bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Systematic review and meta‐analysis of non‐invasive prenatal DNA testing for trisomy 21: implications for implementation in China
Authors: Jin Jiajie , Yang Junwen , Chen Yingyao , Huang Jiayan
Published: July 2017

Objectives

To systematically review clinical validation studies of massive parallel sequencing (MPS) technology in prenatal screening for trisomy 21 and to explore the potential implementation strategies in China compared with those in developing countries.

Methods

Searches of the Cochrane Library, Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science, Biosis Previews, and three major Chinese databases were performed to identify all the peer‐reviewed articles published between 1 January 2011 and 15 October 2016. We also reviewed and discussed the potential challenges and risks in the future promotion of MPS technology in China compared with those in developing countries.

Results

The weighted pooled sensitivity and specificity of MPS technology for the prenatal detection of trisomy 21 were 99.7% (95% CI 98.3–99.9%) and 100.0% (95% CI 99.9–100.0%), respectively, based on a meta‐analysis of 44 included studies. An additional meta‐analysis was conducted based on the 25 included studies that were performed in medical/genetic sequencing institutions in mainland China, showing a weighted pooled sensitivity and specificity of MPS technology as 99.5% (95% CI 98.7–99.8%) and 100% (95% CI 99.9–100%), respectively.

Conclusion

MPS technology offers effective screening performance for trisomy 21 but should be cautiously promoted due to its clinical limitations and challenges that stem from the ethics and business aspects. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis of bio‐based poly(ethylene 2,5‐furandicarboxylate) copolyesters: Higher glass transition temperature, better transparency, and good barrier properties
Authors: Wang Jinggang , Liu Xiaoqing , Jia Zhen , Liu Yuan , Sun Liyuan , Zhu Jin
Published: July 2017

The bio‐based polyester, poly(ethylene 2,5‐furandicarboxylate) (PEF), was modified by 2,2,4,4‐tetramethyl‐1,3‐cyclobutanediol (CBDO) via copolymerization and a series of copolyesters poly(ethylene‐co‐2,2,4,4‐tetramethyl‐1,3‐cyclobutanediol 2,5‐furandicarboxylate)s (PETFs) were prepared. After their chemical structures and sequence distribution were confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance (1H‐NMR and 13C‐NMR), their thermal, mechanical, and gas barrier properties were investigated in detail. Results showed that when the content of CBDO unit in the copolyesters was increased up to 10 mol%, the completely amorphous copolyesters with good transparency could be obtained. In addition, with the increasing content of CBDO units in the copolyesters, the glass transition temperature was increased from 88.9 °C for PET to 94.3 °C for PETF‐23 and the tensile modulus was increased from 3000 MPa for PEF to 3500 MPa for PETF‐23. The barrier properties study demonstrated that although the introduction of CBDO units would increase the O2 and CO2 permeability of PEF slightly, PECF‐10 still showed better or similar barrier properties compared with those of PEN and PEI. In one word, the modified PEF copolyesters exhibited better mechanical properties, higher glass transition temperature, good barrier properties, and better clarity. They have great potential to be the bio‐based alternative to the popular petroleum‐based poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) when used as the beverage packaging materials. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017, 55, 3298–3307
Randomized controlled trial of a peer led multimodal intervention for men with prostate cancer to increase exercise participation
Authors: Galvão Daniel A. , Newton Robert U. , Girgis Afaf , Lepore Stephen J. , Stiller Anna , Mihalopoulos Cathrine , Gardiner Robert A. , Taaffe Dennis R. , Occhipinti Stefano , Chambers Suzanne K.
Published: July 2017

Objective

Exercise may reduce morbidity, increase survival, and improve quality of life (QoL) in prostate cancer patients. However, effective ways to encourage exercise outside carefully controlled clinical trials remain uncertain. We evaluated the effectiveness of peer‐led self‐management for increasing exercise participation in men with localized prostate cancer.

Methods

Four hundred and sixty‐three prostate cancer patients from Queensland, Australia were randomized to a monthly telephone‐based group peer support for 6 months supported by self‐management materials and exercise equipment (INT, n = 232) or usual care (UC, n = 231). Participants were assessed at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months. Primary outcomes were compliance with exercise guidelines; secondary outcomes were psychological distress and QoL.

Results

Patients in INT engaged in more resistance exercise than UC at 3 months (19.4 [95% CI 6.52 to 32.28] min/wk, P = .003) and 6 months (14.6 [95% CI 1.69 to 27.58] min/wk, P = .027); more men achieved sufficient physical activity levels at 3 months (χ2 = 8.89, P = 0.003). There was no difference between groups for aerobic‐based activity at any time point nor for resistance exercise time at 12‐month follow‐up. INT had higher QoL Relationships scores at 3 months (.03 [95% CI .00 to .06], P = .038) compared with UC. Limitation included self‐reported assessment of exercise.

