bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gamma rhythm low field magnetic stimulation alleviates neuropathologic changes and rescues memory and cognitive impairments in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Zhen Junli , Qian Yanjing , Weng Xiechuan , Su Wenting , Zhang Jianliang , Cai Lihui , Dong Lin , An Haiting , Su Ruijun , Wang Jiang , Zheng Yan , Wang Xiaomin
Published: August 2017

Introduction

The abnormal amyloid β (Aβ) accumulation and Aβ‐related neural network dysfunction are considered central to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) at the early stage. Deep‐brain reachable low field magnetic stimulation (DMS), a novel noninvasive approach that was designed to intervene the network activity in brains, has been found to alleviate stress‐related cognitive impairments.

Methods

Amyloid precursor protein/presenilin‐1 transgenic mice (5XFAD) were treated with DMS, and cognitive behavior and AD‐like pathologic changes in the neurochemical and electrophysiological properties in 5XFAD mice were assessed.

Results

We demonstrate that DMS treatment enhances cognitive performances, attenuates Aβ load, upregulates postsynaptic density protein 95 level, and promotes hippocampal long‐term potentiation in 5XFAD mouse brain. Intriguingly, the gamma burst magnetic stimulation reverses the aberrant gamma oscillations in the transgenic hippocampal network.

Discussion

This work establishes a solid foundation for the effectiveness of DMS in treating AD and proposes a future study of gamma rhythm stimulation on reorganizing rhythmic neural activity in AD brain.
Solidarity and Justice in Health and Social Care
Authors: ter Meulen Ruud
Published: August 2017

In this timely book, Ruud ter Meulen argues that the current trend towards individual financial responsibility for health and social care should not be at the expense of the welfare of vulnerable and dependent individuals. Written with a multidisciplinary perspective, the book presents a new view of solidarity as a distinct concept from justice with respect to health and social care. It explains the importance of collective responsibility and takes the debate on access to healthcare beyond the usual framework of justice and rights. Academics from a range of backgrounds, including sociology, ethics, philosophy and policy studies will find new perspectives on solidarity and fresh ideas from other disciplines. Policymakers will better appreciate the contribution of family carers to the well-being of dependent and vulnerable people, and the importance of the support of solidarity in these types of care.
Aligning Economic and Ecological Priorities: Conflicts, Complementarities, and Regulatory Frictions
Authors: Herrera Guillermo E. , Evans Keith S. , Lewis Lynne Y.
Published: August 2017

Four key policy challenges, framed here as dichotomies, are commonly associated with attempts to improve the use of natural resources in the socioecological commons. These dichotomies present tradeoffs when addressing market failures and in general seem to suggest the need to settle for second-best outcomes rather than first-best outcomes identified in stylized models. Citing examples, we argue that these models, while illustrating these dichotomies, also suggest means for circumventing them, and perhaps provide a degree of optimism about prospective outcomes in socioecological systems.
Building a Set of Internationally Comparable Value of Statistical Life Studies: Estimates of Chinese Willingness to Pay to Reduce Mortality Risk
Authors: Hoffmann Sandra , Krupnick Alan , Qin Ping
Published: August 2017

This study is the eighth in a series of stated-preference studies designed to enhance the basis for international benefits transfer of value of statistical life (VSL) estimates. The series has fielded essentially similar stated-preference surveys in Canada, China, France, Italy, Japan, Mongolia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. This Chinese study estimates the willingness to pay for contemporaneous and future mortality risk reductions of residents of Shanghai, Jiujiang, and Nanning, China using a stated-preference payment-card survey. The pooled VSL for a contemporaneous reduction in annual mortality risk reduction of 5 in 10,000 is about 1.47 million 2009 yuan ($614,805 U.S. $2016), with income elasticities of 0.2 to 0.25. This VSL estimate is at the lower end of estimates from the eight countries, between those from Mongolia and Japan, and in the mid-range of estimates of willingness to pay (WTP) for mortality risk reductions as a percentage of household income. We find lower discount rates in the Mongolia, Japan, and China studies than in those fielded in North America or Europe. The study also explores the relative performance of dichotomous choice and stated-preference card elicitation methods in a middle income country setting and develops a computerized “payment card” that allows testing for anchoring. Implicit transfer elasticities across countries, calculated using the VSLs we estimate and each country’s income, relative to those of the United States, yields estimates of 0.88–0.95 for the lower income countries. These compare with the default assumption of 1.0 or assumed elasticities of 1.2 for developing countries.
The special shaped laser spot for driving indirect-drive hohlraum with multi-beam incidence
Authors: Li Ping , Jin Sai , Zhao Runchang , Wang Wei , Li Fuquan , Li Mingzhong , Su Jingqin , Wei Xiaofeng
Published: August 2017

In indirect drive, reducing peak intensity of a single beam and controlling overlap of multi-beams are two opposite requirements for laser focal spot design. In this paper, an improved laser spot design technique for indirect drive built upon the geometric structures of laser propagation into hohlraum has been introduced. The proposed technique is able to generate appropriate continuous phase plate (CPP) producing a special shaped spot that can balance the opposite requirements. The corresponding CPP does not bring difficulties to the design and fabrication. Phase aberrations are more sensitive to the special shaped spot; however, it can be tolerable for the current beam control level.
The “How” Matters as Much as the “Who”
Authors: Hoffman Ashley J.
Published: August 2017

