bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effects of the conversion and enlargement of digital radiological image from DICOM to JPEG image format on distance measurement
Authors: Mihanović Frane , Batinić Tonči , Čapkun Vesna , Jerončić Ana , Janković Stipan , Dujić Željko
Published: January 2018

Introduction. Conversion of images from DICOM format to other image formats affects measuring distances in images. Materials and methods. Distances in DICOM or JPEG images were measured with different zoom using 1.5T MRI scanning of human diaphragm during spontaneous breathing and during low and high lung volumes. Results. Correlation between distance measurements in mm and pixels at all zoom factors on DICOM and JPEG images ranged from r=0.9981-1.00 and 95% CI for r of 0.9972 - 0.9986 to 1.00 - 1.00 and the p-value in all correlations was <0.001. Results of comparing the difference in measured dimensions on DICOM and JPEG images in mm for F1.0 indicate that differences in measurements are small (0.1 mm average). Image zooming in JPEG for F1.8 compared to the idealized pixel size values with that zoom on average increases the number of pixels for 1 (range from 5 pixels increase to 4 pixels loss). Conclusions. The values of linear regression equation for all zoom factors (F1.0 - F1.8) indicate that distance measurement on the zoomed JPEG image is not suitable for obtaining accurate results of distance measurements. The distance measurements in JPEG images without zoom are entirely in accordance with distance measurements in DICOM images. In the zoomed images distance measurements differ from the results of distance measurements in DICOM format and for the possible use of the results it is necessary to provide data on zoom factor, physical size of the pixel spacing and the values of the linear regression equation.
Emotion detection from Natural Walking
Authors: Cui Liqing , Li Shun , Zhu Tingshao
Published: January 2018

Emotion identification aims to automatically determine person's affective state, which has immense potential value in action tendency, health care, psychological detection and human-computer(robot) interaction. In this paper, we propose a novel method of identifying emotion from natural walking. After obtaining the three-axis acceleration data of wrist and ankle recorded by smartphone, we run a sliding average filter with different window size w, then cut actual data into slices. We extract 114 features including time-domain, frequency domain, power and distribution features from each slice, then use principal component analysis (PCA) for feature selection. We train SVM, Decision Tree, Multilayerperception, Random Tree and Random Forest classification models, and compare the accuracy on datasets of wrist and ankle with respect to different w. The performance of emotion identification on acceleration data of ankle is better than wrist. Among them, SVM yields the best accuracy of 90:31% for anger vs.neutral, 89:76% for happy vs.neutral, and 87:10% for anger vs.happy. The model for identifying anger/neutral/happy yields the best accuracy of 85%- 78%-78%. The results show that it is capable of identifying personal emotional states through the gait of walking.
Expression patterns of two Carbonic anhydrase genes, Na+/K+-ATPase and V-type H+-ATPase in the freshwater crayfish, Cherax quadricarinatus, under different pH
Authors: Ali Muhammad Yousuf , Pavasovic Ana , Mather Peter B , Prentis Peter J
Published: January 2018

Osmoregulation and systemic acid-base balance in decapod crustaceans are largely controlled by a set of transport-related enzymes including carbonic anhydrase (CA), Na + /K + -ATPase (NKA) and V-type- H + -ATPase (HAT). Variable pH levels and changes in osmotic pressure can have a significant impact on the physiology and behaviour of crustaceans. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the mechanisms via which an animal can maintain its internal pH balance and regulate the movement of ions into and out of its cells. Here, we examined expression patterns of the cytoplasmic (CAc) and membrane-associated form (CAg) of CA, NKA α subunit and HAT subunit a in gills of the freshwater crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus. Expression levels of the genes were measured at three pH levels, pH 6.2, 7.2 (control) and 8.2 over a 24 hour period. All genes showed significant differences in expression levels, either among pH treatments or over time. Expression levels of CAc were significantly increased at low pH and decreased at high pH conditions 24 h after transfer to these treatments. Expression increased in low pH after 12 h, and reached their maximum level by 24 h. The membrane-associated form CAg showed changes in expression levels more quickly than CAc. Expression increased for CAg at 6 h post transfer at both low and high pH conditions, but expression remained elevated only at low pH (6.2) at the end of the experiment. Expression of CqNKA significantly increased at 6 h after transfer to pH 6.2 and remained elevated up to 24 h. Expression for HAT and NKA showed similar patterns, where expression significantly increased 6 h post transfer to the low pH conditions and remained significantly elevated throughout the experiment. The only difference in expression between the two genes was that HAT expression decreased significantly 24 h post transfer to high pH conditions. Overall, our data suggest that CAc, CAg, NKA and HAT gene expression is induced at low pH conditions in freshwater crayfish. Further research should examine the physiological underpinnings of these changes in expression to better understand systemic acid/base balance in freshwater crayfish.
Video game experience improves sustained and divided attention but does not affect resistance to cognitive fatigue
Authors: Brooks James , Speelman Craig P , Campitelli Guillermo
Published: January 2018

