A novel microfluidic setup is presented for the continuous production of rod‐shaped microgels from microfluidic plug flow and jets. This system overcomes the current limitations of established production methods for rod‐shaped microgels. Here, an on‐chip gelation setup enables fabrication of soft microgel rods with high aspect ratios, tunable stiffness, and diameters significantly smaller than the channel diameter. This is realized by exposing jets of a microgel precursor to a high intensity light source, operated at specific pulse sequences and frequencies to induce ultra‐fast photopolymerization, while a change in flow rates or pulse duration enables variation of the aspect ratio. The microgels can assemble into 3D structures and function as support for cell culture and tissue engineering.
Room‐Temperature Active Modulation of Valley Dynamics in a Monolayer Semiconductor through Chiral Purcell Effects
Authors: Wu Zilong , Li Jingang , Zhang Xiaotian , Redwing Joan M. , Zheng Yuebing
Published: October 2019

Spin‐dependent contrasting phenomena at K and K′ valleys in monolayer semiconductors have led to addressable valley degree of freedom, which is the cornerstone for emerging valleytronic applications in information storage and processing. Tunable and active modulation of valley dynamics in a monolayer WSe2 is demonstrated at room temperature through controllable chiral Purcell effects in plasmonic chiral metamaterials. The strong spin‐dependent modulation on the spontaneous decay of valley excitons leads to tunable handedness and spectral shift of valley‐polarized emission, which is analyzed and predicted by an advanced theoretical model and further confirmed by experimental measurements. Moreover, large active spectral tuning (≈24 nm) and reversible ON/OFF switching of circular polarization of emission are achieved by the solvent‐controllable thickness of the dielectric spacer in the metamaterials. With the on‐demand and active tunability in valley‐polarized emission, chiral Purcell effects can provide new strategies to harness valley excitons for applications in ultrathin valleytronic devices.
Tissue microarray analysis reveals that cofilin expression is a poor prognostic factor in juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma
Authors: Li Wanpeng , Wang Huan , Yu Huapeng , Wang Jingjing , Song Xiaole , Liu Zhuofu , Liu Juan , Hu Li , Li Han , Wang Dehui , Sun Xicai
Published: October 2019

Background

Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (JNA) has a high recurrence rate after surgery. Cofilin overexpression is associated with increased tumor cell metastasis, and progression of various human cancers. However, studies on cofilin expression in JNA are rare. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression and localization of cofilin in a tissue microarray (TMA) of JNA specimens. In addition, we also analyzed its correlation with clinicopathological features and recurrence.

Methods

Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect cofilin expression in a TMA of samples from 70 JNA patients and 10 control subjects. The association between clinicopathological variables and cofilin immunostaining was analyzed using Pearson's chi‐square test. Kaplan‐Meier survival analysis was used to calculate the disease‐free survival rate, and investigate the effect of cofilin expression on time to recurrence (TTR) in JNA patients. The Cox regression model was used for multivariate survival analysis.

Results

Cofilin was detected in irregular smooth muscle cells, pericytes, less differentiated stromal cells, and plump cells, but not in inactive fibroblasts and mature vascular endothelial cells of JNA specimens. The presence of cofilin in JNA was correlated with tumor stage (p = 0.012) and volume of intraoperative hemorrhage (p < 0.001). JNA patients with high cofilin expression had a higher recurrence rate than those with low cofilin expression (p = 0.012). Cofilin expression and patient's age were significant predictors of TTR, and cofilin was a better predictor for disease recurrence (area under the receiver operating curve [AUROC; 0.711; p = 0.005) than other clinicopathological features.

Conclusion

Cofilin is an independent prognostic marker for JNA patients who have undergone surgical treatment and may represent a novel therapeutic target for extensive JNA.
Antiepileptic Drugs and Suicide: Role of Prior Suicidal Behavior and Parental Psychiatric Disorder
Authors: Dreier Julie W. , Pedersen Carsten B. , Gasse Christiane , Christensen Jakob
Published: October 2019

Objective

To examine whether prior suicidal behavior and familial predisposition to psychiatric disorders modify the association between antiepileptic drug use and completed suicide.

Methods

Using the Danish National Prescription Register, we identified all incident users of antiepileptic drugs aged 15 years or older in Denmark between July 1997 and December 2015. We carried out a nested case–control study and defined exposure to antiepileptic drugs at the index date (ie, time of suicide). Conditional logistic regressions were used to estimate mortality rate ratios (MRRs) of suicide in current versus previous users of antiepileptic drugs. We also analyzed suicide risk associated with the 9 most commonly used antiepileptic drugs.

Results

We identified 1,759 individuals completing suicide. Current versus previous use of any antiepileptic drug was associated with an increased risk of suicide (MRR = 1.26, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.13–1.40). This excess risk was observed in individuals with a history of suicidal behavior (MRR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.07–1.54) and in those without (MRR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.11–1.43), and in individuals with a familial predisposition to psychiatric disorders (MRR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.18–1.87) and in those without (MRR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.07–1.35).

