bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Endothelial cell‐derived endothelin‐1 is involved in abnormal scar formation by dermal fibroblasts through RhoA/Rho‐kinase pathway
Authors: Kiya Koichiro , Kubo Tateki , Kawai Kenichiro , Matsuzaki Shinsuke , Maeda Daisuke , Fujiwara Toshihiro , Nishibayashi Akimitsu , Kanazawa Shigeyuki , Yano Kenji , Amano Genki , Katayama Taiichi , Hosokawa Ko
Published: November 2016

Hypertrophic scars and keloids are characterized by excessive dermal deposition of extracellular matrix due to fibroblast‐to‐myofibroblast differentiation. Endothelin‐1 (ET‐1) is primarily produced by vascular endothelial cells and plays multiple roles in the wound‐healing response and organ fibrogenesis. In this study, we investigated the pathophysiological significance of ET‐1 and involvement of RhoA, a member of the Rho GTPases, in hypertrophic scar/keloid formation. We found that ET‐1 expression on dermal microvascular endothelial cells (ECs) in hypertrophic scars and keloids was higher than that in normal skin and mature scars. We also confirmed that ET‐1 induced myofibroblast differentiation and collagen synthesis in cultured human dermal fibroblasts through the RhoA/Rho‐kinase pathway. Finally, since hypertrophic scar/keloid formation was most prominent in areas exposed to mechanical stretch, we examined how mechanical stretch affected ET‐1 secretion in human dermal microvascular ECs, and found that mechanical stretch increased ET‐1 gene expression and secretion from ECs. Taken together, these results suggest that dermal microvascular ECs release ET‐1 in response to mechanical stretch, and thereby contribute to the formation of hypertrophic scars and keloids through the RhoA/Rho‐kinase pathway.
Dihydroavenanthramide D inhibits mast cell degranulation and exhibits anti‐inflammatory effects through the activation of neurokinin‐1 receptor
Authors: Lotts Tobias , Agelopoulos Konstantin , Phan Ngoc Q. , Loser Karin , Schmaus Gerhard , Luger Thomas A. , Ständer Sonja
Published: November 2016

Chronic pruritus is difficult to treat. Current treatment options are frequently ineffective and new therapeutic approaches are urgently needed. Avenanthramides are active substances in oats that exhibit anti‐inflammatory effects. Their potential to interrupt pruritus mechanisms was investigated in this study. It was found that the synthetic analog dihydroavenanthramide D (DHAvD) can interact with the neurokinin‐1 receptor (NK1R) and inhibit mast cell degranulation. DHAvD also affects inflammatory processes and reduces secretion of the cytokine interleukin‐6. Our findings indicate that DHAvD may act as a NK1R inhibitor and could be a promising candidate for topical treatments of chronic pruritus.
Mechanisms regulating inter‐annual variability in zooplankton advection over the Lofoten shelf, implications for cod larvae survival
Authors: Espinasse Boris , Tverberg Vigdis , Basedow Sünnje L. , Hattermann Tore , Nøst Ole Anders , Albretsen Jon , SkarĐhamar Jofrid , Eiane Ketil
Published: November 2016

Variability in the availability of suitable prey (mainly nauplii stages of Calanus spp.) in the early life stages of cod is likely a significant contributor to the fluctuations in the year‐class strength in the Arcto Norwegian cod stock. We have investigated the origin of the Lofoten shelf population of Calanus using a particle tracking model approach based on velocity fields simulated from 2002 to 2012. By performing backwards simulations of trajectories from particles released on the Lofoten shelf in early spring, we assessed the relative contribution of potential Calanus sources, such as the Lofoten Basin, the local overwintering on the continental shelf and the adjacent fjords. This analysis revealed significant interannual differences in advection patterns mainly driven by changes in wind conditions and variable strength of the Norwegian Coastal Current. Most of the particles advected into our study area originated on the shelf, and contrary to expectations, only a few originated from the Lofoten Basin where Calanus abundances tend to be high. These results suggest that contribution from the Lofoten Basin to the early spring shelf Calanus population may be overestimated and that contribution from more local sources, especially from adjacent fjords, may play a more important role than what has been previously anticipated. Our results highlight the necessity to improve quantification of shelf‐fjord exchange processes, as these may contribute more to the regulation of spring zooplankton stocks on the northern Norwegian shelf, and, as a result, may affect the survival of cod larvae in this area.
Density‐Driven Free‐Convection Model for Isotopically Fractionated Geogenic Nitrate in Sabkha Brine
Authors: Wood Warren W. , Böhlke J.K.
Published: November 2016