It appears that although Gloss, Carr, Reichman, Abdul-Nasiru, and Oestereich (2017) have considered many of the arenas where industrial and organizational (I-O) psychology intersects with impoverished or atypical populations, an oft-overlooked domain is that of I-O psychologists working in military settings. Arguably the largest humanitarian aid and development organization in the world, national militaries offer a rich opportunity for I-O psychologists to study not only the more “POSH” aspects of work, but also the difficulties surrounding employees who must address impoverished citizens, lack of resources, bureaucracy far removed from the front lines, discrimination, threats to safety, and all kinds of cross-cultural interactions. As such, this humanistic, humanitarian movement could do well from studying the ways military units have successfully and not-so-successfully approached a timely and difficult subject.
Handmaidens to Capitalism
Authors: Gerard Nathan
Published: August 2017

Although I wholeheartedly agree with Gloss, Carr, Reichman, Abdul-Nasiru, and Oestereich (2017) that a focus on those living in the deepest forms of poverty is sorely needed in industrial and organizational (I-O) psychology, the real issue is not so much who we serve buthowwe serve, and specifically how we continue to neglect the systemic failures of capitalism at the root of poverty. Ultimately, it is this global market system that determines not only the distribution of wealth but also how wealth is often achieved at the expense of another's poverty. Moreover, it is this system that constrains and undermines capabilities. For these reasons, I am skeptical of the authors’ proposal for mitigating the pervasive POSH bias in our field, especially because this bias seems premised on a pervasive neglect of capitalism the authors fail to fully address.
Validity Generalization as a Continuum
Authors: O'Boyle Ernest H.
Published: August 2017

Tett, Hundley, and Christiansen (2017) make a compelling case against meta-analyses that focus on mean effect sizes (e.g., rxy and ρ) while largely disregarding the precision of the estimate and true score variance. This is a reasonable point, but meta-analyses that myopically focus on mean effects at the expense of variance are not examples of validity generalization (VG)—they are examples of bad meta-analyses. VG and situational specificity (SS) fall along a continuum, and claims about generalization are confined to the research question and the type of generalization one is seeking (e.g., directional generalization, magnitude generalization). What Tett et al. (2017) successfully debunk is an extreme position along the generalization continuum significantly beyond the tenets of VG that few, if any, in the research community hold. The position they argue against is essentially a fixed-effects assumption, which runs counter to VG. Describing VG in this way is akin to describing SS as a position that completely ignores sampling error and treats every between-sample difference in effect size as true score variance. Both are strawmen that were knocked down decades ago (Schmidt et al., 1985). There is great value in debating whether a researcher should or can argue for generalization, but this debate must start with (a) an accurate portrayal of VG, (b) a discussion of different forms of generalization, and (c) the costs of trying to establish universal thresholds for VG.
Genre as Ideological Impulse: Reflections on Big Data and African Cultural Production
Authors: Brown Matthew H.
Published: August 2017

This article draws from “big-data” analysis of Netflix’s usage, which suggests that what spectators tend to like about films is inherently generic. Moreover, the process of liking serves as a metaphor, over and above the process of taking pleasure, for the ways in which spectators make texts meaningful rather than deriving meaning from them. The article then discusses some examples of African cultural production in order to focus attention on the category of analysis at stake in theorizing genre—a discussion that helps to distinguish genre’s thematic ontology from its material, formal, and stylistic features. Finally, at the intersection of spectator agency and theme, genre appears to be an “ideological impulse,” a way of relating to and encoding experience that begins with people and that they distribute over texts. This way of understanding genre, the article argues, may help scholars write more productively about the social nature of the concept.
Bereavement, multimorbidity and mortality: a population-based study using bereavement as an indicator of mental stress
Authors: Prior A. , Fenger-Grøn M. , Davydow D. S. , Olsen J. , Li J. , Guldin M.-B. , Vestergaard M.
Published: August 2017

Background

Mental stress is associated with higher mortality, but it remains controversial whether the association is causal or a consequence of a higher physical disease burden in those with a high mental stress load. Understanding causality is important when developing targeted interventions. We aimed to estimate the effect of mental stress on mortality by performing a ‘natural’ experiment using spousal bereavement as a disease-independent mental stressor.

Methods

We followed a population-based matched cohort, including all individuals in Denmark bereaved in 1997–2014, for 17 years. Prospectively recorded register data were obtained for civil and vital status, 39 mental and physical diagnoses, and socioeconomic factors.

Results

In total, 389 316 bereaved individuals were identified and 137 247 died during follow-up. Bereaved individuals had higher all-cause mortality than non-bereaved references in the entire study period. The relative mortality in the bereaved individuals was highest shortly after the loss (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR), first month: 2.50, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.37–2.63; aHR, 6–12 months: 1.38, 95% CI 1.34–1.42). The excess mortality rate associated with bereavement rose with increasing number of physical diseases (1.33v.7.00 excess death per 1000 person-months for individuals with 0v.⩾3 physical conditions during the first month) and was exacerbated by the presence of mental illness. The excess mortality among bereaved individuals was primarily due to death from natural causes.

