bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Video didactic at the point of care impacts hand hygiene compliance in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)
Authors: Hoang Danthanh , Khawar Nayaab , George Maria , Gad Ashraf , Sy Farrah , Narula Pramod
Published: February 2018

Objective

To increase the hand‐washing (HW) duration of staff and visitors in the NICU to a minimum of 20 seconds as recommended by the CDC.

Methods

Intervention included video didactic triggered by motion sensor to play above wash basin. Video enacted Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) HW technique in real time and displayed timer of 20 seconds. HW was reviewed from surveillance video. Swabs of hands plated and observed for qualitative growth (QG) of bacterial colonies.

Results

In visitors, the mean HW duration at baseline was 16.3 seconds and increased to 23.4 seconds at the 2‐week interval (p = .003) and 22.9 seconds at the 9‐month interval (p < .0005). In staff, the mean HW duration at baseline was 18.4 seconds and increased to 29.0 seconds at 2‐week interval (p = .001) and 25.7 seconds at the 9‐month interval (p < .0005). In visitors, HW compliance at baseline was 33% and increased to 52% at the 2‐week interval (p = .076) and 69% at the 9‐month interval (p = .001). In staff, HW compliance at baseline was 42% and increased to 64% at the 2‐week interval (p = .025) and 72% at the 9‐month interval (p = .001). Increasing HW was significantly associated with linear decrease in bacterial QG.

Conclusions

The intervention significantly increased mean HW time, compliance with a 20‐econd wash time and decreased bacterial QG of hands and these results were sustained over a 9‐month period.
Parent Discrepancies in Ratings of Child Behaviors Following Wartime Deployment
Authors: Chesmore Ashley A. , He Yaliu , Zhang Na , Gewirtz Abigail H.
Published: February 2018

Researchers have shown that parents often disagree in their ratings of their children's behavior, and that these discrepancies are typically related to child and family characteristics (e.g., child's age, parent psychopathology). Few studies, however, have examined discrepancies in how mothers and fathers rate child behavior during a stressful family context such as a parent's wartime deployment. The present study of 174 military families (children aged 6 to 11 years; 54.0% female) examined whether family factors (parental sense of control, marital satisfaction) and contextual risk factors related to a parent's wartime deployment (number and length of deployments, battle experiences, and posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD] symptoms) were associated with discrepancies in how mothers and fathers rated internalizing and externalizing behaviors in their children. Using a latent congruency model, our results showed that when parents self‐reported higher levels of PTSD symptoms, both mothers, β = −.33, p = .021, and fathers, β = .41, p = .026, tended to also report higher levels of internalizing symptoms in their child, relative to what their spouse reported. In comparison to mothers, fathers also tended to report higher levels of child externalizing symptoms, β = .44, p = .019. Our findings may help clinicians understand how parent mental health within a stressful family context relates and/or informs a parent's ratings on assessments of his or her child's internalizing and externalizing symptoms.
Aspirin does not prevent growth of vestibular schwannomas: A case‐control study
Authors: MacKeith Samuel , Wasson Joseph , Baker Charlotte , Guilfoyle Matthew , John Deepa , Donnelly Neil , Mannion Richard , Jefferies Sarah , Axon Patrick , Tysome James R.
Published: February 2018

Objectives/Hypothesis

To determine if aspirin intake is associated with reduced growth of vestibular schwannomas (VS). To determine the prevalence of contraindications to regular aspirin in patients with VS.

Study Design

Retrospective, observational case‐control study.

Methods

The study utilized a postal questionnaire and telephone interviews to determine aspirin exposure. Propensity score matching was used to control for age, sex, and tumor size. Cases were defined as patients with VS proven to have grown on serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Controls were defined as patient with VS stable on serial MRI. Prevalence of regular aspirin use was compared in patients with growing VS versus stable VS. Absolute and relative contraindications to aspirin intake were recorded.

Results

Six hundred fifty‐three patients with VS were contacted, and responses were received by 67% (220 cases and 217 controls). The mean tumor size was 11.3 mm (9.0 mm and 13.3 mm in controls and cases, respectively). Aspirin exposure was more common in stable VS than growing VS (22.1% vs. 17.3%). However, following matching to control for covariates, aspirin was not found to be associated with VS stability (P = .475). Multiple logistic regression (analysis of variance) found tumor size to be the only factor strongly associated with tumor growth (P < .0001). Ninety‐two percent of patients were able to take aspirin, with the majority being at low risk of complications from regular use.

Conclusions

This study aimed to examine the relationship between aspirin intake and VS stability. In contrast to previous reports, after controlling for covariates, the findings do not demonstrate an association. Only tumor size at diagnosis appears predictive of risk of VS growth.

