bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness of a trauma‐focused group intervention for young refugees: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Pfeiffer Elisa , Sachser Cedric , Rohlmann Friederike , Goldbeck Lutz
Published: April 2018

Background

As access to evidence‐based treatments for young refugees with posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) is limited, we developed the trauma‐focused group intervention Mein Weg to be delivered by trained social workers. A recently published pilot study delivered preliminary evidence of the intervention with regard to symptom reduction and its feasibility. The aim of this study was, therefore, to determine whether the intervention, in addition to usual care (UC), is more effective in reducing PTSS (primary outcome) compared to UC alone.

Methods

A parallel group randomized controlled trial was conducted in seven German child and adolescent welfare agencies. Participants were randomly assigned to either six sessions Mein Weg (n = 50; Mage = 17.00, 94% male) or UC (n = 49; Mage = 16.92, 92% male). Mixed effect models, with fixed effects of group and time as well as their interaction, were performed on the relevant outcome measures. This trial was registered in the German Clinical Trials Registry (#DRKS00010915, https://www.drks.de/drks_web/).

Results

Intention‐to‐treat analyses showed that Mein Weg was significantly superior to UC regarding symptom improvement of self‐reported PTSS (Mein Weg: d = .61, UC: d = .15) and depression (Mein Weg: d = .63, UC: d = −.06), but not regarding caregiver‐reported symptoms and self‐reported dysfunctional posttraumatic cognitions.

Conclusions

Mein Weg is effective for young refugees according to self‐reports and can be viewed as a valuable component in a stepped care approach for this vulnerable population. The findings need to be replicated with independent clinical assessments.
Primary visual cortex in neandertals as revealed from the occipital remains from the El Sidrón site, with emphasis on the newSD‐2300 specimen
Authors: García‐Tabernero Antonio , Peña‐Melián Angel , Rosas Antonio
Published: April 2018

The comparative analysis of the endocranial surface of the El Sidrón new occipital fragmentSD‐2300 shows meaningful differences in the configuration of the occipital pole region between neandertals and anatomically modern humans (AMH). The particular asymmetries found in neandertals in the venous sinus drainage and the petalial patterns are recognizable in this new specimen as well. In addition, the supra‐ and infracalcarine fossae of the occipital pole region appear to deviate obliquely from the mid‐line when compared withsapiens. Due to the excellent preservation conditions ofSD‐2300, the main sulci and gyri of the occipital pole area have been identified, this degree of detail being uncommon in a fossil specimen; in general, the gyrification pattern is similar toAMH, but with some notable differences. Particularly interesting is the description of the lunate and the calcarine sulci. The lunate sulcus is located close to the occipital pole, in a similar posterior position to in otherHomospecies. Regarding the calcarine sulcus, there are significant differences in the primary visual cortex, with the V1 area, or Brodmann area 17, being larger inHomo neanderthalensisthan inHomo sapiens. This may lead to greater visual acuity in neandertals than insapiens.
Some Leaders Come from Nowhere: Their Success Is Uneven
Authors: Eagly Alice H.
Published: April 2018

Sometimes leaders seem to come from nowhere—that is, from a social group or situation has seldom produced leaders. Their emergence generally requires special conditions and unusual competence. Once occupying such a role, unexpected leaders have to meet challenges that are more difficult than those faced by expected leaders. Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany, provides an example of a political leader who, against all odds, has achieved high office and extraordinary success. Both role congruity theory and social identity theory explicate the processes that enable such leaders to emerge and sometimes be successful despite their origins in a marginal status or unusual social location. When unexpected leaders are successful, they serve as symbolic vanguards of social change and sometimes produce wider social change in groups, organizations, or nations.
Observation about phosphorus and protein supply in cats and dogs prior to the diagnosis of chronic kidney disease
Authors: Böswald L. F. , Kienzle E. , Dobenecker B.
Published: April 2018

There is evidence that nutritional phosphorus (P) excess may be a risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD) in humans and pets (Advances in Nutrition: An International Review Journal (2014), 5, 104;The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, (2013), 98, 6;Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, (2017); The source of phosphorus influences serum PTH, apparent digestibility and blood levels of calcium and phosphorus in dogs fed high phosphorus diets with balanced Ca/P ratio.Proc. Waltham International Nutritional Sciences Symposium, USA;Clinical aspects of natural and added phosphorus in foods, 2017,Springer Science+Business, Media). A retrospective study was conducted in order to gather data about P and protein intake in the feeding history of dogs and cats prior to the diagnosis ofCKD. Cases of 75 dogs and 16 cats withCKDwith comprehensive nutritional history presented to the nutrition consultation service of the Chair of Animal Nutrition and Dietetics, Ludwig‐Maximilians‐University Munich, between October 2009 and March 2016, were evaluated. Cases of age‐matched dogs (n = 57) and cats (n = 18) without diagnosed or suspectedCKDserved as controls. The most frequent type of diet used in the four groups (catsCKD, cats control, dogsCKDand dogs control) was home‐made. In all groups, P and protein supply was in excess (>150%) of the recommended daily allowances (RDA;Nutrient requirements of dogs and cats(2006), National Research Council, National Academy Press). Between the dog groups, no differences regarding P and protein intake existed. The P and protein intake relative to theRDAwas altogether higher in cats than in dogs. Cats withCKDshowed significantly higher P and protein intakes prior to diagnosis than the control cats (170 ± 36 vs. 123 ± 34 mg P/kgBW0.67;p < .05). These observations call for further investigations into the long‐term effects of P excess.
Sleep disorders in spinocerebellar ataxia type 10
Authors: London Ester , Camargo Carlos H. F. , Zanatta Alessandra , Crippa Ana C. , Raskin Salmo , Munhoz Renato P. , Ashizawa Tetsuo , Teive Hélio A. G.
Published: April 2018