Conclusions

Bereavement was associated with increased short-term and long-term mortality, even after adjustment for morbidities, which suggests that mental stress may play a causal role in excess mortality.
Trends in the burden of varicella in UK general practice
Authors: WALKER J. L. , ANDREWS N. J. , MATHUR R. , SMEETH L. , THOMAS S. L.
Published: August 2017

Childhood varicella vaccination has not yet been introduced in the UK. To inform decision-making about future vaccine programmes, data on the burden of varicella in general practice over a 10-year period (01/01/2005–31/12/2014) was calculated by age and ethnicity, using anonymised data from >8 million individuals in the Clinical Practice Research Datalink. Varicella consultations peaked at 20 603 in 2007, then decreased annually in all age groups to 11 243 in 2014. Each year, consultation rates were common among infants, were highest among 1–3 year olds (61·2 consultations/1000 person-years in 2007, 39·7/1000 person-years in 2014) and then fell with increasing age to <1·0/1000 person-years at ages ⩾20 years. Varicella acquisition appeared to be delayed in some ethnic groups, with lower consultation rates for children aged <3 years but increased rates for older children and adults aged ⩽40 years among those of black African, Afro-Caribbean, South Asian or other Asian ethnicity. Decreasing general practice consultation rates over time could reflect changes in healthcare utilisation, with patients seeking care in alternative settings such as Accident and Emergency Departments, although current data prevent full assessment of this. Availability of data on varicella diagnoses across all health settings would enable estimation of the total healthcare burden due to varicella and the cost-effectiveness of introducing varicella vaccination.
Persistent fifth aortic arch: the “great pretender” in clinical practice
Authors: Lloyd David F. A. , Ho S. Y. , Pushparajah Kuberan , Chakraborty Subhasis , Nasser Mohamed , Uemura Hideki , Franklin Rodney , Magee Alan G.
Published: August 2017

Persistence of the embryonic “fifth aortic arch” in postnatal life is a rare, enigmatic – and at times controversial – condition, with variable anatomical forms and physiological consequences. First described in humans over 40 years ago by Van Praagh, the condition was labelled the “great pretender” by Gerlis 25 years later, because of its apparent propensity to mimic anatomically similar structures. Despite many subsequent case reports citing the condition, the true developmental origin of these structures remains unresolved, and has been the subject of debate among embryologists for more than a century. A persistent fifth aortic arch has been defined as an extrapericardial structure, arising from the ascending aorta opposite or proximal to the brachiocephalic artery, and terminating in the dorsal aorta or pulmonary arteries via a persistently patent arterial duct. This description may therefore encompass various anatomical forms, such as a unilateral double-lumen aortic arch, an unrestrictive aortopulmonary shunt, or a critical vascular channel for either the systemic or pulmonary circulation. The physiological properties of these vessels, such as their response to prostaglandins, may also be unpredictable. In this article, we demonstrate a number of cases that fulfil the contemporary definition of “persistent fifth aortic arch” while acknowledging the embryological controversies associated with this term. We also outline the key diagnostic features, particularly with respect to the use of new cross-sectional imaging techniques.
Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and offspring body composition in young adulthood: the modifying role of offspring sex and birth order
Authors: Chaparro M Pia , Koupil Ilona , Byberg Liisa
Published: August 2017

Objective

To investigate if the association between maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and offspring’s body composition in late adolescence and young adulthood varies by offspring birth order and sex.

Design

Family cohort study, with data from registers, questionnaires and physical examinations. The main outcome under study was offspring body composition (percentage fat mass (%FM), percentage lean mass (%LM)) measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.

Setting

Uppsala, Sweden.

Subjects

Two hundred and twenty-six siblings (first-born v. second-born; average age 19 and 21 years) and their mothers.

Results

In multivariable linear regression models, maternal pre-pregnancy BMI was positively associated with daughter’s %FM, with stronger estimates for first-born (β=0·97, 95 % CI 0·14, 1·80) v. second-born daughters (β=0·64, 95 % CI 0·08, 1·20). Mother’s BMI before her first pregnancy was associated with her second-born daughter’s body composition (β=1·05, 95 % CI 0·31, 1·79 (%FM)) Similar results albeit in the opposite direction were observed for %LM. No significant associations were found between pre-pregnancy BMI and %FM (β=0·59, 95 % CI−0·27, 1·44 first-born; β=−0·13, 95 % CI−0·77, 0·52 second-born) or %LM (β=−0·54, 95 % CI−1·37, 0·28 first-born; β=0·11, 95 % CI−0·52, 0·74 second-born) for sons.