Interpretation

Use of antiepileptic drugs was associated with an increased risk of suicide. The findings do not support that the risk of suicide following treatment with antiepileptic drugs identified in randomized trials is explained by prior suicidality or familial predisposition to psychiatric disorders. The additional risk of suicide associated with use of antiepileptic drugs was generally low and should be balanced against benefits of treatment. ANN NEUROL 2019;86:951–961
Trans‐selektive Dihydroborierung eines cis‐Diborens durch Insertion: Synthese eines linearen sp3‐sp2‐sp3‐Triborans und anschließende Kationisierung
Authors: Schmidt Uwe , Werner Luis , Arrowsmith Merle , Deissenberger Andrea , Hermann Alexander , Hofmann Alexander , Ullrich Stefan , Mattock James D. , Vargas Alfredo , Braunschweig Holger
Published: October 2019

Die Reaktion zwischen Aryl‐ und Amino(dihydro)boranen und Dibora[2]ferrocenophan 1 führt zur Bildung von 1,3‐trans‐Dihydrotriboranen durch formale Hydrierung und Insertion eines Borylens in die B=B Doppelbindung. Die Aryltriboran‐Derivate unterliegen einer reversiblen Photoisomerisierung zugunsten eines cis‐1,2‐μ‐H‐3‐Hydrotriborans, während eine Hydridabstraktion zu kationischen Triboranen führt, welche die ersten doppelt basenstabilisierten B3H4+‐Analoga darstellen.
Lattice Distortion in Hollow Multi‐Shelled Structures for Efficient Visible‐Light CO2Reduction with a SnS2/SnO2Junction
Authors: You Feifei , Wan Jiawei , Qi Jian , Mao Dan , Yang Nailiang , Zhang Qinghua , Gu Lin , Wang Dan
Published: October 2019

Precise control of the micro‐/nanostructures of nanomaterials, such as hollow multi‐shelled structures (HoMSs), has shown its great advantages in various applications. Now, the crystal structure of building blocks of HoMSs are controlled by introducing the lattice distortion in HoMSs, for the first time. The lattice distortion located at the nanoscale interface of SnS2/SnO2can provide additional active sites, which not only provide the catalytic activity under visible light but also improve the separation of photoexcited electron–hole pairs. Combined with the efficient light utilization, the natural advantage of HoMSs, a record catalytic activity was achieved in solid–gas system for CO2reduction, with an excellent stability and 100 % CO selectivity without using any sensitizers or noble metals.
Acyl Migration versus Epoxidation in Gold Catalysis: Facile, Switchable, and Atom‐Economic Synthesis of Acylindoles and Quinoline Derivatives
Authors: Tian Xianhai , Song Lina , Farshadfar Kaveh , Rudolph Matthias , Rominger Frank , Oeser Thomas , Ariafard Alireza , Hashmi A. Stephen K.
Published: October 2019

We report a switchable synthesis of acylindoles and quinoline derivatives via gold‐catalyzed annulations of anthranils and ynamides. α‐Imino gold carbenes, generated in situ from anthranils and an N,O‐coordinated gold(III) catalyst, undergo electrophilic attack to the aryl π‐bond, followed by unexpected and highly selective 1,4‐ or 1,3‐acyl migrations to form 6‐acylindoles or 5‐acylindoles. With the (2‐biphenyl)di‐tert‐butylphosphine (JohnPhos) ligand, gold(I) carbenes experienced carbene/carbonyl additions to deliver quinoline oxides. Some of these epoxides are valuable substrates for the preparation of 3‐hydroxylquinolines, quinolin‐3(4H)‐ones, and polycyclic compounds via facile in situ rearrangements. The reaction can be efficiently conducted on a gram scale and the obtained products are valuable substrates for preparing other potentially useful compounds. A computational study explained the unexpected selectivities and the dependency of the reaction pathway on the oxidation state and ligands of gold. With gold(III) the barrier for the formation of the strained oxirane ring is too high; whereas with gold(I) this transition state becomes accessible. Furthermore, energetic barriers to migration of the substituents on the intermediate sigma‐complexes support the observed substitution pattern in the final product.
In Situ Observation of Dynamic Galvanic Replacement Reactions in Twinned Metallic Nanowires by Liquid Cell Transmission Electron Microscopy
Authors: Zhuang Chunqiang , Qi Heyang , Cheng Xing , Chen Ge , Gao Chunlang , Wang Lihua , Sun Shaorui , Zou Jin , Han Xiaodong
Published: October 2019

Galvanic replacement is a versatile approach to prepare hollow nanostructures with controllable morphology and elemental composition. The primary issue is to identify its fundamental mechanism. In this study, in situ liquid cell transmission electron microscopy was employed to monitor the dynamic reaction process and to explore the mechanism of galvanic replacement. The detailed reaction process was revealed based on in situ experiments in which small Au particles first appeared around Ag nanowires; they coalesced, grew, and adhered to Ag nanowires. After that, small pits grew from the edge of Ag nanowires to form tubular structures, and then extended along the Ag nanowires to obtain hollowed structures. All of our experimental observations from the viewpoint of electron microscopy, combined with DFT calculations, contribute towards an in‐depth understanding of the galvanic replacement reaction process and the design of new materials with hollow structures.
trans‐Selective Insertional Dihydroboration of a cis‐Diborene: Synthesis of Linear sp3‐sp2‐sp3‐Triboranes and Subsequent Cationization
Authors: Schmidt Uwe , Werner Luis , Arrowsmith Merle , Deissenberger Andrea , Hermann Alexander , Hofmann Alexander , Ullrich Stefan , Mattock James D. , Vargas Alfredo , Braunschweig Holger
Published: October 2019