As sleep disturbances have been reported in spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs), including types SCA1, SCA2, SCA3, SCA6 and SCA13, identification and management of these disturbances can help minimise their impact on SCA patients' overall body functions and quality of life. To our knowledge, there are no studies that investigate sleep disturbances in SCA10. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess sleep disturbances in patients with SCA10. Twenty‐three SCA10 patients and 23 healthy controls were recruited. Patients were evaluated in terms of their demographic and clinical data, including disease severity (Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia, SARA) and excessive daytime sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale, ESS), and underwent polysomnography. SCA10 patients had longer rapid eye movement (REM) sleep (p = .04) and more REM arousals than controls (p< .0001). There was a correlation of REM sleep onset with the age of onset of symptoms (r = .459), and with disease duration (r = −.4305). There also was correlation between the respiratory disturbance index (RDI) and SARA (r = −.4013), and a strong indirect correlation between arousal index and age at onset of symptoms (r = −.5756). In conclusion, SCA10 patients had sleep abnormalities that included more REM arousals and higher RDI than controls. Our SCA10 patients had sleep disorders related to shorter disease duration and lower severity of ataxia, in a pattern similar to that of other neurodegenerative diseases.
Systemic exertion intolerance disease/chronic fatigue syndrome is common in sleep centre patients with hypersomnolence: A retrospective pilot study
Authors: Maness Caroline , Saini Prabhjyot , Bliwise Donald L. , Olvera Victoria , Rye David B. , Trotti Lynn M.
Published: April 2018

Symptoms of the central disorders of hypersomnolence extend beyond excessive daytime sleepiness to include non‐restorative sleep, fatigue and cognitive dysfunction. They share much in common with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, recently renamed systemic exertion intolerance disease, whose additional features include post‐exertional malaise and orthostatic intolerance. We sought to determine the frequency and correlates of systemic exertion intolerance disease in a hypersomnolent population. One‐hundred and eighty‐seven hypersomnolent patients completed questionnaires regarding sleepiness and fatigue; questionnaires and clinical records were used to assess for systemic exertion intolerance disease. Sleep studies, hypocretin and cataplexy were additionally used to assign diagnoses of hypersomnolence disorders or sleep apnea. Included diagnoses were idiopathic hypersomnia (n = 63), narcolepsy type 2 (n = 25), persistent sleepiness after obstructive sleep apnea treatment (n = 25), short habitual sleep duration (n = 41), and sleepiness with normal sleep study (n = 33). Twenty‐one percent met systemic exertion intolerance disease criteria, and the frequency of systemic exertion intolerance disease was not different across sleep diagnoses (p = .37). Patients with systemic exertion intolerance disease were no different from those without this diagnosis by gender, age, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, depressive symptoms, or sleep study parameters. The whole cohort reported substantial fatigue on questionnaires, but the systemic exertion intolerance disease group exhibited more profound fatigue and was less likely to respond to traditional wake‐promoting agents (88.6% versus 67.7%, p = .01). Systemic exertion intolerance disease appears to be a common co‐morbidity in patients with hypersomnolence, which is not specific to hypersomnolence subtype but may portend a poorer prognosis for treatment response.
The contribution of scenic views of, and proximity to, lakes and reservoirs to property values
Authors: Nicholls Sarah , Crompton John L.
Published: April 2018

Water is arguably the world's most critical resource, although its aesthetic and recreational functions typically receive less attention than its consumptive uses. Views of, and access to, attractive water resources are capitalized into property prices in the form of sales price and rental premiums, measured since the 1970s with the hedonic pricing technique. This study synthesizes the evidence to date with respect to the value of lakes and reservoirs as aesthetic and recreational resources to nearby residents. Findings are reported relating to the effects of scenic views of, and proximity, to reservoirs and large artificial lakes, the North American Great Lakes, and other smaller inland lakes. Of the 44 distinct reviewed studies that included tests of statistical significance, only two failed to produce any significant findings in the directions anticipated (i.e., a positive impact of water frontage or view and/or negative impact of increasing distance). Improvements in methodological approaches—from early studies employing anecdotal observation and visual comparison to more recent investigations employing advanced geographical information systems and rigorous spatially explicit regression techniques—are traced. The potential implications of climate variability and changes for property values are addressed, as is the growing movement towards the adoption of green infrastructure. The need to consider changes to aesthetic and recreational values, in addition to outcomes for more traditional consumptive uses during cost–benefit analyses associated with proposed (re)developments, is emphasized.
Evolutionary and ecological traps for brown bears Ursus arctos in human‐modified landscapes
Authors: Penteriani Vincenzo , Delgado María Del Mar , Krofel Miha , Jerina Klemen , Ordiz Andrés , Dalerum Fredrik , Zarzo‐Arias Alejandra , Bombieri Giulia
Published: April 2018

Evolutionary traps, and their derivative, ecological traps, occur when animals make maladaptive decisions based on seemingly reliable environmental cues, and are important mechanistic explanations for declines in animal populations.