Conclusions

A higher pre-pregnancy BMI was associated with higher offspring %FM and lower offspring %LM in late adolescence and young adulthood, with stronger associations for first-born daughters. Preventing obesity at the start of women’s reproductive life might reduce the risk of obesity in her offspring, particularly for daughters.
Computing LPMLN using ASP and MLN solvers
Authors: LEE JOOHYUNG , TALSANIA SAMIDH , WANG YI
Published: August 2017

LPMLN is a recent addition to probabilistic logic programming languages. Its main idea is to overcome the rigid nature of the stable model semantics by assigning a weight to each rule in a way similar to Markov Logic is defined. We present two implementations of LPMLN, lpmln2asp and lpmln2mln. System lpmln2asp translates LPMLN programs into the input language of answer set solver clingo, and using weak constraints and stable model enumeration, it can compute most probable stable models as well as exact conditional and marginal probabilities. System lpmln2mln translates LPMLN programs into the input language of Markov Logic solvers, such as alchemy, tuffy, and rockit, and allows for performing approximate probabilistic inference on LPMLN programs. We also demonstrate the usefulness of the LPMLN systems for computing other languages, such as ProbLog and Pearl's Causal Models, that are shown to be translatable into LPMLN.
WILLIAM BATES AND HISCONCERTOS IN TEN PARTS, OP. 2: AN ENTERPRISING EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY COMPOSER AND AN UNRECOGNIZED ORCHESTRAL SUBGENRE EMPLOYING HORNS
Authors: TALBOT MICHAEL
Published: August 2017

William Bates, who died in 1778, was a prolific and, in his day, successful composer of stage music and concert songs performed in London in the 1760s and 1770s; but a scarcity of biographical information and uncertainties over his position vis-à-vis the new style introduced in the early 1760s by J. C. Bach and others have tended to disadvantage him in modern commentary. New facts about his life and background together with a recently discovered sale catalogue reveal him to have been a cultivated man of wide interests, with a sympathy for the ‘ancient’ style. His most substantial musical contribution, as regards its potential for modern revival, is a remarkable set of six concertos for strings with oboes, bassoons and horns (plus, in two concertos, trumpets and timpani) published in 1762. These concertos, related in style to contemporary overtures to stage works but making much greater use of concertante writing, form a high point in a peculiarly British tradition of concertos employing French horns. The cult of the horn in Georgian Britain that nourished this tradition is the subject of extended discussion.
Adapting as usual: integrative and segregative institutions shaping adaptation to climate change in local public administrations
Authors: ROGGERO MATTEO , THIEL ANDREAS
Published: August 2017

Local administrations play a key role in delivering adaptation to climate change. To do so, they need to address collective action. Based on transaction costs economics, this paper explores the role of so-called integrative and segregative institutions in the way local administrations adapt – whether their different functional branches respond to climate change collectively rather than independently. Through a comparative analysis of 19 climate-sensitive local administrations in Germany, the paper shows that variation in the way local administrations structure their internal coordination determines the way they approach climate adaptation. Under integrative institutions, local administrations adjust prior coordination structures to accommodate adaptation. Under segregative institutions, administrations move towards integrative institutions in order to adapt, provided they already ‘feel’ climate change.
Unpredictability of escape trajectory explains predator evasion ability and microhabitat preference of desert rodents
Authors: Moore Talia Y. , Cooper Kimberly L. , Biewener Andrew A. , Vasudevan Ramanarayan
Published: August 2017

Mechanistically linking movement behaviors and ecology is key to understanding the adaptive evolution of locomotion. Predator evasion, a behavior that enhances fitness, may depend upon short bursts or complex patterns of locomotion. However, such movements are poorly characterized by existing biomechanical metrics. We present methods based on the entropy measure of randomness from Information Theory to quantitatively characterize the unpredictability of non-steady-state locomotion. We then apply the method by examining sympatric rodent species whose escape trajectories differ in dimensionality. Unlike the speed-regulated gait use of cursorial animals to enhance locomotor economy, bipedal jerboa (family Dipodidae) gait transitions likely enhance maneuverability. In field-based observations, jerboa trajectories are significantly less predictable than those of quadrupedal rodents, likely increasing predator evasion ability. Consistent with this hypothesis, jerboas exhibit lower anxiety in open fields than quadrupedal rodents, a behavior that varies inversely with predator evasion ability. Our unpredictability metric expands the scope of quantitative biomechanical studies to include non-steady-state locomotion in a variety of evolutionary and ecologically significant contexts.
The endosomal neuronal proteins Nsg1/NEEP21 and Nsg2/P19 are itinerant, not resident proteins of dendritic endosomes
Authors: Yap Chan Choo , Digilio Laura , McMahon Lloyd , Winckler Bettina
Published: August 2017

Membrane traffic critically regulates most aspects of neuronal function. Neurons express many neuronal-specific proteins that regulate membrane traffic, including the poorly understood small transmembrane proteins neural-specific gene 1 and 2 (Nsg1/NEEP21 and Nsg2/P19). Nsg1 has been implicated in regulating endosomal recycling and sorting of several important neuronal receptors. Nsg2 is largely unstudied. At steady-state, Nsg1 and Nsg2 only partially co-localize with known endosomal compartments, and it was suggested that they mark a neuronal-specific endosome. Since Nsg1 localizes to and functions in the dendritic endosome, we set out to discover how Nsg1 and Nsg2 localization to endosomes is regulated in primary rat hippocampal neurons, using quadruple immunolocalization against endogenous proteins, live imaging of dendritic endosomes, and interference approaches against the endosomal regulators Rab5 and Rab7. In contrast to previous conclusions, we now show that Nsg1 and Nsg2 are not resident endosomal proteins, but traffic rapidly from the cell surface to lysosomes and have a half-life of less than two hours. Their partial co-localization with canonical endosomal markers thus reflects their rapid flux towards degradation rather than specific targeting to a singular compartment. These findings will require rethinking of how this class of endosomal proteins regulates trafficking of much longer-lived receptors.
Cytocompatible Anti-microbial Dressings of Syzygium cumini Cellulose Nanocrystals Decorated with Silver Nanoparticles Accelerate Acute and Diabetic Wound Healing
Authors: Singla Rubbel , Soni Sourabh , Patial Vikram , Kulurkar Pankaj Markand , Kumari Avnesh , S. Mahesh , Padwad Yogendra S. , Yadav Sudesh Kumar
Published: August 2017