Level of Evidence

3b. Laryngoscope, 128:2139–2144, 2018
Place, Destabilized: Ambivalent Heritage, Community and Colonialism in the Marquesas Islands
Authors: Donaldson Emily C.
Published: February 2018

Increasingly marked by ethnic resettlement, large‐scale development and the destruction of cultural places, today's world challenges the essential bond between indigenous peoples and the land. Popular ideas about the supportive role of long‐term, phenomenological links to place and heritage appear to be losing their relevance. Yet, a closer look at the complexity of human connections to place reveals how painful memories and discomfort can also generate strong bonds that affirm community and cultural cohesiveness. Place‐making in indigenous heritage landscapes marked by colonialism is often ambivalent, evoking Ruth Benedict's observation that the sacred ‘may be a source of peril or it may be a source of blessing’ (1934:28). Though the actual meaning of places may be fraught, a shared approach to such heritage can bind communities together, overcoming historic silences and a violent past. With specific reference to ethnographic research in the Marquesas Islands of French Polynesia, I illustrate the contingency of indigenous processes of place‐making that are based in personal belief, discomfort and colonialism as much as affirmative interaction with the physical world.
Early‐Stage Incorporation Strategy for Regioselective Labeling of Peptides using the 2‐Cyanobenzothiazole/1,2‐Aminothiol Bioorthogonal Click Reaction
Authors: Chen Kuo‐Ting , Ieritano Christian , Seimbille Yann
Published: February 2018

Herein, we describe a synthetic strategy for the regioselective labeling of peptides by using a bioorthogonal click reaction between 2‐cyanobenzothiazole (CBT) and a 1,2‐aminothiol moiety. This methodology allows for the facile and site‐specific modification of peptides with various imaging agents, including fluorophores and radioisotope‐containing prosthetic groups. We investigated the feasibility of an early‐stage incorporation of dipeptide 1 into targeting vectors, such as c[RGDyK(C)] and HER2 pep, during solid‐phase peptide synthesis. Then, the utility of the click reaction to label bioactive peptides with a CBT‐modified imaging agent (FITC–CBT, 9) was assessed. The ligation reaction was found to be highly selective and efficient under various conditions. The fluorescently labeled peptides 2 and 3 were obtained in respective yields of 88 and 82 % under optimized conditions.
Electronic Properties of Cs‐Based Halide Perovskites: An Ab Initio Study
Authors: Moschou Georgia , Koliogiorgos Athanasios , Galanakis Iosif
Published: February 2018

Halide perovskites consist a class of materials under intense investigation due to their potential technological applications like solar cells, optoelectronic devices, and catalysis. Recently, the cubic MABX3 compounds have been studied using electronic band structure calculations from first principles [A. Koliogiorgos et al., Comput. Mater. Sci. 2017, 138, 92], where MA stands for the methylammonium cation, B is a divalent cation, and X a halogen. In this paper, the study in the case where Cs stands in place of the MA cation is expanded. The results suggest that the Cs‐based compounds exhibit also a variety of lattice constants and energy band gaps. The calculated equilibrium lattice constants differ substantially from the experimental ones. The calculated energy gaps also show large deviations for these lattice constants. Moreover, the use of more sophisticated functionals leads to conflicting changes in the energy gap values and its effect is materials dependent. The results suggest that contrary to the MA halide perovskites, the Cs halide perovskites consist a more delicate case and there is still a long way for ab initio calculations to accurately describe their structural and electronic properties.
Computation of domain‐average radiative flux profiles using Gaussian quadrature
Authors: Li Jiangnan , Barker Howard W.
Published: February 2018

A method for calculating domain‐average radiative flux profiles, called Gaussian Quadrature Independent Column Approximation (GQ‐ICA), is introduced and assessed using cloud properties retrieved from A‐Train satellite data. This method could be suitable for use in large‐scale atmospheric models. Like the Monte Carlo ICA (McICA), GQ‐ICA uses N stochastically generated subgrid‐scale cloudy columns. The independent variable is the sorted, from smallest to largest, sequence of N sub‐column values of liquid and ice cloud water paths. The integrand is essentially the radiative transfer equation. Accurate GQ integration requires integrands to be relatively smooth functions. Unlike McICA, GQ‐ICA performs full solar and infrared spectral integrations on nG <  < N sub‐columns which are identified by rules governing nG‐node GQ. The nG flux profiles are appropriately weighted and summed to give domain averages. Several sorting procedures were considered, and all results are based on the CCCma radiation algorithm. For solar radiation, 1‐node GQ‐ICA can produce significant bias errors, but its random errors are generally less than McICA's. These biases, however, are almost eliminated by 2‐node GQ‐ICA. For GQ‐ICA to better McICA's random errors for infrared fluxes, at least the 2‐node version is needed. Ultimately, 2‐node GQ‐ICA random errors for net fluxes at surface and top‐of‐atmosphere are typically 30–50% of McICA's. This is partly because solar and infrared solvers operate on the same sub‐columns. GQ‐ICA random errors for atmospheric heating rates are comparable to McICA's even for 3‐node GQ‐ICA. Computational times required for the 2‐ and 3‐node GQ‐ICA are, respectively, ∼180 and ∼230% of McICA's.
The size of the giant high‐order component in random hypergraphs
Authors: Cooley Oliver , Kang Mihyun , Koch Christoph
Published: February 2018

The phase transition in the size of the giant component in random graphs is one of the most well‐studied phenomena in random graph theory. For hypergraphs, there are many possible generalizations of the notion of a connected component. We consider the following: two j‐sets (sets of j vertices) are j‐connected if there is a walk of edges between them such that two consecutive edges intersect in at least j vertices. A hypergraph is j‐connected if all j‐sets are pairwise j‐connected. In this paper, we determine the asymptotic size of the unique giant j‐connected component in random k‐uniform hypergraphs for any and .
Sentinel Node Navigation Surgery for Early Gastric Cancer: Analysis of Factors Which Affect Direction of Lymphatic Drainage
Authors: Shida Atsuo , Mitsumori Norio , Fujioka Shuichi , Takano Yuta , Fujisaki Muneharu , Hashizume Ryosuke , Takahashi Naoto , Ishibashi Yoshio , Yanaga Katsuhiko
Published: February 2018

Background and purpose

We started performing sentinel node navigation surgery (SNNS) for patients with early gastric cancer (EGC) using infrared ray electronic endoscopy (IREE) with indocyanine green injection from year 2000. The EGCs usually have complex lymphatic drainage, unidirectional or multidirectional lymphatic flow. In this study, we investigated and clarified factors that affect the direction of gastric lymphatic drainage.