Despite the interest in large carnivore conservation in human‐modified landscapes, the emergence of traps and their potential effects on the conservation of large carnivore populations has frequently been overlooked.

The brown bear Ursus arctos typifies the challenges facing large carnivore conservation and recent research has reported that this species can show maladaptive behaviours in human‐modified landscapes. Here we review, describe and discuss scenarios recognised as evolutionary or ecological traps for brown bears, and propose possible trap scenarios and mechanisms that have the potential to affect the dynamics and viability of brown bear populations.

Six potential trap scenarios have been detected for brown bears in human‐modified landscapes: 1) food resources close to human settlements; 2) agricultural landscapes; 3) roads; 4) artificial feeding sites; 5) hunting by humans; and 6) other human activities. Because these traps are likely to be of contrasting relevance for different demographic segments of bear populations, we highlight the importance of evaluations of the relative demographic consequences of different trap types for wildlife management. We also suggest that traps may be behind the decreases in brown bear and other large carnivore populations in human‐modified landscapes.
R(NA)‐tistic expression: The art of matching unknown mRNA and proteins to environmental response in ecological genomics
Authors: Stanford Brenna C. M. , Rogers Sean M.
Published: April 2018

A challenge of modern ecological genomics is reducing uncertainty surrounding the biological inferences from gene expression. For example, approximately 40% of proteins in eukaryotic model organisms do not contain characterized domains (Gollery et al., 2006). Even proteins of “known function” are typically only characterized in the sense that they have a domain function, but provide no information on their biological role within the cell (e.g., activation, pathways or targets). Yet, as molecular ecologists, a common objective is to elucidate how organisms respond to environmental variation through changes in gene expression, including homoeostatic, acclimatory, and adaptive responses to environmental stressors, a challenge increased by poor protein ecological annotation. Now, in this issue of Molecular Ecology, Orsini et al. (2017) use the quintessential Daphnia system to characterize the differences in stress response in three genotypic backgrounds to common biotic and abiotic stressors found in nature. Using an optimized weighted gene co‐expression network analysis, they link genes of unknown function to genes that they co‐activate with and enrich for gene ontology. Determining the functional networks of genes that behave in genotype‐ and treatment‐specific responses gives insight into possible pathways and respective ecological roles, helping pave the way for the next generation of transcriptomic studies in molecular ecology.
Interferon‐alpha induced psoriasis in a teenager
Authors: Mendieta Karen L. , Irfan Mahwish , Fernandez Faith Esteban
Published: April 2018

Exacerbation of preexisting and development of new‐onset psoriasis have been reported secondary to interferon treatment and, more recently, with newer biologic agents. We report a case of interferon‐induced psoriasis in an adolescent with hepatitis C, a rarely reported medication reaction in children. This case highlights the importance of reviewing a patient's medication list when evaluating cutaneous disorders.
Fatal hyperammonemia associated with disseminated Serratia marcescens infection in a pediatric liver transplant recipient
Authors: Mouat Stephen , Bishop Jonathan , Glamuzina Emma , Chin Simon , Best Emma J. , Evans Helen M.
Published: April 2018

Hyperammonemia is a rare and important complication post‐liver transplantation. We review a case of a 5‐month‐old boy with biliary atresia who received a split liver transplant following a variceal bleed. The transplant was complicated by recurrent portal vein thrombosis. Colonized with Serratia marcescens pretransplant, he developed disseminated infection associated with very high levels of ammonia that led to his death. It is important to be aware of serum ammonia levels in patients with portal vein thrombosis, particularly in the setting of gastrointestinal bleeding and sepsis.
Spinoza's Rethinking of Activity: From the Short Treatise to the Ethics
Authors: Sangiacomo Andrea , Nachtomy Ohad
Published: April 2018

This paper argues that God's immanent causation and Spinoza's account of activity as adequate causation (of finite modes) do not always go together in Spinoza's thought. We show that there is good reason to doubt that this is the case in Spinoza's early Short Treatise on God, Man and His Well‐being. In the Short Treatise, Spinoza defends an account of God's immanent causation without fully endorsing the account of activity as adequate causation that he will later introduce in the Ethics (E3def2). We turn to an examination of how God's immanent causation relates to the activity of finite things in the Ethics. We consider two ways to think about the link between God, seen as immanent cause, and the activity of finite things: namely, in terms of entailment and in terms of production. We argue that the productive model is most promising for understanding the way in which the activity of finite things and God's immanent causality are connected in Spinoza's (mature) philosophy
Algunas consideraciones sobre la experiencia estética: ¿ideología estética o posibilidad crítica?
Authors: Garnica Naím
Published: April 2018

El artículo intenta reconstruir de qué modo la experiencia estética se habría convertido en una categoría central de la estética contemporánea. A partir del aporte de distintos teóricos y filósofos del arte, pretendemos acercarnos a las potencialidades y límites de esta categoría, prestando atención tanto a los planteos que la defienden, como también a aquellos que la acusan de constituirse en una nueva forma ideológica. Al parecer, el concepto de obra de arte se ha vuelto obsoleto y la comprensión de los procesos del arte actual se ha canalizado mediante el concepto de experiencia estética.