An increasing number of occupations involve tasks requiring sustained and divided attention skills. These tasks are often susceptible to the effects of cognitive fatigue, resulting in poorer performance and increasing the likelihood of human error. Previous research indicates that those who regularly play action video games have superior performance on cognitive tests that are related to sustained attention and divided attention performance. Few studies, however, have investigated how performance on these tasks change as time-on-task increases. The current study compared the performance of 18 video game players (VGPs) and 24 non-video game players (NVGPs) on the NASA Multi-Attribute Task Battery (version 2; MATB-II) before and after completing a 60-minute sustained attention task. Results indicated that at the multivariate level, VGPs demonstrated superior sustained attention compared to NVGPs, however both groups experienced similar levels of cognitive fatigue with an increasing number of errors and greater reaction time variability as time-on-task increased. In addition, at the multivariate level, VGPs demonstrated superior divided attention performance compared to NVGPs, however univariate analyses revealed a more complex relationship. Further, the performance of both groups improved in the second session compared to the first, indicating a learning effect rather than a fatigue effect. Whilst the current results demonstrate VGP superiority in sustained and divided attention tasks, there was no evidence that these abilities assist with resisting the effects of cognitive fatigue.
Predicting virus-receptor mutant binding by molecular dynamics simulation
Authors: Meyer Austin G , Sawyer Sara L , Ellington Andrew D , Wilke Claus O
Published: January 2018

Existing computational methods to predict protein–protein interaction affinity often perform poorly in important test cases. In particular, the effects of multiple mutations, non-alanine substitutions, and flexible loops are difficult to predict with available tools and protocols. We present here a new method to interrogate affinity differences resulting from mutations in a host-virus protein–protein interface. Our method is based on extensive non-equilibrium all atom simulations: We computationally pull the machupo virus (MACV) spike glycoprotein (GP1) away from the human transferrin receptor (hTfR1) and estimate affinity using the max imum applied force during a pulling simulation and the area under the force-versus-distance curve. We find that these quantities can provide novel biophysical insight into the GP1/hTfR1 interaction. First, with no prior knowledge of the system we can differentiate among wild type and mutant complexes. Second, although the static co-crystal structure shows two large hydrogen-bonding networks in the GP1/hTfR1 interface, our simulations indicate that one of them may not be important for tight binding. Third, one viral site known to be critical for infection may mark an important evolutionary suppressor site for infection-resistant hTfR1 mutants. Finally, our method provides an elegant framework to compare the effects of multi ple mutations, individually and jointly, on protein–protein interactions.
Behavioral modulation of the coexistence between Apis melifera and Varroa destructor: A defense against colony collapse?
Authors: Santos Joyce F , Coelho Flávio C , Bliman Pierre-Alexandre J
Published: January 2018

Colony Collapse Disorder has become a global problem for beekeepers and for the crops which depend on bee polination. Multiple factors are known to increase the risk of colony colapse, and the ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor that parasitizes honey bees (Apis melifera) is among the main threats to colony health. Although this mite is unlikely to, by itself, cause the collapse of hives, it plays an important role as it is a vector for many viral diseases. Such diseases are among the likely causes for Colony Collapse Disorder. The effects of V. destructor infestation are disparate in different parts of the world. Greater morbidity - in the form of colony losses - has been reported in colonies of European honey bees (EHB) in Europe, Asia and North America. However, this mite has been present in Brasil for many years and yet there are no reports of Africanized honey bee (AHB) colonies losses. Studies carried out in Mexico showed that some resistance behaviors to the mite - especially grooming and hygienic behavior - appear to be different in each subspecies. Could those difference in behaviors explain why the AHB are less susceptible to Colony Collapse Disorder? In order to answer this question, we propose a mathematical model of the coexistence dynamics of these two species, the bee and the mite, to analyze the role of resistance behaviors in the overall health of the colony, and, as a consequence, its ability to face epidemiological challenges.
A mathematical model describes Drosophila sleep behavior in w1118 controls and in a hyposomnolent insomniac line
Authors: Diamond Joshua M
Published: January 2018

The conserved nature of sleep in Drosophila has allowed the fruit fly to emerge in the last decade as a powerful model organism in which to study sleep. Recent sleep studies in Drosophila have focused on the discovery and characterization of hyposomnolent mutants. One common feature of these animals is a change in sleep architecture: sleep bout count tends to be greater, and sleep bout length lower, in hyposomnolent mutants. I propose a mathematical model, produced by least-squares nonlinear regression to fit the form Y = aX^b, which can explain sleep behavior in the healthy animal as well as previously-reported changes in total sleep and sleep architecture in hyposomnolent mutants. This model, fit to sleep data, yields coefficient of determination R squared, which describes goodness of fit. R squared is lower in hyposomnolent mutant insomniac as compared to control, indicating a poorer fit of the model to the data in insomniac. R squared also tends to be lower in daytime sleep as compared to nighttime sleep. My findings raise the possibility that low R squared is a feature of all hyposomnolent mutants, not just insomniac. If this were the case, R squared could emerge as a novel means by which sleep researchers might assess sleep dysfunction.
A new dinosaur ichnosite from the early Cretaceous Sousa Formation, Northeastern Brazil
Authors: Campos Hebert Bruno Hebert , Bonde Niels , Leal Maria Eduarda , Dantas Mário André
Published: January 2018