Subsurface brines with high nitrate (NO3−) concentration are common in desert environments as atmospheric nitrogen is concentrated by the evaporation of precipitation and little nitrogen uptake. However, in addition to having an elevated mean concentration of ∼525 mg/L (as N), NO3− in the coastal sabkhas of Abu Dhabi is enriched in 15N (mean δ15N ∼17‰), which is an enigma. A NO3− solute mass balance analysis of the sabkha aquifer system suggests that more than 90% of the nitrogen is from local atmospheric deposition and the remainder from ascending brine. In contrast, isotopic mass balances based on Δ17O, δ15N, and δ18O data suggest approximately 80 to 90% of the NO3− could be from ascending brine. As the sabkha has essentially no soil, no vegetation, and no anthropogenic land or water use, we propose to resolve this apparent contradiction with a density‐driven free‐convection transport model. In this conceptual model, the density of rain is increased by solution of surface salts, transporting near‐surface oxygenated NO3− bearing water downward where it encounters reducing conditions and mixes with oxygen‐free ascending geologic brines. In this environment, NO3− is partially reduced to nitrogen gas (N2), thus enriching the remaining NO3− in heavy isotopes. The isotopically fractionated NO3− and nitrogen gas return to the near‐surface oxidizing environment on the upward displacement leg of the free‐convection cycle, where the nitrogen gas is released to the atmosphere and new NO3− is added to the system from atmospheric deposition. This recharge/recycling process has operated over many cycles in the 8000‐year history of the shallow aquifer, progressively concentrating and isotopically fractionating the NO3−.
Apical negative pressure irrigation versus syringe irrigation: a systematic review of cleaning and disinfection of the root canal system
Authors: Konstantinidi E. , Psimma Z. , Chávez de Paz L. E. , Boutsioukis C.
Published: November 2016

The aim of this study was to systematically review and critically analyse the published data on the treatment outcome (primary outcome) and on the cleaning and disinfection of root canals (secondary outcomes) achieved by negative pressure irrigation as compared to syringe irrigation. An electronic search was conducted in EMBASE, LILACS, PubMed, SciELO, Scopus and Web of Knowledge using both free‐text keywords and controlled vocabulary. Additional studies were sought through hand searching of endodontic journals and of the relevant chapters of endodontic textbooks. No language restriction was imposed. The retrieved studies were screened by two reviewers according to predefined criteria. Included studies were critically appraised and the extracted data were arranged in tables. The electronic search and hand search retrieved 489 titles. One clinical study and 14 in vitro studies were finally included in the review; none of these studies assessed treatment outcome, four studies assessed the antimicrobial effect, seven studies evaluated the removal of pulp tissue remnants, and four studies investigated the removal of hard tissue debris or both hard tissue debris and pulp tissue remnants. Poor standardization and description of the protocols was evident. Inconclusive results were reported about the cleaning and disinfection accomplished by the two irrigation methods. Negative pressure irrigation was more effective under certain conditions when compared to suboptimal syringe irrigation; however, the variability of the protocols hindered quantitative synthesis. There is insufficient evidence to claim general superiority of any one of these methods. The level of the available evidence is low, and the conclusions should be interpreted with caution.
Toddlers Involve Their Caregiver to Help Another Person in Need
Authors: Paulus Markus , Jung Natalie , O'Driscoll Kelly , Moore Chris
Published: November 2016

Three experiments with 18‐ to 35‐month‐old children (n = 169) studied toddler–caregiver interactions when being confronted with another person in need. In particular, we explored whether toddlers would request their caregiver to help a needy other when they are not able to help themselves. Children observed another person who needed help to accomplish a task, but were either not able to provide help as the object was out of reach (Experiment 1) or because an obstacle prevented children from interacting with the other person (Experiments 2, 2b). The experiments revealed the same developmental trend with 2.5‐year‐olds selectively involving their caregiver to help the needy other. The results are interpreted in terms of toddlers’ motivation to see others helped and with respect to their developing ability to actively involve others to regulate their emotions.
The Structured Assessment of Violence Risk in Adults with Intellectual Disability: A Systematic Review
Authors: Hounsome J. , Whittington R. , Brown A. , Greenhill B. , McGuire J.
Published: November 2016

Background

While structured professional judgement approaches to assessing and managing the risk of violence have been extensively examined in mental health/forensic settings, the application of the findings to people with an intellectual disability is less extensively researched and reviewed. This review aimed to assess whether risk assessment tools have adequate predictive validity for violence in adults with an intellectual disability.

Methods

Standard systematic review methodology was used to identify and synthesize appropriate studies.

Results

A total of 14 studies were identified as meeting the inclusion criteria. These studies assessed the predictive validity of 18 different risk assessment tools, mainly in forensic settings. All studies concluded that the tools assessed were successful in predicting violence. Studies were generally of a high quality.

Conclusions

There is good quality evidence that risk assessment tools are valid for people with intellectual disability who offend but further research is required to validate tools for use with people with intellectual disability who offend.
Associations of polymorphisms in TXNIP and gene–environment interactions with the risk of coronary artery disease in a Chinese Han population
Authors: Wang Xue‐bin , Han Ya‐di , Zhang Shuai , Cui Ning‐hua , Liu Ze‐jin , Huang Zhu‐liang , Li Cong , Zheng Fang
Published: November 2016

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in thioredoxin‐interacting protein (TXNIP) gene may modulate TXNIP expression, then increase the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). In a two‐stage case–control study with a total of 1818 CAD patients and 1963 controls, we genotyped three SNPs in TXNIP and found that the variant genotypes of SNPs rs7212 [odds ratio (OR) = 1.26, P = 0.001] and rs7211 (OR = 1.23, P = 0.005) were significantly associated with increased CAD risk under a dominant model. In haplotype analyses, compared with the reference haplotype, haplotype ‘G‐T’ had a 1.22‐fold increased risk of CAD (P = 0.003). We also observed the cumulative effects of SNPs rs7212 and rs7211 on CAD risk and the severity of coronary atherosclerosis. Moreover, the gene–environment interactions among the variant genotypes of SNP rs7212, smoking habit, alcohol drinking habit and history of type 2 diabetes were associated with a 3.70‐fold increased risk of CAD (P < 0.001). Subsequent genotype‐phenotype correlation analyses further observed the significant effects of SNP rs7212 on TXNIP mRNA expression, plasma TXNIP and malondialdehyde levels. Taken together, our data suggest that TXNIP SNPs may individually and cumulatively affect CAD risk through a possible mechanism for regulating TXNIP expression and gene–environment interactions.
Hybrid crosses and the genetic basis of interspecific divergence in lifespan inPristionchusnematodes
Authors: Weadick C. J. , Sommer R. J.
Published: November 2016