The reaction of aryl‐ and amino(dihydro)boranes with dibora[2]ferrocenophane 1 leads to the formation 1,3‐trans‐dihydrotriboranes by formal hydrogenation and insertion of a borylene unit into the B=B bond. The aryltriborane derivatives undergo reversible photoisomerization to the cis‐1,2‐μ‐H‐3‐hydrotriboranes, while hydride abstraction affords cationic triboranes, which represent the first doubly base‐stabilized B3H4+ analogues.
Identification of Ligand‐binding Hotspot Residues of CDK4 Using Molecular Docking and Molecular Dynamics Simulation
Authors: Balasubramanian Pavithra K. , Lee Yeongjoon , Kim Yangmee
Published: October 2019

Cyclin‐dependent protein kinases (CDKs) are serine/threonine kinases of the CMGC family. The cyclin D/CDK4 complex plays an important role in cell proliferation. Deregulation of the CDK4‐cyclin D pathway leads to uncontrolled cell proliferation, causing various tumors and cancers in humans. CDK4 overexpression is widely observed in colorectal and uterine cervical carcinomas, liposarcomas, osteosarcomas, and breast cancer. CDK4 is extensively studied as a therapeutic target in breast cancer. Hence, the identification of the binding modes of inhibitors and important active‐site residues is crucial. However, an experimentally determined crystal structure of ligand‐bound CDK4 kinase has not been reported to date. Thus, this study aimed to identify hotspot residues in the ligand‐binding interface of CDK4. Three compounds exhibiting very high inhibitory activity against CDK4 (Cpd03, Cpd13, and Cpd14) were selected as potent antagonists in this study. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation were carried out to identify the binding modes and crucial residues. For validation, we calculated total binding free energy and energy decomposition, which identified residues Ala151, Ala30, Asp152, His89, Ile9, Leu141, Phe87, Val17, and Val90 are the highest‐energy contributors important for inhibitor binding. The results of our study provide insights in the binding patterns of CDK4 inhibitors and reveal key residues in the ligand‐binding interface.
Maxillary sinus floor augmentation and simultaneous dental implant placement in a patient with Guillain‐Barre syndrome: A case report
Authors: Faraji Fardin , Bayani Mojtaba , Jafarpour Maryam , Abdolalian Fateme
Published: October 2019

Dental implant placement in patients with Guillain‐Barre syndrome could be accomplished, and it may turn into a successful treatment for edentulous sites and functionally stabilized for long life. However, a proper patient selection, accurate medical consultation with physician, atraumatic surgery, and other important cautions should be considered.
Absorption of ultrashort electromagnetic pulses in plasma with inhomogeneous distribution of density and temperature
Authors: Astapenko Valeriy A. , Sakhno Sergey V. , Lisitsa Valery S.
Published: October 2019

The analysis of influence of the inhomogeneous distribution of temperature and density of atoms on the probability of absorption of ultrashort electromagnetic pulses in plasma is carried out. A specific example of divertor plasma of tokamaks and absorption in the Lyman series (at the Ly‐α line) is considered. It is shown that the absorption probability may exceed relative populations of excited levels in divertor plasma by several orders of magnitude. The influence of the pulse duration on the probability of excitation of an atomic level is considered. The results suggest a possibility of a sharp increase in a fluorescence signal under the action of an ultrashort pulse.
NMDA receptors and the ontogeny of post‐shock and retention freezing during contextual fear conditioning
Authors: Miller Lauren A. , Heroux Nicholas A. , Stanton Mark E.
Published: October 2019

The ontogeny and NMDA‐receptor (NMDAR) mechanisms of context conditioning were examined during standard contextual fear conditioning (sCFC) – involving context and context‐shock learning in the same trial – as a comparison with our previous reports on the Context Preexposure Facilitation Effect (CPFE), which separates these two types of learning by 24 hr. In Experiment 1, systemic administration of the NMDAR antagonist, MK‐801, prior to conditioning disrupted retention but not post‐shock freezing during sCFC in PD31 rats. Experiment 2 replicated and extended this effect to PD17 versus PD31 rats. Consistent with Experiment 1, pre‐training MK‐801 spared post‐shock freezing but impaired retention freezing in PD31 rats. In contrast, pre‐training MK‐801 disrupted post‐shock freezing in PD17 rats, which showed no retention freezing regardless of drug. These results reveal developmental differences in the role of NMDAR activity in the acquisition versus retention of a context‐shock association during sCFC in pre‐weanling and adolescent rats.
Inhibition of the LncRNA Gpr19 attenuates ischemia‐reperfusion injury after acute myocardial infarction by inhibiting apoptosis and oxidative stress via the miR‐324‐5p/Mtfr1 axis
Authors: Huang Liu , Guo Bingyan , Liu Suyun , Miao Chenglong , Li Yongjun
Published: October 2019

