bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interactions between body size, abundance, seasonality, and phenology in forest beetles
Authors: Gillespie Mark A. K. , Birkemoe Tone , Sverdrup‐Thygeson Anne
Published: January 2017

Body size correlates with a large number of species traits, and these relationships have frequently been used to explain patterns in populations, communities, and ecosystems. However, diverging patterns occur, and there is a need for more data on different taxa at different scales. Using a large dataset of 155,418 individual beetles from 588 species collected over 13 years of sampling in Norway, we have explored whether body size predicts abundance, seasonality, and phenology in insects. Seasonality is estimated here by flight activity period length and phenology by peak activity. We develop several methods to estimate these traits from low‐resolution sampling data. The relationship between abundance and body size was significant and as expected; the smaller species were more abundant. However, smaller species tended to fly for longer periods of the summer and peaked in midsummer, while larger species were restricted to shorter temporal windows. Further analysis of repeated sampling from a single location suggested that smaller species had increased flight period lengths in warmer years, but larger species showed the opposite pattern. The results 1) indicate that smaller species are likely to be disproportionately valuable in ecological interactions, and 2) provide potential insights into the traits influencing the vulnerability of some larger species to disturbances and climate change.
Portfolio effects, climate change, and the persistence of small populations: analyses on the rare plant Saussurea weberi
Authors: Abbott Ronald E. , Doak Daniel F. , DeMarche Megan L.
Published: January 2017

The mechanisms that stabilize small populations in the face of environmental variation are crucial to their long‐term persistence. Building from diversity–stability concepts in community ecology, within‐population diversity is gaining attention as an important component of population stability. Genetic and microhabitat variation within populations can generate diverse responses to common environmental fluctuations, dampening temporal variability across the population as a whole through portfolio effects. Yet, the potential for portfolio effects to operate at small scales within populations or to change with systematic environmental shifts, such as climate change, remain largely unexplored. We tracked the abundance of a rare alpine perennial plant, Saussurea weberi, in 49 1‐m2 plots within a single population over 20 yr. We estimated among‐plot correlations in log annual growth rate to test for population‐level synchrony and quantify portfolio effects across the 20‐yr study period and also in 5‐yr subsets based on June temperature quartiles. Asynchrony among plots, due to different plot‐level responses to June temperature, reduced overall fluctuations in abundance and the probability of decline in population models, even when accounting for the effects of density dependence on dynamics. However, plots became more synchronous and portfolio effects decreased during the warmest years of the study, suggesting that future climate warming may erode stabilizing mechanisms in populations of this rare plant.
Ecosystem flux and biotic modification as drivers of metaecosystem dynamics
Authors: Limberger Romana , Birtel Julia , Farias Daniel d. S. , Matthews Blake
Published: January 2017

The fluxes of energy, matter, and organisms are important structuring forces of metaecosystems. Such ecosystem fluxes likely interact with environmental heterogeneity and differentially affect the diversity of multiple communities. In an aquatic mesocosm experiment, we tested how ecosystem flux and patch heterogeneity affected the diversity of bacteria, phytoplankton, and zooplankton metacommunities, and the structure and functioning of metaecosystems. We built metaecosystems consisting of three mesocosms that were either connected by flux of living organisms, organic material, and nutrients (alive ecosystem flux) or only by flux of organic material and nutrients (dead ecosystem flux). The three patches of each metaecosystem were either homogeneous or heterogeneous in nutrient loading. We found that the three groups of organisms responded differently to our treatments: flux of living organisms increased bacterial diversity irrespective of nutrient heterogeneity, while flux effects on phytoplankton diversity depended on nutrient heterogeneity, potentially indicating source‐sink effects. Although zooplankton diversity was largely unaffected by our manipulations, subtle changes of community composition in response to ecosystem flux had strong effects on lower trophic levels, highlighting the importance of indirect flux effects via alterations in trophic interactions. Furthermore, differential effects of communities on the mean and spatial variability of local abiotic environments influenced the development of metaecosystem heterogeneity through time. Despite identical nutrient loading at the scale of the metaecosystem, abiotic conditions diverged between homogeneous and heterogeneous metaecosystems. For example, concentrations in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were higher in homogeneous than heterogeneous metaecosystems, possibly because of differential responses of the algal community to local environmental conditions. Similarly, we found that flux effects on organisms translated into effects on DOC concentrations at the patch level, suggesting that flux‐mediated changes in abundances of species can alter abiotic conditions. Our study shows that the dynamics of biotic and abiotic compartments of spatially structured ecosystems are intricately linked, highlighting the importance of integrating metacommunity and metaecosystem perspectives.
Synthesis and Characterization of Copper Complexes with the N‐(2,6‐Diisopropylphenyl)‐N′‐acylthiourea Ligands
Authors: Wang Dan , Wu Su‐Yun , Li Hai‐Pu , Yang Ying , Roesky Herbert W.
Published: January 2017