Characterizing the genetic basis of among‐species variation in lifespan is a major goal of evolutionary gerontology research, but the very feature that defines separate species – the inability to interbreed – makes achieving this goal impractical, if not impossible, for most taxa.Pristionchusnematodes provide an intriguing system for tackling this problem, as female lifespan varies among species that can be crossed to form viable (although infertile) hybrids. By conducting reciprocal crosses among three species – two dioecious (long‐livedPristionchus exspectatusand short‐livedPristionchus arcanus) and one androdioecious (short‐livedPristionchus pacificus) – we found that female lifespan was long for all hybrids, consistent with the hypothesis that the relatively short lifespans seen forP. pacificushermaphrodites andP. arcanusfemales are caused by independent, recessive alleles that are masked in hybrid genomes. Cross‐direction had a small effect on survivorship for crosses involvingP. exspectatus, indicating that nuclear–mitochondrial interactions may also influencePristionchuslongevity. Our findings suggest that long lifespan inP. exspectatusreflects the realization of an ancestral potential for extended longevity in theP. pacificusspecies complex. This work demonstrates the utility of interspecific hybrids for ageing research and provides a foundation for future work on the genetic architecture of interspecific lifespan variation.
Effects of Acid and Alkali Treatment on the Properties of Proteins Recovered from Whole Gutted Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) Using Isoelectric Solubilization/Precipitation
Authors: Chen Dunxi , Song Jingwen , Yang Hong , Xiong Shanbai , Liu Youming , Liu Ru
Published: November 2016

The objective of this study was to investigate the properties of proteins from whole gutted grass carp using isoelectric solubilization/precipitation. The solubility of grass carp muscle protein was the lowest at pH 5 and the highest either at pH 3 or 12. The acid and alkali treatments could significantly increase the protein yield and decrease the fat content, while the alkali treatment led to higher protein yield than the acid treatment. The gels from protein isolates from alkali treatment or surimi from conventional water washing had higher breaking force and deformation than those of acidic treatment. The storage modulus (G′) indicated that the grass carp muscle proteins underwent denaturation during acid and alkali treatments. Protein isolates from both alkali and acid treatments showed the similar rheological patterns. This study showed that the acid or alkali treatments may be used to produce surimi from grass carp using isoelectric solubilizaion/precipitation.

Practical Applications

Isoelectric solubilization/precipitation may be used to recover more proteins from freshwater fish to increase yield for making surimi‐based seafood byproducts.
Melting of eclogite facies sedimentary rocks in the Belomorian Eclogite Province, Russia
Authors: Dokukina K. A. , Mints M. V. , Konilov A. N.
Published: November 2016

The eclogites exposed along northeastern boundary of the Belomorian orogen in the eastern Fennoscandian Shield were formed as a result of Mesoarchean–Neoarchean subduction and collision. As has been shown previously, the common protolith of the Salma‐type subduction‐related eclogite was oceanic layered gabbro. In this paper, we characterize eclogites formed from volcanic–sedimentary rocks of the upper oceanic crust, which comprised pillow lavas and associated aluminous sediments that filled the interpillow space intercalated with lava flows. As a result of eclogite facies metamorphism, the aluminous sediments have been transformed into coarse‐grained garnet–phengite–quartz rocks under pressure no lower than 21 kbar at a temperature of ~650 °C. Alternatively, we cannot rule out the possibility that the garnet–phengite–quartz veins represent solidified felsic melts that were produced by melting of boron‐bearing hydrothermally altered oceanic crust in the subduction zone. During transfer to the upper crust under high‐P granulite facies conditions, phengite underwent incongruent melting with formation of complex polymineralic pseudomorphs consisting of feldspar, biotite, muscovite and kyanite with corundum and dumortierite. The peak of high‐T metamorphism during exhumation of the eclogites is estimated at 850–900 °C, i.e. at least 50–100 °C higher than previous estimates.
Central Atrophy Early in Multiple Sclerosis: Third Ventricle Volumetry versus Planimetry
Authors: Lutz Theodor , Bellenberg Barbara , Schneider Ruth , Weiler Florian , Köster Odo , Lukas Carsten
Published: November 2016

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Cerebral atrophy has been suggested to be a reliable magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) predictor of subsequent disability in all stages of multiple sclerosis (MS). However, no accepted methodology for routine clinical use exists to date. We sought an easy to apply and fast technique to evaluate cerebral ventricular volume in patients with MS with similar accuracy as a semiautomatic volumetric method.

METHODS

The study included 104 patients, 61 diagnosed with MS and 43 with clinically isolated syndrome. In addition, 30 healthy controls were enrolled. Physical disability was assessed with the expanded disability status scale and cognitive disability with the Multiple Sclerosis Inventory Cognition (MUSIC) test. All subjects received standardized 3‐dimensional (3D) MR‐imaging on a 3 T scanner. Third ventricle volume (3VV) was obtained from 3D T1‐weighted images using a semiautomated technique, and compared against planimetric assessment of the width of the third ventricle aligned (a3VW) and unaligned (u3VW) to anatomical landmarks.