Patients and method

Consecutive 60 patients with EGC who underwent SNNS by IREE from year 2006 to 2014 were enrolled to this study. Patients’ age, gender, location of tumors, operative method, previous treatment by endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), presence of pathological ulcerative scar and maximum tumor diameter were enrolled as parameters which may affect direction of lymphatic drainage and analyzed.

Result

Bivariate analysis demonstrated that the presence of pathological ulcerative scar (P = 0.01), tumor location (g.c vs. a.w vs. p.w vs. l.c, P = 0.01), and maxim tumor diameter (P = 0.0003) were relevant to direction of gastric lymphatic drainage. Multivariate analysis showed that tumor location (g.c/a.w/p.w vs. l.c, odds ratio 8.227, P = 0.011) and the maximum tumor diameter (odds ratio 1.057, P = 0.037) are independent factors that affect direction of gastric lymphatic flow. Of tumors, 78% located at lesser curvature had unidirectional lymphatic drainage, and 93% of tumors whose diameter was 40 mm and more had multidirectional lymphatic drainage.

Conclusion

Our investigation revealed that the tumor location and tumor diameter were the key factors which affect the direction of lymphatic drainage, which is useful fact to understand the complexity of gastric lymphatic drainage.
Preoperative Albumin–Bilirubin Grade Predicts Recurrences After Radical Gastrectomy in Patients with pT2‐4 Gastric Cancer
Authors: Kanda Mitsuro , Tanaka Chie , Kobayashi Daisuke , Uda Hiroaki , Inaoka Kenichi , Tanaka Yuri , Hayashi Masamichi , Iwata Naoki , Yamada Suguru , Fujii Tsutomu , Sugimoto Hiroyuki , Murotani Kenta , Fujiwara Michitaka , Kodera Yasuhiro
Published: February 2018

Background

The albumin–bilirubin (ALBI) score was initially developed for assessing liver dysfunction severity and was suggested to have prognostic value in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic impact of ALBI grade in patients with advanced gastric cancer (GC) after radical gastrectomy.

Methods

This study included 283 patients who underwent radical gastrectomy for pT2‐4 GC without preoperative treatment. ALBI was calculated as follows: (log10 bilirubin (μmol/L) × 0.66) + (albumin (g/L) × −0.0852) and categorized into grades 1 (≤−2.60), 2 (−2.60<, ≤−1.39) and 3 (−1.39<).

Results

The median ALBI score was −2.96, and a number of patients in ALBI grades 1, 2 and 3 were 228, 55 and 0, respectively. Patients with ALBI grade 2 had a lower administration rate of adjuvant chemotherapy than those with ALBI grade 1, whereas no significant differences were found in morbidity rate and disease stage. The ALBI grade 2 group was more likely to have shorter disease‐specific and disease‐free survival compared with the ALBI grade 1 group. Multivariable analysis identified ALBI grade 2 as an independent prognostic factor for disease‐free survival (hazard ratio 1.97, 95% confidence interval 1.10–3.47, p = 0.0242). Survival differences between ALBI grade 1 and 2 groups were increased in the patient subset that received adjuvant chemotherapy. ALBI grade 2 was correlated with a shortened duration of administration of postoperative S‐1 adjuvant.

Conclusions

ALBI grade serves as a simple and promising predictive factor for disease‐free and disease‐specific survival in patients with pT2‐4 GC after radical gastrectomy.
Transdiagnostic vs. disorder-focused perspective in children and adolescents with eating disorders: Findings from a large multisite exploratory study
Authors: Curzio O. , Maestro S. , Rossi G. , Calderoni S. , Giombini L. , Scardigli S. , Ragione L. Dalla , Muratori F.
Published: February 2018

Background

The transdiagnostic model of eating disorders (ED) proposes common cognitive mechanisms in patients with ED psychopathology. Little is known about their role in the maintenance of ED in children and adolescents. This study aimed to determine whether the relationships between key factors (low self-esteem, weight and shape control, clinical perfectionism, interpersonal problems, distress and mood instability) and core maintaining mechanisms (binge-eating and restraint) would support a transdiagnostic theory in young patients.

Methods

A total of 419 patients (mean age 14.7 ± 2.14 years; age range: 7–18 years; males 13.8%) diagnosed with an ED were assessed in six Italian clinical centers in 2013. Multiple comparisons between ED diagnosis, correlation analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) were performed.