Reperfusion therapy after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) can effectively restore the blood supply and nutritional support of ischemic myocardium and save the dying myocardium. However, myocardial ischaemia‐reperfusion (I/R) injury has become a new threat to reperfusion therapy for AMI. Many long‐chain noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are dysregulated by I/R damage. Of these dysregulated lncRNAs, Gpr19 was selected as a potential gene of interest based on its high expression change. We aimed to explore the functional role and molecular mechanism of Gpr19 in I/R injury of AMI. C57BL/6 mice underwent I/R injury as in vivo models. Neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes (NRCMs) exposed to an oxygen glucose deprivation/recovery (OGD/R) system were used as an in vitro model. A TUNEL assay, western blot, and oxidative stress analysis were conducted in this study to determine apoptosis and oxidative stress levels. Our results indicated that inhibition of Gpr19 improves cardiac function and reduces apoptosis and myocardial fibrosis scar formation in vivo. Suppression of Gpr19 attenuates oxidative stress and apoptosis in NRCMs exposed to OGD/R. We further demonstrated that inhibition of Gpr19 decreases oxidative stress and apoptosis in OGD/R‐induced NRCMs by regulating miR‐324‐5p and mitochondrial fission regulator 1 (Mtfr1). We elucidated the functional role and potential molecular mechanism of Gpr19 in I/R injury of AMI, provided a theoretical basis for the importance of Gpr9 in I/R injury, and provided a new perspective for the clinical treatment of I/R injury of AMI.
Efficient synthesis of cefadroxil in [Bmim][NTf2]‐phosphate cosolvent by magnetic immobilized penicillin G acylase
Authors: Zhaoyu Zheng , Chunmiao Hu , Chuanhu Du , Ping Xue , Weiwei Zhang
Published: October 2019

For the first time, cefadroxil was synthesized from 7‐Amino‐3‐desacetoxycephalosporanic acid and d‐hydroxyphenylglycine methyl ester in [Bmim][NTf2]‐phosphate cosolvent capable of dissolving the substrates using the penicillin G acylase (PGA) immobilized on the micrometer‐size magnetic polymer microspheres having high activity of 2,083 U/g. The high synthesis/hydrolysis (S/H) ratio of 1.12 was achieved with 79.0% yield, where only the S/H ratio of 0.19 and yield of 20.0% was obtained using free PGA under the identical optimum reaction conditions. Cefadroxil had been synthesized efficiently in [Bmim][NTf2]‐phosphate cosolvent by the magnetic immobilized PGA, which illuminated that there are two very critical and essential designs, that is, effective support and suitable solvent system by PGA, in enzymatic synthesis of cefadroxil. Obviously, there is great potential for the magnetic immobilized PGA and ionic liquid solvent in application to biocatalysis.
Mitigating resurgence of destructive behavior using the discriminative stimuli of a multiple schedule
Authors: Fisher Wayne W. , Fuhrman Ashley M. , Greer Brian D. , Mitteer Daniel R. , Piazza Cathleen C.
Published: October 2019

Results of several recent translational studies have suggested that correlating contextual or discriminative stimuli with the delivery and withholding of reinforcement for the functional communication response (FCR) may mitigate resurgence of destructive behavior, but few, if any, have isolated the effects of those stimuli. In the present study, we first trained the FCR, brought it under stimulus control of a multiple schedule, and thinned its reinforcement schedule in one stimulus context. Next, we conducted resurgence evaluations (i.e., baseline, functional communication training [FCT], extinction challenge) in two novel contexts to test the effects of the discriminative stimuli on resurgence. We programmed one context to include the (a) SD during the FCT phase to signal the availability of reinforcement for the FCR and (b) SΔ during a subsequent extinction challenge to signal the unavailability of reinforcement for the FCR. The other context did not include the SD during the FCT phase, nor the SΔ during the extinction challenge. We expected to see greater persistence of the FCR in the context that included the SD during FCT and less persistence of the FCR and less resurgence of destructive behavior in the context that included the SΔ during the extinction challenge. Obtained results confirmed this latter prediction, but we observed no reliable difference when the SD was present or absent during the FCT phase. Our results have relevance for practitioners in that they provide further empirical support for the use of discriminative stimuli when treating destructive behavior.
Risk factors for auricular hematoma and recurrence after drainage
Authors: Dalal Prarthana J. , Purkey Matthew R. , Price Caroline P. E. , Sidle Douglas M.
Published: October 2019

Objectives/Hypothesis

To review an institutional experience with auricular hematoma across all clinical settings including the emergency department (ED) and outpatient clinics at an urban tertiary care academic hospital, characterize practice patterns across setting and specialty, and assess for factors predictive of treatment success.

Methods

Patients presenting to the ED, admitted to an inpatient ward, or seen in the outpatient setting between 2000 and 2017 with a diagnosis of auricular hematoma were reviewed. A number of relevant patient features including demographic factors, medications, and social risk factors were analyzed, as were several factors related to the presentation and management of the hematoma to identify variables of clinical significance.