Conclusions

Peer‐led intervention was effective in increasing patients' resistance exercise participation in the short‐to‐medium term and in the number of men achieving sufficient activity levels in the short‐term; however, this was not accompanied by overall improvements in QoL or psychological distress. Methods to increase effectiveness and maintain long‐term adherence require further investigation.
Structure of the WD40‐domain of human ATG16L1
Authors: Bajagic Milica , Archna Archna , Büsing Petra , Scrima Andrea
Published: July 2017

Autophagy‐related protein ATG16L1 is a component of the mammalian ATG12∼ATG5/ATG16L1 complex, which acts as E3‐ligase to catalyze lipidation of LC3 during autophagosome biogenesis. The N‐terminal part of ATG16L1 comprises the ATG5‐binding site and coiled‐coil dimerization domain, both also present in yeast ATG16 and essential for bulk and starvation induced autophagy. While absent in yeast ATG16, mammalian ATG16L1 further contains a predicted C‐terminal WD40‐domain, which has been shown to be involved in mediating interaction with diverse factors in the context of alternative functions of autophagy, such as inflammatory control and xenophagy. In this work, we provide detailed information on the domain boundaries of the WD40‐domain of human ATG16L1 and present its crystal structure at a resolution of 1.55 Å.
Usage of a dataset of NMR resolved protein structures to test aggregation versus solubility prediction algorithms
Authors: Roche Daniel B. , Villain Etienne , Kajava Andrey V.
Published: July 2017

There has been an increased interest in computational methods for amyloid and (or) aggregate prediction, due to the prevalence of these aggregates in numerous diseases and their recently discovered functional importance. To evaluate these methods, several datasets have been compiled. Typically, aggregation‐prone regions of proteins, which form aggregates or amyloids in vivo, are more than 15 residues long and intrinsically disordered. However, the number of such experimentally established amyloid forming and non‐forming sequences are limited, not exceeding one hundred entries in existing databases. In this work, we parsed all available NMR‐resolved protein structures from the PDB and assembled a new, sevenfold larger, dataset of unfolded sequences, soluble at high concentrations. We proposed to use these sequences as a negative set for evaluating methods for predicting aggregation in vivo. We also present the results of benchmarking cutting edge tools for the prediction of aggregation versus solubility propensity.
Combined Lifestyle and Herbal Medicine in Overweight Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Arentz Susan , Smith Caroline A. , Abbott Jason , Fahey Paul , Cheema Birinder S. , Bensoussan Alan
Published: July 2017

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common, complex reproductive endocrinopathy characterized by menstrual irregularities, hyperandrogenism and polycystic ovaries. Lifestyle modification is a first‐line intervention; however, there are barriers to success for this form of self‐care, and women often seek adjunct therapies including herbal medicines. This pragmatic, randomized controlled trial, delivered in communities of Australia in overweight women with PCOS, compared the effectiveness and safety of a lifestyle intervention plus herbal medicine against lifestyle alone. All participants were helped to construct a personalized lifestyle plan. The herbal intervention consisted of two tablets. Tablet 1 contained Cinnamomum verum, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Hypericum perforatum and Paeonia lactiflora. Tablet 2 contained Tribulus terrestris. The primary outcome was oligomenorrhoea/amenorrhoea. Secondary outcomes were hormones; anthropometry; quality of life; depression, anxiety and stress; pregnancy; birth outcomes; and safety. One hundred and twenty‐two women gave their consent. At 3 months, women in the combination group recorded a reduction in oligomenorrhoea of 32.9% (95% confidence interval 23.3–42.6, p < 0.01) compared with controls, estimated as a large effect (ηp2 = 0.11). Other significant improvements were found for body mass index (p < 0.01); insulin (p = 0.02) and luteinizing hormone (p = 0.04); blood pressure (p = 0.01); quality of life (p < 0.01); depression, anxiety and stress (p < 0.01); and pregnancy rates (p = 0.01). This trial provides evidence of improved effectiveness and safety for lifestyle intervention when combined with herbal medicines in women with PCOS. © 2017 The Authors. Phytotherapy Research published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd
Simultaneous quantitation of meperidine, normeperidine, tramadol, propoxyphene and norpropoxyphene in human plasma using solid‐phase extraction and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry: Method validation and application to cardiovascular safety of therapeutic doses
Authors: Fernández Nicolás , Olivera Nancy Mónica , Keller Guillermo Alberto , Diez Roberto Alberto , Di Girolamo Guillermo , Quiroga Patricia Noemí
Published: July 2017

Rationale

Several opioid analgesics have been related to the prolongation of cardiac repolarization, a condition which can be fatal. In order to establish a correct estimation of the risk/benefit balance of therapeutic doses of meperidine, normeperidine, tramadol, propoxyphene and norpropoxyphene, it was necessary to develop an analytical method to determinate plasma concentrations of these opioids.

Methods

Here we describe a method which incorporates strong alkaline treatment to obtain norpropoxyphene amide followed by a one‐elution step solid‐phase extraction, and without further derivatization. Separation and quantification were achieved by gas chromatography/electron ionization mass spectrometry (GC/EI‐MS) in selected‐ion monitoring mode. Quantification was performed with 500 μL of plasma by the addition of deuterated analogues as internal standards.

Results

The proposed method has been validated in the linearity range of 25–1000 ng/mL for all the analytes, with correlation coefficients higher than 0.990. The lower limit of quantification was 25 ng/mL. The intra‐ and inter‐day precision, calculated in terms of relative standard deviation, were 2.0–12.0% and 6.0–15.0%, respectively. The accuracy, in terms of relative error, was within a ± 10% interval. The absolute recovery and extraction efficiency ranged from 81.0 to 111.0% and 81.0 to 105.0%, respectively.