Three N‐(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)‐N′‐acylthiourea ligands [Ar′NHC(S)NHC(O)Ar; Ar′ = 2,6‐iPr2C6H3; Ar = p‐tBuC6H4 (1, L1), Mes (2, L2), and 1‐Naph (3, L3)] were synthesized and compared with the homologous ligand L0 (Ar = Ph) in terms of their resultant complexes with copper halides. The reaction of L1 with CuCl2 led to the formation of mononuclear L12CuCl (4), while treatment of L1 with CuX (X = Cl, Br) resulted in the adamantane cage complexes (L1CuX)4 (X = Cl, 5; Br, 6). These findings are similar to the results shown by its parent ligand L0. The reaction of L1 with CuI yielded the iodide‐bridged dimeric complex [L12Cu(µ‐I)]2 (7), in contrast to the ligand‐bridged dimer supported by L0. L2 readily afforded the mononuclear CuI complexes 8–10 coordinated by two or three ligands. L3 gave monomeric L33CuX (X = Cl, 11; Br, 12) and the iodide‐bridged dimeric [L32Cu(µ‐I)]2 (13). L3 can bind with CuI halides in a ratio of 1:1 to give complexes L3CuX(PPh3)2 (14–16), when Cu2X2(PPh3)3 (X = Cl, Br) or CuI(PPh3)3 were used as precursors. Treatment of (L1CuCl)4 (5), L22CuBr (8), and L33CuCl (11), respectively, with hot EtOH resulted in the formation of trans‐CuLn′2 (17–19) compounds. All compounds were characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction studies.
Numerical investigation of the resistance of precast RC pinned beam‐to‐column connections under shear loading
Authors: Kremmyda Georgia D. , Fahjan Yasin M. , Psycharis Ioannis N. , Tsoukantas Spyros G.
Published: January 2017

In precast technology, the effective design and construction are related to the behaviour of the connections between the structural members in order to cater for all service, environmental and earthquake load conditions. Therefore, the design and detailing of the connections should be undertaken consistently and with awareness of the desired structural response. In the research presented herein, an analytical expression is proposed for the prediction of the resistance of precast pinned connections under shear monotonic and cyclic loading. The proposed formula addresses the case where the failure of the connection occurs with simultaneous flexural failure of the dowel and compression failure of the concrete around the dowel, expected to occur either when (i) adequate concrete cover of the dowels is provided (d > 6D) or (ii) adequate confining reinforcement (as defined in the article) is foreseen around the dowels in the case of small concrete covers (d < 6D). The expression is calibrated against available experimental data and numerical results derived from a nonlinear numerical investigation. Emphasis is given to identifying the effect of several parameters on the horizontal shear resistance of the connection such as: the number and diameter of the dowels; the strength of materials (concrete, grout, steel); the concrete cover of the dowels; the thickness of the elastomeric pad; the type of shear loading (monotonic or cyclic); the pre‐existing axial stress in the dowels; and the rotation of the joint. In addition, recommendations for the design of precast pinned beam‐to‐column connections are given, especially when the connections are utilised in earthquake resistant structures. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparison of four methods for bioavailability-based risk assessment of mixtures of Cu, Zn, and Ni in freshwater
Authors: Van Regenmortel Tina , Nys Charlotte , Janssen Colin R. , Lofts Stephen , De Schamphelaere Karel A.C.
Published: January 2017

Although chemical risk assessment is still mainly conducted on a substance-by-substance basis, organisms in the environment are typically exposed to mixtures of substances. Risk assessment procedures should therefore be adapted to fit these situations. Four mixture risk assessment methodologies were compared for risk estimations of mixtures of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and nickel (Ni). The results showed that use of the log-normal species sensitivity distribution (SSD) instead of the best-fit distribution and sampling species sensitivities independently for each metal instead of using interspecies correlations in metal sensitivity had little impact on risk estimates. Across 4 different monitoring datasets, between 0% and 52% of the target water samples were estimated to be at risk, but only between 0% and 15% of the target water samples were at risk because of the mixture of metals and not any single metal individually. When a natural baseline database was examined, it was estimated that 10% of the target water samples were at risk because of single metals or their mixtures; when the most conservative method was used (concentration addition [CA] applied directly to the SSD, i.e., CASSD). However, the issue of metal mixture risk at geochemical baseline concentrations became relatively small (2% of target water samples) when a theoretically more correct method was used (CA applied to individual dose response curves, i.e., CADRC). Finally, across the 4 monitoring datasets, the following order of conservatism for the 4 methods was shown (from most to least conservative, with ranges of median margin of safety [MoS] relative to CASSD): CASSD > CADRC (MoS = 1.17–1.25) > IADRC (independent action (IA) applied to individual dose-response curves; MoS = 1.38–1.60) > IASSD (MoS = 1.48–1.72). Therefore, it is suggested that these 4 methods can be used in a general tiered scheme for the risk assessment of metal mixtures in a regulatory context. In this scheme, the CASSD method could serve as a first (conservative) tier to identify situations with likely no potential risk at all, regardless of the method used (the sum toxic unit expressed relative to the 5% hazardous concentration [SumTUHC5] < 1) and the IASSD method to identify situations of potential risk, also regardless of the method used (the multisubstance potentially affected fraction of species using the IASSD method [msPAFIA,SSD] > 0.05). The CADRC and IADRC methods could be used for site-specific assessment for situations that fall in between (SumTUHC5 > 1 and msPAFIA,SSD < 0.05). Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:2123–2138. © 2017 SETAC
Inoculating the Public against Misinformation about Climate Change
Authors: van der Linden Sander , Leiserowitz Anthony , Rosenthal Seth , Maibach Edward
Published: January 2017