Results

A total of 87 individual cases were identified. Auricular hematomas most commonly occurred in males after sports‐related trauma (e.g., martial arts, wrestling, boxing). Factors associated with lower rates of recurrence included initial treatment by or in consultation with an otolaryngologist and application of a bolster dressing.

Conclusions

In our cohort, initial management of auricular hematoma by an otolaryngologist or with an otolaryngology consultation and placement of a bolster dressing was associated with lower rates of hematoma recurrence.

Level of Evidence

2b

Laryngoscope, 130:628–631, 2020
Cyclic Voltammetric Study of CuO Thin Film Electrodes Prepared by Automatic Spray Pyrolysis
Authors: Kambale Sandesh V. , Jadhav Amar L. , Kore Rohan M. , Thakur Amarsingh V. , Lokhande Balkrishna J.
Published: October 2019

This work deals with the study of effect of scan rate on the cyclic voltammetric performance of cupric oxide (CuO) electrodes prepared using automatic spray pyrolysis. For the synthesis via aqueous route, 50 mL of 1 m Cu(NO3)2·3H2O was used as a precursor solution and stainless steel (SS) plates were used as a conducting substrates. The spray rate was maintained at 2.5 mL min–1, decomposition temperature was kept at 673.15 K. In the analysis, XRD patterns clearly substantiate the formation of CuO on SS. Cyclic voltammetric analysis of the prepared electrodes has been carried out in 1 m KOH at various scan rates from 2 to 100 mV s–1. In CV study, electrode shows decrease in specific capacitance (SC) values with increase in scan rates indicating reversible nature. The achieved highest value of the SC is 58.2 F g–1.
Long noncoding RNA ADAMTS9‐AS2 suppresses the progression of esophageal cancer by mediating CDH3 promoter methylation
Authors: Liu Donglei , Wu Kai , Yang Yang , Zhu Dengyan , Zhang Chunyang , Zhao Song
Published: October 2019

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been implicated in the biology of esophageal cancer via mRNA degradation or translational inhibition. CDH3 is also aberrantly expressed in numerous cancers. This study was conducted with the hypothesis that ADAMTS9‐AS2 or CDH3 methylation plays a role in esophageal cancer cell activity and in vivo development. Firstly, mRNA levels of ADAMTS9‐AS2 and CDH3 in esophageal cancer tissues and cells were detected by reverse‐transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Afterward, esophageal cancer OE21 cells were treated with overexpression of ADAMTS9‐AS2, siRNA against ADAMTS9‐AS2, overexpression of CDH3 and demethylating agent 5‐aza‐dc. The biological functions of esophageal cancer OE21 cells were assayed to define the regulatory mechanisms of ADAMTS9‐AS2 in esophageal cancer. The interactions among ADAMTS9‐AS2, DNMT1/DNMT3 (A/B) and CDH3 were detected by MSP, RNA pull‐down, RIP, and ChIP assays. The in vitro findings were reproduced in nude mice to explore the role of ADAMTS9‐AS2 in the development of esophageal cancer in vivo. Esophageal cancers expressed low levels of ADAMTS9‐AS2 and high levels of CDH3. Methylation of CDH3 promoter was induced by ADAMTS9‐AS2 via DNMT1/DNMT3 (A/B). Furthermore, proliferation, invasion, and migration of esophageal cancer cells were inhibited by ADAMTS9‐AS2 via downregulation of CDH3. Suppressed esophageal cancer development in vivo was also detected after ADAMTS9‐AS2 overexpression. Overexpressed ADAMTS9‐AS2 aids in the suppression of esophageal cancer development, which is achieved via inducing CDH3 promoter methylation.
Compact omnidirectional three‐port MIMO antenna with the same vertical polarization for WLAN applications
Authors: Deng Changjiang , Shi Binlong , Liu Di
Published: October 2019

In this letter, a compact three‐port MIMO antenna with omnidirectional radiation patterns is presented for indoor WLAN applications. The proposed antenna consists of five identical monopoles, one is placed at the center and the other four are sequentially rotated around the center. The central monopole is fed by a microstrip line directly. The other four monopoles are fed by a two‐port feed network that can provide four outputs with equal amplitudes. The phases are progressively increasing in clockwise or anticlockwise direction, depending on the exciting port. All the three ports can generate omnidirectional radiation patterns with the same vertical polarization. The port isolation among the three ports is analyzed in detail. In 2.4 GHz band, the measured port isolation is higher than 15 dB.
An extended formulation for the 1‐wheel inequalities of the stable set polytope
Authors: de Vries Sven , Friedrich Ulf , Perscheid Bernd
Published: October 2019

The 1‐wheel inequalities for the stable set polytope were introduced by Cheng and Cunningham. In general, there is an exponential number of these inequalities. We present a new polynomial size extended formulation of the stable set relaxation that includes the odd cycle and 1‐wheel inequalities. This compact formulation allows one to polynomially optimize over a polyhedron instead of handling the separation problem for 1‐wheel inequalities by solving many shortest walk problems and relying on the ellipsoid method.
The impact of Argo observations in a global weakly coupled ocean–atmosphere data assimilation and short‐range prediction system
Authors: King Robert R. , Lea Daniel J. , Martin Matthew J. , Mirouze Isabelle , Heming Julian
Published: October 2019