Results

Of the entire collective, 51.5% of patients were diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa (AN), 12.3% were diagnosed with Bulimia Nervosa (BN) and 36.2% with Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS). In PCA, the core ED mechanisms, dietary restraint and binge eating, acted as poles of attraction of the other variables. The AN group was particularly linked to restraint and the BN group was particularly related to “Bulimia”. Considering the diagnostic subtypes, there were no significant differences between the anorexic binge-purging group, bulimic purging group and bulimic non-purging group, which constituted a unique cluster related to affective, interpersonal problems and to perfectionism, indicating a very homogeneous subgroup. Restricting anorexic group (AN-R), related to shape concern and anxious-depressed mood, was not linked to the other subtypes. EDNOS appeared to be opposed to the AN-R group; the binge eating disorder group appeared to be independent from others.

Conclusion

Our results suggest the presence of both specific and transdiagnostic mechanisms in ED subtypes, whose knowledge is of relevance for clinical practice.
Law as an Interactive Kind: On the Concept and the Nature of Law
Authors: Rosen Arie
Published: February 2018

When exploring the relations between the concept and the nature of law, ample philosophical reflection has been dedicated to the relations between the intension of terms (or the content of concepts) and their extension. Much less consideration has been given to the causal relations between concept and thing within socially constructed entities. This paper examines the interactive causal relationship between law and the concept we have of it and reflects on its implications for legal philosophy. First, it explains the causal role played by concepts in processes of social construction and applies this explanation to the analysis of the special case of law. Second, it compares this causal role played by the concept of law to the role assigned to it in the context of externalist theories of meaning and mental content. Lastly, it demonstrates the advantages of seeing law as an interactive kind in answering some contemporary methodological difficulties stemming from conceptual plurality or uncertainty, and in opening new avenues for research in legal philosophy.
Property, Human Flourishing and St. Thomas Aquinas: Assessing a Contemporary Revival
Authors: Walsh Rachael
Published: February 2018

This article explores Aquinas’ views on property in the context of the revival of interest in Thomistic property thinking in the ‘human flourishing’ perspective on property. It highlights a broad coherence with the aims of human flourishing property theory, and progressive property theory more generally. At the same time, it argues that where property theorists use Aquinas’ views as direct authority for arguments concerning current property dilemmas, complex interpretative issues arise, which cast into sharp relief foundational questions concerning the balance between voluntary and legally compelled redistribution, and between public and private law measures, for progressive property theory.
Coupling of high Knudsen number and non-ideal gas effects in microporous media
Authors: Wang Ziyan , Wang Moran , Chen Shiyi
Published: February 2018

High Knudsen number non-ideal gas flows in porous media are important and fundamental in various applications including shale gas exploitation and carbon dioxide sequestration. Because of the small pore size in tight rocks, the Knudsen number (Kn) may be high (i.e. much higher than 0.01) even though the gas is really dense. In fact, due to the high pressure and temperature underground, the gas usually manifests a strong non-ideal gas effect. Understanding the coupling mechanism of the high Kn effect and non-ideal gas effect is a premise to accurately model deep-seated underground gas exploitation or carbon dioxide sequestration. In this work, we theoretically analyse the high Kn non-ideal gas flows in microporous media. Based on the relative importance of the non-ideal gas effect and high Kn effect, the coupling is divided into four types. The analysis is subsequently validated by multiscale numerical simulations, in which the four types of coupling are clearly demonstrated. After applying the analysis to laboratory measurements, we propose a characteristic pressure model to calculate the gas permeability of tight rocks with better precision. The new model incorporates the non-ideal gas effect with the high Kn effect accurately and better bridges the laboratory measurements with the reservoir engineering.
DISTORTION IN THE FINITE DETERMINATION RESULT FOR EMBEDDINGS OF LOCALLY FINITE METRIC SPACES INTO BANACH SPACES
Authors: OSTROVSKA S. , OSTROVSKII M. I.
Published: February 2018

Given a Banach spaceXand a real number α ≥ 1, we write: (1)D(X) ≤ α if, for any locally finite metric spaceA, all finite subsets of which admit bilipschitz embeddings intoXwith distortions ≤C, the spaceAitself admits a bilipschitz embedding intoXwith distortion ≤ α ⋅C; (2)D(X) = α+if, for every ϵ > 0, the conditionD(X) ≤ α + ϵ holds, whileD(X) ≤ α does not; (3)D(X) ≤ α+ifD(X) = α+orD(X) ≤ α. It is known thatD(X) is bounded by a universal constant, but the available estimates for this constant are rather large. The following results have been proved in this work: (1)D((⊕n=1∞Xn)p) ≤ 1+for every nested family of finite-dimensional Banach spaces {Xn}n=1∞and every 1 ≤p≤ ∞. (2)D((⊕n=1∞ℓ∞n)p) = 1+for 1 <p< ∞. (3)D(X) ≤ 4+for every Banach spaceXwith no nontrivial cotype. Statement (3) is a strengthening of the Baudier–Lancien result (2008).
ON IMPACT AND IMPACT FACTORS
Authors: van der Wilt Gert Jan
Published: February 2018

TheInternational Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care(IJTAHC) is part of the so-called Cambridge Core, the “home of academic content” (1). As such, not surprisingly, it is judged by standard scientific standards such as theJournal’s Impact Factor (IF). Although on the rise, there is still significant room for improvement (2). In this Editorial, I will discuss the relevance of the IF to theJournaland offer some suggestions as to how it might be given new impetus. I will conclude by briefly discussing some challenges associated with assessing impact in the context of health technology assessment (HTA).
Relevant patient characteristics for guiding tailored integrated diabetes primary care: a systematic review
Authors: Hertroijs Dorijn F.L. , Elissen Arianne M.J. , Brouwers Martijn C.G.J. , Schaper Nicolaas C. , Ruwaard Dirk
Published: February 2018

Aim

To identify which patient-related effect modifiers influence the outcomes of integrated care programs for type 2 diabetes in primary care.