Effectively addressing climate change requires significant changes in individual and collective human behavior and decision‐making. Yet, in light of the increasing politicization of (climate) science, and the attempts of vested‐interest groups to undermine the scientific consensus on climate change through organized “disinformation campaigns,” identifying ways to effectively engage with the public about the issue across the political spectrum has proven difficult. A growing body of research suggests that one promising way to counteract the politicization of science is to convey the high level of normative agreement (“consensus”) among experts about the reality of human‐caused climate change. Yet, much prior research examining public opinion dynamics in the context of climate change has done so under conditions with limited external validity. Moreover, no research to date has examined how to protect the public from the spread of influential misinformation about climate change. The current research bridges this divide by exploring how people evaluate and process consensus cues in a polarized information environment. Furthermore, evidence is provided that it is possible to pre‐emptively protect (“inoculate”) public attitudes about climate change against real‐world misinformation.
Clinical impact of intraoperative CCEP monitoring in evaluating the dorsal language white matter pathway
Authors: Yamao Yukihiro , Suzuki Kengo , Kunieda Takeharu , Matsumoto Riki , Arakawa Yoshiki , Nakae Takuro , Nishida Sei , Inano Rika , Shibata Sumiya , Shimotake Akihiro , Kikuchi Takayuki , Sawamoto Nobukatsu , Mikuni Nobuhiro , Ikeda Akio , Fukuyama Hidenao , Miyamoto Susumu
Published: January 2017

In order to preserve postoperative language function, we recently proposed a new intraoperative method to monitor the integrity of the dorsal language pathway (arcuate fasciculus; AF) using cortico–cortical evoked potentials (CCEPs). Based on further investigations (20 patients, 21 CCEP investigations), including patients who were not suitable for awake surgery (five CCEP investigations) or those without preoperative neuroimaging data (eight CCEP investigations including four with untraceable tractography due to brain edema), we attempted to clarify the clinical impact of this new intraoperative method. We monitored the integrity of AF by stimulating the anterior perisylvian language area (AL) by recording CCEPs from the posterior perisylvian language area (PL) consecutively during both general anesthesia and awake condition. After tumor resection, single‐pulse electrical stimuli were also applied to the floor of the removal cavity to record subcortico‐cortical evoked potentials (SCEPs) at AL and PL in 12 patients (12 SCEP investigations). We demonstrated that (1) intraoperative dorsal language network monitoring was feasible even when patients were not suitable for awake surgery or without preoperative neuroimaging studies, (2) CCEP is a dynamic marker of functional connectivity or integrity of AF, and CCEP N1 amplitude could even become larger after reduction of brain edema, (3) a 50% CCEP N1 amplitude decline might be a cut‐off value to prevent permanent language dysfunction due to impairment of AF, (4) a correspondence (<2.0 ms difference) of N1 onset latencies between CCEP and the sum of SCEPs indicates close proximity of the subcortical stimulus site to AF (<3.0 mm). Hum Brain Mapp 38:1977–1991, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
From hippocampus to whole‐brain: The role of integrative processing in episodic memory retrieval
Authors: Geib Benjamin R. , Stanley Matthew L. , Dennis Nancy A. , Woldorff Marty G. , Cabeza Roberto
Published: January 2017

Multivariate functional connectivity analyses of neuroimaging data have revealed the importance of complex, distributed interactions between disparate yet interdependent brain regions. Recent work has shown that topological properties of functional brain networks are associated with individual and group differences in cognitive performance, including in episodic memory. After constructing functional whole‐brain networks derived from an event‐related fMRI study of memory retrieval, we examined differences in functional brain network architecture between forgotten and remembered words. This study yielded three main findings. First, graph theory analyses showed that successfully remembering compared to forgetting was associated with significant changes in the connectivity profile of the left hippocampus and a corresponding increase in efficient communication with the rest of the brain. Second, bivariate functional connectivity analyses indicated stronger interactions between the left hippocampus and a retrieval assembly for remembered versus forgotten items. This assembly included the left precuneus, left caudate, bilateral supramarginal gyrus, and the bilateral dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus. Integrative properties of the retrieval assembly were greater for remembered than forgotten items. Third, whole‐brain modularity analyses revealed that successful memory retrieval was marginally significantly associated with a less segregated modular architecture in the network. The magnitude of the decreases in modularity between remembered and forgotten conditions was related to memory performance. These findings indicate that increases in integrative properties at the nodal, retrieval assembly, and whole‐brain topological levels facilitate memory retrieval, while also underscoring the potential of multivariate brain connectivity approaches for providing valuable new insights into the neural bases of memory processes. Hum Brain Mapp 38:2242–2259, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Plasticity of neonatal neuronal networks in very premature infants: Source localization of temporal theta activity, the first endogenous neural biomarker, in temporoparietal areas
Authors: Routier L. , Mahmoudzadeh M. , Panzani M. , Azizollahi H. , Goudjil S. , Kongolo G. , Wallois F.
Published: January 2017

