bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Novel mosaic SRY gene deletions in three newborn males with variable genitourinary malformations
Authors: Roberts Jennifer , Lyalin Dmitry , Tosatto Norwood , Rana Pratibha , Fadoul Hiba , Welsh Holly , Zhang Lei , Cooley Linda , Repnikova Elena
Published: July 2018

Ambiguous genitalia in the newborn can present a diagnostic challenge in medical practice. In most cases, the causes of genitourinary anomalies are not well understood; both genetic and environmental factors are thought to play a role. In this study, we report mosaic SRY gene deletion identified by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis in three unrelated newborn male patients with genital anomalies. G‐banded chromosomes and microarray analysis were normal for all three patients. One patient had microphallus, hypospadias, bifid scrotum, exstrophic perineal tissue identified as a rectal duplication, lumbar vertebral anomalies, scoliosis, and a dysmorphic sacrum. The other two patients had isolated epispadias with the urethral meatus close to the penopubic junction. All three had bilateral palpable gonads in the scrotum. While this is the first report of mosaic SRY deletions, mosaic SRY sequence variants have been described in patients with variable genitourinary anomalies. This study identifies FISH analysis as a reliable method for mosaic SRY deletion detection. We suggest SRY FISH analysis should be used in the clinical workup of patients with genitourinary ambiguity.
Pulmonary manifestations in tuberous sclerosis complex
Authors: Gupta Nishant , Henske Elizabeth P.
Published: July 2018

Tuberous sclerosis complex has manifestations in many organ systems, including brain, heart, kidney, skin, and lung. The primary manifestations in the lung are lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) and multifocal micronodular pneumocyte hyperplasia (MMPH). LAM affects almost exclusively women, and causes cystic lung destruction, pneumothorax, and chylous pleural effusions. LAM can lead to dyspnea, oxygen dependence, and respiratory failure, with more rapid disease progression during the premenopausal years. In contrast, MMPH affects men and women equally, causing small nodular pulmonary deposits of type II pneumocytes that rarely progress to symptomatic disease. Here, we review the clinical features and pathogenesis of LAM and MMPH.
Heritability and genetic integration of anterior tooth crown variants in the South Carolina Gullah
Authors: Stojanowski Christopher M. , Paul Kathleen S. , Seidel Andrew C. , Duncan William N. , Guatelli‐Steinberg Debbie
Published: July 2018

Objectives

This article presents estimates of narrow‐sense heritability and bivariate genetic correlation for a series of morphological crown variants of the anterior dentition. These results provide insight into the value of dental phenotypes as evolutionary proxies, as well as the development of tooth crowns as integrated or modular structures.

Materials and Methods

African American dental casts from the Menegaz‐Bock collection were scored for a standard set of dental morphological variables using the Arizona State Dental Anthropology System. Estimates of narrow‐sense heritability and genetic correlations were generated using SOLAR v. 8.1.1, controlling for the covariates of age, sex, and birth year. Analyses were run using ordinal/continuous scale variables that were then dichotomized at various breakpoints, consistent with standard practices in dental anthropology.

Results

Heritability estimates were low to moderate for most traits, and lower in magnitude than those reported for odontometric data from the same study sample. Only winging, canine shoveling, and canine double shoveling returned narrow‐sense heritabilities that did not differ significantly from zero. Genetic correlations were high among antimeres and metameres and low for different traits scored on the same tooth crown. These results affirm standard data cleaning practices in dental biodistance. Double shoveling was atypical in returning strong negative correlations with other traits, shoveling in particular.

Conclusions

Additive genetic variation contributes to dental morphological variation, although the estimates are uniformly lower than those observed for odontometrics. Patterns of genetic correlation affirm most standard practices in dental biodistance. Patterns of negative pleiotropy involving lingual and labial crown features suggest a genetic architecture and developmental complex that differentially constrain morphological variation of distinct surfaces of the same tooth crown. These patterns warrant greater consideration and cross‐population validation.
N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Iron(III) Porphyrin‐Catalyzed Intramolecular C(sp3)–H Amination of Alkyl Azides
Authors: Shing Ka‐Pan , Liu Yungen , Cao Bei , Chang Xiao‐Yong , You Tingjie , Che Chi‐Ming
Published: July 2018

Metal‐catalyzed intramolecular C−H amination of alkyl azides constitutes an appealing approach to alicyclic amines; challenges remain in broadening substrate scope, enhancing regioselectivity, and applying the method to natural product synthesis. Herein we report an iron(III) porphyrin bearing axial N‐heterocyclic carbene ligands which catalyzes the intramolecular C(sp3)–H amination of a wide variety of alkyl azides under microwave‐assisted and thermal conditions, resulting in selective amination of tertiary, benzylic, allylic, secondary, and primary C−H bonds with up to 95 % yield. 14 out of 17 substrates were cyclized selectively at C4 to give pyrrolidines. The regioselectivity at C4 or C5 could be tuned by modifying the reactivity of the C5–H bond. Mechanistic studies revealed a concerted or a fast re‐bound mechanism for the amination reaction. The reaction has been applied to the syntheses of tropane, nicotine, cis‐octahydroindole, and leelamine derivatives.
Degradability comparison of poly(butylene adipate terephthalate) and its composites filled with starch and calcium carbonate in different aquatic environments
Authors: Wang X.‐W. , Wang G.‐X. , Huang D. , Lu B. , Zhen Z.‐C. , Ding Y. , Ren Z.‐L. , Wang P.‐L. , Zhang W. , Ji J.‐H.
Published: July 2018