The ever increasing incidences of non-healing skin wounds have paved way for many efforts on the convoluted process of wound healing. Unfortunately, the lack of relevance and success of modern wound dressings in healing of acute and diabetic wounds still remains a matter of huge concern. Here, an in situ three step approach was embraced for the development of nanocomposite (NCs) dressings by impregnating silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) onto a matrix of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) isolated from Syzygium cumini leaves using an environmental friendly approach. Topical application of NCs (ointments and strips) on acute and diabetic wounds of mice documented enhanced tissue repair (~99% wound closure) via decrease in inflammation; increase in angiogenesis, collagen deposition, and rate of neo-epithelialization that ultimately led to formation of aesthetically sound skin in lesser time than controls. Due to the synergistic action of CNCs (having high water uptake capacity) and AgNPs (anti-microbial agents), NCs tend to increase the expression of essential growth factors (FGF, PDGF and VEGF) and collagen while decreasing the pro-inflammatory factors (IL-6 and TNF-α) at the same time, thus accelerating healing. The results suggested the potential of these developed anti-microbial, cytocompatible and nanoporous NCs having optimized AgNPs concentration as ideal dressings for effective wound management.
2,4-D attenuates salinity-induced toxicity by mediating anatomical changes, antioxidant capacity and cation transporters in the roots of rice cultivars
Authors: Islam Faisal , Farooq Muhammad A. , Gill Rafaqat A. , Wang Jian , Yang Chong , Ali Basharat , Wang Guang-Xi , Zhou Weijun
Published: August 2017

Growth regulator herbicides are widely used in paddy fields to control weeds, however their role in conferring environmental stress tolerance in the crop plants are still elusive. In this study, the effects of recommended dose of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D)  on growth, oxidative damage, antioxidant defense, regulation of cation transporter genes and anatomical changes in the roots of rice cultivars XS 134 (salt resistant) and ZJ 88 (salt sensitive) were investigated under different levels of saline stress. Individual treatments of saline stress and 2,4-D application induced oxidative damage as evidenced by decreased root growth, enhanced ROS production, more membrane damage and Na+ accumulation in sensitive cultivar compared to the tolerant cultivar. Conversely, combined treatments of 2,4-D and saline stress significantly alleviated the growth inhibition and oxidative stress in roots of rice cultivars by modulating lignin and callose deposition, redox states of AsA, GSH, and related enzyme activities involved in the antioxidant defense system. The expression analysis of nine cation transporter genes showed altered and differential gene expression in salt-stressed roots of sensitive and resistant cultivars. Together, these results suggest that 2,4-D differentially regulates the Na+ and K+ levels, ROS production, antioxidant defense, anatomical changes and cation transporters/genes in roots of rice cultivars.
Targeted error-suppressed quantification of circulating tumor DNA using semi-degenerate barcoded adapters and biotinylated baits
Authors: Alcaide Miguel , Yu Stephen , Davidson Jordan , Albuquerque Marco , Bushell Kevin , Fornika Daniel , Arthur Sarah , Grande Bruno M. , McNamara Suzan , Tertre Mathilde Couetoux du , Batist Gerald , Huntsman David G. , Cavallone Luca , Aguilar Adriana , Basik Mark , Johnson Nathalie A. , Deyell Rebecca J. , Rassekh S. Rod , Morin Ryan D.
Published: August 2017

Ultrasensitive methods for rare allele detection are critical to leverage the full potential offered by liquid biopsies. Here, we describe a novel molecular barcoding method for the precise detection and quantification of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). The major benefits of our design include straightforward and cost-effective production of barcoded adapters to tag individual DNA molecules before PCR and sequencing, and better control over cross-contamination between experiments. We validated our approach in a cohort of 24 patients with a broad spectrum of cancer diagnoses by targeting and quantifying single-nucleotide variants (SNVs), indels and genomic rearrangements in plasma samples. By using personalized panels targeting a priori known mutations, we demonstrate comprehensive error-suppression capabilities for SNVs and detection thresholds for ctDNA below 0.1%. We also show that our semi-degenerate barcoded adapters hold promise for noninvasive genotyping in the absence of tumor biopsies and monitoring of minimal residual disease in longitudinal plasma samples. The benefits demonstrated here include broad applicability, flexibility, affordability and reproducibility in the research and clinical settings.
Comparative transcriptome analysis of the Pacific White Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) muscle reveals the molecular basis of residual feed intake
Authors: Dai Ping , Luan Sheng , Lu Xia , Luo Kun , Kong Jie
Published: August 2017