Temporal theta slow‐wave activity (TTA‐SW) in premature infants is a specific signature of the early development of temporal networks, as it is observed at the turning point between non‐sensory driven spontaneous local processing and cortical network functioning. The role in development and the precise location of TTA‐SW remain unknown. Previous studies have demonstrated that preterms from 28 weeks of gestational age (wGA) are able to discriminate phonemes and voice, supporting the idea of a prior genetic structural or activity‐dependent fingerprint that would prepare the auditory network to compute auditory information at the onset of thalamocortical connectivity. They recorded TTA‐SW in 26–32 wGA preterms. The rate of TTA‐SW in response to click stimuli was evaluated using low‐density EEG in 30 preterms. The sources of TTA‐SW were localized by high‐density EEG using different tissues conductivities, head models and mathematical models. They observed that TTA‐SW is not sensory driven. Regardless of age, conductivities, head models and mathematical models, sources of TTA‐SW were located adjacent to auditory and temporal junction areas. These sources become situated closer to the surface during development. TTA‐SW corresponds to spontaneous transient endogenous activities independent of sensory information at this period which might participate in the implementation of auditory, language, memory, attention and or social cognition convergent and does not simply represent a general interaction between the subplate and the cortical plate. Hum Brain Mapp 38:2345–2358, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Membrane remodeling and organization: Elements common to prokaryotes and eukaryotes
Authors: Vega‐Cabrera Luz A. , Pardo‐López Liliana
Published: January 2017

Membrane remodeling processes in eukaryotes, such as those involved in endocytosis and intracellular trafficking, are mediated by a large number of structural, accessory and regulatory proteins. These processes occur in all cell types, enabling the exchange of signals and/or nutrients with the external medium and with neighboring cells; likewise, they are required for the intracellular trafficking of various cargo molecules between organelles, as well as the recycling of these structures. Recent studies have demonstrated that some elements of the molecular machinery involved in regulating and mediating endocytosis in eukaryotic cells are also present in some bacteria, where they participate in processes such as cell division, sporulation and signal transduction. However, the mechanism whereby this prokaryotic machinery carries out such functions has barely begun to be elucidated. This review summarizes recent information about the cytoskeletal and membrane‐organizing proteins for which bacterial homologs have been identified; given their known functions, they may be considered to be part of an ancestral membrane organization system that first emerged in prokaryotes and which further evolved into the more complex regulatory networks operating in eukaryotes. © 2017 IUBMB Life, 69(2):55–62, 2017
A surface site interaction point methodology for macromolecules and huge molecular databases
Authors: Oliver Antoni , Hunter Christopher A. , Prohens Rafel , Rosselló Josep L.
Published: January 2017

Determining the position and magnitude of Surface Site Interaction Points (SSIP) is a useful technique for understanding intermolecular interactions. SSIPs have been used for the prediction of solvation properties and for virtual co‐crystal screening. To determine the SSIPs for a molecule, the Molecular Electrostatic Potential Surface (MEPS) is first calculated using ab initio methods such as Density Functional Theory. This leads to a high cost in terms of computation time and is not compatible with the analysis of huge molecular databases. Herein, we present a method for the fast estimation of SSIPs, which is based on the MEPS calculated from MMFF94 atomic partial charges. The results show that this method can be used to calculate SSIPs for large molecular databases with a much higher speed than the original ab initio methodology. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Interplay between the miRNome and the epigenetic machinery: Implications in health and disease
Authors: Poddar Shagun , Kesharwani Devesh , Datta Malabika
Published: January 2017

Epigenetics refers to functionally relevant genomic changes that do not involve changes in the basic nucleotide sequence. Majorly, these are of two types: DNA methylation and histone modifications. Small RNA molecules called miRNAs are often thought to mediate post‐transcriptional epigenetic changes by mRNA degradation or translational attenuation. While DNA methylation and histone modifications have their own independent effects on various cellular events, several reports are suggestive of an obvious interplay between these phenomena and the miRNA regulatory program within the cell. Several miRNAs like miR‐375, members of miR‐29 family, miR‐34, miR‐200, and others are regulated by DNA methylation and histone modifications in various types of cancers and metabolic diseases. On the other hand, miRNAs like miR‐449a, miR‐148, miR‐101, miR‐214, and miR‐128 target members of the epigenetic machinery and their dysregulation leads to diverse cellular aberrations. In spite of being independent cellular events, emergence of such reports that suggest a connection between DNA methylation, histone modification, and miRNA function in several diseases indicate that this connecting axis offers a valuable target with great therapeutic potential that might be exploited for disease management. We review the current status of crosstalk between the major epigenetic modifications and the miRNA machinery and discuss this in the context of health and disease.
Influence of passive ultrasonic irrigation on the efficiency of various irrigation solutions in removing smear layer: a scanning electron microscope study
Authors: Koçak Sibel , Bağcı Nur , Çiçek Ersan , Türker Sevinç Aktemur , Can Sağlam Baran , Koçak Mustafa Murat
Published: January 2017