RESULTS

a3VW was obtained within seconds with excellent intra‐ and interrater agreement, and outperformed volumetric measurements regarding the differentiation of MS patients from healthy controls. a3VW had the strongest correlations with 3VV (r = .78, P < .001) and showed moderate inverse correlation with MUSIC cognition score (r = −.310, P < .005).

CONCLUSIONS

a3VW is a time‐effective and robust biomarker that has strong correlations with volumetric measurements and can be established as standard in the MRI quantification of central brain atrophy in patients with early MS.
ADVANTAGEOUS SELECTION, MORAL HAZARD, AND INSURER SORTINGON RISKINTHE U.S. AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE MARKET
Authors: Robinson Patricia A. , Sloan Frank A. , Eldred Lindsey M.
Published: November 2016

ABSTRACT

This study quantifies the role of private information in automobile insurance policy choice using data on subjective beliefs, risk preference, reckless driving, the respondent's insurer, and insurance policy characteristics merged with insurer‐specific quality ratings distributed by independent organizations. We find a zero correlation between ex post accident risk and insurance coverage, reflecting advantageous selection in policy choice offset by moral hazard. Advantageous selection is partly attributable to insurer sorting on consumer attributes known and used by insurers. Our analysis of insurer sorting reveals that lower‐risk drivers on attributes observed by insurers obtain coverage from insurers with higher‐quality ratings.
Baseline hepatitis B core antibody predicts treatment response in chronic hepatitis B patients receiving long‐term entecavir
Authors: Xu J.‐H. , Song L.‐W. , Li N. , Wang S. , Zeng Z. , Si C.‐W. , Li J. , Mao Q. , Zhang D.‐Z. , Tang H. , Sheng J.‐F. , Chen X.‐Y. , Ning Q. , Shi G.‐F. , Xie Q. , Yuan Q. , Yu Y.‐Y. , Xia N.‐S.
Published: November 2016

Studies regarding the clinical significance of quantitative hepatitis B core antibody (anti‐HBc) in patients with chronic hepatitis B receiving first‐line nucleos(t)ide analogues is limited. The aim of this study was to determine the performance of anti‐HBc as a predictor for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion in HBeAg‐positive CHB patients treated with entecavir. This was a retrospective cohort study consisting of 139 Chinese patients enrolled in a multicenter clinical trial treated with entecavir or entecavir maleate for up to 240 weeks. Anti‐HBc evaluation was conducted for all the available samples using a newly developed double‐sandwich anti‐HBc immunoassay. At week 240, 35 (25.2%) patients achieved a serological response (HBeAg seroconversion) and these patients at week 240 had significantly higher levels of anti‐HBc (P<.01). We defined 4.65 log10 IU·mL−1, with a maximum sum of sensitivity and specificity, as the optimal cut‐off value of baseline anti‐HBc level to predict seroconversion. Patients with baseline anti‐HBc ≥4.65 log10 IU·mL−1 had 28.0% (26/93) and 35.5% (33/93) chance of seroconversion at weeks 144 and 240, respectively. The baseline anti‐HBc level was the strongest predictor for seroconversion at week 144 (OR: 5.78, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.05‐16.34, P=.001). The baseline anti‐HBc level was a strong predictor for seroconversion at week 240 (OR: 5.36, 95% CI: 2.17‐13.25, P<.001). Hence, baseline anti‐HBc titre is a useful predictor of long‐term entecavir therapy efficacy in HBeAg‐positive CHB patients, which could be used to optimize antiviral therapy.
Modulation of formalin‐induced pain‐related behaviour by clonidine and yohimbine in the Speke's hinged tortoise (Kiniskys spekii)
Authors: Makau C. M. , Towett P. K. , Abelson K. S. P. , Kanui T. I.
Published: November 2016

The study was designed to investigate the involvement of noradrenergic and serotonergic receptor systems in the modulation of formalin‐induced pain‐related behaviour in the Speke's hinged tortoise. Intradermal injection of 100 μL of formalin at a dilution of 12.5% caused pain‐related behaviour (hindlimb withdrawal) that lasted for a mean time of 19.28 min (monophasic response). Intrathecal administration of clonidine (α2‐adrenergic receptor agonist) and yohimbine (α2‐adrenergic receptor antagonist) at a dose of 40 μg/kg and 37.5 μg/kg or 50 μg/kg, respectively, caused a highly significant reduction in the duration of the formalin‐induced pain‐related behaviour. The effect of clonidine was reversed by intrathecal administration of yohimbine at a dose of 26.7 μg/kg. The effect of yohimbine at a dose of 50 μg/kg was reversed by intrathecal injection of 20 μg/kg of the serotonergic receptor antagonist methysergide maleate. When performing antagonistic reactions, the administration of the antagonist was followed immediately by that of the agonist. The study indicates that for experimental purposes, intrathecal route of drug administration through the atlanto‐occipital joint is effective in tortoises. The data also suggest that testudines have noradrenergic and serotonergic systems that appear to play a role in the modulation of pain in this species.
The Signaling Effect of Pro se Status
Authors: Quintanilla Victor D. , Allen Rachel A. , Hirt Edward R.
Published: November 2016