The Argo array is a large component of the ocean observing system on which operational ocean forecasts rely. Global observations of the sub‐surface temperature and salinity from Argo enables the accurate initialisation of ocean forecasts, improving the position of currents and the overall energy available for air–sea interactions. Such constraints on the sub‐surface ocean are important for coupled initialisation for seasonal forecasting where the atmosphere is coupled to the upper ocean. As operational centres move toward using coupled atmosphere–ocean models for numerical weather prediction (NWP), it is useful to understand how ocean observations contribute to short‐range coupled forecasts. Using the Met Office Weakly Coupled Data Assimilation system, we have run Observing System Experiments (OSEs) to investigate the effect of withholding Argo observations on short‐range coupled ocean–atmosphere analyses and forecasts. Withholding Argo significantly increases the sub‐surface temperature and salinity RMS errors with consequent changes in the upper ocean heat content and positions of currents. Overall, there is little systematic impact of these ocean differences on global atmosphere analyses. However, in a case‐study over the period of hurricane Sandy (October 2012), we do see that Argo observations have some impact on atmospheric forecasts. The assimilation of Argo observations affects the position of the Gulf Stream leading to a small effect on the position and intensity of hurricane Sandy as it made landfall. As the resolution of the system is quite low compared to operational NWP systems, seeing even a small impact is encouraging. We might expect with future increased‐resolution coupled models that this influence of ocean observations on the atmosphere would only increase.
Erratum to: Lambda models from Chern-Simons theories
Authors: Schmidtt David M.
Published: October 2019

Page 27: the corrected equations numbered as (3.27, 3.28) are, respectively
Sperm morphology and count vary with fine-scale changes in local density in a wild lizard population
Authors: Kustra Matthew C. , Kahrl Ariel F. , Reedy Aaron M. , Warner Daniel A. , Cox Robert M.
Published: October 2019

Given that sperm production can be costly, theory predicts that males should optimally adjust the quantity and/or quality of their sperm in response to their social environment to maximize their paternity success. Although experiments demonstrate that males can alter their ejaculates in response to manipulations of the social environment and studies show that ejaculate traits covary with social environment across populations, it is unknown whether individual variation in sperm traits corresponds to natural variation found within wild populations. Using an island population of brown anole lizards (Anolis sagrei), we tested the prediction that sperm traits (sperm count, sperm morphology, sperm velocity) respond to natural variation in the risk of sperm competition, as inferred from the local density and operational sex ratio (OSR) of conspecifics. We found that males living in high-density areas of the island produced relatively larger sperm midpieces, smaller sperm heads, and lower sperm counts. Sperm traits were unrelated to OSR after accounting for the covariance between OSR and density. Our findings broaden the implications of sperm competition theory to intrapopulation social environment variation by showing that sperm count and sperm morphology vary with fine-scale differences in density within a single wild population.
FocusCP – rehaKIND
Authors: Strobl Walter Michael
Published: October 2019

Im deutschen Sprachraum leben etwa 80.000 Kinder mit Zerebralparesen mit Bedarf für eine dauerhafte, hochspezialisierte medizinisch-therapeutisch-orthopädietechnische Betreuung und Versorgung. All diese Aufgaben sind nur durch ein eng mit dem betroffenen Kind, seiner Familie und Bezugspersonen zusammenarbeitendes Expertenteam möglich. Damit diese Kooperation zum Wohl des Kindes funktioniert, muss eine gemeinsame Sprache erlernt werden. Um dieses Ziel zu erreichen, hatten sich in Deutschland die wissenschaftlichen FocusCP-Kongresse aus einem Zusammenschluss der Neuropädiatrie, Kinderorthopädie und Sozialpädiatrie entwickelt. Parallel dazu entstand RehaKIND als patientennahe Organisation mit dem Ziel, allen betroffenen Kindern und Familien den Zugang zur richtigen Hilfsmittelversorgung und Rehabilitation zu erleichtern. Der Zusammenschluss dieser Institutionen führte nun zu einem gemeinsamen Kongress, dessen Erfolg den richtigen Weg in die Zukunft zu weisen scheint. Vom 6. bis 9. Februar 2019 fand in Fürstenfeldbruck bei München der erste kombinierte Kongress von FocusCP und rehaKIND mit 1300 Teilnehmern, 150 Vortragenden und 60 Ausstellern statt. Sehr viele Expertinnen und Experten und Teilnehmerinnen und Teilnehmer aus dem Therapiebereich, der Medizin und der Orthopädie- und Rehabilitationstechnik aus den deutschsprachigen Ländern konnten von den beiden Kongresspräsidenten, dem Neuropädiater Prof. Dr. Florian Heinen aus München und dem Kinderorthopäden Prof. Dr. Walter Strobl aus Wien, zum Austausch zusammengeführt werden. Das dreieinhalbtägige Programm umfasste wissenschaftliche Sitzungen, patienten- und praxisorientierte Vorträge sowie eine Reihe von Workshops und, um bei der Vielzahl an parallel stattfindenden Sitzungen den Teilnehmern zu helfen, den Überblick zu behalten, jeweils am Tagesende gemeinsame Zusammenfassungen aller Themen.
The case for plural PBL: an analysis of dominant and marginalized perspectives in the globalization of problem-based learning
Authors: Frambach Janneke M. , Talaat Wagdy , Wasenitz Stella , Martimianakis Maria Athina
Published: October 2019