To evaluate the influence of passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI) to remove the smear layer with different irrigation solutions. Seventy‐eight single rooted mandibular premolars were used. The working lengths were measured and the root canals were prepared by using nickel titanium rotary files. The specimens were subjected to six different irrigation regimens: sodium hypochloride (NaOCl) with classic irrigation (CI); NaOCl with PUI; EDTA with CI; EDTA with PUI; QMix with CI; and QMix with PUI. The specimens were split longitudinally. Scanning electron microscopy images were taken to evaluate the amount of residual smear layer and scored. Statistical analysis was performed with the Kruskal–Wallis test. The Dunn's test was used for post hoc testing after the Kruskal–Wallis test. The smear layer scores of apical thirds were significantly higher than coronal and middle thirds except for NaOCl + CI group (p < 0.001). The irrigation with PUI improved the efficacy of all irrigation solutions on removal of smear layer in both coronal and middle thirds (p < 0.001). The PUI activation increased the activity of NaOCl, EDTA, and QMix, respectively without any significance. All irrigation regimens were significantly more effective in coronal and middle thirds compared to apical third. PUI significantly increased the efficacy of smear layer removal regardless of irrigation solution.
Examining different types of comparison questions in a field study of CQT polygraph technique: Theoretical and practical implications
Authors: Ginton Avital
Published: January 2017

Two types of questions are most important in the CQT polygraph examination, relevant questions that deal directly with the case under query and comparison questions, which usually deal with past probable misdeeds of the examinees that they choose to deny. The simplistic core reasoning behind the CQT is that the risk of being detected for lying is a threatening situation and like any kind of threat, it automatically triggers the autonomic nervous system to respond with the “fight or flight” type of reaction. For the deceptive examinee, the relevant questions pose the main threat, whereas the truthful examinee, knowing that he is telling the truth on the relevant issue while probably lying to the comparison questions, perceives the latter as more threatening, considering his goal to appear truthful on the test. Accordingly, the deceptive examinee reactions are focused on the relevant questions, whereas the truthful focuses them on the comparison ones. Results of the current field study suggest that at least with truthful examinees, comparison questions, which do not incorporate any lies to be afraid of their exposure, or any lies at all, might function similarly to probable lie questions, by just increasing their salience in a manner that presumably creates some concerns about them. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed in line with the RIG strength notion (Ginton,).
Does job insecurity threaten who you are? Introducing a social identity perspective to explain well‐being and performance consequences of job insecurity
Authors: Selenko Eva , Mäkikangas Anne , Stride Christopher B.
Published: January 2017

This paper introduces a social identity perspective to job insecurity research. Worrying about becoming jobless, we argue, is detrimental because it implies an anticipated membership of a negatively evaluated group—the group of unemployed people. Job insecurity hence threatens a person's social identity as an employed person. This in turn will affect well‐being and job performance. A three‐wave survey study amongst 377 British employees supports this perspective. Persons who felt higher levels of job insecurity were more likely to report a weaker social identity as an employed person. This effect was found to be stable over time and also held against a test of reverse causality. Furthermore, social identity as an employed person influenced well‐being and in‐role job performance and mediated the effect of job insecurity on these two variables over time. Different to the expectations, social identity as an employed person and organisational proactivity were not connected. The findings deliver interesting evidence for the role of social identity as an employed person in the relationships between job insecurity and its consequences. Theoretically, this perspective illustrates the individual and group‐related nature of job insecurity and offers a novel way of connecting work situations with individual well‐being, behaviour and attitudes. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Does summer precipitation trend over and around the Tibetan Plateau depend on elevation?
Authors: Li Xiuping , Wang Lei , Guo Xiaoyu , Chen Deliang
Published: January 2017

The Tibetan Plateau (TP) experienced a rapid warming and wetting in recent decades. The elevation dependence of warming rate has been established, while the question of trend in precipitation against the elevation gradient remains open. By using the in situ observation of precipitation, air temperature, and surface specific humidity from 91 stations over and around the TP, this study investigated how the trends in summer precipitation varied along the elevation gradient over and around the TP during the period 1970–2014. The major findings are as follows: (1) the trends in summer precipitation from 1970 to 2014 displayed an increasing tendency at a rate of 0.83% decade−1 km−1 with the increased elevation, and the rate for 1991–2014 (2.23% decade−1 km−1) is even greater and (2) the temporal trends in surface air temperature, surface specific humidity (surface water vapour) from in situ observations and total column of water vapour from Japanese 55‐year reanalysis (JRA‐55) data over most stations consistently display similar elevation dependence, which provides a plausible explanation for the elevation dependence of the summer precipitation trends based on the Clausius–Clapeyron relationship. The large‐scale atmospheric circulations are other possible factors influencing the elevation dependence of summer precipitation trends, which needs further investigations.
Potential prebiotic properties of cashew apple (Anacardium occidentale L.) agro‐industrial byproduct on Lactobacillus species
Authors: Duarte Francisca Nayara Dantas , Rodrigues Jéssica Bezerra , da Costa Lima Maiara , Lima Marcos dos Santos , Pacheco Maria Teresa Bertoldo , Pintado Maria Manuela Estevez , de Souza Aquino Jailane , de Souza Evandro Leite
Published: January 2017

BACKGROUND

The prebiotic effects of a cashew apple (Anacardium occidentale L.) agro‐industrial byproduct powder (CAP) on different potentially probiotic Lactobacillus strains, namely Lactobacillus acidophilus LA‐05, Lactobacillus casei L‐26 and Lactobacillus paracasei L‐10, were assessed using in vitro experimental models. Accordingly, the growth of the Lactobacillus strains when cultivated in a broth containing CAP (20 or 30 g L−1), glucose (20 g L−1) or fructooligosaccharides (FOS) (20 g L−1) was monitored over 48 h; the prebiotic activity scores of CAP were determined; and the changes in pH values, production of organic acids and consumption of sugars in growth media were verified.