When claimants press their claims without counsel, they fail at virtually every stage of civil litigation and overwhelmingly fail to obtain meaningful access to justice. This research program harnesses psychological science to experimentally test a novel hypothesis: mainly, a claimant's pro se status itself sends a signal that biases decision making about the claimant and her claim. We conducted social psychological experiments with the public (N = 157), law students (N = 198), and employment discrimination lawyers (N = 39), holding the quality and merit of a Title VII sex discrimination case constant. In so doing, we examined whether a claimant's pro se status itself shapes stereotypes held about the claimant and biases decision making about settlement awards. These experiments reveal that pro se status influences stereotypes of claimants and settlement awards received. Moreover, the signaling effect of pro se status is exacerbated by socialization in the legal profession. Among law-trained individuals (i.e., law students and lawyers), a claimant's pro se status generates negative stereotypes about the claimant and these negative stereotypes explain the adverse effect of pro se status on decision making about settlement awards.
Chemical layering in the upper mantle of Mars: Evidence from olivine‐hosted melt inclusions in Tissint
Authors: Basu Sarbadhikari A. , Babu E. V. S. S. K. , Vijaya Kumar T.
Published: November 2016

Melting of Martian mantle, formation, and evolution of primary magma from the depleted mantle were previously modeled from experimental petrology and geochemical studies of Martian meteorites. Based on in situ major and trace element study of a range of olivine‐hosted melt inclusions in various stages of crystallization of Tissint, a depleted olivine–phyric shergottite, we further constrain different stages of depletion and enrichment in the depleted mantle source of the shergottite suite. Two types of melt inclusions were petrographically recognized. Type I melt inclusions occur in the megacrystic olivine core (Fo76‐70), while type II melt inclusions are hosted by the outer mantle of the olivine (Fo66‐55). REE‐plot indicates type I melt inclusions, which are unique because they represent the most depleted trace element data from the parent magmas of all the depleted shergottites, are an order of magnitude depleted compared to the type II melt inclusions. The absolute REE content of type II displays parallel trend but somewhat lower value than the Tissint whole‐rock. Model calculations indicate two‐stage mantle melting events followed by enrichment through mixing with a hypothetical residual melt from solidifying magma ocean. This resulted in ~10 times enrichment of incompatible trace elements from parent magma stage to the remaining melt after 45% crystallization, simulating the whole‐rock of Tissint. We rule out any assimilation due to crustal recycling into the upper mantle, as proposed by a recent study. Rather, we propose the presence of Al, Ca, Na, P, and REE‐rich layer at the shallower upper mantle above the depleted mantle source region during the geologic evolution of Mars.
The diversity of arthropods in homes across the United States as determined by environmental DNA analyses
Authors: Madden Anne A. , Barberán Albert , Bertone Matthew A. , Menninger Holly L. , Dunn Robert R. , Fierer Noah
Published: November 2016

We spend most of our lives inside homes, surrounded by arthropods that impact our property as pests and our health as disease vectors and producers of sensitizing allergens. Despite their relevance to human health and well‐being, we know relatively little about the arthropods that exist in our homes and the factors structuring their diversity. As previous work has been limited in scale by the costs and time associated with collecting arthropods and the subsequent morphological identification, we used a DNA‐based method for investigating the arthropod diversity in homes via high‐throughput marker gene sequencing of home dust. Settled dust samples were collected by citizen scientists from both inside and outside more than 700 homes across the United States, yielding the first continental‐scale estimates of arthropod diversity associated with our residences. We were able to document food webs and previously unknown geographic distributions of diverse arthropods – from allergen producers to invasive species and nuisance pests. Home characteristics, including the presence of basements, home occupants and surrounding land use, were more useful than climate parameters in predicting arthropod diversity in homes. These noninvasive, scalable tools and resultant findings not only provide the first continental‐scale maps of household arthropod diversity, but our analyses also provide valuable baseline information on arthropod allergen exposures and the distributions of invasive pests inside homes.
Patients with Barrett's esophagus are hypersensitive to acid but hyposensitive to other stimuli compared with healthy controls
Authors: Lottrup C. , Krarup A. L. , Gregersen H. , Ejstrud P. , Drewes A. M.
Published: November 2016

Background

Esophageal hyposensitivity has been observed in Barrett's esophagus and may contribute to its pathophysiology. However, studies are few, in particular those assessing different sensory modalities. We aimed to compare esophageal sensitivity to multimodal stimulation in patients with Barrett's esophagus and in healthy controls.

Methods

Twenty‐three patients with Barrett's esophagus and 12 healthy controls were examined. A multimodal probe was placed in the lower esophagus. Mechanical, thermal, and electrical stimulation was applied followed by an acid perfusion test with 0.1 N hydrochloric acid.

Key Results

Compared with controls, patients were hyposensitive to mechanical distension, heat, and electrical stimulation (all P<.05), but hypersensitive to acid (mean tolerated acid volume 57% lower, P=.001). A linear correlation between acid hypersensitivity and lower baseline impedance was found (P<.001). Patients had longer esophageal acid exposure time than controls (median acid exposure time 18 vs 5%, P=.03). Asymptomatic patients (no reflux symptoms at baseline) were hyposensitive to mechanical distension, electrical stimulation, and acid perfusion (all P<.05) compared with symptomatic patients.