 
Los ángeles y el poder celestial: el racionalismo de Maimónides versus el misticismo y la duplicidad del trono
Authors: Taub Emmanuel
Published: April 2018

La figura de los ángeles está presente en la tradición bíblica judía, así como en la literatura judía de los textos intertestamentarios y, aunque se suele especular con la falta de una “angeología judía”, la figura del ángel juega un papel preponderante en la administración del cielo y de la tierra. Partiendo de la caracterización de la figura de los ángeles para Maimónides, en este trabajo se busca entender el porqué del intento de racionalización de la angeología por parte del gran filósofo y sus implicancias teológico-políticas. En especial, en lo concerniente al rol de los ángeles en la admi- nistración del universo y en la relación con los hombres, así como también en su disputa con el poder celestial.

 

 
What Determines User-Generated Content Creation of College Football? A Big-Data Analysis of Structural Influences
Authors: Yan Grace , Steller Dustin , Watanabe Nicholas M. , Popp Nels
Published: April 2018

The question of how and why users engage in sport digital communication endures. In this study, structuration theory is employed to examine how social-media users exercise preferences in the creation of content as they respond to a variety of macrolevel factors pertaining to college football—the type of game, team strength, conference membership, market characteristics, etc. Through hierarchical regression analysis, the results indicate that the presence and timing of college football games, as well as team strength and game outcome, are significant determinants for the patterns of online content generation. As such, the study advances the theoretical, methodological, and managerial inquiry of user-generated content on sport social-media platforms through a Big Data analytics approach.
University is quick to disclose misconduct
Authors: McCook Alison ,   Retraction Watch
Published: April 2018

The Ohio State University wins plaudits for unusually rapid transparency.
CRMP2-binding compound, edonerpic maleate, accelerates motor function recovery from brain damage
Authors: Abe Hiroki , Jitsuki Susumu , Nakajima Waki , Murata Yumi , Jitsuki-Takahashi Aoi , Katsuno Yuki , Tada Hirobumi , Sano Akane , Suyama Kumiko , Mochizuki Nobuyuki , Komori Takashi , Masuyama Hitoshi , Okuda Tomohiro , Goshima Yoshio , Higo Noriyuki , Takahashi Takuya
Published: April 2018

A small molecule for stroke therapy

Better therapies for motor impairments after stroke are greatly needed. In mice and nonhuman primates, Abe
et al.
found that edonerpic maleate enhanced synaptic plasticity and functional recovery after a traumatic insult to the brain (see the Perspective by Rumpel). This recovery of motor function was accompanied by functional reorganization of the cortex.

Science
, this issue p.
50
; see also p.
30
LRRK2 kinase in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Alessi Dario R. , Sammler Esther
Published: April 2018

Defects in vesicular trafficking and immune responses are found in Parkinson's disease
Microbial Dynamics during Industrial Rearing, Processing, and Storage of Tropical House Crickets (Gryllodes sigillatus) for Human Consumption
Authors: Vandeweyer Dries , Wynants Enya , Crauwels Sam , Verreth Christel , Viaene Nikolaas , Claes Johan , Lievens Bart , Van Campenhout Leen
Published: April 2018

In this study, the microbiota during industrial rearing, processing, and storage of the edible tropical house cricket,Gryllodessigillatus, was investigated. To this end, we analyzed samples from the cricket feed, obtained before feeding as well as from the cages, and from the crickets during rearing, after harvest, and after processing into frozen, oven-dried, and smoked and oven-dried (smoked/dried) end products. Although the feed contained lower microbial numbers than the crickets, both were dominated by the same species-level operational taxonomic units, as determined by Illumina MiSeq sequencing. They corresponded, among others, to members ofPorphyromonadaceae,Fusobacterium,Parabacteroides, andErwinia. The harvested crickets contained high microbial numbers, but none of the investigated food pathogensSalmonellaspp.,Listeria monocytogenes,Bacillus cereus, or coagulase-positive staphylococci. However, some possible mycotoxin-producing fungi were isolated from the crickets. A postharvest heat treatment, shortly boiling the crickets, reduced microbial numbers, but an endospore load of 2.4 log CFU/g remained. After processing, an increase in microbial counts was observed for the dried and smoked/dried crickets. Additionally, in the smoked/dried crickets, a high abundance of aBacillussp. was observed. Considering the possible occurrence of food-pathogenic species from this genus, it is advised to apply a heat treatment which is sufficient to eliminate spores. Nevertheless, the microbial numbers remained constant over a 6-month storage period, whether frozen (frozen end product) or at ambient temperature (oven-dried and smoked/dried end products).

IMPORTANCEThe need for sustainable protein sources has led to the emergence of a new food sector, producing and processing edible insects into foods. However, insight into the microbial quality of this new food and into the microbial dynamics during rearing, processing, and storage of edible insects is still limited. Samples monitored for their microbiota were obtained in this study from an industrial rearing and processing cycle. The results lead first to the identification of process steps which are critical for microbial food safety. Second, they can be used in the construction of a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) plan and of a Novel Food dossier, which is required in Europe for edible insects. Finally, they confirm the shelf-life period which was determined by the rearer.
Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Vif and Human APOBEC3B Interactions Resemble Those between HIV-1 Vif and Human APOBEC3G
Authors: Wang Jiayi , Shaban Nadine M. , Land Allison M. , Brown William L. , Harris Reuben S.
Published: April 2018