RESULTS

During the 48‐h cultivation, similar viable cell counts were observed for the Lactobacillus strains grown in the different media tested. The CAP presented positive prebiotic activity scores toward all the tested Lactobacillus strains, indicating a desirable selective fermentable activity relative to enteric organisms. The cultivation of the Lactobacillus strains in broth containing glucose, FOS or CAP resulted in high viable cell counts, a decreased pH, the production of organic acids and the consumption of sugars over time, revealing intense bacterial metabolic activity.

CONCLUSION

The CAP exerts potential prebiotic effects on different potentially probiotic Lactobacillus strains and should be an added‐value ingredient for the food industry. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Effect of dietary macronutrients on aflatoxicosis: a mini‐review
Authors: Nurul Adilah Zainuddin , Mohd Redzwan Sabran
Published: January 2017

Aflatoxin is a toxin produced by Aspergillus species of fungi. The main route of aflatoxin exposure is through the diet. Indeed, long‐term aflatoxin exposure is linked to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Aflatoxin causes aflatoxicosis, which can be affected by several factors and is prevalent in many developing Asian and African countries. This mini‐review discusses the effects of carbohydrate, fat and protein on aflatoxicosis based on findings from animal and human studies. It was found that high carbohydrate intake enhanced aflatoxicosis occurrence, while low ingestion of carbohydrate with caloric restriction slowed the symptoms associated with aflatoxicosis. Additionally, diets with low protein content worsened the symptoms related to HCC due to aflatoxin exposure. Nevertheless, a study reported that a high‐protein diet favored detoxification of aflatoxin in vivo. There were also conflicting results on the influence of dietary fat, as high ingestion of fat enhanced aflatoxicosis development as compared with a low‐fat diet. Moreover, the type of fat also plays a significant role in influencing aflatoxin toxicity. In regard to food safety, understanding the influence of macronutrients toward the progression of aflatoxicosis can improve preventive measures against human and animal exposure to aflatoxin. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Manufacturing‐integrated product solutions: Design support between product function and manufacturing processes
Authors: Roos M. , Wagner C. , Weber Martins T. , Albrecht K. , Anderl R. , Kirchner E.
Published: January 2017

With the help of new design tools, manufacturing‐integrated solutions can be generated that concurrently consider function and process. Based on the design pattern matrix, solution elements can be developed that realize the product function by systematically utilizing manufacturing‐induced properties. The developed manufacturing‐integrated product solutions are refined using computer‐aided methods (feature‐based modeling and information modeling). A product embodiment is generated that is specifically tailored to the chosen manufacturing technology. An integrated information model allows the introduced tools to be used throughout the entire development process. The example of a linear flow split snap‐fit fastening illustrates how the tools beneficially interact and realize manufacturing potential, resulting in an innovative product design.
Calreticulin is a fine tuning molecule in epibrassinolide‐induced apoptosis through activating endoplasmic reticulum stress in colon cancer cells
Authors: Obakan‐Yerlikaya Pinar , Arisan Elif Damla , Coker‐Gurkan Ajda , Adacan Kaan , Ozbey Utku , Somuncu Berna , Baran Didem , Palavan‐Unsal Narcin
Published: January 2017

Epibrassinolide (EBR), a member of brassinostreoids plant hormones with cell proliferation promoting role in plants, is a natural polyhydroxysteroid with structural similarity to steroid hormones of vertebrates. EBR has antiproliferative and apoptosis‐inducing effect in various cancer cells. Although EBR has been shown to affect survival and mitochondria‐mediated apoptosis pathways in a p53‐independent manner, the exact molecular targets of EBR are still under investigation. Our recent SILAC (Stable Isotope Labeling by Amino Acids in Cell Culture) data showed that the most significantly altered protein after EBR treatment was calreticulin (CALR). CALR, a chaperone localized in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) lumen, plays role in protein folding and buffering Ca2+ ions. The alteration of CALR may cause ER stress and unfolded protein response correspondingly the induction of apoptosis. Unfolded proteins are conducted to 26S proteasomal degradation following ubiquitination. Our study revealed that EBR treatment caused ER stress and UPR by altering CALR expression causing caspase‐dependent apoptosis in HCT 116, HT29, DLD‐1, and SW480 colon cancer cells. Furthermore, 48 h EBR treatment did not caused UPR in Fetal Human Colon cells (FHC) and Mouse Embryonic Fibroblast cells (MEF). In addition our findings showed that HCT 116 colon cancer cells lacking Bax and Puma expression still undergo UPR and related apoptosis. CALR silencing and rapamycin co‐treatment prevented EBR‐induced UPR and apoptosis, whereas 26S proteasome inhibition further increased the effect of EBR in colon cancer cells. All these findings showed that EBR is an ER stress and apoptotic inducer in colon cancer cells without affecting non‐malignant cells.
The proximal superficial femoral artery perforator flap: Anatomic study and clinical cases
Authors: Ratanshi Imran , McInnes Colin W. , Islur Avinash
Published: January 2017