Conclusions

A GC/MS method for the rapid and simultaneous determination of meperidine, normeperidine, tramadol, propoxyphene and norpropoxyphene in human plasma was developed, optimized and validated. This procedure was shown to be sensitive and specific using small specimen amounts, suitable for application in routine analysis for forensic purposes and therapeutic monitoring. To our knowledge, this is the first full validation of the simultaneous determination of these opioids and their metabolites in plasma samples.
Fishway passage success for migratory rainbow smelt Osmerus mordax is not dictated by behavioural type
Authors: Landsman S. J. , Wilson A. D. M. , Cooke S. J. , van den Heuvel M. R.
Published: July 2017

Recent research has demonstrated that an individual's behavioural decisions can have a profound impact on an animal's fitness. For anadromous fishes requiring access to spawning habitat above obstructions, successful passage at fishways may at least in part be a function of an individual's behavioural type. The objectives of this study were to determine whether distinct behavioural types—bold and shy—could be distinguished within a population of anadromous rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) and, if so, whether passage success at a nature‐like fishway varied relative to behavioural type. Field‐caught rainbow smelt were tested for individual differences in boldness (i.e., willingness to engage in risk‐taking behaviour) using the metrics of exploratory behaviour, general activity, and response to a simulated predator. After testing, 276 rainbow smelt were implanted with a passive integrated transponder tag, released below the fishway, and their movements monitored via a stationary antenna array. The results of our behavioural assays indicated the presence of a behavioural syndrome among rainbow smelt, and that behaviour was partially repeatable. In total, 41.7% of fish entering the fishway passed successfully, but contrary to our initial prediction, boldness was not a significant predictor of successful passage. Instead, increasing water temperature and decreasing river discharge were consistent predictors of successful passage and greater distances moved through the fishway. Our findings indicate that the nature‐like fishway did not select for a particular behavioural type and that individuals representing the spectrum of bold–shy behavioural types could pass.
Linear combinations come alive in crossover designs
Authors: Shuster Jonathan J.
Published: July 2017

Before learning anything about statistical inference in beginning service courses in biostatistics, students learn how to calculate the mean and variance of linear combinations of random variables. Practical precalculus examples of the importance of these exercises can be helpful for instructors, the target audience of this paper. We shall present applications to the “1‐sample” and “2‐sample” methods for randomized short‐term 2‐treatment crossover studies, where patients experience both treatments in random order with a “washout” between the active treatment periods. First, we show that the 2‐sample method is preferred as it eliminates “conditional bias” when sample sizes by order differ and produces a smaller variance. We also demonstrate that it is usually advisable to use the differences in posttests (ignoring baseline and post washout values) rather than the differences between the changes in treatment from the start of the period to the end of the period (“delta of delta”). Although the intent is not to provide a definitive discussion of crossover designs, we provide a section and references to excellent alternative methods, where instructors can provide motivation to students to explore the topic in greater detail in future readings or courses.
Learning and memory effects of neonatal methamphetamine exposure in rats: Role of reactive oxygen species and age at assessment
Authors: Jablonski Sarah A. , Williams Michael T. , Vorhees Charles V.
Published: July 2017

In utero methamphetamine (MA) exposure leads to a range of adverse effects, such as decreased attention, reduced working‐memory capability, behavioral dysregulation, and spatial memory impairments in exposed children. In the current experiment, preweaning Sprague‐Dawley rats—as a model of third trimester human exposure—were administered the spin trapping agent, N‐tert‐butyl‐α‐phenylnitrone (PBN), daily prior to MA. Rats were given 0 (SAL) or 40 mg/kg PBN prior to each MA dose (10 mg/kg, 4× per day) from postnatal day (P) 6–15. Littermates underwent Cincinnati water maze, Morris water maze, and radial water maze assessment beginning on P30 (males) or P60 (females). Males were also tested for conditioned contextual and cued freezing, while females were trained in passive avoidance. Findings show that, regardless of age/sex, neonatal MA induced deficits in all tests, except passive avoidance. PBN did not ameliorate these effects, but had a few minor effects. Taken together, MA induced learning deficits emerge early and persist, but the mechanism remains unknown.
Incremental dynamic analysis of seismic collapse of super‐tall building structures
Authors: Huang Tiancan , Ren Xiaodan , Li Jie
Published: July 2017

In the present work, the incremental dynamic analysis is performed for the super‐tall building structure of ZhongNan Center, which is more than 700 m high and is currently under construction in Suzhou, China. The Chi‐Chi earthquake record is used as the ground motion input. The peak ground accelerations are scaled to five levels including 0.2 g, 0.4 g, 0.8 g, 1.4 g, and 2.0 g. The plastic damage model is adopted to represent the material failure. The finite element model is developed by using fiber beam elements for beam‐columns and laminated shell elements for shear walls and slabs. Under the attack of strong seismic ground motions, the super tall structure experiences overall collapse, which is well captured by the developed finite element model. More importantly, the collapse patterns of the super tall structure are rather different under the excitations of earthquake records with same wave pattern but different peak accelerations.
Plant Community Effects and Genetic Diversity of Post-fire Princess Tree (Paulownia tomentosa) Invasions
Authors: Lovenshimer Joseph B. , Madritch Michael D.
Published: July 2017