Background. The Sousa Formation contains the richest dinosaur ichnofauna from the Early Cretaceous Rio do Peixe Basin, Northeastern Brazil. Occurs eventually ornithopod tracks, which are found also in the Antenor Navarro and Piranhas Formations. Together with one trackway from the Botucatu Formation, some isolated tracks from the Cenomanian São Luís Basin, and some trackways from the Early Cretaceous Corda Formation, at the moment, these occurrences indicates the only definitive presence of ornithopods in the Mesozoic of Brazil. Material & Methods. In 2015, a fieldwork was held to investigate potential dinosaur tracks in new ichnosites from the Sousa Formation. All the tracks were photographed individually using a digital camera Nikon Coolpix P520. The paleoichnological terminology and morphometric parametrers follows Thulborn (1990), Marty (2008) and Castanera et al. (2013). A plastic sheet was used for drawing the tracks. Directions and measurements of each dinosaur track, as well as the entire outcrop, were taken in situ. Results. The Pereiros ichnosite represents a new occurrence of dinosaur tracks from the Sousa Formation. The dinosaur ichnofauna comprises a medium-sized, bipedal ornithopod trackway, a single ornithopod track and one pair of theropod tracks. Discussion. The ornithopod trackway is characterized by plantigrade, tridactyl, mesaxonic, subsymmetrical and wider than long pes tracks, with large and rounded heels, and short and wide digit impressions. It is referred to the ichnofamily Iguanodontipodidae, previously reported for the Sousa beds. Two medium-sized theropod tracks assigned to Irenesauripus also occurs, representing an expansion of the paleobiogeographical record for this unusual ichnotaxa. The new record of Irenesauripus from the Sousa Formation shows an unusual pattern with morphological similarities to theropods tracks from the Lower Cretaceous Feitianshan Formation of Sichuan, China (Xing et al., 2013). According to Xing et al. (2011), the Chinese tracks preserve partial metatarsal pads that are not distinct from their respective metatarsophalangeal regions. Xing et al. (2011) noted the unusual elongate digit II claw impression, indicating that digit II of the trackmaker possessed a long claw, longer than on any of the other digits. Conclusions. The outcrop studied represents the nineteenth dinosaur tracksite in the Sousa Formation and gives further evidence of the rather rare ornithopod dinosaurs in the Cretaceous of Brazil.
Almost all known sauropod necks are incomplete and distorted
Authors: Taylor Michael P
Published: January 2018

Sauropods are familiar dinosaurs, immediately recognisable by their great size and long necks. However, their necks are much less well known than is usually assumed. Very few complete necks have been described in the literature, and even important specimens such as the Carnegie Diplodocus and Apatosaurus, and the giant Berlin brachiosaur, in fact have imperfectly known necks. In older specimens, missing bone is often difficult to spot due to over-enthusiastic restoration. Worse still, even those vertebrae that are complete are often badly distorted – for example, in consecutive cervicals of the Carnegie Diplodocus CM 84, the aspect ratio of the posterior articular facet of the centrum varies so dramatically that C14 appears 35% broader proportionally than C13. Widespread incompleteness and distortion are both inevitable due to sauropod anatomy: large size made it almost impossible for whole individuals to be preserved because sediment cannot be deposited quickly enough to cover a giant carcass; and distortion of presacral vertebrae is common due their lightweight pneumatic construction. This ubiquitous incompleteness and unpredictable distortion compromise attempts to determine habitual neck posture and range of motion by modelling articulations between vertebrae.
Mining integrated semantic networks for drug repositioning opportunities
Authors: Mullen Joseph , Cockell Simon J , Tipney Hannah , Woollard Peter M , Wipat Anil
Published: January 2018

Current research and development approaches to drug discovery have become less fruitful and more costly. One alternative paradigm is that of drug repositioning. Many marketed examples of repositioned drugs have been identified through serendipitous or rational observations, highlighting the need for more systematic methodologies to tackle the problem. Systems level approaches have the potential to enable the development of novel methods to understand the action of therapeutic compounds, but requires an integrative approach to biological data. Integrated networks can facilitate systems level analyses by combining multiple sources of evidence to provide a rich description of drugs, their targets and their interactions. Classically, such networks can be mined manually where a skilled person is able to identify portions of the graph (semantic subgraphs) that are indicative of relationships between drugs and highlight possible repositioning opportunities. However, this approach is not scalable. Automated approaches are required to systematically mine integrated networks for these subgraphs and bring them to the attention of the user. We introduce a formal framework for the definition of integrated networks and their associated semantic subgraphs for drug interaction analysis and describe DReSMin, an algorithm for mining semantically-rich networks for occurrences of a given semantic subgraph. This algorithm allows instances of complex semantic subgraphs that contain data about putative drug repositioning opportunities to be identified in a computationally tractable fashion, scaling close to linearly with network data. We demonstrate the utility of our approach by mining an integrated drug interaction network built from 11 sources. This work identified and ranked 9,643,061 putative drug-target interactions, showing a strong correlation between highly scored associations and those supported by literature. We discuss the 20 top ranked associations in more detail, of which 14 are novel and 6 are supported by the literature. We also show that our approach better prioritizes known drug-target interactions, than other state-of-the art approaches for predicting such interactions.
cual-id: globally unique, correctable, and human-friendly sample identifiers for comparative -omics studies
Authors: Chase John H , Bolyen Evan T , Rideout Jai Ram , Caporaso J Gregory
Published: January 2018