Several members of the APOBEC3 DNA cytosine deaminase family can potently inhibit Vif-deficient human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) by catalyzing cytosine deamination in viral cDNA and impeding reverse transcription. HIV-1 counteracts restriction with the virally encoded Vif protein, which targets relevant APOBEC3 proteins for proteasomal degradation. HIV-1 Vif is optimized for degrading the restrictive human APOBEC3 repertoire, and, in general, lentiviral Vif proteins specifically target the restricting APOBEC3 enzymes of each host species. However, simian immunodeficiency virus SIV
mac239
Vif elicits a curiously wide range of APOBEC3 degradation capabilities that include degradation of several human APOBEC3s and even human APOBEC3B, a non-HIV-1-restricting APOBEC3 enzyme. To better understand the molecular determinants of the interaction between SIV
mac239
Vif and human APOBEC3B, we analyzed an extensive series of mutants. We found that SIV
mac239
Vif interacts with the N-terminal domain of human APOBEC3B and, interestingly, that this occurs within a structural region homologous to the HIV-1 Vif interaction surface of human APOBEC3G. An alanine scan of SIV
mac239
Vif revealed several residues required for human APOBEC3B degradation activity. These residues overlap HIV-1 Vif surface residues that interact with human APOBEC3G and are distinct from those that engage APOBEC3F or APOBEC3H. Overall, these studies indicate that the molecular determinants of the functional interaction between human APOBEC3B and SIV
mac239
Vif resemble those between human APOBEC3G and HIV-1 Vif. These studies contribute to the growing knowledge of the APOBEC-Vif interaction and may help guide future efforts to disrupt this interaction as an antiviral therapy or exploit the interaction as a novel strategy to inhibit APOBEC3B-dependent tumor evolution.

IMPORTANCE
Primate APOBEC3 proteins provide innate immunity against retroviruses such as HIV and SIV. HIV-1, the primary cause of AIDS, utilizes its Vif protein to specifically counteract restrictive human APOBEC3 enzymes. SIV
mac239
Vif exhibits a much wider range of anti-APOBEC3 activities that includes several rhesus macaque enzymes and extends to multiple proteins in the human APOBEC3 repertoire, including APOBEC3B. Understanding the molecular determinants of the interaction between SIV
mac239
Vif and human APOBEC3B adds to existing knowledge on the APOBEC3-Vif interaction and has potential to shed light on what processes may have shaped Vif functionality over evolutionary time. An intimate understanding of this interaction may also lead to a novel cancer therapy because, for instance, creating a derivative of SIV
mac239
Vif that specifically targets human APOBEC3B could be used to suppress tumor genomic DNA mutagenesis by this enzyme, slow ongoing tumor evolution, and help prevent poor clinical outcomes.
Severe inflammatory ileitis resulting in ileal perforation in association with combination immune checkpoint blockade for metastatic malignant melanoma
Authors: Suwaidan Ali Abdulnabi , Richards Cathy J , Boyle Kirsten , Faust Guy
Published: April 2018

Immune checkpoint inhibitors have become standard of care in metastatic malignant melanoma management. Despite superior effectiveness to chemotherapy, significant immune-related adverse events (irAE) may occur, particularly if used in combination. Gastrointestinal irAEs were reported with different patterns of involvement. Here, we report the case of a patient who had ileal perforation as a complication of terminal ileitis, without colitis, induced by combination immune checkpoint blockade.
Seasonal temperature variability and emergency hospital admissions for respiratory diseases: a population-based cohort study
Authors: Sun Shengzhi , Laden Francine , Hart Jaime E , Qiu Hong , Wang Yan , Wong Chit Ming , Lee Ruby Siu-yin , Tian Linwei
Published: April 2018

Background

Climate change increases global mean temperature and changes short-term (eg, diurnal) and long-term (eg, intraseasonal) temperature variability. Numerous studies have shown that mean temperature and short-term temperature variability are both associated with increased respiratory morbidity or mortality. However, data on the impact of long-term temperature variability are sparse.

Objective

We aimed to assess the association of intraseasonal temperature variability with respiratory disease hospitalisations among elders.

Methods

We ascertained the first occurrence of emergency hospital admissions for respiratory diseases in a prospective Chinese elderly cohort of 66 820 older people (≥65 years) with 10–13 years of follow-up. We used an ordinary kriging method based on 22 weather monitoring stations in Hong Kong to spatially interpolate daily ambient temperature for each participant’s residential address. Seasonal temperature variability was defined as the SD of daily mean summer (June–August) or winter (December–February) temperatures. We applied Cox proportional hazards regression with time-varying exposure of seasonal temperature variability to respiratory admissions.

Results

During the follow-up time, we ascertained 12 689 cases of incident respiratory diseases, of which 6672 were pneumonia and 3075 were COPD. The HRs per 1°C increase in wintertime temperature variability were 1.20 (95% CI 1.08 to 1.32), 1.15 (1.01 to 1.31) and 1.41 (1.15 to 1.71) for total respiratory diseases, pneumonia and COPD, respectively. The associations were not statistically significant for summertime temperature variability.