Many naturalized populations of the invasive tree princess tree exist in North America, yet little research has quantified its effect on native plant communities. A series of recent wildfires in the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area (LGWA) promoted multiple large-scale princess tree invasions in this ecologically important area. To measure community shifts caused by these princess tree invasions across burn areas, we sampled vegetation in paired invaded and noninvaded plots in mature and immature invasions within two burn areas of the LGWA. Plant community composition shifted in response to princess tree invasion across all invasion stages and burn areas. Species richness and Shannon diversity values decreased in invaded plots. Overall community structure also differed in invaded plots within immature invasions (P=0.004). The distribution of princess tree age classes in both burn areas indicates that fire promotes invasion but is not necessary for subsequent recruitment. Additionally, preliminary genetic analyses among distinct princess tree populations revealed very low genetic diversity, suggesting that a single introduction may have occurred in the LGWA. This information regarding community shift and strong post-fire recruitment by princess tree may inform management decisions by prioritizing princess tree control immediately after wildfires and immediately before and after prescribed burns.
Beyond the pill: new medication delivery options for ADHD
Authors: Cutler Andrew J. , Mattingly Gregory W.
Published: July 2017

Successful treatment of pediatric disorders has necessitated the development of alternative medication formulations, as children may prefer alternative dosage forms to tablets or capsules. This is especially true for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which is one of the most common chronic pediatric conditions and often involves children with a variety of overlapping physical, psychological, or neurodevelopmental disorders. A special challenge for developing alternative dosage forms for ADHD treatment is the incorporation of a once-daily long-acting formulation. Traditional ADHD medication formulations have been limited, and issues surrounding prescribed dosing regimens—including poor medication adherence, difficulty swallowing, and the lack of dosing titration options—persist in ADHD treatment. In other disease areas, the development of alternative formulations has provided options for patients who have issues with consuming solid dosage forms, particularly children and individuals with developmental disorders. In the light of these new developments, several alternative formulations for ADHD medications are under development or have recently become available. This article reviews the various strategies for developing alternative dosage forms in other disease areas and discusses the application of these strategies in ADHD treatment. Alternative dosage forms may increase medication adherence, compliance, and patient preference and, therefore, improve the overall treatment for ADHD.
Special issue on cognitive approaches to the history of English: introduction
Authors: BERGS ALEXANDER , HOFFMANN THOMAS
Published: July 2017

What do we know about the past? For at least some languages, we have textual (or archaeological) evidence from various periods – beyond that, there is only reconstruction. But even when we have some textual evidence, what does it tell us? The answer to this question crucially depends on the way we approach the question: we can treat texts as decontextualized, linguistic evidence, as Neogrammarian or Structuralist studies have done (see McMahon 1994: 17–32). Such an approach already allows us to discover important generalizations about the linguistic state of affairs of a particular language or historical period. Using decontextualized historical evidence, for example, we can already ascertain with a high degree of certainty that in Old English voiced and voiceless fricatives were allophones, rather than phonemes, that there was nodo-periphrasis in Middle English, and that in Early Modern English there was some variability between third-person singular present tense {-s} and {-th} – just as we know that present-day Japanese and Korean use postpositions, rather than prepositions.
Conceptual compression and alliterative form – a response to Harbus
Authors: TURNER MARK
Published: July 2017

Research in our time offers a welcome flood tide of investigation into how cognitively modern human beings use their basic mental operations to think and act. With luck, it will not ebb. It could become standard, in the way that calculus, once it arose, abided. This tide offers special emphasis, crucial for this issue, on the cognitive origins and operations of language and literature, and in particular on the ways in which systems of multimodal forms can be deployed to prompt for mental operation.
Connecting the present and the past: cognitive processing and the position of adverbial clauses in Samuel Pepys's Diary
Authors: PENTREL MEIKE
Published: July 2017

The present article studies the linear order of main and temporal adverbial clauses in theDiary of Samuel Pepys (1660–1669). In the development of a framework that combines cognitive and historical data, processing principles identified for Present-day English (e.g. Prideaux 1989; Diessel 2008) are tested for this ego-document from the seventeenth century. The factors investigated are the iconic temporal order of both clauses, the length of the adverbial clause and the implied meaning of the clauses. Moreover, the discourse function of the respective clauses will be discussed. On the basis of the Uniformitarian Principle, the present study assumes that processing principles that are valid for Present-day English predict the position of the clause in past language stages to a similar extent.
‘Insubordination’ in the light of the Uniformitarian Principle
Authors: TRAUGOTT ELIZABETH CLOSS
Published: July 2017