The number of samples in high-throughput comparative “omics” studies is increasing rapidly due to the declining experimental costs. To keep sample data and metadata manageable, and ensure the integrity of scientific results as the scale of these projects continue to increase, it is essential that we transition to better designed sample identifiers. Ideally, sample identifiers will be: globally unique across projects, project teams and institutions; be short to facilitate manual transcription; be correctable with respect to common types of transcription errors; be opaque, meaning they do not contain information about the samples; and be compatible with existing standards. We present cual-id, a lightweight command line tool that creates, or mints, sample identifiers that meet these criteria without reliance on centralized infrastructure. cual-id allows users to assign Universally Unique Identifiers, or UUIDs, that are globally unique to their samples. UUIDs are too long to be conveniently written on sampling materials such as swabs or microcentrifuge tubes however, so cual-id additionally generates human-friendly 4-12 character identifiers (CualIDs) that map to their UUIDs and are unique within a project. CualIDs are used by humans when they are manually writing or entering identifiers, while the longer UUIDs are used by computers to unambiguously reference a sample. The adoption of identifiers that are globally unique, correctable, and easily hand-written or manually entered into a computer will be a major step forward for sample tracking in comparative -omics studies within and across projects and project teams.
Effects of alfalfa saponin extract on the performance and cholesterol metabolism of laying hens
Authors: Zhang Senhao , Shi Yinghua , Liang Minggen , Li Jia , Wang Chengzhang
Published: January 2018

The experiment was performed to determine the effects of alfalfa saponin extract (ASE) on the performance and cholesterol metabolism of laying hens. A total of 150 Hy-Line Brown hens with 28 weeks old, were randomly divided into five treatment groups (five replicates per treatment with six hens per replicate). Diets containing 0, 60, 120, 240, and 480 mg ASE/kg were fed to hens for 77 days. The shell thickness had a trend to increase. The yolk cholesterol and liver bile acid decreased significantly (ASE 60 and 480 mg/kg groups for yolk cholesterol, and ASE 60 and 240 mg/kg groups for liver bile acid). Fecal bile acid has an elevation trend as ASE increased. The expression of very low density apolipoprotein-Ⅱ (apoVLDL-Ⅱ) gene was not affected by adding ASE. However, the mRNA expression of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase gene and cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) gene were significantly up-regulated. The mRNA expression of very-low-density-lipoprotein receptor(VLDLR) gene was suppressed due to adding ASE supplementation in the diet. These findings indicated that dietary ASE could regulate cholesterol levels in hens by up-regulating the mRNA levels of HMG-CoA and CYP7A1 and suppressing the expression of VLDLR.
Discovery of a few photosynthesis models through red light absorbance-transmittance of the e1 leaf sectors of newly bred hybrids of maize (Zea mays L.)
Authors: Adhikari Nav Raj , Ghimire Surya Kant , Sah Shrawan Kumar , Koirala Keshab Babu
Published: January 2018

Background: Pipeline hybrids of maize must be evaluated very intensively and from several perspectives in order to extract reliability of success of the hybrids in farmers’ field before their release as cultivars and to extract some useful physiology preferably photosynthesis and tolerance of green LS (leaf sectors) under biotic and abiotic stresses as scientists’ bonus. For it, five pipeline single cross hybrids of yellow maize have been examined from the standpoint of photosynthetic potentiality of central leaf and nutrient mobilization from it to ear for grain fill. Materials and methods: Just above ear (e1) leaf have been minutely examined through ratio of absorbance to transmittance of red light of 650 nm (RAT) measure, chl and N concentration (conc). From correlation coefficients (r) computed between grain yield (GY) and frequency of LS of varying RAT SPAD (Soil Plant Analysis and Development) measures, chl and N conc; a few photosynthesis models have been proposed to explain leaf physiologies and its effects on GY. Results and discussions: Through analysis of frequency distribution of RAT measures and r between GY and frequency of LS of varying RAT (SPAD) measure, RATA Makai model has been proposed to explain for a variety of efficiency of antennae to harvest light energy especially red photons and transfer the energy to reaction centers (RCs). Antenna has been classified into functional, semi-functional and least functional based on their contribution on GY. Next is diversity model to explain existence of two types of diversity of leaf sector such as narrow and wide diversity on the central maize leaf based on r between GY and frequency of LS of varying RAT. This sort of LS diversity study helps classify nature of LS based on RAT and or chl and N conc. A few more models proposed in it are NARC (Nitrogen Concentration in Antenna and Reaction Centers) and PAY (Protein Amounts and its effects on Yield) based on r between GY and leaf N and protein amounts. In addition; strong positive r has been found between GY and the frequencies of the LS of 46-52 RAT SPAD; 46-56 μg cm-2 of chl conc and 2-2.3% N of dry weight; This way, we proposed about threshold and upper limit of the RAT SPAD, chl and N conc in maize leaves. It implies that cells in the RAT SPAD range 46-52 are genotype based multiplicative, physiologically active and competent to make their identity in the e1 leaf of the hybrids for GY contribution. Furthermore, next model of “green car” has been proposed for four kinds of proportion of green and carotenoid (car) conc: high green-high car, high green-low car, low green-high car and low green-low car on maize leaves and their effects on grain yield and dry matter production. We can extract a model of no car-no food from the existence of effect phenomena of high green-low car conc on the low dry matter and GYs in maize.
Spider phylogenomics: untangling the Spider Tree of Life
Authors: Garrison Nicole L , Rodriguez Juanita , Agnarsson Ingi , Coddington Jonathan A , Griswold Charles E , Hamilton Christopher A , Hedin Marshal , Kocot Kevin M , Ledford Joel M , Bond Jason E
Published: January 2018