We investigated the degradation behavior of biodegradable poly(butylene adipate terephthalate) (PBAT) and its composites containing starch (PBAT–starch) and calcium carbonate (PBAT–CaCO3). The test splines were immersed in six different water bodies with various microbial compositions and salt concentrations for a 56 week period to obtain consistent experimental data. The results show that the pure PBAT degraded very slowly in the six water bodies, with a maximum weight loss of only 4.7% over the 56 week study period. Strips of the PBAT–starch composite showed a significantly accelerated biodegradation in microbe‐containing water; the degree of degradation depended largely on the type and abundance of microorganisms in the water bodies. Conversely, compared with the pure PBAT strips, PBAT–CaCO3 showed less degradation in the various water bodies. A comparison of degradability between the strips immersed in sterilized distilled water and sterilized seawater indicated that inorganic salts did not significantly affect the degradation of PBAT. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 46916.
Partially Oxidized Palladium Nanodots for Enhanced Electrocatalytic Carbon Dioxide Reduction
Authors: Lu Hui , Zhang Le , Zhong Ju Hua , Yang Hua Gui
Published: July 2018

Here we report a partially oxidized palladium nanodot (Pd/PdOx) catalyst with a diameter of around 4.5 nm. In aqueous CO2‐saturated 0.5 m KHCO3, the catalyst displays a Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 90 % at −0.55 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) for carbon monoxide (CO) production, and the activity can be retained for at least 24 h. The improved catalytic activity can be attributed to the strong adsorption of CO2.− intermediate on the Pd/PdOx electrode, wherein the presence of Pd2+ during the electroreduction reaction of CO2 may play an important role in accelerating the carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR). This study explores the catalytic mechanism of a partially oxidized nanostructured Pd electrocatalyst and provides new opportunities for improving the CO2RR performance of metal systems.
Polar Ultrathin Self‐Doping Carbon Nitride Nanosheets with Intrinsic Polysulfide Adsorption for High Performance Lithium‐Sulfur Batteries
Authors: Gong Yi , Fu Chaopeng , Dong Anping , Zhou Haihui , Li Huanxin , Kuang Yafei
Published: July 2018

Lithium‐sulfur (Li−S) batteries are promising for next‐generation electrochemical energy storage due to their high energy density and low cost. Here, we introduce light‐weight polar carbon self‐doping C3N4 nanosheets (C−CNN) as sulfur host for the fabrication of high performance Li−S batteries. The role of carbon doping in boosting the electrical conductivity of C−CNN is revealed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and electrical conductivity measurements. The strong chemical interactions between C−CNN and polysulfides are investigated by adsorption and post‐mortem X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis. Benefiting from the high surface area, enhanced electrical conductivity and high content of active N species (56.7 at %) in C−CNN, the strong chemical interactions between C−CNN and polysulfides can be fully exploited to minimize the shuttle effect and achieve long cycle life of Li−S batteries. As a result, the C−CNN/S cathode delivers a high specific capacity of 1050 mAh g−1, good rate capability and excellent cycling stability with a low capacity decay of 0.07 % per cycle at 1 C over 500 cycles, showing better performance than nitrogen‐doped graphene. A performance comparison with the literature also shows that C−CNN is one of the most promising nitrogen‐containing carbon materials for long cycle life Li−S batteries.
NiII Complex Formation and Protonation States at the Active Site of a Nickel Superoxide Dismutase‐Derived Metallopeptide: Implications for the Mechanism of Superoxide Degradation
Authors: Tietze Daniel , Koley Seth Banabithi , Brauser Matthias , Tietze Alesia A. , Buntkowsky Gerd
Published: July 2018

A small, catalytically active metallopeptide (Nim6SOD, m6SOD=ACDLAC), which was derived from the nickel superoxide dismutase (NiSOD) active site was employed to study the mechanism of superoxide degradation, especially focusing on the protonation states of the NiII donor atoms, the proton source, and the role of the N‐terminal proton(s). Therefore, the NiII‐metallopeptide was studied at various pHs and temperatures using UV/Vis and NMR spectroscopy. These studies indicate a strong reduction of the pKa of the NiII‐ligating donor atoms, resulting in a fully deprotonated NiII active‐site environment. Furthermore, no titratable proton could be observed within a pH ranging from 6.5 to 10.5. This rules out a recently discussed adiabatic proton tunneling‐like hydrogen‐atom transfer process for the metallopeptides, not found in the native enzyme. Furthermore, variable‐temperature 1H NMR measurements uncovered an extended hydrogen‐bond network within the NiII active site of the metallopeptide similar to the enzyme. With respect to the deprotonated NiII active site, the residual N‐terminal proton, which is a prerequisite for catalytic activity, cannot act as proton source. Most likely, it stabilizes the NiII‐coordinated substrate in an end‐on fashion, thus allowing for an inner‐sphere electron transfer. Lastly, and unlike the enzyme, the catalytic rate constant of superoxide degradation by the metallopeptides was determined to be strongly pH dependent, suggesting bulk water to be directly involved in proton donation, which in turn strongly suggests the N‐terminal histidine to be the respective proton donor in the enzyme.
Chelate Silylene–Silyl Ligand Can Boost Rhodium‐Catalyzed C−H Bond Functionalization Reactions
Authors: Mo Zhenbo , Kostenko Arseni , Zhou Yu‐Peng , Yao Shenglai , Driess Matthias
Published: July 2018