Conclusion

Wintertime temperature variability was associated with higher risk of incident respiratory diseases.
Peak forelimb ground reaction forces experienced by dogs jumping from a simulated car boot
Authors: Pardey David , Tabor Gillian , Oxley James Andrew , Wills Alison P
Published: April 2018

Many dog owners allow their pets to jump out of a car boot; however, to date, there has been no study that has investigated whether this places dogs at risk of injury. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between height and peak vertical ground reaction force (vGRF) in static start jumps. Fifteen healthy adult dogs performed three jumps from a platform that represented common vehicle boot sill heights (0.55, 0.65, 0.75 m), landing on a single force platform. Kinetic data (mediolateral (Fx), craniocaudal (Fy) and vertical (Fz)) were normalised for body weight and analysed via a one‐way repeated analysis of variance (ANOVA) and pairwise post hoc tests with a Bonferroni correction applied. There was a significant difference in peak forelimb vGRF between both the 0.55 m (27.35±4.14 N/kg) and the 0.65 m (30.84±3.66 N/kg) platform (P=0.001) and between the 0.65 and 0.75 m (34.12±3.63 N/kg) platform (P=0.001). There was no significant difference in mediolateral or craniocaudal forces between the heights examined. These results suggest that allowing dogs to jump from bigger cars with a higher boot sill may result in augmented levels of loading on anatomical structures. Further research is required to investigate the kinematic effects of height on static jump‐down and how peak forelimb vGRF relates to anatomical loading and subsequent injury risk.
E6 predicted isosinglet quarkonium formation
Authors: Çağlar Ç. , Çiftçi R. , Çiftçi A.K.
Published: April 2018

An extension of the Standard Model to the local gauge group SU(3)C ⊗ SU(3)L ⊗ U(1)X, which is a subgroup of electroweak–strong unification group E6, predicts isosinglet quarks. In this study, isosinglet quarkonium formation conditions are investigated.
Selecting and validating reference genes for quantitative real-time PCR in Plutella xylostella (L.)
Authors: You Yanchun , Xie Miao , Vasseur Liette , You Minsheng
Published: April 2018

Gene expression analysis provides important clues regarding gene functions, and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) is a widely used method in gene expression studies. Reference genes are essential for normalizing and accurately assessing gene expression. In the present study, 16 candidate reference genes (ACTB, CyPA, EF1-α, GAPDH, HSP90, NDPk, RPL13a, RPL18, RPL19, RPL32, RPL4, RPL8, RPS13, RPS4, α-TUB, and β-TUB) from Plutella xylostella were selected to evaluate gene expression stability across different experimental conditions using five statistical algorithms (geNorm, NormFinder, Delta Ct, BestKeeper, and RefFinder). The results suggest that different reference genes or combinations of reference genes are suitable for normalization in gene expression studies of P. xylostella according to the different developmental stages, strains, tissues, and insecticide treatments. Based on the given experimental sets, the most stable reference genes were RPS4 across different developmental stages, RPL8 across different strains and tissues, and EF1-α across different insecticide treatments. A comprehensive and systematic assessment of potential reference genes for gene expression normalization is essential for post-genomic functional research in P. xylostella, a notorious pest with worldwide distribution and a high capacity to adapt and develop resistance to insecticides.
Analysis of scalar and fermion quantum field theory on anti-de Sitter spacetime
Authors: Ambruş Victor E. , Kent Carl , Winstanley Elizabeth
Published: April 2018

We study vacuum and thermal expectation values of quantum scalar and Dirac fermion fields on anti-de Sitter (adS) spacetime. AdS spacetime is maximally symmetric and this enables expressions for the scalar and fermion vacuum Feynman Green’s functions to be derived in closed form. We employ Hadamard renormalization to find the vacuum expectation values (v.e.v.s). The thermal Feynman Green’s functions are constructed from the vacuum Feynman Green’s functions using the imaginary time periodicity/anti-periodicity property for scalars/fermions. Focusing on massless fields with either conformal or minimal coupling to the spacetime curvature (these two cases being the same for fermions) we compute the differences between the thermal expectation values and v.e.v.s. We compare the resulting energy densities, pressures and pressure deviators with the corresponding classical quantities calculated using relativistic kinetic theory.
X-ray and γ-ray emissions from NLSy1 galaxies
Authors: Baghmanyan V. , Sahakyan N.
Published: April 2018

The recent observations by Fermi large area telescope (Fermi-LAT) showed that in addition to the radio galaxies and blazars, Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 (NLSy1) galaxies are also [Formula: see text]-rays emitters. NLSy1 are AGNs with optical spectral properties similar to those of Seyfert 1 galaxies, except for having narrow Balmer lines and strong optical lines. They also exhibit strong X-ray variability, steep X-ray spectra and relatively high luminosity. The multiwavelength emission properties of 1H 0323+342, SBS 0846+513 and PMN J0948+0022 are discussed, using the [Formula: see text]-ray data from the last 8.8 years Fermi-LAT observations as well as available Swift(UVOT/XRT) data. It is shown that one-zone synchrotron/synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) model can satisfactorily reproduce their observed broadband spectra.
AMORPHIZATION OF CERIUM MONONITRIDE DURING OXIDIZATION CHARACTERIZED BY OPTICAL MICROSCOPY, SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY, X-RAY DIFFRACTION AND X-RAY PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
Authors: LIANG WEI , PAN QIFA , HU YIN , LUO LIZHU , LIU KEZHAO , ZHANG ZHENGJUN
Published: April 2018