Spiders (Order Araneae) are massively abundant generalist arthropod predators that are found in nearly every ecosystem on the planet and have persisted for over 380 million years. Spiders have long served as evolutionary models for studying complex mating and web spinning behaviors, key innovation and adaptive radiation hypotheses, and have been inspiration for important theories like sexual selection by female choice. Unfortunately, past major attempts to reconstruct spider phylogeny typically employing the “usual suspect” genes have been unable to produce a well-supported phylogenetic framework for the entire order. To further resolve spider evolutionary relationships we have assembled a transcriptome-based data set comprising 70 ingroup spider taxa. Using maximum likelihood and shortcut coalescence-based approaches, we analyze eight data sets, the largest of which contains 3,398 gene regions and 696,652 amino acid sites forming the largest phylogenomic analysis of spider relationships produced to date. Contrary to long held beliefs that the orb web is the crowning achievement of spider evolution, ancestral state reconstructions of web type support a phylogenetically ancient origin of the orb web and diversification analyses show that the mostly ground-dwelling, web-less RTA clade diversified faster than orb weavers. Consistent with molecular dating estimates we report herein, this may reflect a major increase in biomass of non-flying insects during the Cretaceous Tertiary Revolution 125-90 million years ago favoring diversification of spiders that feed on cursorial rather than flying prey. Our results also have major implications for our understanding of spider systematics. Phylogenomic analyses corroborate several well-accepted high level groupings: Opisthothele, Mygalomorphae, Atypoidina, Aviculariodea, Theraphosidina, Araneomorphae, Entelygynae, Araneoidea, the RTA – clade, Dionycha and the Lycosoidea. Alternatively, our results challenge the monophyly of Eresoidea, Orbiculariae, and Deinopoidea. The composition of the major Paleocribellate and Neocribellate clades, the basal divisions of Araneomorphae, appear to be falsified. Traditional Haplogynae, and even the new concept of Synspermiata, need revision after the departure of Filistatidae and Leptonetidae from the haplogyne clade. The sister pairing of filistatids with hypochilids, implies that some peculiar features of each family may in fact be synapomorphic for the pair. Leptonetids now are seen as a possible sister group to the Entelegynae, illustrating possible intermediates in the evolution of the more complex entelegyne genitalic condition, spinning organs and respiratory organs.
The Mares Conference on Marine Ecosystems Health and Conservation 2016: key themes
Authors: Deprez Tim , Brownlie Katherine , Officer Rick A , Cunha Marina , Erzini Karim
Published: January 2018

Marine environments are generally considered as highly valuable and their health and conservation status are seen as key priorities. However, marine wildlife and habitats are facing multiple threats ranging from eutrophication to overfishing and ocean acidification, all of which directly or indirectly affect the biodiversity of marine ecosystems. The Mares Conference 2016 aims to address the main issues of marine ecosystems health and conservation. To do this, six thematic subjects will be explored throughout the conference scientific sessions and exhibitions; 1) Future oceans: Temperature increase, ocean acidification and expanding hypoxic zones in the ocean have the most prominent impacts on marine ecosystems health on the global scale. Recent results show that the reaction of marine ecosystems towards climate change, including ocean warming, acidification and expanding hypoxic zones, is often not linear but may occur in abrupt reorganisations of marine communities. 2) Understanding biodiversity effects on the functioning of marine ecosystems: During the last decades, it has become increasingly clear that the biodiversity of an ecosystem and its functional features are intricately linked. The objective of this theme is to further our understanding of how interactions between species, can be influenced by anthropogenic activities (pollution, fisheries). 3) Biological invasions: Species introduced outside their natural range are deemed non indigenous species. Invasive alien species can have adverse effects on biological diversity, ecosystem functioning, socio-economic values and/or human health in invaded regions. 4) Natural resources: overexploitation, fisheries and aquaculture: Since the late 19th century, the world fisheries catch has increased steadily, however, analysis of global trends of the most important marine stocks in the world shows that the majority are overexploited or depleted. 5) Ocean noise pollution: Anthropogenic sources of noise in the marine environment have increased in line with expansion in shipping, oil and gas exploration, infrastructure development, offshore renewable energy generation, naval sonar and research activities. These sound sources vary in intensity and frequency and can result in chronic and acute impacts on marine organisms. 6) Habitat loss, urban development, coastal infrastructures and marine spatial planning: The coastal zones are changing under pressure from a growing human population and the conversion of shoreline habitat to urban development. While the conservation challenges associated with the expansion of human infrastructures are well understood in terrestrial systems, urban ecology has not been of as much focus in marine science and management.
How Fast Can a Human Run? − Bipedal vs. Quadrupedal Running
Authors: Kinugasa Ryuta , Usami Yoshiyuki
Published: January 2018