Conclusions & Inferences

Patients with Barrett's esophagus exhibited acid hypersensitivity but hyposensitivity to other stimuli. Lower mucosal baseline impedance, a likely surrogate marker for impaired mucosal integrity, may explain the selective hypersensitivity to acid. On the other hand, the concurrent hyposensitivity may theoretically be explained by changes in central pain modulation. Patients with Barrett's esophagus seem to compose symptomatic and asymptomatic subgroups, showing different esophageal sensory profiles.
ERECTA‐family receptor kinase genes redundantly prevent premature progression of secondary growth in the Arabidopsis hypocotyl
Authors: Ikematsu Shuka , Tasaka Masao , Torii Keiko U. , Uchida Naoyuki
Published: November 2016

Secondary growth is driven by continuous cell proliferation and differentiation of the cambium that acts as vascular stem cells, producing xylem and phloem to expand vascular tissues laterally. During secondary growth of hypocotyls in Arabidopsis thaliana, the xylem undergoes a drastic phase transition from a parenchyma‐producing phase to a fiber‐producing phase at the appropriate time. However, it remains to be fully elucidated how progression of secondary growth is properly controlled.

We focused on phenotypes of hypocotyl vasculatures caused by double mutation in ERECTA (ER) and ER‐LIKE1 (ERL1) receptor‐kinase genes to elucidate their roles in secondary growth.

ER and ERL1 redundantly suppressed excessive radial growth of the hypocotyl vasculature during secondary growth. ER and ERL1 also prevented premature initiation of the fiber differentiation process mediated by the NAC SECONDARY WALL THICKENING PROMOTING FACTORs in the hypocotyl xylem. Upon floral transition, the hypocotyl xylem gained a competency to respond to GA in a BREVIPEDICELLUS‐dependent manner, which was a prerequisite for fiber differentiation. However, even after the floral transition, ER and ERL1 prevented precocious initiation of the GA‐mediated fiber formation.

Collectively, our findings reveal that ER and ERL1 redundantly prevent premature progression of sequential events in secondary growth.
Nitrogen transport in the orchid mycorrhizal symbiosis – further evidence for a mutualistic association
Authors: Dearnaley John D. W. , Cameron Duncan D.
Published: November 2016

This article is a Commentary on Fochi et al., 213: 365–379.
SATB1 promotes tumor metastasis and invasiveness in oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Li Y‐C , Bu L‐L , Mao L. , Ma S‐R , Liu J‐F , Yu G‐T , Deng W‐W , Zhang W‐F , Sun Z‐J
Published: November 2016

Objective

Our aim is to evaluate the expression of SATB1 in human oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) and its role in the invasiveness and metastasis of OSCC.

Subjects and methods

A human OSCC tissue microarray was used to evaluate the expression pattern of SATB1. SATB1 mRNA knockdown was performed in human OSCC cell lines SCC25 and Cal27 to assess the function of SATB1 in the invasiveness and metastasis of OSCC.

Results

SATB1 is highly expressed in human OSCC determined by immunohistochemistry, and its nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio of histoscore is significantly correlated with patients’ prognosis. Reduced cell motility, invasiveness, expression of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers (N‐cadherin and β‐catenin), and elevated expression of epithelial markers were observed in SATB1‐knockdown cells in in vitro studies. Depletion of SATB1 also restored a cobblestone‐like morphology in TGF‐β1‐treated cells.

Conclusions

These findings suggest SATB1 may play an important role in OSCC invasiveness and metastasis.
Metastatic adenocarcinoma of the mandible
Authors: McGoldrick D.M. , Brady P. , Sleeman D.
Published: November 2016

A 58‐year‐old gentleman presented to the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department having been referred by his dentist with a non‐healing post‐extraction socket. Examination revealed an intraoral mass and an associated suspected pathological fracture of the right body of the mandible. He had a background of metastatic adenocarcinoma of the sigmoid colon. Subsequent biopsy of the mandibular mass confirmed metastatic spread to the mandible, a rare presentation. The patient was managed conservatively given his extensive co‐morbidities.
DEK oncogene is overexpressed during melanoma progression
Authors: Riveiro‐Falkenbach Erica , Ruano Yolanda , García‐Martín Rosa M. , Lora David , Cifdaloz Metehan , Acquadro Francesco , Ballestín Claudio , Ortiz‐Romero Pablo L. , Soengas María S. , Rodríguez‐Peralto José L.
Published: November 2016

DEK is an oncoprotein involved in a variety of cellular functions, such as DNA repair, replication, and transcriptional control. DEK is preferentially expressed in actively proliferating and malignant cells, including melanoma cell lines in which DEK was previously demonstrated to play a critical role in proliferation and chemoresistance. Still, the impact of this protein in melanoma progression remains unclear. Thus, we performed a comprehensive analysis of DEK expression in different melanocytic tumors. The immunostaining results of 303 tumors demonstrated negligible DEK expression in benign lesions. Conversely, malignant lesions, particularly in metastatic cases, were largely positive for DEK expression, which was partially associated with genomic amplification. Importantly, DEK overexpression was correlated with histological features of aggressiveness in primary tumors and poor prognosis in melanoma patients. In conclusion, our study provides new insight into the involvement of DEK in melanoma progression, as well as proof of concept for its potential application as a marker and therapeutic target of melanoma.
Altered serum level of matrix metalloproteinase‐9 and its association with decision‐making in eating disorders
Authors: Matsumoto Junko , Hirano Yoshiyuki , Hashimoto Kenji , Ishima Tamaki , Kanahara Nobuhisa , Niitsu Tomihisa , Shiina Akihiro , Hashimoto Tasuku , Sato Yasunori , Yokote Koutaro , Murano Shunichi , Kimura Hiroshi , Hosoda Yutaka , Shimizu Eiji , Iyo Masaomi , Nakazato Michiko
Published: November 2016

Aim

The aims of this study were to determine whether the serum levels of precursor brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (proBDNF), mature BDNF (mBDNF), and matrix metalloproteinase‐9 (MMP‐9) are altered in patients with eating disorders (ED), including anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN), and to explore whether those levels are associated with decision‐making abilities.