Cerium mononitride (CeN) film was fabricated by dual ion beam sputtering deposition method on silicon wafer. The oxidization process of CeN film was monitored by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), respectively. The results showed that, when the CeN film was exposed to ambient atmosphere, bubbles appeared on the film surface rapidly and then the surface flaked off to powders. Meanwhile, the CeN film changed from polycrystalline to amorphous. XPS analysis indicated that the CeN was oxidized to Ce2O3 initially, and then further oxidized to CeO2. These results indicated that the CeN film degraded easily in ambient atmosphere, exhibiting little or no passivation.
D
ude
T
x
Authors: Liu Mengxing , Zhang Mingxing , Chen Kang , Qian Xuehai , Wu Yongwei , Zheng Weimin , Ren Jinglei
Published: April 2018

Emerging non-volatile memory (NVM) offers non-volatility, byte-addressability, and fast access at the same time. It is suggested that programs should access NVM directly through CPU load and store instructions. To guarantee crash consistency, durable transactions are regarded as a common choice of applications for accessing persistent memory data. However, existing durable transaction systems employ either
undo logging
, which requires a fence for every memory write, or
redo logging
, which requires intercepting all memory reads within transactions. Both approaches incur significant overhead.

This article presents D
ude
T
x
, a crash-consistent durable transaction system that avoids the drawbacks of both undo and redo logging. D
ude
T
x
uses shadow DRAM to
decouple
the execution of a durable transaction into three fully asynchronous steps. The advantage is that only minimal fences and no memory read instrumentation are required. This design enables an out-of-the-box concurrency control mechanism, transactional memory or fine-grained locks, to be used as an independent component. The evaluation results show that D
ude
T
x
adds durability to a software transactional memory system with only 7.4%--24.6% throughput degradation. Compared to typical existing durable transaction systems, D
ude
T
x
provides 1.7× --4.4× higher throughput. Moreover, D
ude
T
x
can be implemented with hardware transactional memory or lock-based concurrency control, leading to a further 1.7× and 3.3× speedup, respectively.
Structural DNA Nanotechnology: Artificial Nanostructures for Biomedical Research
Authors: Ke Yonggang , Castro Carlos , Choi Jong Hyun
Published: April 2018

Structural DNA nanotechnology utilizes synthetic or biologic DNA as designer molecules for the self-assembly of artificial nanostructures. The field is founded upon the specific interactions between DNA molecules, known as Watson–Crick base pairing. After decades of active pursuit, DNA has demonstrated unprecedented versatility in constructing artificial nanostructures with significant complexity and programmability. The nanostructures could be either static, with well-controlled physicochemical properties, or dynamic, with the ability to reconfigure upon external stimuli. Researchers have devoted considerable effort to exploring the usability of DNA nanostructures in biomedical research. We review the basic design methods for fabricating both static and dynamic DNA nanostructures, along with their biomedical applications in fields such as biosensing, bioimaging, and drug delivery.
Property Engineering in Perovskites via Modification of Anion Chemistry
Authors: Kobayashi Yoji , Tsujimoto Yoshihiro , Kageyama Hiroshi
Published: April 2018

Perovskite-type oxides have proven to be a versatile class of compounds with systematic study of their structure and various properties. Further structural variations and properties can be added by adding a second anionic species other than oxide, such as hydride, fluoride, nitride, or others. The different charge, covalency, size, and new modes of local coordination offer convenient ways to further control carrier doping, magnetism, conductivity, and even chemical reactivity. In this review we examine the recent work concerning various mixed-anion perovskites and conclude with potential new directions for the further development of these materials.
The Economics of Species Conservation
Authors: Ando Amy W. , Langpap Christian
Published: April 2018

A quarter of all species around the globe are threatened with extinction; this article reviews research in economics on how best to counter those threats. Normative research has developed useful tools for cost-effectively choosing areas of habitat to protect. Such work has also designed working-lands contracts that can induce efficient quantities and patterns of conservation on private lands. Positive research finds evidence that payments for ecosystem service programs are effective, but legal protections for threatened species have a mixed record of success. Economists have also measured both the nonmarket benefits and the costs of species conservation. Emerging work is tackling the particular challenges to species conservation posed by climate change, the demand for exploiting charismatic megafauna, and global population growth. Future research would do well to build on those three areas and to study distributional issues in the benefits and costs of species conservation.
Carbonic anhydrase IX is a critical determinant of pulmonary microvascular endothelial cell pH regulation and angiogenesis during acidosis
Authors: Lee Ji Young , Alexeyev Mikhail , Kozhukhar Natalya , Pastukh Viktoriya , White Roderica , Stevens Troy
Published: April 2018