The first N‐heterocyclic silylene (NHSi)–silane scaffold LSi−R−Si(H)Mes2 (1) (L=PhC(NtBu)2; R=1,12‐xanthendiyl spacer; Mes=2,4,6‐Me3C6H2) was synthesized and used to form the unique rhodium(III) complex (LSi−R−SiMes2)Rh(H)Cl 2 through its reaction with 0.5 molar equivalents of [Rh(coe)2Cl]2 (coe=cyclooctene). An X‐ray diffraction analysis revealed that 2 has a (SiIISiIV)Rh(H)Cl core with three short Rh⋅⋅⋅H−C contacts with Me groups of the ligand 1, which cause a distorted pentagonal bipyramidal coordination of the Rh center. Unexpectedly, the reaction of 2 with tBuONa gives the new bis(silyl)hydridorhodium(III) complex 4. Due to the strong donor ability of the chelate SiII–SiIV ligand, 2 and 4 can act as highly efficient pre‐catalysts in the Rh‐mediated selective C−H functionalization of 2‐phenylpyridines with C−C unsaturated organic substrates under mild reaction conditions.
Hypervalent Hydrosilicates Connected to Light Alkali Metal Amides: Synthesis, Structure, and Hydrosilylation Catalysis
Authors: Schuhknecht Danny , Leich Valeri , Spaniol Thomas P. , Okuda Jun
Published: July 2018

When light alkali metal amides [M(Me3TACD)]n (M=Li, Na, K; (Me3TACD)H=1,4,7‐trimethyl‐1,4,7,10‐tetraazacyclododecane) were treated with H2SiPh2 in THF, [M{(H2SiPh2)Me3TACD}(thf)x] containing a pendant hypervalent dihydridosilicate were formed and characterized by elemental analysis, NMR/IR spectroscopy, and single‐crystal X‐ray crystallography. The lithium complex catalyzed the hydrosilylation of styrene derivatives under mild conditions with anti‐Markovnikov regioselectivity.
Combining data from multiple sources to study mechanisms of aneurysm disease: Tools and techniques
Authors: Cebral Juan R. , Mut Fernando , Gade Piyusha , Cheng Fangzhou , Tobe Yasutaka , Frosen Juhana , Robertson Anne M.
Published: July 2018

Introduction

Connecting local hemodynamics, biomechanics, and tissue properties in cerebral aneurysms is important for understanding the processes of wall degeneration and subsequent aneurysm progression and rupture. This challenging problem requires integration of data from multiple sources.

Methods

This paper describes the tools and techniques developed to integrate data from multiple sources, including clinical information, 3D imaging, intraoperative videos, ex vivo micro–computed tomography (CT), and multiphoton microscopy. Central to this approach is a 3D tissue model constructed from micro‐CT images of aneurysm samples resected during neurosurgery. This model is aligned to vascular models constructed from 3D clinical images and is used to map and compare flow, biomechanics, and tissue data.

Results

The approach is illustrated with data of three human intracranial aneurysms. These case studies demonstrated the ability of this approach to study relationships between different factors affecting the aneurysm wall and produced provocative observations that will be further studied with larger series. For instance, “atherosclerotic” and “hyperplastic” looking parts of the aneurysm corresponded to thicker walls and occurred in regions of recirculating flow and low wall shear stress (WSS); thin regions were associated with inflow jets, flow impingement, and high WSS; blebs had walls of varying structures, including calcified, thin, or hyperplastic walls.

Conclusions

The current approach enables the study of interactions of multiple factors thought to be responsible for the progressive degradation and weakening of the aneurysm wall during its evolution.
Flexibility at the Fringes: Conformations of the Steroid Hormone β‐Estradiol
Authors: Zinn Sabrina , Schnell Melanie
Published: July 2018

We present the accurate experimental structure of the steroid hormone β‐estradiol obtained with high‐resolution rotational spectroscopy under the solvent free, isolated, and cold conditions of a molecular jet. This is the first time that the rotational signature of a steroid hormone is reported. β‐Estradiol is a primary female sex hormone and features a rigid steroidal ring system. Three conformers could be identified in the cold environment of a supersonic molecular jet, which only differ in the orientation of the two hydroxy groups attached to the steroidal backbone. The conformers are almost isoenergetic and have very similar rotational constants but still could be clearly resolved and assigned. The high sensitivity of the technique allowed us to record and identify all singly substituted 13C isotopologues in natural abundance for the dominant conformer. The additional spectroscopic constants led to an accurate determination of its experimental molecular structure. Along with a previous comparison of β‐estradiol structures in the solid state and the liquid phase, this study completes the investigations in all three main phases by providing the interaction free gas‐phase structure.
Nosip functions during vertebrate eye and cranial cartilage development
Authors: Flach Hannah , Krieg Julia , Hoffmeister Meike , Dietmann Petra , Reusch Adrian , Wischmann Lisa , Kernl Bianka , Riegger Ricarda , Oess Stefanie , Kühl Susanne J.
Published: July 2018