Background. Usain Bolt holds the current world record for a 100-m run, 9.58 s, and has been described as the best human sprinter in history. However, this raises questions concerning the maximum human running speed. Can the world’s fastest men become faster still? The correct answer is likely “Yes”. Methods. We plotted the historical world records for bipedal and quadrupedal 100-m sprint times according to competition year. These historical records were plotted using several curve-fitting procedures. Results. We found that the projected speeds intersected in 2052, when for the first time, the winning quadrupedal 100-m sprint time of 9.249 s was projected to be lower than the winning bipedal time of 9.350 s. Conclusion. Quadrupedal running is not a new running style, and has been used by all humans. This running style simply awakens a human locomotive instinct from an enduring sleep.
From sporadic to global: The changing face of H5N8
Authors: Dalby Andrew
Published: January 2018

The H5N8 influenza subtype is a relatively new highly pathogenic avian influenza. Until the recent Korean outbreak of H5N8 the viral subtype had only been detected sporadically. This paper looks at the multiple reassortment events between H5 hemagglutinin and N8 neuraminidase segments that explain the breaks in the history of the H5N8 subtype, especially in the United States and that show that the recent reassortment has produced an outbreak that has very different characteristics to previous H5N8 outbreaks.
The use and evaluation of self-regulation techniques can predict health goal attainment in adults: an explorative study
Authors: Plaete Jolien , De Bourdeaudhuij Ilse , Verloigne Maite , Crombez Geert
Published: January 2018

Background. Self-regulation tools are not always used optimally, and implementation intention plans often lack quality. Therefore, this study explored participants’ use and feasibility evaluation of self-regulation techniques and their impact on goal attainment.

Methods. Data were obtained from 452 adults in a proof of concept (POC) intervention of ‘MyPlan’, an eHealth intervention using self-regulation techniques to promote three healthy behaviours (physical activity(PA), fruit intake, or vegetable intake). Participants applied self-regulation techniques to a self-selected health behaviour, and evaluated the self-regulation techniques. The quality of implementation intentions was rated by the authors as a function of instrumentality (instrumental and non-instrumental) and specificity (non-specific and medium to high specific). Logistic regression analyses were conducted to predict goal attainment.

Results. Goal attainment was significantly predicted by the motivational value of the personal advice (OR:1.86), by the specificity of the implementation intentions (OR:3.5), by the motivational value of the action plan (OR:1.86), and by making a new action plan at follow-up (OR:4.10). Interaction-effects with behaviour showed that the specificity score of the implementation intention plans (OR:4.59), the motivational value of the personal advice (OR:2.38), selecting hindering factors and solutions(OR:2.00) and making a new action plan at follow-up (OR:7.54) were predictive of goal attainment only for fruit or vegetable intake. Also, when participants in the fruit and vegetable group made more than three plans, they were more likely to attain their goal (OR:1.73), whereas the reverse was the case in the PA group (OR:0.34).

Discussion. Feedback on goal feasibility, coping implementation intentions, further research to investigate the optimal number of plans for different behaviours, the optimal frequency and timing of follow-up modules and new ways to incorporate social support in eHealth interventions, are recommended.
The potential urinary aging markers of 20-month-old rats
Authors: Gao Youhe , Li Xundou
Published: January 2018

Urine is a very good source for biomarker discovery because it accumulates the changes of body. The urinary proteome is influenced by various factors, which is a major challenge in urinary biomarker discovery. To circumvent these problems, simpler systems, such as animal models, should be used to establish associations between physiological or pathological conditions and changes in the urinary proteome. In this study, the urinary proteome of young (2-month-old) and old rats (20-month-old; 9 in each group) were analyzed using LC-MS/MS and quantified using the Progenesis LC-MS software. A total of 371 proteins were identified, 194 of which were shared between young and old rats. Based on the criteria of a fold change ≥ 2, P < 0.05 and being identified in each rat in the high abundance group, 33 proteins were changed (15 up-regulated and 18 down-regulated in old rats). By adding a more stringent standard (protein spectral counts from every rat in the higher group greater than those in the lower group), 8 proteins were changed consistently in all rats of between the groups, 2 of which are also altered in the urinary proteome of aging humans. There are no shared proteins between our results and the previous aging plasma proteome. Twenty of the 33 (60 %) changed proteins have been reported to be disease biomarkers, which implies that aging may share similar urinary changes with some diseases. The 33 proteins corresponded to 28 human orthologs, which are strongly expressed in the kidney, intestine, cerebellum and lung, according to the human protein ATLAS. Therefore, the urinary proteome may reflect aging conditions in these organs.
Winter is coming: cold hardiness attributes of a field population of the potato tuberworm Phthorimaea operculella
Authors: Andreadis Stefanos S , Poulia Yianna , Noukari Sofia , Aslanidou Barbara , Savopoulou-Soultani Matilda
Published: January 2018