Methods

Nineteen women with AN, 28 women with BN, and 22 age‐matched healthy control women (HC) were enrolled in the current study. All participants had their decision‐making abilities assessed using the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). Their eating‐related pathophysiology and depressive/anxiety symptoms were also evaluated.

Results

The MMP‐9 level in AN was significantly lower than that in either BN or HC, but the serum levels of proBDNF and mBDNF did not differ among the three groups. Investigation of the serum levels of proBDNF and MMP‐9 in patients with ED and controls revealed a significant correlation between them. In the BN, there were positive correlations between mBDNF level and IGT performance and also between MMP‐9 level and IGT performance, but these correlations did not occur in AN. The MMP‐9 level was positively associated with the Symptom Scale, one of the subscales of the Bulimic Investigatory Test, Edinburgh, only in AN.

Conclusion

These results suggest that the serum level of MMP‐9 plays a role in the pathophysiology of AN, and both the serum levels of mBDNF and MMP‐9 may be associated with decision‐making abilities in patients with BN.
Adult attachment and transportation into narrative worlds
Authors: RAIN MARINA , CILENTO ELENA , MACDONALD GEOFF , MAR RAYMOND A.
Published: November 2016

Adult attachment affects close bonds, including bonds with fictional characters, but does it also influence the level of engagement with fictional worlds? This article aims to build on previous research on how attachment relates to narrative transportation. In Study 1, attachment anxiety, but not attachment avoidance, predicted a greater tendency to become transported into narratives, even after controlling for broader personality traits related to attachment. In Study 2, attachment anxiety again predicted a greater tendency to engage in narratives but only at high levels of attachment avoidance. In Study 3, this interaction between attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance in predicting narrative transportation was again observed when transportation was measured immediately after viewing a specific narrative.
Hyperammonemia in ornithine transcarbamylase‐deficient recipients following living donor liver transplantation from heterozygous carrier donors
Authors: Rahayatri Tri Hening , Uchida Hajime , Sasaki Kengo , Shigeta Takanobu , Hirata Yoshihiro , Kanazawa Hiroyuki , Mali Vidyadhar , Fukuda Akinari , Sakamoto Seisuke , Kasahara Mureo
Published: November 2016

Ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency (OTCD) is a urea cycle disorder of X‐linked inheritance, affecting the detoxification of excess nitrogen and leading to hyperammonemia (hyper‐NH3). Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) has been applied for the treatment of OTCD. This case series retrospectively reviewed two OTCD patients who experienced hyper‐NH3 following LDLT. The first case was a 5‐year‐old girl who had onset of OTCD at 2 years of age. Ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) enzyme activity was 62% for the donor and 15% for the recipient. The patient suffered from recurrence of hyper‐NH3 within 2 months following LDLT. The second case was a 5‐year‐old girl who had onset of OTCD at 3 years of age. OTC enzyme activity was 42.6% for the donor and 9.7% for the recipient. The patient suffered hyper‐NH3 for 12 days starting on the date of surgery. Both of the patients transiently required continuous veno‐venous hemodialysis; however, they are currently doing well without intensive medical treatment. The use of asymptomatic OTCD heterozygous donors in LDLT has been accepted with careful examination. However, an OTCD heterozygous carrier donor should be avoided if there is another donor candidate, due to the potentially fatal condition of hyper‐NH3 following LDLT.
Enabling Stakeholder Involvement in Coastal Disaster Resilience Planning
Authors: Bostick Thomas P. , Holzer Thomas H. , Sarkani Shahryar
Published: November 2016

Coastal hazards including storm surge, sea‐level rise, and cyclone winds continue to have devastating effects on infrastructure systems and communities despite costly investments in risk management. Risk management has generally not been sufficiently focused on coastal resilience, with community stakeholders involved in the process of making their coastline, as a system, more resilient to coastal storms. Thus, without stakeholder earlier involvement in coastal resilience planning for their community, they are frustrated after disasters occur. The U.S. National Academies has defined resilience as “the ability to prepare and plan for, absorb, recover from, and more successfully adapt to adverse events”(National Research Council). This article introduces a methodology for enabling stakeholder‐involved resilience discussions across physical, information, cognitive, and social domains. The methodology addresses the stages of resilience—prepare, absorb, recover, and adapt—and integrates performance assessment with scenario analysis to characterize disruptions of risk‐management priorities. The methodology is illustrated through a case study at Mobile Bay, Alabama, USA.
Integrating Household Risk Mitigation Behavior in Flood Risk Analysis: An Agent‐Based Model Approach
Authors: Haer Toon , Botzen W. J. Wouter , de Moel Hans , Aerts Jeroen C. J. H.
Published: November 2016