Assuming that the Uniformitarian Principle refers to processes of production and perception, I argue that it remains invaluable for work on language in the last five thousand years or so, the period of linguistic historical record. In this article I show that some proposals about the development of ‘insubordination’ (Evans 2007), particularly those that link it to degrammaticalization (e.g. Higashiizumi 2006 onbecause-monoclauses; Brinton 2014 onas ifclauses), are artifacts of theory (Kaiser & Struckmeier 2015), and do not conform to processes that can be projected from a Uniformitarian Process Principle that pays attention to interactional practices. I investigate evidence in the history of English for the development of finite independent monoclauses that are introduced by subordinators, for example,Because you don't understand,If we could see that picture again,As if you are not gorgeous. I conclude that, at least in English, such monoclauses are chunks that are used incrementally in on-line interaction, just like independent NPs and prepositional and adverbial phrases (Fordet al. 2002; Couper-Kuhlen 2011; see also Lindström & Londen 2008 on Swedish monoclauses with subordinators; Gras & Sansineña 2015 on Spanish monoclausalque-constructions). In such cases degrammaticalization is not relevant. The Uniformitarian Processes Principle can serve as an important corrective on artifacts of theory.
Construction Grammar as Cognitive Structuralism: the interaction of constructional networks and processing in the diachronic evolution of English comparative correlatives
Authors: HOFFMANN THOMAS
Published: July 2017

Following the Uniformitarian Principle, the Performance–Grammar Correspondence Hypothesis (PGCH; Hawkins 2004) predicts a directionality in language change: if the same content can be expressed by two competing structures and one of these is easier to process (see Hawkins 1999, 2004), then the simpler structure will be preferred in performance. Consequently, it will be used more often with a greater range of different lexical items, which increases its type frequency and ultimately leads to it being more cognitively entrenched than its alternative (see Hawkins 2004: 6). As an analysis of the diachronic evolution of the family of English comparative correlative constructions (the more iconiccause–before–effectC1C2 constructionthe more you eat, the fatter you getvs the less iconiceffect–before–causeC2C1 constructionyou get the fatter, the more you eat) shows, however, the PGCH only played a secondary role in the genesis of this set of constructions. In this article, I will present a usage-based constructionist approach that allows researchers to reinterpret the classical Structuralist notion of gaps in the system as gaps in the mental constructional network. This type of Cognitive Structuralist analysis accounts for the presence of the less iconic C2C1 structure (and the absence of the more iconic C1C2 structure) in OE, the genesis of C1C2 structures at the end of the OE period as well as the processing effects predicted by the PGCH once both the C1C2 and the C2C1 constructions were in competition during the ME period.
Diet quality indices in relation to metabolic syndrome in an Indigenous Cree (Eeyouch) population in northern Québec, Canada
Authors: Lavigne-Robichaud Mathilde , Moubarac Jean-Claude , Lantagne-Lopez Stéfanie , Johnson-Down Louise , Batal Malek , Laouan Sidi Elhadji A , Lucas Michel
Published: July 2017

Objective

To assess associations between three diet quality indices and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in the Cree (Eeyouch) of northern Québec, Canada, as well as to evaluate their pertinence in this Indigenous context.

Design

The alternative-Healthy Eating Index 2010 (aHEI-2010), the Food Quality Score (FQS) and the contribution of ultra-processed products (UPP) to total daily dietary energy intake using the NOVA classification were calculated from 24 h food recalls. MetS was determined with the latest harmonized definition. Logistic regressions assessed the relationship between quintiles of dietary quality scores with MetS and its components.

Setting

Study sample from the 2005–2009 cross-sectionalNituuchischaayihititaau AschiiEnvironment-and-Health Study.

Subjects

Eeyouch (n811) from seven James Bay communities (≥18 years old).

Results

MetS prevalence was 56·6 % with 95·4 % abdominal adiposity, 50·1 % elevated fasting plasma glucose, 43·4 % hypertension, 38·6 % elevated TAG and 44·5 % reduced HDL cholesterol. Comparing highest and lowest quintiles of scores, adjusted OR (95 % CI) of MetS was 0·70 (0·39, 1·08;P-trend=0·05) for aHEI-2010, 1·06 (0·63, 1·76;P-trend=0·87) for FQS and 1·90 (1·14, 3·17;P-trend=0·04) for the contribution of UPP to total daily dietary energy intake.

Conclusions

Although diet quality indices have been associated with cardiometabolic risk, only the dietary intake of UPP was significantly associated with MetS in the Eeyouch. Indices tailored to the food environment of northern communities are essential to further understand the impact of diet quality in this context.
How Storm Turbulence Can Spark Lightning
Authors: Zastrow Mark
Published: July 2017

The turbulent pockets of air inside storms can help to build up static electricity in the atmosphere, according to a new study.
Trump Administration Scrutinizing Protected Ocean Areas
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: July 2017

A recently initiated review of some marine sanctuaries and monuments has conservationists worried that ecological, cultural, and other benefits from those protected areas may not be considered.
Thermodynamic stability of ligand-protected metal nanoclusters
Authors: Taylor Michael G. , Mpourmpakis Giannis
Published: July 2017

Despite the great advances in synthesis and structural determination of atomically precise, thiolate-protected metal nanoclusters, our understanding of the driving forces for their colloidal stabilization is very limited. Currently there is a lack of models able to describe the thermodynamic stability of these ‘magic-number’ colloidal nanoclusters as a function of their atomic-level structural characteristics. Herein, we introduce the thermodynamic stability theory, derived from first principles, which is able to address stability of thiolate-protected metal nanoclusters as a function of the number of metal core atoms and thiolates on the nanocluster shell. Surprisingly, we reveal a fine energy balance between the core cohesive energy and the shell-to-core binding energy that appears to drive nanocluster stabilization. Our theory applies to both charged and neutral systems and captures a large number of experimental observations. Importantly, it opens new avenues for accelerating the discovery of stable, atomically precise, colloidal metal nanoclusters.
Greening of the Sahara suppressed ENSO activity during the mid-Holocene
Authors: Pausata Francesco S. R. , Zhang Qiong , Muschitiello Francesco , Lu Zhengyao , Chafik Léon , Niedermeyer Eva M. , Stager J. Curt , Cobb Kim M. , Liu Zhengyu
Published: July 2017