Background

The upper thigh has provided multiple new soft tissue free flaps in recent decades, including the anterolateral thigh, anteromedial thigh, transverse upper gracilis, the profunda artery perforator, and superficial circumflex iliac perforator flaps. The purpose of this study is to describe a new, reliable free flap option in the upper thigh: the proximal superficial femoral artery perforator (p‐SFAP) flap.

Methods

A cadaveric dissection study was performed to confirm clinical landmarks and evaluate pedicle characteristics. A retrospective review of patients who have received a p‐SFAP free flap and surgical technique are described in detail. Eight patients (aged 27–85 years) underwent reconstruction with the p‐SFAP flap involving six upper and two lower extremity defects.

Results

A consistent pedicle 6 to 8 cm in length was identified in all cadaveric and clinical limbs, emerging from under the lateral aspect of the sartorius muscle and entering the flap approximately 10 cm inferior and 4 cm medial to the anterior superior iliac spine. The perforator took origin off of the superficial femoral artery and femoral vein in all clinical cases. Arterial and venous diameters were 1.2–1.5 mm and 2.0–2.5 mm, respectively. There was one occurrence of partial flap necrosis and one case of complete flap loss.

Conclusions

The p‐SFAP flap represents a new, clinically relevant addition to the armamentarium of the reconstructive microsurgeon for use in small to medium sized defects. It can be harvested as a free flap and may have utility as a pedicled flap for groin and perineal reconstruction.
Asymptotic behaviour of viscoelastic composites with almost periodic microstructures
Authors: Woukeng Jean Louis
Published: January 2017

In this paper, we study the acoustic properties of porous media saturated by an incompressible viscoelastic fluid. The model considered here consists of a linear deformable porous skeleton having memory that is surrounded by a viscoelastic Oldroyd fluid. Assuming the microstructures to be almost periodically distributed and under the almost periodicity hypothesis on the coefficients of the governing equations, we determine the macroscopic equivalent medium. To achieve our goal, we use some very recent tools about the sigma convergence of convolution sequences. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
New estimates of mixed finite element method for fourth‐order wave equation
Authors: Shi Dongyang , Wang Lele , Liao Xin
Published: January 2017

The conforming bilinear mixed finite element method is established for a fourth‐order wave equation. By applying the interpolation and projection simultaneously, the superclose and superconvergence results of order O(h2) for the original variable u and intermediate variable p =− a1(X)Δu in H1‐norm are achieved for the semi‐discrete and fully discrete schemes, respectively (where a1(X) is the coefficient appeared in the equation). The distinct advantage of this method is that it can reduce the smoothness of solutions u,ut, and p compared with the existing literature for getting optimal estimates alone. At last, some numerical results are carried out to validate the theoretical analysis. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hybrid ZTE/Dixon MR‐based attenuation correction for quantitative uptake estimation of pelvic lesions in PET/MRI
Authors: Leynes Andrew P. , Yang Jaewon , Shanbhag Dattesh D. , Kaushik Sandeep S. , Seo Youngho , Hope Thomas A. , Wiesinger Florian , Larson Peder E. Z.
Published: January 2017

Purpose

This study introduces a new hybrid ZTE/Dixon MR‐based attenuation correction (MRAC) method including bone density estimation for PET/MRI and quantifies the effects of bone attenuation on metastatic lesion uptake in the pelvis.

Methods

Six patients with pelvic lesions were scanned using fluorodeoxyglucose (18F‐FDG) in an integrated time‐of‐flight (TOF) PET/MRI system. For PET attenuation correction, MR imaging consisted of two‐point Dixon and zero echo‐time (ZTE) pulse sequences. A continuous‐value fat and water pseudoCT was generated from a two‐point Dixon MRI. Bone was segmented from the ZTE images and converted to Hounsfield units (HU) using a continuous two‐segment piecewise linear model based on ZTE MRI intensity. The HU values were converted to linear attenuation coefficients (LAC) using a bilinear model. The bone voxels of the Dixon‐based pseudoCT were replaced by the ZTE‐derived bone to produce the hybrid ZTE/Dixon pseudoCT. The three different AC maps (Dixon, hybrid ZTE/Dixon, CTAC) were used to reconstruct PET images using a TOF‐ordered subset expectation maximization algorithm with a point‐spread function model. Metastatic lesions were separated into two classes, bone lesions and soft tissue lesions, and analyzed. The MRAC methods were compared using a root‐mean‐squared error (RMSE), where the registered CTAC was taken as ground truth.