Background: The nitric oxide synthase interacting protein (Nosip) has been associated with diverse human diseases including psychological disorders. In line, early neurogenesis of mouse and Xenopus is impaired upon Nosip deficiency. Nosip knockout mice show craniofacial defects and the down‐regulation of Nosip in the mouse and Xenopus leads to microcephaly. Until now, the exact underlying molecular mechanisms of these malformations were still unknown. Results: Here, we show that nosip is expressed in the developing ocular system as well as the anterior neural crest cells of Xenopus laevis. Furthermore, Nosip inhibition causes severe defects in eye formation in the mouse and Xenopus. Retinal lamination as well as dorso–ventral patterning of the retina were affected in Nosip‐depleted Xenopus embryos. Marker gene analysis using rax, pax6 and otx2 reveals an interference with the eye field induction and differentiation. A closer look on Nosip‐deficient Xenopus embryos furthermore reveals disrupted cranial cartilage structures and an inhibition of anterior neural crest cell induction and migration shown by twist, snai2, and egr2. Moreover, foxc1 as downstream factor of retinoic acid signalling is affected upon Nosip deficiency. Conclusions: Nosip is a crucial factor for the development of anterior neural tissue such the eyes and neural crest cells. Developmental Dynamics 247:1070‐1082, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effect of shRNA‐mediated Xist knockdown on the quality of porcine parthenogenetic embryos
Authors: Chen Xiaoyu , Zhu Zhiwei , Yu Fuxian , Huang Jing , Jia Ruoxin , Pan Jianzhi
Published: July 2018

Background: Parthenogenetically activated oocytes exhibit poor embryo development and lower total numbers of cells per blastocyst accompanied by abnormally increased expression of Xist, a long noncoding RNA that plays an important role in triggering X chromosome inactivation during embryogenesis. Results: To investigate whether knockdown of Xist influences parthenogenetic development in pigs. We developed an anti‐Xist short hairpin RNA (shRNA) vector, which can significantly inhibit Xist expression for at least seven days when injected at 12–13 hr after parthenogenetic activation. Embryonic cleavage, blastocyst formation, and total blastocyst cell numbers were compared during the blastocyst stage, as well as the expression of an X‐linked gene and three pluripotent transcription factors. Knockdown of Xist significantly increases the total blastocyst cell number, but does not influence the rate of embryo cleavage and blastocyst formation. The expressions of Sox2, Nanog, and Oct4 were also significantly improved in the injected embryos compared with the control at the blastocyst stage, but the Foxp3 expression level was not increased significantly. Conclusions: The present study provides valuable information for understanding the role of Xist in parthenogenesis and presents a new approach for improving the quality of porcine parthenogenetic embryos. Developmental Dynamics 248:140–148, 2019. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Hindcasting the impacts of land‐use changes on bird communities with species distribution models of Bird Atlas data
Authors: Regos Adrián , Imbeau Louis , Desrochers Mélanie , Leduc Alain , Robert Michel , Jobin Benoît , Brotons Lluís , Drapeau Pierre
Published: July 2018

Habitat loss and degradation induced by human development are among the major threats to biodiversity worldwide. In this study, we tested our ability to predict the response of bird communities (128 species) to land‐use changes in southern Quebec (~483,100 km2) over the last 30 yr (between 1984–1989 and 2010–2014) by using species distribution models (299,302 occurrences in 30,408 locations) from a hindcasting perspective. Results were grouped by functional guilds to infer potential impacts on ecosystem services, and to relate model transferability (i.e., ability of our models to be generalized to other times and scales) to specific functional and life‐history traits. Overall, our models were able to accurately predict, both in space and time, habitat suitability for 69% of species, especially for granivorous, nonmigrant, tree‐nesting species, and species that are tied to agricultural areas under intensive use. These findings indicate that model transferability depends upon specific functional and life‐history traits, providing further evidence that species’ ecologies affect the ability of models to accurately predict bird distributions. Declining bird species were mostly short‐distance migrants that were associated with open habitats (agricultural and nonproductive forest) with aerial insectivorous or granivorous diets, which may be related to agricultural intensification and land abandonment. Land‐use changes were positive for some forest bird species that were mainly associated with mixed and deciduous forests, generalist diets and tree‐nesting strategies. Yet cavity‐nesting birds have suffered substantial reductions in their distributions, suggesting that cumulative effects of intensive logging and wildfires on mature forests pose a threat for forest‐specialist species. Habitat suitability changes predicted by our coarse‐scale species distribution models partially agreed with the long‐term trends reported by the North American Breeding Bird Survey. Our findings confirm land‐use change as a key driving force for shaping bird communities in southern Quebec, together with the need to explicitly incorporate it into global change scenarios that better inform decision‐makers on conservation and management.
Trade‐offs between temporal stability and level of forest ecosystem services provisioning under climate change
Authors: Albrich Katharina , Rammer Werner , Thom Dominik , Seidl Rupert
Published: July 2018