The evolution of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) during the Holocene remains uncertain. In particular, a host of new paleoclimate records suggest that ENSO internal variability or other external forcings may have dwarfed the fairly modest ENSO response to precessional insolation changes simulated in climate models. Here, using fully coupled ocean-atmosphere model simulations, we show that accounting for a vegetated and less dusty Sahara during the mid-Holocene relative to preindustrial climate can reduce ENSO variability by 25%, more than twice the decrease obtained using orbital forcing alone. We identify changes in tropical Atlantic mean state and variability caused by the momentous strengthening of the West Africa Monsoon (WAM) as critical factors in amplifying ENSO’s response to insolation forcing through changes in the Walker circulation. Our results thus suggest that potential changes in the WAM due to anthropogenic warming may influence ENSO variability in the future as well.
Identification of long non-coding RNAs in two anthozoan species and their possible implications for coral bleaching
Authors: Huang Chen , Morlighem Jean-Étienne R. L. , Cai Jing , Liao Qiwen , Perez Carlos Daniel , Gomes Paula Braga , Guo Min , Rádis-Baptista Gandhi , Lee Simon Ming-Yuen
Published: July 2017

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been shown to play regulatory roles in a diverse range of biological processes and are associated with the outcomes of various diseases. The majority of studies about lncRNAs focus on model organisms, with lessened investigation in non-model organisms to date. Herein, we have undertaken an investigation on lncRNA in two zoanthids (cnidarian): Protolpalythoa varibilis and Palythoa caribaeorum. A total of 11,206 and 13,240 lncRNAs were detected in P. variabilis and P. caribaeorum transcriptome, respectively. Comparison using NONCODE database indicated that the majority of these lncRNAs is taxonomically species-restricted with no identifiable orthologs. Even so, we found cases in which short regions of P. caribaeorum’s lncRNAs were similar to vertebrate species’ lncRNAs, and could be associated with lncRNA conserved regulatory functions. Consequently, some high-confidence lncRNA-mRNA interactions were predicted based on such conserved regions, therefore revealing possible involvement of lncRNAs in posttranscriptional processing and regulation in anthozoans. Moreover, investigation of differentially expressed lncRNAs, in healthy colonies and colonial individuals undergoing natural bleaching, indicated that some up-regulated lncRNAs in P. caribaeorum could posttranscriptionally regulate the mRNAs encoding proteins of Ras-mediated signal transduction pathway and components of innate immune-system, which could contribute to the molecular response of coral bleaching.
Comprehensive Multi-Dimensional MRI for the Simultaneous Assessment of Cardiopulmonary Anatomy and Physiology
Authors: Cheng Joseph Y. , Zhang Tao , Alley Marcus T. , Uecker Martin , Lustig Michael , Pauly John M. , Vasanawala Shreyas S.
Published: July 2017

Diagnostic testing often assesses the cardiovascular or respiratory systems in isolation, ignoring the major pathophysiologic interactions between the systems in many diseases. When both systems are assessed currently, multiple modalities are utilized in costly fashion with burdensome logistics and decreased accessibility. Thus, we have developed a new acquisition and reconstruction paradigm using the flexibility of MRI to enable a comprehensive exam from a single 5–15 min scan. We constructed a compressive-sensing approach to pseudo-randomly acquire highly subsampled, multi-dimensionally-encoded and time-stamped data from which we reconstruct volumetric cardiac and respiratory motion phases, contrast-agent dynamics, and blood flow velocity fields. The proposed method, named XD flow, is demonstrated for (a) evaluating congenital heart disease, where the impact of bulk motion is reduced in a non-sedated neonatal patient and (b) where the observation of the impact of respiration on flow is necessary for diagnostics; (c) cardiopulmonary imaging, where cardiovascular flow, function, and anatomy information is needed along with pulmonary perfusion quantification; and in (d) renal function imaging, where blood velocities and glomerular filtration rates are simultaneously measured, which highlights the generality of the technique. XD flow has the ability to improve quantification and to provide additional data for patient diagnosis for comprehensive evaluations.
Hydrogen self-diffusion in single crystal olivine and electrical conductivity of the Earth’s mantle
Authors: Novella Davide , Jacobsen Benjamin , Weber Peter K. , Tyburczy James A. , Ryerson Frederick J. , Du Frane Wyatt L.
Published: July 2017