Background

Integrated care is a widespread management strategy for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. However, most integrated care programs are not tailored to patients’ needs, preferences and abilities. There is increasing consensus that such a patient-centered approach could improve the management of type 2 diabetes. Thus far, it remains unclear which patient-related effect modifiers should guide such an approach.

Methods

PubMed, CINAHL and EMBASE were searched for empirical studies published after 1998. A systematic literature review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines.

Findings

In total, 23 out of 1015 studies were included. A total of 21 studies measured the effects of integrated diabetes care programs on hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and three on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, systolic blood pressure and health-care utilization. In total, 49 patient characteristics were assessed as potential effect modifiers with HbA1c as an outcome, of which 46 were person or health-related and only three were context-related. Younger age, insulin therapy and longer disease duration were associated with higher HbA1c levels in cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. Higher baseline HbA1c was associated with higher HbA1c at follow-up in longitudinal studies. Information on context- and person-related characteristics was limited, but is necessary to help identify the care needs of individual patients and implement an effective integrated type 2 diabetes tailored care program.
Leisure Activities and the Subjective Well-Being of Older Adults in Croatia
Authors: Kaliterna Lipovčan Ljiljana , Brkljačić Tihana , Prizmić Larsen Zvjezdana , Braja-Žganec Andreja , Franc Renata
Published: February 2018

Abstract. Research shows that engagement in leisure activities promotes well-being among older adults. The objective of the current study was to examine the relationship between subjective well-being (flourishing) and leisure activities (total number of different activities in the previous year) in a sample of older adults in Croatia, thereby considering the variables of sex, marital status, financial status, and self-perceived health. The differences in the examined variables between the groups of older adults who reported to be engaged in new activities with those who did not were also examined. The sample of N = 169 older adults aged 60 years and above was drawn from a convenience sample of adult internet users in Croatia. Participants reported their self-perceived health and the number of leisure activities they engaged in over the previous year as well as completing the Flourishing Scale. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that older adults who were engaged in more various leisure activities, who perceived better financial status, and who were married reported higher levels of flourishing. A comparison of the two groups of older adults with and without engagement in leisure activities showed that those engaged in at least one leisure activity were more likely to be women, reported higher levels of flourishing, and perceived their own financial status as better. This study indicated that engaging in leisure activities in later life might provide beneficial effects for the well-being of older adults.
Honoring Earth and Space Scientists
Authors:   AGU
Published: February 2018

AGU members and others in the news.
Correction: Author Correction: Neurons and neuronal activity control gene expression in astrocytes to regulate their development and metabolism
Authors: Hasel Philip , Dando Owen , Jiwaji Zoeb , Baxter Paul , Todd Alison C. , Heron Samuel , Márkus Nóra M. , McQueen Jamie , Hampton David W. , Torvell Megan , Tiwari Sachin S. , McKay Sean , Eraso-Pichot Abel , Zorzano Antonio , Masgrau Roser , Galea Elena , Chandran Siddharthan , Wyllie David J. A. , Simpson T. Ian , Hardingham Giles E.
Published: February 2018

Nature Communications 8: Article number: 15132 (2017); Published: 2 May 2017; Updated: 6 February 2018 Michel Goedert, who developed the Thy1-P301S transgenic mouse, was inadvertently omitted from the Acknowledgments section of this Article. The Acknowledgements should have included the following: ‘We thank Michel Goedert for providing the Thy1-P301S transgenic mouse that was used in this study.
Notch1 is a prognostic factor that is distinctly activated in the classical and proneural subtype of glioblastoma and that promotes glioma cell survival via the NF-κB(p65) pathway
Authors: Hai Long , Zhang Chen , Li Tao , Zhou Xingchen , Liu Bo , Li Shuai , Zhu Meng , Lin Yu , Yu Shengping , Zhang Kai , Ren Bingcheng , Ming Haolang , Huang Yubao , Chen Lei , Zhao Pengfei , Zhou Hua , Jiang Tao , Yang Xuejun
Published: February 2018

Glioblastomas (GBMs) are the most prevalent and devastating primary intracranial malignancies and have extensive heterogeneity. Notch1 signaling is a more complex process in the development of numerous cell and tissue types, including gliomagenesis and progression, and is upregulated in glioma-initiating cells. However, the contradictory expression of Notch1 among lower grade gliomas and GBMs confounds our understanding of GBM biology and has made identifying effective therapies difficult. In this study, we validated that Notch1 and NF-κB(p65) are highly expressed in the classical and proneural subtypes of GBM using the data set from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA). DAPT and shRNA targeting Notch1 decreased NF-κB(p65) expression, suppressed cell proliferation, and induced apoptosis of GBM cells in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we illustrated that the intracellular Notch could bind with NF-κB(p65) in GBM cells. These findings suggest that the cross-talk between Notch1 signaling and NF-κB(p65) could contribute to the proliferation and apoptosis of glioma, and this discovery could help drive the design of more effective therapies in Notch1-targeted clinical trials.
Reversible chromism of spiropyran in the cavity of a flexible coordination cage
Authors: Samanta Dipak , Galaktionova Daria , Gemen Julius , Shimon Linda J. W. , Diskin-Posner Yael , Avram Liat , Král Petr , Klajn Rafal
Published: February 2018