Results

The RMSE of the maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmax) is 11.02% and 7.79% for bone (N = 6) and soft tissue lesions (N = 8), respectively, using Dixon MRAC. The RMSE of SUVmax for these lesions is significantly reduced to 3.28% and 3.94% when using the new hybrid ZTE/Dixon MRAC. Additionally, the RMSE for PET SUVs across the entire pelvis and all patients are 8.76% and 4.18%, for the Dixon and hybrid ZTE/Dixon MRAC methods, respectively.

Conclusion

A hybrid ZTE/Dixon MRAC method was developed and applied to pelvic regions in an integrated TOF PET/MRI, demonstrating improved MRAC. This new method included bone density estimation, through which PET quantification is improved.
A pilot study on the correlation between fat fraction values and glucose uptake values in supraclavicular fat by simultaneous PET/MRI
Authors: McCallister Andrew , Zhang Le , Burant Alex , Katz Laurence , Branca Rosa Tamara
Published: January 2017

Purpose

To assess the spatial correlation between MRI and 18F‐fludeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG‐PET) maps of human brown adipose tissue (BAT) and to measure differences in fat fraction (FF) between glucose avid and non‐avid regions of the supraclavicular fat depot using a hybrid FDG‐PET/MR scanner.

Methods

In 16 healthy volunteers, mean age of 30 and body mass index of 26, FF, R2*, and FDG uptake maps were acquired simultaneously using a hybrid PET/MR system while employing an individualized cooling protocol to maximally stimulate BAT.

Results

Fourteen of the 16 volunteers reported BAT‐positive FDG‐PET scans. MR FF maps of BAT correlate well with combined FDG‐PET/MR maps of BAT only in subjects with intense glucose uptake. The results indicate that the extent of the spatial correlation positively correlates with maximum FDG uptake in the supraclavicular fat depot. No consistent, significant differences were found in FF or R2* between FDG avid and non‐avid supraclavicular fat regions. In a few FDG‐positive subjects, a small but significant linear decrease in BAT FF was observed during BAT stimulation.

Conclusion

MR FF, when used in conjunction with FDG uptake maps, can be seen as a valuable, radiation‐free alternative to CT and can be used to measure tissue hydration and lipid consumption in some subjects. Magn Reson Med 78:1922–1932, 2017. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
Darcian flow under/through a leaky cutoff wall: Terzaghi–Anderson's seepage problem revisited
Authors: Yakimov N.D. , Kacimov A.R.
Published: January 2017

An analytical solution is obtained for 2‐D steady Darcian flow under and through a cutoff wall partially obstructing a homogeneous isotropic foundation of a dam. The wall is leaky; that is, flow across it depends on the ratio of hydraulic conductivity of the wall and the wall thickness that results in the third‐type (Robin) boundary condition along the wall, as compared with the Terzaghi problem for an impermeable wall. The Laplace equation for the hydraulic head is meshlessly solved in a non‐standard flow tube. A Fredholm equation of the second kind is obtained for the intensity of leakage across the wall. The equation is tackled numerically, by adjusted successive iterations. Flow characteristics (total Darcian discharge and its components through the wall and the window between the wall top and horizontal bedrock, stream function, head distribution, and Darcian velocity along the wall and tailwater bed) are obtained for various conductivity ratios, head drops across the structure, thicknesses of the foundation, and the degree of its blockage by the wall. Comparisons with the Terzaghi limit of an impermeable wall show that for common wall materials and thicknesses, the leakage may constitute tens of percent of the discharge under the dam. The through‐flow hydraulic gradients on a vertical wall face (Robin's boundary condition) as well as the exit gradients along a horizontal tailwater boundary (Dirichlet's boundary condition) acting for decades have deleterious impacts on dam stability because of potential heaving, piping, and mechanical–chemical suffusion. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Patterns and influences in health‐related quality of life in children with immune thrombocytopenia: A study from the Dallas ITP Cohort
Authors: Flores Adolfo , Klaassen Robert J. , Buchanan George R. , Neunert Cindy E.
Published: January 2017

Background

Relationships between clinical/demographic factors and health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) in childhood immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) remain poorly understood. Recent studies reveal conflicting information about factors that contribute to HRQoL.

Methods

This was a prospective, single‐institution, cohort study of newly diagnosed children with ITP. Serial evaluations of HRQoL were performed using the Kid's ITP Tools (KIT), scored from 0 (worst) to 100 (best), at enrollment and 1 week, 6 months, and 12 months following diagnosis. All visits included bleeding severity grading. Relationships between HRQoL and platelet count, treatment, bleeding severity, and course of disease were examined.

Results

A total of 99 children with newly diagnosed ITP were evaluable for analysis. KIT scores were low at diagnosis for parents (median 26, range 15–43) and children (median 65, range 55–81) and were not influenced by age or platelet count. At diagnosis, children who received treatment had lower platelet counts (P = 0.005), more severe hemorrhage (P < 0.0125), and lower HRQoL by parent, child, and proxy reporting (P < 0.05). Oral bleeding negatively impacted proxy‐reported disease burden at diagnosis (P = 0.01). Persistence of disease and lower platelet counts at 6 and 12 month visits were the only factors noted to consistently impact quality of life beyond diagnosis for both parents and children.

Conclusions

HRQoL is low at diagnosis but significantly improves over time. Patients with ongoing disease and lower platelet counts continue to have significant disease burden.