The globalization of problem-based learning (PBL) in health professions education has been both celebrated and criticized. Using a critical narrative review approach, underpinned by our archive of global PBL literature and a targeted literature search, we analyze these dominant global discourses of PBL in health professions education. More precisely, we explore what is missed when the globalization of PBL is theorized either as a positive consequence of standardization, or a problematic spread of Western educational ideals and values around the world. We make visible how two dominant global discourses, a universalist and culturalist discourse, have emerged in the global proliferation of PBL. We also discuss the limitations of the two discourses by demonstrating how they either ignore contextual and cultural diversity or see it as problematic. We then turn to a perspective that has been marginalized in the PBL literature that emphasizes the global origins of PBL, transcending the dichotomy between West and non-West. We make a case for relating to PBL as a plural construct in order to learn from the cultural and situational nuances of educational activities labeled PBL around the world. We argue that PBL as a singular and universal concept has no global future, yet versions of PBL may continue to thrive locally. Finally, we propose avenues for future research that may help elucidate the global and local values that underpin our curricula, as well as the socio-political factors that perpetuate neo-colonialist views and practices in the uptake and implementation of PBL approaches across the globe.
Dissolution of cellulose using a combination of hydroxide bases in aqueous solution
Authors: Swensson Beatrice , Larsson Anette , Hasani Merima
Published: October 2019

In order to further understand the role of the cation when dissolving cellulose in aqueous solutions of hydroxide bases, different bases were combined in solution. Up to 5 wt.% of microcrystalline cellulose was dissolved using a combination of NaOH and the organic base tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) in water at low temperatures. Thermoscans of solutions containing both NaOH(aq) and TMAH(aq) indicated that cellulose interaction with TMAH seems to be favoured over NaOH. Dynamic rheology measurements of the solutions revealed that combining the two bases delayed gelation significantly when compared to cellulose dissolved in NaOH(aq) or TMAH(aq) alone. Intrinsic viscosity of cellulose in the combined NaOH- and TMAH(aq) solutions was slightly higher than that of the single-base solutions, indicating a slight increase in solvent quality. This shows that combining bases may lead to synergies that improve solvent stability without requiring the use of other additives.

Graphic abstract
Correction to: Rituals and explorations in mathematical teaching and learning: introduction to the special issue
Authors: Heyd-Metzuyanim Einat , Graven Mellony
Published: October 2019

The article “Rituals and explorations in mathematical teaching and learning: introduction to the special issue”, written by Einat Heyd-Metzuyanim and Mellony Graven, was originally published electronically on the publisher’s internet portal (currently SpringerLink) on 21 March 2019 without open access.
Situational Correlates of Adolescent Substance Use: An Improved Test of the Routine Activity Theory of Deviant Behavior
Authors: de Jong Ellen , Bernasco Wim , Lammers Marre
Published: October 2019

Objectives

To test the routine activity theory of deviance, we assess whether adolescents are most likely to use substances while they are involved in unstructured activities, in the presence of peers and in the absence of authority figures. We also test whether these situational factors interact.

Methods

A time use instrument was applied to collect hour-by-hour information on activities and substance use from a sample of adolescents. To control for potential confounders, the effects of the three situational factors on substance use were estimated with fixed-effects logit models.

Results

The findings show that adolescents’ substance use takes place during unstructured activities, when peers are present, and when authority figures are absent, and that these situational factors are not strengthened by each other.

Conclusions

Supporting the routine activity theory of deviance, we conclude that unstructured activity, peer presence and absence of authority figures are situational factors that facilitate substance use. In contrast to what the theory proposes, and relevant for parents and professionals, these factors function independently and need not all be present simultaneously for deviant behavior to occur.
The Influence of Underlying Stresses from Environmental Hazards on Resilience in Bangladesh: A System View
Authors: Lake Philip , Fenner Richard
Published: October 2019

Bangladesh is one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, while its people also suffer from a range of environmental hazards linked to the growing prevalence of non-communicable diseases. These diseases are responsible for increasing morbidity and mortality and lead to other stresses within the population. Such stresses create continuous impacts on the health and well-being of the population, compounding their vulnerability and inhibiting their capacity to cope with frequent event-related shocks, such as floods and drought. A systems approach is taken to examine four important environmental hazards in Bangladesh—arsenic contamination of drinking water, arsenic transmission through the food chain, indoor air quality, and air pollution. A review of these hazards is presented in a conceptual framework that links human well-being with the key system components of infrastructure, institutions, knowledge, and behavior. This reveals key underlying factors between the hazards and uncovers system structures that can lead to more effective hazard mitigation, and the establishment of strategic intervention points. The article concludes that elimination of these continuous stresses will only come about through the culmination of multiple interventions over time, undertaken in an iterative manner that builds on the continual advancement of hazard understanding. The role of individual behaviors, together with factors such as risk awareness and perception of the hazards, has been identified as crucial for achieving successful mitigation solutions. Improved knowledge of the hazards, public awareness, and government accountability are focus points to reduce population exposure and enhance response capacity.
Pupils and worldview expression in an integrative classroom context
Authors: Åhs Vesa , Poulter Saila , Kallioniemi Arto
Published: October 2019