Confining molecules to volumes only slightly larger than the molecules themselves can profoundly alter their properties. Molecular switches—entities that can be toggled between two or more forms upon exposure to an external stimulus—often require conformational freedom to isomerize. Therefore, placing these switches in confined spaces can render them non-operational. To preserve the switchability of these species under confinement, we work with a water-soluble coordination cage that is flexible enough to adapt its shape to the conformation of the encapsulated guest. We show that owing to its flexibility, the cage is not only capable of accommodating—and solubilizing in water—several light-responsive spiropyran-based molecular switches, but, more importantly, it also provides an environment suitable for the efficient, reversible photoisomerization of the bound guests. Our findings pave the way towards studying various molecular switching processes in confined environments.
Resonance Raman signature of intertube excitons in compositionally-defined carbon nanotube bundles
Authors: Simpson Jeffrey R. , Roslyak Oleksiy , Duque Juan G. , Hároz Erik H. , Crochet Jared J. , Telg Hagen , Piryatinski Andrei , Walker Angela R. Hight , Doorn Stephen K.
Published: February 2018

Electronic interactions in low-dimensional nanomaterial heterostructures can lead to novel optical responses arising from exciton delocalization over the constituent materials. Similar phenomena have been suggested to arise between closely interacting semiconducting carbon nanotubes of identical structure. Such behavior in carbon nanotubes has potential to generate new exciton physics, impact exciton transport mechanisms in nanotube networks, and place nanotubes as one-dimensional models for such behaviors in systems of higher dimensionality. Here we use resonance Raman spectroscopy to probe intertube interactions in (6,5) chirality-enriched bundles. Raman excitation profiles for the radial breathing mode and G-mode display a previously unobserved sharp resonance feature. We show the feature is evidence for creation of intertube excitons and is identified as a Fano resonance arising from the interaction between intratube and intertube excitons. The universality of the model suggests that similar Raman excitation profile features may be observed for interlayer exciton resonances in 2D multilayered systems.
Absence of warmth permits epigenetic memory of winter in Arabidopsis
Authors: Hepworth Jo , Antoniou-Kourounioti Rea L. , Bloomer Rebecca H. , Selga Catja , Berggren Kristina , Cox Deborah , Collier Harris Barley R. , Irwin Judith A. , Holm Svante , Säll Torbjörn , Howard Martin , Dean Caroline
Published: February 2018

Plants integrate widely fluctuating temperatures to monitor seasonal progression. Here, we investigate the temperature signals in field conditions that result in vernalisation, the mechanism by which flowering is aligned with spring. We find that multiple, distinct aspects of the temperature profile contribute to vernalisation. In autumn, transient cold temperatures promote transcriptional shutdown of Arabidopsis FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC), independently of factors conferring epigenetic memory. As winter continues, expression of VERNALIZATION INSENSITIVE3 (VIN3), a factor needed for epigenetic silencing, is upregulated by at least two independent thermosensory processes. One integrates long-term cold temperatures, while the other requires the absence of daily temperatures above 15 °C. The lack of spikes of high temperature, not just prolonged cold, is thus the major driver for vernalisation. Monitoring of peak daily temperature is an effective mechanism to judge seasonal progression, but is likely to have deleterious consequences for vernalisation as the climate becomes more variable.
Atomic-state diagnostics and optimization in cold-atom experiments
Authors: Sycz Krystian , Wojciechowski Adam M. , Gawlik Wojciech
Published: February 2018

We report on the creation, observation and optimization of superposition states of cold atoms. In our experiments, rubidium atoms are prepared in a magneto-optical trap and later, after switching off the trapping fields, Faraday rotation of a weak probe beam is used to characterize atomic states prepared by application of appropriate light pulses and external magnetic fields. We discuss the signatures of polarization and alignment of atomic spin states and identify main factors responsible for deterioration of the atomic number and their coherence and present means for their optimization, like relaxation in the dark with the strobed probing. These results may be used for controlled preparation of cold atom samples and in situ magnetometry of static and transient fields.
Identification of microRNAs differentially expressed in glioblastoma stem-like cells and their association with patient survival
Authors: Sana Jiri , Busek Petr , Fadrus Pavel , Besse Andrej , Radova Lenka , Vecera Marek , Reguli Stefan , Stollinova Sromova Lucie , Hilser Marek , Lipina Radim , Lakomy Radek , Kren Leos , Smrcka Martin , Sedo Aleksi , Slaby Ondrej
Published: February 2018