Carbonic anhydrase IX (CA IX) is highly expressed in rapidly proliferating and highly glycolytic cells, where it serves to enhance acid-regulatory capacity. Pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (PMVECs) actively utilize aerobic glycolysis and acidify media, whereas pulmonary arterial endothelial cells (PAECs) primarily rely on oxidative phosphorylation and minimally change media pH. Therefore, we hypothesized that CA IX is critical to PMVEC angiogenesis because of its important role in regulating pH. To test this hypothesis, PMVECs and PAECs were isolated from Sprague-Dawley rats. CA IX knockout PMVECs were generated using the CRISPR-Cas9 technique. During serum-stimulated growth, mild acidosis (pH 6.8) did not affect cell counts of PMVECs, but it decreased PAEC cell number. Severe acidosis (pH 6.2) decreased cell counts of PMVECs and elicited an even more pronounced reduction of PAECs. PMVECs had a higher CA IX expression compared with PAECs. CA activity was higher in PMVECs compared with PAECs, and enzyme activity was dependent on the type IX isoform. Pharmacological inhibition and genetic ablation of CA IX caused profound dysregulation of extra- and intracellular pH in PMVECs. Matrigel assays revealed impaired angiogenesis of CA IX knockout PMVECs in acidosis. Lastly, pharmacological CA IX inhibition caused profound cell death in PMVECs, whereas genetic CA IX ablation had little effect on PMVEC cell death in acidosis. Thus CA IX controls PMVEC pH necessary for angiogenesis during acidosis. CA IX may contribute to lung vascular repair during acute lung injury that is accompanied by acidosis within the microenvironment.
The vagal ganglia transcriptome identifies candidate therapeutics for airway hyperreactivity
Authors: Reznikov Leah R. , Meyerholz David K. , Abou Alaiwa Mahmoud , Kuan Shin-Ping , Liao Yan-Shin J. , Bormann Nicholas L. , Bair Thomas B. , Price Margaret , Stoltz David A. , Welsh Michael J.
Published: April 2018

Mainstay therapeutics are ineffective in some people with asthma, suggesting a need for additional agents. In the current study, we used vagal ganglia transcriptome profiling and connectivity mapping to identify compounds beneficial for alleviating airway hyperreactivity (AHR). As a comparison, we also used previously published transcriptome data from sensitized mouse lungs and human asthmatic endobronchial biopsies. All transcriptomes revealed agents beneficial for mitigating AHR; however, only the vagal ganglia transcriptome identified agents used clinically to treat asthma (flunisolide, isoetarine). We also tested one compound identified by vagal ganglia transcriptome profiling that had not previously been linked to asthma and found that it had bronchodilator effects in both mouse and pig airways. These data suggest that transcriptome profiling of the vagal ganglia might be a novel strategy to identify potential asthma therapeutics.
The Texture One-Zero Neutrino Mass Matrix with Vanishing Trace
Authors: Singh Madan
Published: April 2018

In the light of latest neutrino oscillation data, we have investigated the one-zero Majorana neutrino mass matrix Mν with zero sum condition of mass eigenvalues in the flavor basis, where charged lepton mass matrix is diagonal. Among the six possible one-zero cases, it is found that only five can survive the current experimental data, while case with (1, 1) vanishing element of Mν is ruled out, if zero trace condition is imposed at 3σ confidence level (CL). Numerical and some approximate analytical results are presented.
The Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Shinbaro3 Is Mediated by Downregulation of the TLR4 Signalling Pathway in LPS-Stimulated RAW 264.7 Macrophages
Authors: Chung Hwa-Jin , Koh Wonil , Kim Won Kyung , Shin Joon-Shik , Lee Jinho , Lee Sang Kook , Ha In-Hyuk
Published: April 2018

Shinbaro3, a formulation derived from the hydrolysed roots of Harpagophytum procumbens var. sublobatum (Engl.) Stapf, has been clinically used in the pharamacopuncture treatment of arthritis in Korea. In the present study, Shinbaro3 inhibited NO generation in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Shinbaro3 also downregulated the mRNA and protein expression of inflammatory mediators in a dose-dependent manner. Three mechanisms explaining the effects of Shinbaro3 in RAW 264.7 cells were identified as follows: (1) inhibition of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2), stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK)/c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK), and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways; (2) suppression of IκB kinase-α/β (IKK-α/β) phosphorylation and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) subunits in the NF-κB pathway, which are involved in MyD88-dependent signalling; and (3) downregulation of IFN-β mRNA expression via inhibition of interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) and Janus-activated kinase 1 (JAK1)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) phosphorylation, which is involved in TRIF-dependent signalling. Shinbaro3 exerted anti-inflammatory effects in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells through modulation of the TLR4/MyD88 pathways, suggesting that Shinbaro3 is a novel anti-inflammatory therapeutic candidate in the field of pharmacopuncture.
CO2 Leakage-Induced Contamination in Shallow Potable Aquifer and Associated Health Risk Assessment
Authors: Kim Chan Yeong , Han Weon Shik , Park Eungyu , Jeong Jina , Xu Tianfu
Published: April 2018

Leakage of stored CO2 from a designated deep reservoir could contaminate overlying shallow potable aquifers by dissolution of arsenic-bearing minerals. To elucidate CO2 leakage-induced arsenic contamination, 2D multispecies reactive transport models were developed and CO2 leakage processes were simulated in the shallow groundwater aquifer. Throughout a series of numerical simulations, it was revealed that the movement of leaked CO2 was primarily governed by local flow fields within the shallow potable aquifer. The induced low-pH plume caused dissolution of aquifer minerals and sequentially increased permeabilities of the aquifer; in particular, the most drastic increase in permeability appeared at the rear margin of CO2 plume where two different types of groundwater mixed. The distribution of total arsenic (∑As) plume was similar to the one for the arsenopyrite dissolution. The breakthrough curve of ∑As monitored at the municipal well was utilized to quantify the human health risk. In addition, sensitivity studies were conducted with different sorption rates of arsenic species, CO2 leakage rates, and horizontal permeability in the aquifer. In conclusion, the human health risk was influenced by the shape of ∑As plume, which was, in turn, affected by the characteristics of CO2 plume behavior such as horizontal permeability and CO2 leakage rate.