Nominally anhydrous minerals formed deep in the mantle and transported to the Earth’s surface contain tens to hundreds of ppm wt H2O, providing evidence for the presence of dissolved water in the Earth’s interior. Even at these low concentrations, H2O greatly affects the physico-chemical properties of mantle materials, governing planetary dynamics and evolution. The diffusion of hydrogen (H) controls the transport of H2O in the Earth’s upper mantle, but is not fully understood for olivine ((Mg, Fe)2SiO4) the most abundant mineral in this region. Here we present new hydrogen self-diffusion coefficients in natural olivine single crystals that were determined at upper mantle conditions (2 GPa and 750–900 °C). Hydrogen self-diffusion is highly anisotropic, with values at 900 °C of 10−10.9, 10−12.8 and 10−11.9 m2/s along [100], [010] and [001] directions, respectively. Combined with the Nernst-Einstein relation, these diffusion results constrain the contribution of H to the electrical conductivity of olivine to be σH = 102.12S/m·CH2O·exp−187kJ/mol/(RT). Comparisons between the model presented in this study and magnetotelluric measurements suggest that plausible H2O concentrations in the upper mantle (≤250 ppm wt) can account for high electrical conductivity values (10−2–10−1 S/m) observed in the asthenosphere.
Modulation of Interleukin-12 activity in the presence of heparin
Authors: Jayanthi Srinivas , Koppolu Bhanu prasanth , Nguyen Khue G. , Smith Sean G. , Felber Barbara K. , Kumar Thallapuranam Krishnaswamy Suresh , Zaharoff David A.
Published: July 2017

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), especially heparin and heparan sulfate (HS), modulate the functions of numerous cytokines. The aims of this multidisciplinary research were to characterize heparin binding to interleukin-12 (IL-12) and determine the mechanism(s) by which heparin influences IL-12 bioactivity. Heparin and HS were found to bind human IL-12 (hIL-12) with low micromolar affinity and increase hIL-12 bioactivity by more than 6-fold. Conversely, other GAGs did not demonstrate significant binding, nor did their addition affect hIL-12 bioactivity. Biophysical studies demonstrated that heparin induced only minor conformational changes while size-exclusion chromatography and small angle X-ray scattering studies indicated that heparin induced dimerization of hIL-12. Heparin modestly protected hIL-12 from proteolytic degradation, however, this was not a likely mechanism for increased cytokine activityin vitro. Flow cytometry studies revealed that heparin increased the amount of hIL-12 bound to cell surfaces. Heparin also facilitated hIL-12 binding and signaling in cells in which both hIL-12 receptor subunits were functionally deleted. Results of this study demonstrate a new role for heparin in modulating the biological activity of IL-12.
The alkaloids of Banisteriopsis caapi, the plant source of the Amazonian hallucinogen Ayahuasca, stimulate adult neurogenesis in vitro
Authors: Morales-García Jose A. , de la Fuente Revenga Mario , Alonso-Gil Sandra , Rodríguez-Franco María Isabel , Feilding Amanda , Perez-Castillo Ana , Riba Jordi
Published: July 2017

Banisteriopsis caapi is the basic ingredient of ayahuasca, a psychotropic plant tea used in the Amazon for ritual and medicinal purposes, and by interested individuals worldwide. Animal studies and recent clinical research suggests that B. caapi preparations show antidepressant activity, a therapeutic effect that has been linked to hippocampal neurogenesis. Here we report that harmine, tetrahydroharmine and harmaline, the three main alkaloids present in B. caapi, and the harmine metabolite harmol, stimulate adult neurogenesis in vitro. In neurospheres prepared from progenitor cells obtained from the subventricular and the subgranular zones of adult mice brains, all compounds stimulated neural stem cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation into adult neurons. These findings suggest that modulation of brain plasticity could be a major contribution to the antidepressant effects of ayahuasca. They also expand the potential application of B. caapi alkaloids to other brain disorders that may benefit from stimulation of endogenous neural precursor niches.
Elovanoids are novel cell-specific lipid mediators necessary for neuroprotective signaling for photoreceptor cell integrity
Authors: Jun Bokkyoo , Mukherjee Pranab K. , Asatryan Aram , Kautzmann Marie-Audrey , Heap Jessica , Gordon William C. , Bhattacharjee Surjyadipta , Yang Rong , Petasis Nicos A. , Bazan Nicolas G.
Published: July 2017

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6 n-3) is abundant in the retina and is enzymatically converted into pro-homeostatic docosanoids. The DHA- or eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)-derived 26 carbon fatty acid is a substrate of elongase ELOVL4, which is expressed in photoreceptor cells and generates very long chain (≥C28) polyunsaturated fatty acids including n-3 (VLC-PUFAs,n-3). While ELOVL4 mutations are linked to vision loss and neuronal dysfunctions, the roles of VLC-PUFAs remain unknown. Here we report a novel class of lipid mediators biosynthesized in human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells that are oxygenated derivatives of VLC-PUFAs,n-3; we termed these mediators elovanoids (ELV). ELVs have structures reminiscent of docosanoids but with different physicochemical properties and alternatively-regulated biosynthetic pathways. The structures, stereochemistry, and bioactivity of ELVs were determined using synthetic materials produced by stereo-controlled chemical synthesis. ELVs enhance expression of pro-survival proteins in cells undergoing uncompensated oxidative stress. Our findings unveil a novel autocrine/paracrine pro-homeostatic RPE cell signaling that aims to sustain photoreceptor cell integrity and reveal potential therapeutic targets for retinal degenerations.
Lack of Social Support Raises Stress Vulnerability in Rats with a History of Ancestral Stress
Authors: Faraji Jamshid , Soltanpour Nabiollah , Lotfi Hamid , Moeeini Reza , Moharreri Ali-Reza , Roudaki Shabnam , Hosseini S. Abedin , Olson David M. , Abdollahi Ali-Akbar , Soltanpour Nasrin , Mohajerani Majid H. , Metz Gerlinde A. S.
Published: July 2017