Feed efficiency is an economically important trait in genetic improvement programs ofL. vannamei. Residual feed intake (RFI), an ideal measure of feed efficiency, is the difference between observed feed intake and expected feed requirement predicted from maintenance and production. Exploring the molecular basis of RFI is essential to facilitate the genetic breeding of feed efficiency inL. vannamei. However, few studies have been reported in this aspect. In this study, we sequenced muscle transcriptomes of a high﻿-efficiency group, a low﻿-efficiency group and a control group originating from two families, and compared the gene expression patterns between each extreme group and the control group. A total of 383 differentially expressed genes were identified, most of which were involved in cell proliferation, growth and signaling, glucose homeostasis, energy and nutrients metabolism. Functional enrichment analysis of these genes revealed 13 significantly enriched biological pathways, including signaling pathways such as PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, AMPK signaling pathway and mTOR signaling pathway, as well as some important pathways such as ubiquitin mediated proteolysis, cell cycle, pentose phosphate pathway and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis. These genes and pathways provide initial insight into the molecular mechanisms driving the feed efficiency inL. vannamei.
Silver nanoparticle loaded collagen/chitosan scaffolds promote wound healing via regulating fibroblast migration and macrophage activation
Authors: You Chuangang , Li Qiong , Wang Xingang , Wu Pan , Ho Jon Kee , Jin Ronghua , Zhang Liping , Shao Huawei , Han Chunmao
Published: August 2017

Treatment of full-thickness skin defects poses significant clinical challenges including risk of infection and severe scaring. Silver nanoparticle (NAg), an effective antimicrobial agent, has provided a promising therapeutic method for burn wounds. However, the detailed mechanism remains unknown. Hence, we constructed a metallic nanosilver particles-collagen/chitosan hybrid scaffold (NAg-CCS) and investigated its potential effects on wound healing. In vitro scratch assay, immunofluorescence staining and antibacterial activity of the scaffold were all studied. In vivo NAg-CCS was applied in full-thickness skin defects in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and the therapeutic effects of treatment were evaluated. The results showed that NAg at a concentration of 10 ppm accelerated the migration of fibroblasts with an increase in expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). Furthermore, in vivo studies showed increased levels of pro-inflammatory and scar-related factors as well as α-SMA, while markers for macrophage activation were up-regulated. On day 60 post transplantation of ultra-thin skin graft, the regenerated skin by NAg-CCS had a similar structure to normal skin. In summary, we demonstrated that NAg-CCS was bactericidal, anti-inflammatory and promoted wound healing potentially by regulating fibroblast migration and macrophage activation, making it an ideal dermal substitute for wound regeneration.
Mitochondrial permeability transition pore: sensitivity to opening and mechanistic dependence on substrate availability
Authors: Briston Thomas , Roberts Malcolm , Lewis Sian , Powney Ben , M. Staddon James , Szabadkai Gyorgy , Duchen Michael R.
Published: August 2017

Mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake has a key role in cellular Ca2+ homeostasis. Excessive matrix Ca2+ concentrations, especially when coincident with oxidative stress, precipitate opening of an inner mitochondrial membrane, high-conductance channel: the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP). mPTP opening has been implicated as a final cell death pathway in numerous diseases and therefore understanding conditions dictating mPTP opening is crucial for developing targeted therapies. Here, we have investigated the impact of mitochondrial metabolic state on the probability and consequences of mPTP opening. Isolated mitochondria were energised using NADH- or FADH2-linked substrates. The functional consequences of Ca2+-induced mPTP opening were assessed by Ca2+ retention capacity, using fluorescence-based analysis, and simultaneous measurements of mitochondrial Ca2+ handling, membrane potential, respiratory rate and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Succinate-induced, membrane potential-dependent reverse electron transfer sensitised mitochondria to mPTP opening. mPTP-induced depolarisation under succinate subsequently inhibited reverse electron transfer. Complex I-driven respiration was reduced after mPTP opening but sustained in the presence of complex II-linked substrates, consistent with inhibition of complex I-supported respiration by leakage of matrix NADH. Additionally, ROS generated at complex III did not sensitise mitochondria to mPTP opening. Thus, cellular metabolic fluxes and metabolic environment dictate mitochondrial functional response to Ca2+ overload.
Reconstructing complex network for characterizing the time-varying causality evolution behavior of multivariate time series
Authors: Jiang Meihui , Gao Xiangyun , An Haizhong , Li Huajiao , Sun Bowen
Published: August 2017

In order to explore the characteristics of the evolution behavior of the time-varying relationships between multivariate time series, this paper proposes an algorithm to transfer this evolution process to a complex network. We take the causality patterns as nodes and the succeeding sequence relations between patterns as edges. We used four time series as sample data. The results of the analysis reveal some statistical evidences that the causalities between time series is in a dynamic process. It implicates that stationary long-term causalities are not suitable for some special situations. Some short-term causalities that our model recognized can be referenced to the dynamic adjustment of the decisions. The results also show that weighted degree of the nodes obeys power law distribution. This implies that a few types of causality patterns play a major role in the process of the transition and that international crude oil market is statistically significantly not random. The clustering effect appears in the transition process and different clusters have different transition characteristics which provide probability information for predicting the evolution of the causality. The approach presents a potential to analyze multivariate time series and provides important information for investors and decision makers.
Remarkable plasticity of Na+, K+-ATPase, Ca2+-ATPase and SERCA contributes to muscle disuse atrophy resistance in hibernating Daurian ground squirrels
Authors: Guo Quanling , Mi Xin , Sun Xiaoyong , Li Xiaoyu , Fu Weiwei , Xu Shenhui , Wang Qi , Arfat Yasir , Wang Huiping , Chang Hui , Gao Yunfang
Published: August 2017