The potato tuberworm, Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is a worldwide pest of solanaceous crops especially devastating to potatoes. In the present study we investigated the cold hardiness profile of short-term acclimated and non-acclimated immature and adult stages of a field population of P. operculella. Late instars displayed the lowest mean supercooling point, for both short-term acclimated and non-acclimated individuals, however, no significant differences were observed among developmental stages. Unlike supercooling capacity, acclimation at 5 oC for 5 days enhanced the ability to survive at subzero temperatures after a 2 h exposure. Mean lethal temperature (LTemp50) of all developmental stages (egg, late instar, pupa and adult) decreased after short-term acclimation, however only adults displayed a significant difference among acclimated and non-acclimated individuals concerning their LTemp50 (-11.1 and -8.3 oC, respectively). Generally, pupae were the most cold tolerant developmental stage followed in decreasing order by the eggs and adults, while interestingly late instars were the least ones. Non-freezing injury above the supercooling point was well documented for all developmental stages indicating a pre-freeze mortality and suggesting that P. operculella is considered to be chill tolerant rather than freeze intolerant. Nevertheless, given its high degree of cold hardiness, winter mortality of P. operculella due to low temperatures is not likely to occur and potential pest outbreak can take place following a mild winter.
Characterization of two microsatellite PCR multiplexes for high throughput genotyping of the Caribbean spiny lobster, Panulirus argus
Authors: Truelove Nathan , Behringer Jr. Donald , Butler IV Mark , Preziosi Richard F
Published: January 2018

The spiny lobster Panulirus argus supports one of the most economically important commercial fisheries in the Caribbean, yet its sustainable management is problematic due to uncertainty regarding levels of population connectivity among Caribbean nations. We developed two microsatellite multiplex panels for P. argus to assist in future conservation genetics research studies of this important Caribbean species. Significant deviations from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium were observed at locus Par7 in multiplex 1 and loci Fwc08 and Fwc17 in multiplex 2. No evidence of linkage disequilibrium was observed. All 12 loci were used in both microsatellite multiplexes were polymorphic, with an average of 12 alleles per locus (ranging from 3 to 29 alleles per locus) and HO ranging from 0.368 to 0.921. These two microsatellite multiplexes will be a valuable resource for ongoing and future studies of conservation genetics in the Caribbean spiny lobster, Panulirus argus.
Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia prophylaxis is a challenge in granulomatosis with polyangiitis patients treated with rituximab.
Authors: Besada Emilio
Published: January 2018

All strategies to prevent Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PCP) during rituximab treatment have their rationale in patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and to some extent in patients with other autoimmune diseases (AID). Risk factors of PCP and severe infections are very similar in GPA patients. The decision of PCP prophylaxis should not be limited at RTX initiation and during RTX treatment, but should be reassessed continuously in all GPA patients. Since PCP increases the mortality risk in GPA (and AID) patients, the treating physician should always consider PCP as a possible diagnosis in patients treated with RTX - receiving or not PCP prophylaxis.
What's happening with HIV in Papua New Guinea?
Authors: Heywood Peter F
Published: January 2018

Introduction: In the 30 years since its identification in Papua New Guinea the response to HIV and its subsequent spread has waxed and waned and taken new directions as the social and biomedical environment changed. More than 30 years later the surveillance system continues to falter and there has still not been a national survey on which estimates can be based. Absent a functioning surveillance system, PNG ‘’estimates’’ the size of the epidemic from time to time based on mathematical models of the epidemic. This has resulted in widely varying estimates and confusion about the course of the epidemic. After appearance of the virus PNG struggled to design and implement an effective response. A new government at the end to the 1990s saw a strengthened response and formation of a National AIDS Council (NAC) located, eventually, in the Office of the Prime Minister. Around the same time PNG commenced a process of decentralizing government services to provinces and districts. DOH was expected to continue to provide services even though overall control now was with the NAC and responsibility for services was decentralized.Discussion: PNG is now reliant on mathematical models to estimate the course of the epidemic. Even though the most recent results indicate a fall in incidence since 2005, two recent reviews indicate that programs have not been effective at most levels and that the dual architecture of the government response has failed to adjust to the decentralization of government activities. Thus we now have the situation where models indicate lower prevalence than originally projected even though interventions are apparently ineffective and we have no reliable independent data to indicate why? There are two lessons from the PNG experience. First, the importance of establishing an effective HIV surveillance system. And second, realization that the NAC approach, originally seen as a panacea by donors and agencies, has not worked in PNG. The critical thing now is to return control of the HIV/AIDS program to the DOH on the condition that, except for surveillance and setting standards, it decentralizes the program to provinces and districts.
Bioinformatics computation of metabolic models from sequenced genomes
Authors: Karp Peter D , Ouzounis Christos A
Published: January 2018