The ability of forests to continuously provide ecosystem services (ES) is threatened by rapid changes in climate and disturbance regimes. Consequently, these changes present a considerable challenge for forest managers. Management of forests often focuses on maximizing the level of ES provisioning over extended time frames (i.e., rotation periods of more than 100 yr). However, temporal stability is also crucial for many ES, for example, in the context of a steady provisioning of resources to the industry, or the protection of human infrastructure against natural hazards. How temporal stability and the level of ES provisioning are related is of increasing interest, particularly since changing climate and disturbance regimes amplify temporal variability in forest ecosystems. In this simulation study, we investigated whether forest management can simultaneously achieve high levels and temporal stability of ES provisioning. Specifically, we quantified (1) trade‐offs between ES stability and level of ES provisioning, and (2) the effect of tree species diversity on ES stability. Simulating a wide range of future climate scenarios and management strategies, we found a negative relationship between temporal stability and level of ES provisioning for timber production, carbon cycling, and site protection in a landscape in the Austrian Alps. Tree species diversity had a predominantly positive effect on ES stability. We conclude that attempts to maximize the level of ES provisioning may increase its temporal variability, and thus threaten the continuity of ES supply. Consequently, considerations of stability need to be more explicitly included in forest management planning under increasingly variable future conditions.
Sixty years of community change in the prairie–savanna–forest mosaic of Wisconsin
Authors: Ladwig Laura M. , Damschen Ellen I. , Rogers David A.
Published: July 2018

Biodiversity loss is a global concern, and maintaining habitat complexity in naturally patchy landscapes can help retain regional diversity. A mosaic of prairie, savanna, and forest historically occurred across central North America but currently is highly fragmented due to human land conversion. It is unclear how each habitat type now contributes to regional diversity. Using legacy data, we resurveyed savanna plant communities originally surveyed in the 1950s to compare change in savannas to that in remnant forests and prairies. Savanna community structure and composition changed substantially over the past 60 years. Tree canopy density nearly doubled and many prairie and savanna specialist species were replaced by forest and non‐native species. All three habitats gained and lost many species since the 1950s, resulting in large changes in community composition from local colonizations and extinctions. Across all three habitats, regional species extinctions matched that of regional colonization resulting in no net change in regional species richness. Synthesis—Despite considerable species turnover within savannas, many species remain within the broader prairie–savanna–forest mosaic. Both regional extinctions and colonizations were high over the past 60 years, and maintaining the presence of all three community types—prairie, savanna and forest—on the landscape is critical to maintaining regional biodiversity.
Study on the ramp fluctuation suppression control of wind power generation output using optimization method
Authors: Takayama Satoshi , Ishigame Atsushi
Published: July 2018

Recently, wind power generation are installed as a countermeasure for the environmental issue in Japan. However, wind power generation output is fluctuated due to wind condition. Moreover, it is some negative impact for system operation such as the economic load dispatching control and the load frequency control. In Japan, NEDO has started the project as a countermeasure for massive penetration of wind power generation in 2014, called “R&D Project on Grid Integration of Variable Renewable Energy.” In this paper, we proposed the output fluctuation suppression control method of wind power generation using the battery and forecast data of wind generation output. Specifically, the target value of wind power generation output is calculated to decrease the deviation output from fluctuation suppression code for ramp event using deterministic optimization method. The effectiveness of proposed method is evaluated through the computational simulation using forecast data and actual wind power generation output in Tohoku area.
Metallothionein‐1 suppresses rheumatoid arthritis pathogenesis by shifting the Th17/Treg balance
Authors: Sun Jinxia , Li Li , Li Lingyun , Ding Liping , Liu Xiaokai , Chen Xianxiong , Zhang Jinshun , Qi Xin , Du Jing , Huang Zhong
Published: July 2018

It is now well accepted that an imbalance between the Th17 and regulatory T‐cell responses is closely associated with the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the precise regulatory mechanism for the differentiation of Th17 and Treg in RA is not well characterized. The present study showed that metallothionein‐1 (MT‐1), which is a low molecular weight protein that is involved in the detoxification of heavy metals and scavenging of free radicals, was upregulated in RA. Furthermore, the synovial inflammation and pathologic symptoms in collagen‐induced arthritis and collagen antibody‐induced arthritis mice were significantly suppressed when MT‐1 was expressed intraarticularly. Further investigation revealed that MT‐1 inhibited the differentiation of Th17 cells but enhanced that of Treg cells. Furthermore, it markedly decreased both STAT3 and RAR‐related orphan receptor gamma t (RORγt) expression in vitro and in vivo. Collectively, our studies demonstrated that MT‐1 might manifest as a protein involved in immunosuppression of RA pathogenesis by shifting Th17/Treg balance and may prove to be a potential therapeutic target for RA autoimmune diseases.
Reduced inhibition in brainstem circuits in classical trigeminal neuralgia
Authors: Gündüz A. , Uygunoğlu U. , Uluduz D. , Saip S. , Siva A. , Göksan B. , Kızıltan M.E.
Published: July 2018

Objective

We hypothesized that prepulse modulation (PPM) would be altered in trigeminal neuralgia (TN) if suprasegmental inhibitory network involvement was present and tested our hypothesis in a group of patients with classical TN.

Methods

The study enrolled nine consecutive patients with classical TN and 14 healthy subjects. Diagnosis and classification followed the International Classification of Headache Disorders‐third edition (beta version). The blink reflex (BR) and BR‐PPM were recorded. Ipsilateral recordings were made after stimulating each trigeminal nerve in the patient group whereas right‐sided recordings were performed after stimulating the right trigeminal nerve in the healthy subjects. A conditioning electrical stimulus was applied to the ipsilateral median nerve at interstimulus intervals (ISIs) of 50 and 100 ms before the test stimulus to the supraorbital nerve.