We investigated cytosolic calcium (Ca2+) and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ regulation in skeletal muscle fibers of hibernating Daurian ground squirrels (Spermophilus dauricus), non-hibernating hindlimb-unloaded (HLU) squirrels, and HLU rats to clarify the molecular mechanisms involved in preventing muscle atrophy in hibernators. The Na+, K+-ATPase and Ca2+-ATPase activities in the soleus muscle (SOL) of squirrels were maintained in hibernation, decreased during interbout arousal (IB-A), and increased to autumn/pre-hibernation (AUT/Pre-H) levels in torpor after interbout arousal (Post-IBA), whereas activities in the extensor digitorum longus muscle (EDL) were stable during hibernation, but increased during post-hibernation (Post-H). Activities increased in the SOL of HLU rats, but were stable in HLU squirrels. Sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) activity in the SOL decreased in IB-A squirrels, but returned to AUT/Pre-H levels in the Post-IBA group; no significant changes were found in the EDL. SERCA activity increased in the EDL of HLU squirrels and SOL of HLU rats. Compared with AUT/Pre-H, SERCA type 2 protein expression increased in the SOL and EDL of IB-A and Post-IBA squirrels, but increased in the SOL only in HLU animals. We also describe the protein kinase A changes in this paper. Thus, hibernating ground squirrels displayed remarkable Na+, K+-ATPase, Ca2+-ATPase, and SERCA plasticity.
Observation of transverse coherent backscattering in disordered photonic structures
Authors: Boguslawski Martin , Brake Sebastian , Leykam Daniel , Desyatnikov Anton S. , Denz Cornelia
Published: August 2017

Coherent backscattering, also referred to as weak localization, is an exciting multidisciplinary phenomenon that appears in disordered systems of multiple coherent-wave scattering. Providing proper scattering conditions in (2 + 1) dimensional randomized photonic systems, we optically implement, observe, and analyse transverse coherent backscattering. Ensembles of disordered wave-guide structures are prepared by random-intensity nondiffracting writing entities according to the beam’s intensity distribution. The structure size of the induced potentials naturally define an effective mobility edge, and thus, we identify a crucial impact of the plane probe waves’ spatial frequency on the strength and shape of the spectral coherent backscattering signal. We additionally observe transverse elastic scattering as a precursor of weak localization. To testify the coherent character as a fundamental condition for coherent backscattering, we propose a scheme to continuously reduce the spatial coherence of the probe beam which directly reduces the degree of localization and coherent backscattering. With our experiments, we propose a testing platform that allows comprehensive examination of coherent backscattering with a broad set of preparation parameters and under uncritical laboratory conditions. Our results are directly transferable to more complex systems of disordered wave potentials, not being restricted to photonic systems.
Effectiveness of Glenohumeral Joint Dilatation for Treatment of Frozen Shoulder: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Wu Wei-Ting , Chang Ke-Vin , Han Der-Sheng , Chang Chung-Hsun , Yang Fu-Sui , Lin Chih-Peng
Published: August 2017

The objective was to explore the effectiveness of glenohumeral joint distension for the treatment of frozen shoulder. We searched electronic data sources including PubMed, Scopus, and Embase from the earliest records available to February 2017. Eleven randomized controlled trials including at least one pair of comparisons between capsular distension and a reference treatment were included, comprising 747 participants. Patients’ characteristics, details of reference treatments, aspects of capsular distension therapy, and outcome measurement were evaluated at three points in time: baseline, early following intervention, and at the trial’s end. The primary and secondary outcomes were the between-group standardized mean differences of changes in shoulder function and range of motion, respectively. Regarding the long-term primary outcome, the superiority of capsular distension to reference treatments was not identified. One secondary outcome (external rotation limitation) showed a probable early positive response to capsular distension when compared to intra-articular corticosteroid injection. Aspects of approaches, imaging guiding techniques and doses of distension were not found to modify treatment effectiveness. In conclusion, distension of the glenohumeral joint provides a similar long-term efficacy to all reference treatments. A single dose of a corticosteroid-contained regimen introduced through the ultrasound-guided posterior approach is a preferable practice of capsular distension for the management of frozen shoulder.
Inducing fluorescence of uranyl acetate as a dual-purpose contrast agent for correlative light-electron microscopy with nanometre precision
Authors: Tuijtel Maarten W. , Mulder Aat A. , Posthuma Clara C. , van der Hoeven Barbara , Koster Abraham J. , Bárcena Montserrat , Faas Frank G. A. , Sharp Thomas H.
Published: August 2017