The aim of this study is to explore pupil perspectives on religions and worldviews in a mutual integrative space of religious and worldview education in a Finnish context. Analysing group interview data (N = 38) gathered from lower secondary school pupils attending mutual classes of religious and worldview education, the article explores how religious and non-religious worldviews can be explored in order to enhance subjectification in worldview education. The findings indicate that for pupils, the heterogeneity and lived dimensions reflected in personal worldviews, and questions relating to meaning, emotion and individuality in worldviews, are at the forefront in learning from religions and worldviews. The experiences of the pupils indicate that the concepts employed in religious and worldview education concerning religions and worldview phenomena should be examined critically in the light of the personal meaning making level of the pupils themselves.
Genetic analysis of grain yield and agronomic traits of early provitamin A quality protein maize inbred lines in contrasting environments
Authors: Obeng-Bio E. , Badu-Apraku B. , Ifie B. E. , Danquah A. , Blay E. T. , Annor B.
Published: October 2019

Early-maturing provitamin A (PVA) quality protein maize (QPM) hybrids with combined drought and low soil nitrogen (low-N) tolerance are needed to address malnutrition and food security problems in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The current study's objectives were to (i) examine combining ability of selected early maturing PVA-QPM inbreds for grain yield and other agronomic traits under drought, low-N, optimal environments and across environments, (ii) determine gene action conditioning PVA accumulation under optimal environments, (iii) classify inbreds into heterotic groups and identify testers and (iv) assess yield and stability of hybrids across environments. Ninety-six hybrids generated from 24 inbred lines using the North Carolina Design II together with four commercial hybrid controls were evaluated under drought, low-N and optimal environments in Nigeria in 2016 and 2017. Fifty-four selected hybrids were assayed for PVA carotenoid and tryptophan content. Additive genetic effects were greater than non-additive effects for grain yield and most agronomic traits under each and across environments. The gene action conditioning accumulation of PVA carotenoids under optimal growing conditions followed a pattern similar to that of grain yield and other yield-related traits. The inbred lines were categorized into four heterotic groups consistent with the pedigree records and with TZEIORQ 29 identified as the best male and female tester for heterotic group IV. No tester was found for the other groups. Hybrid TZEIORQ 24 × TZEIORQ 41 was the highest yielding and most stable across environments and should be further tested for consistent performance for commercialization in SSA.
Risk management with Tail Quasi-Linear Means
Authors: Bäuerle Nicole , Shushi Tomer
Published: October 2019

We generalise Quasi-Linear Means by restricting to the tail of the risk distribution and show that this can be a useful quantity in risk management since it comprises in its general form the Value at Risk, the Conditional Tail Expectation and the Entropic Risk Measure in a unified way. We then investigate the fundamental properties of the proposed measure and show its unique features and implications in the risk measurement process. Furthermore, we derive formulas for truncated elliptical models of losses and provide formulas for selected members of such models.
Genotyping of STR and DIP–STR Markers in Plasma Cell-Free DNA for Simple and Rapid Noninvasive Prenatal Diagnosis of Zygosity of Twin Pregnancies
Authors: Dziennik Agnieszka , Preis Krzysztof , Świątkowska-Freund Małgorzata , Rębała Krzysztof
Published: October 2019

Due to the high rate of complications, special medical care must be provided especially for monozygotic twin pregnancies, which are characterized as having 2.5 times higher mortality of fetuses. In recent years, examination of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) circulating in maternal plasma has become a useful noninvasive method of prenatal diagnosis. However, fetal DNA constitutes only 3–20% of plasma cfDNA during pregnancy. Short tandem repeats (STRs) are routinely used in forensic examination of DNA mixtures and are able to identify 5% minority components. Haplotypes of deletion/insertion polymorphisms and STRs (DIP–STRs) are able to detect even 0.1% minority components of DNA mixtures. Thus, STRs and DIP–STRs seem to be a perfect tool for detection of fetal alleles in DNA isolated from maternal plasma. Here, we present a novel noninvasive prenatal diagnosis technique of determination of pregnancy zygosity based on examination of feto-maternal microchimerism of plasma cfDNA with the use of STRs and DIP–STRs. Our preliminary results based on 22 STR loci showed 67% sensitivity, 100% specificity and 82% accuracy for prenatal detection of twin dizygosity. The corresponding values for seven DIP–STRs were 13%, 100% and 54%, respectively. Owing to assay performance, low DNA input requirements, low costs (below 10 USD per patient) and simplicity of analysis, genotyping of STR/DIP–STR markers in maternal plasma cfDNA may become a useful supplementary test for noninvasive prenatal diagnosis of twin zygosity in cases when chorionicity and zygosity cannot be reliably determined by ultrasound examination and prognostic value may be provided by a DNA test determining pregnancy zygosity.