Stress is a primary risk factor for psychiatric disorders. However, it is not fully understood why some stressed individuals are more vulnerable to psychiatric disorders than others. Here, we investigated whether multigenerational ancestral stress produces phenotypes that are sensitive to depression-like symptoms in rats. We also examined whether social isolation reveals potentially latent sensitivity to depression-like behaviours. F4 female rats born to a lineage of stressed mothers (F0-F3) received stress in adulthood while housed in pairs or alone. Social isolation during stress induced cognitive and psychomotor retardation only in rats exposed to ancestral stress. Social isolation also hampered the resilience of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis to chronic stress and reduced hippocampal volume and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression. Thus, synergy between social isolation and stress may unmask a latent history of ancestral stress, and raises vulnerability to mental health conditions. The findings support the notion that social support critically promotes stress coping and resilience.
Efficacy and safety of taxane-based systemic chemotherapy of advanced gastric cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Shi Jinxin , Gao Peng , Song Yongxi , Chen Xiaowan , Li Yuan , Zhang Changwang , Wang Hongchi , Wang Zhenning
Published: July 2017

Taxanes are chemotherapeutic agents commonly used to treat several cancers. However, the effects of taxanes on advanced gastric cancer (AGC) are still not clear, especially when used as a first-line treatment. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to investigate the efficacy and safety of taxanes as a first-line treatment of AGC. The quality of our included studies was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool for RCTs and NOS scale for nRCTs, and the data of the included studies was of satisfactory quality to analyze. The outcomes included overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), overall response rate (ORR), and toxicity. Taxanes significantly improved OS (HR = 0.84, 95% CI 0.76–0.92, P = 0.0004) and had a slight effect on ORR (RR = 1.23, 95% CI 1.00–1.51, P = 0.05). However, taxanes may also increase the risks of neutropenia and leucopenia, similar to effects observed in other conventional chemotherapeutic treatments such as oxaliplatin and epirubicin. Therefore, patient characteristics including concomitant diseases, physical condition, and prior therapies should be considered before selecting taxane-based treatments for AGC.
Thiamine metabolism is critical for regulating correlated growth of dendrite arbors and neuronal somata
Authors: Liu Huimin , Sang Shaoming , Lu Yuan , Wang Zhongfeng , Yu Xiang , Zhong Chunjiu
Published: July 2017

Thiamine is critical for cellular function, as its phosphorylated and active form, thiamine diphosphate (TDP), acts as coenzyme for three key enzymes in glucose metabolism. Mutations in thiamine transporter, TDP synthesizing enzyme or carrier, including solute carrier family 19 member 3 (SLC19A3), thiamine pyrophosphokinase (TPK1) and solute carrier family 25 member 19 (SLC25A19), have been associated with developmental neurological disorders, including microcephaly and Leigh syndrome. However, little is known about how thiamine metabolism regulates neuronal morphology at the cellular level. Here, using primary rat hippocampal neuronal cultures, we showed that reducing the expression ofTpk1,Slc25a19orSlc19a3in individual neurons significantly reduced dendrite complexity, as measured by total dendritic branch tip number (TDBTN) and total dendritic branch length (TDBL). The specificity of the RNAi effects were verified by overexpression of RNAi resistant human constructs. Importantly, changes in both TDBTN and TDBL tightly correlated with reduction in soma size, demonstrating coordinated regulation of soma and dendrite growth by thiamine. The requirement of thiamine metabolism for coordinated somata and dendrite growth is highly consistent with the microcephaly and neurodegenerative phenotypes observed in thiamine loss-of-function diseases.
Predicting Magnetostimulation Thresholds in the Peripheral Nervous System using Realistic Body Models
Authors: Davids Mathias , Guérin Bastien , Malzacher Matthias , Schad Lothar R. , Wald Lawrence L.
Published: July 2017

Rapid switching of applied magnetic fields in the kilohertz frequency range in the human body induces electric fields powerful enough to cause Peripheral Nerve Stimulation (PNS). PNS has become one of the main constraints on the use of high gradient fields for fast imaging with the latest MRI gradient technology. In recent MRI gradients, the applied fields are powerful enough that PNS limits their application in fast imaging sequences like echo-planar imaging. Application of Magnetic Particle Imaging (MPI) to humans is similarly PNS constrained. Despite its role as a major constraint, PNS considerations are only indirectly incorporated in the coil design process, mainly through using the size of the linear region as a proxy for PNS thresholds or by conducting human experiments after constructing coil prototypes. We present for the first time, a framework to simulate PNS thresholds for realistic coil geometries to directly address PNS in the design process. Our PNS model consists of an accurate body model for electromagnetic field simulations, an atlas of peripheral nerves, and a neurodynamic model to predict the nerve responses to imposed electric fields. With this model, we were able to reproduce measured PNS thresholds of two leg/arm solenoid coils with good agreement.