Results

The unconditioned BR recordings were similar in all groups. In the healthy subjects, the prepulse stimulus resulted in a reduced R2 magnitude (p = 0.000, Friedman's test) and longer R2 latency (p = 0.008, Friedman's test) at ISIs of 50 and 100 ms in comparison with unconditioned recordings. The R2 latency differed significantly between the unconditioned recordings and the ISI of 100 ms. In the patients with TN, no significant change was observed on either the symptomatic or asymptomatic sides.

Conclusions

There is a bilateral prepulse inhibition deficit in TN, even on the asymptomatic side. Our findings provide electrophysiological evidence for suprasegmental changes and loss of filtering activity at the brainstem in level TN.
Probing the history of social psychology, exploring diversity and views of the social: Publication trends in the European Journal of Social Psychology from 1971 to 2016
Authors: Rizzoli Valentina , Castro Paula , Tuzzi Arjuna , Contarello Alberta
Published: July 2018

The European Journal of Social Psychology (EJSP), as the voice of the European Association of Social Psychology, aims to promote diversity and a distinctively ‘European’, more ‘social’, social psychology (SP). However, whether and how these objectives have been accomplished over time remains controversial. This article enters this debate, tracing the history of SP as depicted by EJSP publications, via two types of lexicometric analyses of all abstracts of the Journal (1971–2016). Themes, processes, methods, and their organisation in cycles and clusters over time, were identified and analysed. Regarding diversity, findings indicate that the publications reflect several of the new theoretical proposals that emerged over the years, but do not fully reflect the variety of perspectives and methods of the discipline. It further indicates that lately the ‘social’ is predominantly present in attention to pressing social issues, albeit the processes involved in them are mostly theorised at an individualistic level. This pattern suggests the importance of keeping open the quest for epistemological and methodological diversity, and of re‐problematising what the ‘social’ in SP means. By contributing to mapping the history of SP, offering a more comprehensive and reflexive view for it, the present analyses also help in forging a stronger discipline.
Interaction of environmental steroids with organic anion transporting polypeptide (Oatp1d1) in zebrafish (Danio rerio)
Authors: Willi Raffael Alois , Fent Karl
Published: July 2018

Steroid hormones in the aquatic environment may pose a risk to fish health due to their ubiquitous presence and high biological activity. At present, the uptake process and toxicokinetics of steroids in fish are poorly known, in particular the role of cell membrane transporters. We investigated the interaction of 17 endogenous and environmental steroids with the zebrafish organic anion transporting peptide (Oatp1d1) uptake transporter, which is prominently expressed in liver and kidneys. We selected steroids of different classes including androstenedione (A4), progesterone (P4), and its metabolites, as well as glucocorticoids and spironolactone, and analyzed their interaction with Oatp1d1 by competitive inhibition of the uptake of the fluorescent substrate Lucifer Yellow. The half-maximal inhibition (IC50) values derived from sigmoid inhibition curves were lowest for P4, and the order of increasing IC50 values was as follows: 17α-hydroxyprogesterone > clobetasol propionate > spironolactone > 21α-hydroxyprogesterone > fludrocortisone acetate and additional glucocorticoids. The interaction activity showed a positive correlation with the lipophilicity of the steroids. Our data show that different classes of steroids interact with Oatp1d1 with different activity (either by uptake or inhibition, or both). This is of importance, because in consequence, steroids may interfere with the transport of endogenous substrates, and thus physiological processes. Moreover, steroids may alter cellular trafficking of environmental contaminants by competitive inhibition of this transporter. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:2670–2676. © 2018 SETAC

Abstract
Chronic toxicity of 6 neonicotinoid insecticides to Chironomus dilutus and Neocloeon triangulifer
Authors: Raby Melanie , Zhao Xiaoming , Hao Chunyan , Poirier David G. , Sibley Paul K.
Published: July 2018

Neonicotinoid insecticides are frequently detected in surface waters near agricultural areas, leading to a potential for chronic exposure to sensitive aquatic species. The midge Chironomus dilutus and the mayfly Neocloeon triangulifer have been shown to be acutely sensitive to neonicotinoids. Previous studies have established chronic effects of some neonicotinoids on C. dilutus, but reproduction has not been studied. Toxic effects have not been assessed using N. triangulifer. We present the results of chronic, static-renewal tests for 6 neonicotinoids (acetamiprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, imidacloprid, thiacloprid, and thiamethoxam) with C. dilutus (≤56-d in length) and N. triangulifer (≤32-d in length). Emergence was generally the most sensitive endpoint for both species across all neonicotinoids. Effect concentrations, 10% (EC10s; emergence) were 0.03 to 1.1 μg L−1 for acetamiprid, clothianidin, imidacloprid, and thiacloprid. Dinotefuran and thiamethoxam were less potent, with EC10s (C. dilutus) or median effect concentrations (EC50s; N. triangulifer) of 2.2 to 11.2 μg L−1. Hazard was assessed through comparison of neonicotinoid environmental concentrations from agricultural surface waters in Ontario (Canada) with either the 5th percentile hazard concentration (for imidacloprid) or species-specific EC10s from the present study (for all remaining neonicotinoids). The resulting hazard quotients (HQs) indicated little to no hazard (HQ <1) in terms of chronic toxicity for acetamiprid, dinotefuran, thiacloprid, or thiamethoxam. A moderate hazard (HQ >1) was found for emergence of N. triangulifer for clothianidin, and a high hazard (HQ = 74) was found for imidacloprid. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:2727–2739. © 2018 SETAC
Influence of Diltiazem on Fathead Minnows Across Dissolved Oxygen Gradients
Authors: Saari Gavin N. , Corrales Jone , Haddad Samuel P. , Chambliss C. Kevin , Brooks Bryan W.
Published: July 2018