Correlative light-electron microscopy (CLEM) combines the high spatial resolution of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with the capability of fluorescence light microscopy (FLM) to locate rare or transient cellular events within a large field of view. CLEM is therefore a powerful technique to study cellular processes. Aligning images derived from both imaging modalities is a prerequisite to correlate the two microscopy data sets, and poor alignment can limit interpretability of the data. Here, we describe how uranyl acetate, a commonly-used contrast agent for TEM, can be induced to fluoresce brightly at cryogenic temperatures (−195 °C) and imaged by cryoFLM using standard filter sets. This dual-purpose contrast agent can be used as a general tool for CLEM, whereby the equivalent staining allows direct correlation between fluorescence and TEM images. We demonstrate the potential of this approach by performing multi-colour CLEM of cells containing equine arteritis virus proteins tagged with either green- or red-fluorescent protein, and achieve high-precision localization of virus-induced intracellular membrane modifications. Using uranyl acetate as a dual-purpose contrast agent, we achieve an image alignment precision of ~30 nm, twice as accurate as when using fiducial beads, which will be essential for combining TEM with the evolving field of super-resolution light microscopy.
Growth, structure, and luminescence properties of novel silica nanowires and interconnected nanorings
Authors: Min Xin , Fang Minghao , Liu Haitao , Liu Yan’gai , Wu Xiaowen , Huang Zhaohui
Published: August 2017

Novel silica nanowires and interconnected nanorings were firstly synthesized on a graphite paper by typical thermal catalytic chemical vapor deposition method, using silicon and carbon black powders as raw materials. The field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy were used to investigate the composition and structure characterization, which indicates that the silica nanowires and interconnected nanorings were amorphous. The growth of the as-prepared silica nanowires and interconnected nanorings was related to the vapor-liquid-solid mechanism, but the nanowire-ring structure may be due to the polycentric nucleation and periodic stable growth with gradual direction changes. The room temperature photoluminescence emission spectrum showed that the silica nanostructures emitted strong blue light at 460 nm, resulting from the combination of neutral oxygen vacancy (≡Si-Si≡) and selftrapped excitons. The as-synthesized novel silica nanowires and interconnected nanorings could be a potential candidate for applications in future light-emitting diodes and optoelectronic nanodevices.
Combination of optical coherence tomography and near infrared spectroscopy enhances determination of articular cartilage composition and structure
Authors: Sarin Jaakko K. , Rieppo Lassi , Brommer Harold , Afara Isaac O. , Saarakkala Simo , Töyräs Juha
Published: August 2017

Conventional arthroscopic evaluation of articular cartilage is subjective and poorly reproducible. Therefore, implementation of quantitative diagnostic techniques, such as near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT), is essential. Locations (n = 44) with various cartilage conditions were selected from mature equine fetlock joints (n = 5). These locations and their surroundings were measured with NIRS and OCT (n = 530). As a reference, cartilage proteoglycan (PG) and collagen contents, and collagen network organization were determined using quantitative microscopy. Additionally, lesion severity visualized in OCT images was graded with an automatic algorithm according to International Cartilage Research Society (ICRS) scoring system. Artificial neural network with variable selection was then employed to predict cartilage composition in the superficial and deep zones from NIRS data, and the performance of two models, generalized (including all samples) and condition-specific models (based on ICRS-grades), was compared. Spectral data correlated significantly (p < 0.002) with PG and collagen contents, and collagen orientation in the superficial and deep zones. The combination of NIRS and OCT provided the most reliable outcome, with condition-specific models having lower prediction errors (9.2%) compared to generalized models (10.4%). Therefore, the results highlight the potential of combining both modalities for comprehensive evaluation of cartilage during arthroscopy.
Swapping of transmembrane domains in the epithelial calcium channel TRPV6
Authors: Singh Appu K. , Saotome Kei , Sobolevsky Alexander I.
Published: August 2017

Tetrameric ion channels have either swapped or non-swapped arrangements of the S1–S4 and pore domains. Here we show that mutations in the transmembrane domain of TRPV6 can result in conversion from a domain-swapped to non-swapped fold. These results reveal structural determinants of domain swapping and raise the possibility that a single ion channel subtype can fold into either arrangement in vivo, affecting its function in normal or disease states.
SPI-2/CrmA inhibits IFN-β induction by targeting TBK1/IKKε
Authors: Qin Yue , Li Mi , Zhou Sheng-Long , Yin Wei , Bian Zhuan , Shu Hong-Bing
Published: August 2017

Viruses modulate the host immune system to evade host antiviral responses. The poxvirus proteins serine proteinase inhibitor 2 (SPI-2) and cytokine response modifier A (CrmA) are involved in multiple poxvirus evasion strategies. SPI-2 and CrmA target caspase-1 to prevent apoptosis and cytokine activation. Here, we identified SPI-2 and CrmA as negative regulators of virus-triggered induction of IFN-β. Ectopic expression of SPI-2 or CrmA inhibited virus-triggered induction of IFN-β and its downstream genes. Consistently, knockdown of SPI-2 by RNAi potentiated VACV-induced transcription of antiviral genes. Further studies revealed that SPI-2 and CrmA associated with TBK1 and IKKε to disrupt the MITA-TBK1/IKKε-IRF3 complex. These findings reveal a novel mechanism of SPI-2/CrmA-mediated poxvirus immune evasion.