In the early days of the human genome project (HGP), during the late 1980s and early 1990s, there was skepticism that the genome project would produce biologically meaningful information. The reality is that bioinformatics has allowed us to extract far more biology from sequenced genomes than any published predictions in the early 1990s. Thanks to the efforts of many researchers in several subfields of bioinformatics, we can now process a sequenced genome through a series of computations to produce a quantitative metabolic flux model. Thus, surprisingly, bioinformatics has achieved what might have been held up as a holy grail of the field, before the goal was even articulated.
From differential transcription of ribosomal proteins to differential structure of ribosomes
Authors: Slavov Nikolai
Published: January 2018

About a decade ago, I observed that as the cell growth rate increases, mRNAs coding for ribosomal proteins are transcriptionally induced to varying degrees. This observation puzzled me as it defied my expectation that faster growing cells meet their demands for increased protein synthesis by simply inducing all ribosomal proteins to the same degree to make more ribosomes. These initial data were limited to mRNA levels and thus too indirect to make concrete conclusions about ribosomal structure and function. This commentary outlines my trajectory investigating this puzzle in search of more direct data.
NaIO4/Br- as a mild system for the oxidation of 1-methyl-anthra-9,10-quinones
Authors: Cybulski Marcin , Formela Adam , Sidoryk Katarzyna , Michalak Olga , Rosa Anna , Mróz Katarzyna , Maruszak Wioleta
Published: January 2018

One of the anthraquinone classes comprises compounds with a carbonyl group. These natural or synthetic anthraquinones find their application as building blocks in the synthesis of the compounds with a biological activity. Recently, 4-substituted anthra-9,10-quinone-1-carboxylic acids (2) have been used as key intermediates in the synthesis of patented compounds (3) with anticancer activity against multidrug resistant cell lines. Although 2,7-dihydro-3H-dibenz[de,h]cinnolin-3,7-diones (3) were successfully synthetized in a small laboratory scale, several problems were observed during the preparation of their acid intermediates (2) in a multi-gram scale. The known methods for the preparation of 2 are based on the oxidation of the methyl group in anthra-9,10-quinones (1). The most common are: the oxidation with the diluted nitric acid under high pressure in a sealed tube at the temperature of 195-220 oC, the oxidation in nitrobenzene by passing chlorine gas through the reaction mixture at the temperature of 160-170 oC or in a presence of the fuming sulphuric acid. The mentioned methods require aggressive reagents and specific reaction conditions including high pressure and temperature. Thus, there was a need to find a new efficient, cost-effective and reproducible synthetic method of preparation of 2. While searching literature it was found that the direct oxidation of alkylarenes mediated by the sodium periodate/lithium bromide combination produces benzyl acetates throughout benzyl bromides in the acetic acid, or benzylic acids in the diluted inorganic acid. Based on these results we examined a variety of reaction conditions with or without the bromine source and the oxidizing anion. As a result, a novel procedure for the preparation of highly pure 4-substituted anthra-9,10-quinone-1-carboxylic acids (HPLC > 99.5%) using oxidizing anion/ brominating reagent system was developed. It enabled 2 isolation by the simple filtration of the reaction mixture and was applied in the scale-up of 2,7-dihydro-3H-dibenz[de,h]cinnolin-3,7-dione derivatives.
Reconstructing Ireland’s marine fisheries catches: 1950-2010
Authors: Miller Dana D , Zeller Dirk
Published: January 2018

The wasteful practice of discarding catch is one of the major problems associated with European fisheries. Despite this, estimates of discarded catch are not included in the ‘Official Catch Statistics’ database (1905 to present) collected and maintained by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). Furthermore, removals through recreational sea angling and estimates of other forms of unreported landings are often also missing from this dataset. Here, total discarded catch and unreported landings made by Irish commercial fishing vessels, and the total amount of fish caught and retained through Irish sea angling activities within the Northeast Atlantic from 1950 to 2010 have been estimated. Total reconstructed catches were 19.3% and 20.9% higher than the officially recorded total landings as reported by ICES from the Northeast Atlantic, and those estimated as being from within the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), respectively. Discarded catch was proportionately the largest component of the reconstruction, representing 12.7% of the total catch within the Irish EEZ. The Irish catch reconstruction presented here is by no means assumed to represent the complete record of total removals and the authors encourage further efforts to improve upon this attempt. However, considering the current absence of estimated values for discarded catch, recreational removals and other unreported landings from officially and publicly reported data, we feel that our reconstruction provides an improved baseline estimate of more accurate total Irish marine fisheries catch that has not previously been made publicly available.