Water resources in many arid to semi-arid regions are stressed by population growth and drought. Growing populations and climatic changes are influencing contaminant and water chemistry dynamics in urban inland waters, where flows can be dominated by, or even dependent on, wastewater effluent discharge. In these watersheds, interacting stressors such as dissolved oxygen and environmental contaminants (e.g., pharmaceuticals) have the potential to affect fish physiology and populations. Recent field observations from our group identified the calcium channel blocker (CCB) diltiazem in fish plasma exceeding human therapeutic doses (e.g., Cmin) in aquatic systems impaired because of nonattainment of dissolved oxygen water quality standards. Therefore our study objectives examined: 1) standard acute and chronic effects of dissolved oxygen and diltiazem to fish, 2) influences of dissolved oxygen at criteria levels deemed protective of aquatic life on diltiazem toxicity to fish, and 3) whether sublethal effects occur at diltiazem water concentrations predicted to cause a human therapeutic level (therapeutic hazard value [THV]) in fish plasma. Dissolved oxygen × diltiazem co-exposures significantly decreased survival at typical stream, lake, and reservoir water quality standards of 5.0 and 3.0 mg dissolved oxygen/L. Dissolved oxygen and diltiazem growth effects were observed at 2 times and 10 times lower than median lethal concentration (LC50) values (1.7 and 28.2 mg/L, respectively). Larval fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) swimming behavior following low dissolved oxygen and diltiazem exposure generally decreased and was significantly reduced in light-to-dark bursting distance traveled, number of movements, and duration at concentrations as low as the THV. Individual and population level consequences of such responses are not yet understood, particularly in older organisms or other species; however, these findings suggest that assessments with pharmaceuticals and other cardioactive contaminants may underestimate adverse outcomes in fish across dissolved oxygen levels considered protective of aquatic life. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:2835–2850. © 2018 SETAC
Retinoic Acid Receptor‐β Is Downregulated in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Cirrhosis and Its Expression Inhibits Myosin‐Driven Activation and Durotaxis in Hepatic Stellate Cells
Authors: Cortes Ernesto , Lachowski Dariusz , Rice Alistair , Chronopoulos Antonios , Robinson Benjamin , Thorpe Stephen , Lee David A , Possamai Lucia A , Wang Haiyun , Pinato David J , del Río Hernández Armando E.
Published: July 2018

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are essential perisinusoidal cells in both healthy and diseased liver. HSCs modulate extracellular matrix (ECM) homeostasis when quiescent, but in liver fibrosis, HSCs become activated and promote excess deposition of ECM molecules and tissue stiffening via force generation and mechanosensing. In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), activated HSCs infiltrate the stroma and migrate to the tumor core to facilitate paracrine signaling with cancer cells. Because the function of HSCs is known to be modulated by retinoids, we investigated the expression profile of retinoic acid receptor beta (RAR‐β) in patients with cirrhosis and HCC, as well as the effects of RAR‐β activation in HSCs. We found that RAR‐β expression is significantly reduced in cirrhotic and HCC tissues. Using a comprehensive set of biophysical methods combined with cellular and molecular biology, we have elucidated the biomechanical mechanism by which all trans‐retinoic acid promotes HSC deactivation via RAR‐β‐dependent transcriptional downregulation of myosin light chain 2 expression. Furthermore, this also abrogated mechanically driven migration toward stiffer substrates. Conclusion: Targeting mechanotransduction in HSCs at the transcriptional level may offer therapeutic options for a range of liver diseases.
Adhesion and differentiation behaviors of mesenchymal stem cells on titanium with micrometer and nanometer‐scale grid patterns produced by femtosecond laser irradiation
Authors: Chen Peng , Aso Toshihiro , Sasaki Ryuichiro , Ashida Maki , Tsutsumi Yusuke , Doi Hisashi , Hanawa Takao
Published: July 2018

To clarify the effects of grid topographies with different scales on cell morphology and functionalization, we investigated the adhesion and differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) to titanium surfaces with micron, nano, and micron/nano (hybrid) grid topographies created by femtosecond laser irradiation. The results showed that cellular adhesion and differentiation strongly depended on the scales of the grid topography. hMSCs cultured on micron and hybrid grid topographies showed regulation of cellular adhesion plaques following the surface topography and were vinculin‐positive, whereas filamentous vinculin was evident at the filopodia of hMSCs cultured on nanogrids. The findings indicate that the micron grid topography was beneficial for cell colonization by anchoring the cells to the substrate surface, whereas the nanogrid topography was beneficial for cell locomotion. With the superposition effect of the micron and nanogrids, micro/nanohybrid grid topography strongly promoted cell adhesion. This differential adhesion induced differences cell differentiation. Nanogrids promoted differentiation of hMSCs, particularly osteogenic differentiation. These findings provide a basis for the design of novel biomaterial surfaces that can regulate specific cellular functions. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 106A: 2735–2743, 2018.
ZIF‐8@SiO2 core–shell microsphere extraction coupled with liquid chromatography and triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry for the quantitative analysis of four plant growth regulators in navel oranges
Authors: Xu Xiaomei , Wang Xiaofen , Liu Menghan , Tan Ting , Wan Yiqun
Published: July 2018