Glioblastoma stem-like cells (GSCs) are critical for the aggressiveness and progression of glioblastoma (GBM) and contribute to its resistance to adjuvant treatment. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNAs controlling gene expression at the post-transcriptional level, which are known to be important regulators of the stem-like features. Moreover, miRNAs have been previously proved to be promising diagnostic biomarkers in several cancers including GBM. Using global expression analysis of miRNAs in 10 paired in-vitro as well as in-vivo characterized primary GSC and non-stem glioblastoma cultures, we identified a miRNA signature associated with the stem-like phenotype in GBM. 51 most deregulated miRNAs classified the cell cultures into GSC and non-stem cell clusters and identified a subgroup of GSC cultures with more pronounced stem-cell characteristics. The importance of the identified miRNA signature was further supported by demonstrating that a Risk Score based on the expression of seven miRNAs overexpressed in GSC predicted overall survival in GBM patients in the TCGA dataset independently of the IDH1 status. In summary, we identified miRNAs differentially expressed in GSCs and described their association with GBM patient survival. We propose that these miRNAs participate on GSC features and could represent helpful prognostic markers and potential therapeutic targets in GBM.
Highly flexible transparent electrodes based on mesh-patterned rigid indium tin oxide
Authors: Sakamoto Kosuke , Kuwae Hiroyuki , Kobayashi Naofumi , Nobori Atsuki , Shoji Shuichi , Mizuno Jun
Published: February 2018

We developed highly bendable transparent indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes with a mesh pattern for use in flexible electronic devices. The mesh patterns lowered tensile stress and hindered propagation of cracks. Simulations using the finite element method confirmed that the mesh patterns decreased tensile stress by over 10% because of the escaped strain to the flexible film when the electrodes were bent. The proposed patterned ITO electrodes were simply fabricated by photolithography and wet etching. The resistance increase ratio of a mesh-patterned ITO electrode after bending 1000 times was at least two orders of magnitude lower than that of a planar ITO electrode. In addition, crack propagation was stopped by the mesh pattern of the patterned ITO electrode. A mesh-patterned ITO electrode was used in a liquid-based organic light-emitting diode (OLED). The OLED displayed the same current density-voltage-luminance (J-V-L) curves before and after bending 100 times. These results indicate that the developed mesh-patterned ITO electrodes are attractive for use in flexible electronic devices.
Quantitative Morphometry for Osteochondral Tissues Using Second Harmonic Generation Microscopy and Image Texture Information
Authors: Saitou Takashi , Kiyomatsu Hiroshi , Imamura Takeshi
Published: February 2018

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic joint disorder involving degeneration of articular cartilage and subchondral bone in joints. We previously established a second harmonic generation (SHG) imaging technique for evaluating degenerative changes to articular cartilage in an OA mouse model. SHG imaging, an optical label-free technique, enabled observation of collagen fibrils, and characterized critical changes in the collagenous patterns of the joints. However, it still remains to be determined how morphological changes in the organization of tissue collagen fibrils should be quantified. In this study, we addressed this issue by employing an approach based on texture analysis. Image texture analysis using the gray level co-occurrence matrix was explored to extract image features. We investigated an image patch-based strategy, in which texture features were extracted on individual patches derived from original images to capture local structural patterns in them. We verified that this analysis enables discrimination of cartilaginous and osseous tissues in mouse joints. Moreover, we applied this method to OA cartilage pathology assessment, and observed improvements in the performance results compared with those obtained using an existing feature descriptor. The proposed approach can be applied to a wide range of conditions associated with collagen remodeling and diseases of cartilage and bone.
Altered aspects of anxiety-related behavior in kisspeptin receptor-deleted male mice
Authors: Delmas Sarah , Porteous Robert , Bergin Dave H. , Herbison Allan E.
Published: February 2018

The roles of kisspeptin signaling outside the hypothalamus in the brain are unknown. We examined here the impact of Kiss1r-deletion on hippocampus-related behaviors of anxiety and spatial learning in adult male mice using two mouse models. In the first, global Kiss1r-null and control mice were gonadectomized (GDX KISS1R-KO). In the second, KISS1R signalling was rescued selectively in gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons to generate Kiss1r-null mice with normal testosterone levels (intact KISS1R-KO). Intact KISS1R-KO rescue mice were found to spend twice as much time in the open arms of the elevated plus maze (EPM) compared to controls (P < 0.01). GDX KISS1R-KO mice showed a similar but less pronounced trend. No differences were detected between intact KISS1R-KO mice and controls in the open field test (OFT), although a marked reduction in time spent in the centre quadrant was observed for all GDX mice (P < 0.001). No effects of KISS1R deletion or gonadectomy were detected in the Morris water maze. These observations demonstrate that KISS1R signalling impacts upon anxiogenic neural circuits operative in the EPM, while gonadal steroids appear important for anxiety behaviour observed in the OFT. The potential anxiogenic role of kisspeptin may need to be considered in the development of kisspeptin analogs for the clinic.
Cognition, emotion and reward networks associated with sex differences for romantic appraisals
Authors: Yin Jie , Zou Zhiling , Song Hongwen , Zhang Zhuo , Yang Bo , Huang Xiting
Published: February 2018

Romantic love is a cross-culturally universal phenomenon that serves as a commitment device for motivating pair bonding in human beings. Women and men may experience different feelings when viewing the same warm, romantic scenes. To determine which brain systems may be involved in romance perception and examine possible sex differences, we scanned 16 women and 16 men who were intensely in love, using functional MRI. Participants were required to rate the romance level of 60 pictures showing romantic events that may frequently occur during romantic relationship formation. The results showed that greater brain activation was found for men in the insula, PCC (posterior cingulate cortex), and prefrontal gyrus compared with women, primarily under the High-romance condition. In addition, enhanced functional connectivity between the brain regions involved in the High-romance condition in contrast to the Low-romance condition was only found for men. These data suggest that men and women differ in the processing of romantic information and that it may be  more effortful for men to perceive and evaluate romance degree.
Jasmonic acid ameliorates alkaline stress by improving growth performance, ascorbate glutathione cycle and glyoxylase system in maize seedlings
Authors: Mir Mudaser Ahmad , John Riffat , Alyemeni Mohammed Nasser , Alam Pravej , Ahmad Parvaiz
Published: February 2018