Recent studies showed that climate change and socioeconomic trends are expected to increase flood risks in many regions. However, in these studies, human behavior is commonly assumed to be constant, which neglects interaction and feedback loops between human and environmental systems. This neglect of human adaptation leads to a misrepresentation of flood risk. This article presents an agent‐based model that incorporates human decision making in flood risk analysis. In particular, household investments in loss‐reducing measures are examined under three economic decision models: (1) expected utility theory, which is the traditional economic model of rational agents; (2) prospect theory, which takes account of bounded rationality; and (3) a prospect theory model, which accounts for changing risk perceptions and social interactions through a process of Bayesian updating. We show that neglecting human behavior in flood risk assessment studies can result in a considerable misestimation of future flood risk, which is in our case study an overestimation of a factor two. Furthermore, we show how behavior models can support flood risk analysis under different behavioral assumptions, illustrating the need to include the dynamic adaptive human behavior of, for instance, households, insurers, and governments. The method presented here provides a solid basis for exploring human behavior and the resulting flood risk with respect to low‐probability/high‐impact risks.
Grain‐size distributions on high‐energy sandy beaches and their relation to wave dissipation
Authors: Prodger Sam , Russell Paul , Davidson Mark
Published: November 2016

Grain size and sorting represent two key parameters when characterizing sediments or modelling beach morphology and sediment transport. Traditionally, an average value for grain size or sorting is often assumed for the entire area, determined from only a few sediment samples, ignoring any spatial (or temporal) variability in sediment characteristics. This contribution uses a data set of physical surface sediment samples from 53 beach locations around the south‐west peninsula of the United Kingdom, in addition to bi‐monthly, high spatial resolution (mean 240 samples) digital grain‐size surveys from a high‐energy, oceanic, sandy beach (Perranporth, North Cornwall). Systematic spatial variations in grain size and sorting were consistently observed in the seaward direction across the intertidal zone of sandy beaches, with grain‐sizes coarsening and sorting improving by up to 51·7% and 64·3%, respectively. This variability was deterministically related to the time‐averaged, antecedent‐adjusted energy dissipated by breaking waves, with the observed maximum grain‐size and sorting values correlating with the location of peak wave energy dissipation (r2 = 0·998, P < 0·01).
Morphomechanics of dermis‐A method for non‐destructive testing of collagenous tissues
Authors: Shah R. G. , Pierce M. C. , Silver F. H.
Published: November 2016

Background

Collagenous tissues store, transmit and dissipate elastic energy during mechanical deformation. In skin, mechanical energy is stored during loading and then is dissipated, which protects skin from mechanical failure. Thus, energy storage (elastic properties) and dissipation (viscous properties) are important characteristics of extracellular matrices (ECMs) that support the cyclic loading of ECMs without tissue failure.

Methods

Uniaxial stress‐strain measurements on decellularized human dermis have been made and compared to results of a non‐destructive technique involving optical coherence tomography (OCT) combined with vibrational analysis. In addition, Poisson's ratio has been determined for tensile deformation of decellularized dermis.

Results

The modulus of decellularized dermis measured using standard tensile stress‐strain tests and that determined from calculations derived from natural frequency measurements give similar results. It is also observed that Poisson's ratio for dermis is between 0.38 and 0.63 after correction for changes in volume that occur during tensile deformation. These results suggest that the assumption that dermis and other ECMs deform at constant volume is incorrect and will lead to differences in the calculated modulus by conventional tensile stress‐strain measurements.

Conclusions

It is proposed that OCT in conjunction with vibrational analysis is a convenient way to non‐destructively measure the modulus of decellularized dermis, ECMs and other materials that have a positive curvature to their stress‐strain curves. Tensile deformation of dermis and possibly other ECMs is associated with an increase in Poisson's ratio consistent with a model of fluid expulsion from collagen fibrils during stretching. The value of Poisson's ratio should be considered in analyzing the mechanical properties of ECMs since at least dermis appears to be compressible during tensile deformation. Fluid expression during tensile deformation may play a role in mechanotransduction in skin in a similar manner to cartilage and bone tissue.
Thresholding methods for lesion segmentation of basal cell carcinoma in dermoscopy images
Authors: Kaur R. , LeAnder R. , Mishra N. K. , Hagerty J. R. , Kasmi R. , Stanley R. J. , Celebi M. E. , Stoecker W. V.
Published: November 2016

Purpose

Algorithms employed for pigmented lesion segmentation perform poorly on dermoscopy images of basal cell carcinoma (BCC), the most common skin cancer. The main objective was to develop better methods for BCC segmentation.

Methods

Fifteen thresholding methods were implemented for BCC lesion segmentation. We propose two error metrics that better measure the type II error: Relative XOR Error and Lesion Capture Ratio.

Results

On training/test sets of 305 and 34 BCC images, respectively, five new techniques outperform two state‐of‐the‐art methods used in segmentation of melanomas, based on the new error metrics.

Conclusion

The proposed algorithms, which include solutions for image vignetting correction and border expansion to achieve dermatologist‐like borders, provide more inclusive and feature‐preserving border detection, favoring better BCC classification accuracy, in future work.
Common Sense and Evidence: Some Neglected Arguments in Favour of E=K
Authors: Logins Artūrs
Published: November 2016

In this article I focus on some unduly neglected common‐sense considerations supporting the view that one's evidence is the propositions that one knows. I reply to two recent objections to these considerations.