Monodisperse silica spheres that comprised a rhombic‐dodecahedral zeolitic imidazolate framework core–shell microsphere were applied in the sample pretreatment of navel orange. A rapid and efficient liquid chromatography with triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry method was established for simultaneously quantifying four plant growth regulators, 6‐benzylaminopurin, indole‐3‐acetic acid, indolepropionic acid, 3‐indolebutyric acid, in navel oranges. A satisfactory result was obtained, i.e., the peak area of the four plant growth regulators against concentration was linear with good correlation coefficients of 0.99987–0.99991. Under optimized conditions, the limits of detection were 3.0–59.4 μg/L for the four plant growth regulators. This method was applied to the simultaneous analysis of the four plant growth regulators in commercial samples, and all the detections were confirmed by acquiring transitions for each pesticide in the samples.
Dual‐frame lek surveys for estimating greater sage‐grouse populations
Authors: Shyvers Jessica E. , Walker Brett L. , Noon Barry R.
Published: July 2018

Effective monitoring programs are important for ensuring proper management of wildlife populations, but they require substantial resources, effort, and funding. For this reason, managers often use indices of animal abundance. However, indices typically rely on untested assumptions and may be unreliable for estimating population size, status, and trend. Therefore, it is important to test the assumptions underlying indices and to evaluate more rigorous methods of population estimation. Counts of males at leks are used as an index to monitor populations of greater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus), a species of conservation concern, throughout its range in the western United States and Canada. However, not all leks are known, and wildlife managers typically have no rigorous, quantitative estimates of the number of leks and males in any given population. Therefore, it remains unclear what proportion of leks and males are included in, or excluded from, lek‐based population status assessments, trend analyses, and management decisions. We used dual‐frame surveys, in combination with occupancy analysis to adjust for imperfect detection, to estimate the number of active leks, the number of lekking males, and the proportion of active leks and lekking males counted on annual lek surveys over 3 consecutive breeding seasons in a small, low‐density greater sage‐grouse population in northwestern Colorado, USA. We estimated that annual lek surveys captured an average of 45–74% of active leks and 43–78% of lekking males each year. Our results suggest that many active leks remain unknown and annual counts fail to account for a substantial, but variable, proportion of the number of active leks and lekking males in the population in any given year. Managers need to recognize this potential source of bias in lek‐count data and, if possible, account for it in trend analyses and management efforts. Increased cost likely precludes annual use of dual‐frame lek surveys. However, we recommend using analytical methods that account for imperfect detection, mapping potential lek habitat to improve survey efficiency, and conducting dual‐frame surveys over multiple years to better understand temporal variation in the proportion of active greater sage‐grouse leks and lekking males being counted in specific populations of interest. © 2018 The Wildlife Society.
Hierarchical mark‐recapture distance sampling to estimate moose abundance
Authors: Oyster Jared H. , Keren Ilai N. , Hansen Sara J.K. , Harris Richard B.
Published: July 2018

Estimating the abundance of wide‐ranging wildlife, difficult under any circumstances, is particularly challenging when detection is low and affected by factors that also influence density and distribution. In northeastern Washington, moose (Alces alces) have evidently increased since the 1970s but spend most of their time under coniferous cover that makes detection from the air difficult. We used a Bayesian hierarchical approach to incorporate habitat use (in the form of availability as a function of canopy closure) into a detection model within a mark‐recapture distance sampling framework to estimate moose density. Our model of availability used a latent density surface employing habitat use data obtained from 17 adult female moose wearing global positioning system (GPS) collars. Distance sampling data, obtained from helicopter surveys in winters 2014, 2015, and 2016, consisted of double‐observer detections of 166 moose groups along 2,241 km of systematically placed line transects within 29 survey blocks selected using a stratified‐random design. We estimated moose density over the entire survey area as 0.49/km2(95% credible interval = 0.33–0.67/km2). Extrapolated to the 10,513‐km2survey area, we estimated 5,169 moose (95% credible interval = 3,510–7,034). Our methodology allowed us to adjust for availability bias and produce an estimate even where detection was difficult but required many hours of helicopter flights, acceptable weather conditions, and the availability of GPS collared‐moose. © 2018 The Wildlife Society.
Recent Advances in Resonant Waveguide Gratings
Authors: Quaranta Giorgio , Basset Guillaume , Martin Olivier J. F. , Gallinet Benjamin
Published: July 2018

Resonant waveguide gratings (RWGs), also known as guided mode resonant (GMR) gratings or waveguide‐mode resonant gratings, are dielectric structures where these resonant diffractive elements benefit from lateral leaky guided modes from UV to microwave frequencies in many different configurations. A broad range of optical effects are obtained using RWGs such as waveguide coupling, filtering, focusing, field enhancement and nonlinear effects, magneto‐optical Kerr effect, or electromagnetically induced transparency. Thanks to their high degree of optical tunability (wavelength, phase, polarization, intensity) and the variety of fabrication processes and materials available, RWGs have been implemented in a broad scope of applications in research and industry: refractive index and fluorescence biosensors, solar cells and photodetectors, signal processing, polarizers and wave plates, spectrometers, active tunable filters, mirrors for lasers and optical security features. The aim of this review is to discuss the latest developments in the field including numerical modeling, manufacturing, the physics, and applications of RWGs. Scientists and engineers interested in using RWGs for their application will also find links to the standard tools and references in modeling and fabrication according to their needs.