Environmental pollution by alkaline salts, such as Na2CO3, is a permanent problem in agriculture. Here, we examined the putative role of jasmonic acid (JA) in improving Na2CO3-stress tolerance in maize seedlings. Pretreatment of maize seedlings with JA was found to significantly mitigate the toxic effects of excessive Na2CO3 on photosynthesis- and plant growth-related parameters. The JA-induced improved tolerance could be attributed to decreased Na uptake and Na2CO3-induced oxidative damage by lowering the accumulation of reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde. JA counteracted the salt-induced increase in proline and glutathione content, and significantly improved ascorbic acid content and redox status. The major antioxidant enzyme activities were largely stimulated by JA pretreatment in maize plants exposed to excessive alkaline salts. Additionally, increased activities of glyoxalases I and II were correlated with reduced levels of methylglyoxal in JA-pretreated alkaline-stressed maize plants. These results indicated that modifying the endogenous Na+ and K+ contents by JA pretreatment improved alkaline tolerance in maize plants by inhibiting Na uptake and regulating the antioxidant and glyoxalase systems, thereby demonstrating the important role of JA in mitigating heavy metal toxicity. Our findings may be useful in the development of alkali stress tolerant crops by genetic engineering of JA biosynthesis.
The wavelength of the incident light determines the primary charge separation pathway in Photosystem II
Authors: Pavlou Andrea , Jacques Julien , Ahmadova Nigar , Mamedov Fikret , Styring Stenbjörn
Published: February 2018

Charge separation is a key component of the reactions cascade of photosynthesis, by which solar energy is converted to chemical energy. From this photochemical reaction, two radicals of opposite charge are formed, a highly reducing anion and a highly oxidising cation. We have previously proposed that the cation after far-red light excitation is located on a component different from PD1, which is the location of the primary electron hole after visible light excitation. Here, we attempt to provide further insight into the location of the primary charge separation upon far-red light excitation of PS II, using the EPR signal of the spin polarized 3P680 as a probe. We demonstrate that, under far-red light illumination, the spin polarized 3P680 is not formed, despite the primary charge separation still occurring at these conditions. We propose that this is because under far-red light excitation, the primary electron hole is localized on ChlD1, rather than on PD1. The fact that identical samples have demonstrated charge separation upon both far-red and visible light excitation supports our hypothesis that two pathways for primary charge separation exist in parallel in PS II reaction centres. These pathways are excited and activated dependent of the wavelength applied.
Determination of hemodynamic risk for vascular disease in planar artery bifurcations
Authors: Otero-Cacho Alberto , Aymerich María , Flores-Arias M. Teresa , Abal Miguel , Álvarez Ezequiel , Pérez-Muñuzuri Vicente , Muñuzuri Alberto P.
Published: February 2018

Understanding hemodynamics in blood circulation is crucial in order to unveil the mechanisms underlying the formation of stenosis and atherosclerosis. In fact, there are experimental evidences pointing out to the existence of some given vessel configurations that are more likely to develop the above mentioned pathologies. Along this manuscript, we performed an exhaustive investigation in a simplified model aiming to characterize by means of physical quantities those regions and configurations in vessel bifurcations that are more likely to develop such pathologies. The two-fold analysis is based, on the one hand, on numerical simulations (via CFD) and, on the other hand, on experiments realized in an ad-hoc designed polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) channel with the appropriate parameters and appropriate fluid flows. The results obtained demonstrate that low velocity regions and low shear stress zones are located in the outer walls of bifurcations. In fact, we found that there is a critical range of bifurcation angles that is more likely to vascular disease than the others in correspondence with some experimental evidence. The effect of the inflow velocity on this critical range is also analyzed.
A Preferential Attachment Paradox: How Preferential Attachment Combines with Growth to Produce Networks with Log-normal In-degree Distributions
Authors: Sheridan Paul , Onodera Taku
Published: February 2018

Every network scientist knows that preferential attachment combines with growth to produce networks with power-law in-degree distributions. How, then, is it possible for the network of American Physical Society journal collection citations to enjoy a log-normal citation distribution when it was found to have grown in accordance with preferential attachment? This anomalous result, which we exalt as the preferential attachment paradox, has remained unexplained since the physicist Sidney Redner first made light of it over a decade ago. Here we propose a resolution. The chief source of the mischief, we contend, lies in Redner having relied on a measurement procedure bereft of the accuracy required to distinguish preferential attachment from another form of attachment that is consistent with a log-normal in-degree distribution. There was a high-accuracy measurement procedure in use at the time, but it would have have been difficult to use it to shed light on the paradox, due to the presence of a systematic error inducing design flaw. In recent years the design flaw had been recognised and corrected. We show that the bringing of the newly corrected measurement procedure to bear on the data leads to a resolution of the paradox.