bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Utility of Non-invasive Tests for Detection of Previous Proximal-vein Thrombosis
Authors: Villalta Sabina , Prandoni Paolo , Cogo Alberto , Bagatella Paola , Piccioli Andrea , Bernardi Enrico , Simioni Paolo , Scarano Luigi , Girolami Antonio
Published: July 2018

Background. Despite the availability of several diagnostic methods for the detection of deep-vein thrombosis (DVT), the identification of previous episodes of DVT remains a diagnostic challenge.

Study objective. To assess the reliability of a combination of a standardized clinical score with three non-invasive tests: compression ultrasonography (CUS), Doppler ultrasound (DUS), and photoplethysmography (PPG), in determining the presence or the absence of previous proximal DVT.

Methods. One hundred consecutive unselected outpatients were identified, who had undergone contrast venography six to nine years previously because of the clinical suspicion of DVT (confirmed in 43). They were blindly reinvestigated by a panel of trained operators unaware of venography results. They underwent a clinical evaluation of the lower limb, by applying a standardized score to five symptoms and six signs (grading each item from 0 to 3); a PPG test to determine the venous refilling time; a DUS test to determine the venous reflux separately in the common femoral and the popliteal vein; and a CUS test to determine vein compressibility in the same regions.

Results. An abnormal CUS test and/or the demonstration of venous reflux in the popliteal region and/or a high clinical score (≥ 8) identified twenty-four of the 43 (56%) DVT + patients with a specificity of 89%. The combination of normal CUS with the absence of venous reflux in both the common femoral and popliteal vein and a low clinical score excluded previous thrombosis in 45 (79%) of the 57 DVT- patients (negative predictive value, 78%). Abnormal venous reflux in the isolated common femoral vein did not reliably predict the presence or absence of previous DVT. However, this occurred in only 13 (13%) patients. The PPG determination of venous refilling time did not improve the results obtained with the other tests.

Conclusions. The combination of a standardized clinical evaluation with the results of CUS and DUS can reliably diagnose or exclude previous proximal-vein thrombosis in almost 90% of patients with previous episodes of suspected DVT.
Therapeutic Advantage of Recombinant Human Plasminogen Activator in Endocarditis: Evidence from Experiments in Rabbits
Authors: Meyer M W , Witt A R , Krishnan L K , Yokota M , Roszkowski M J , Rudney J D , Herzberg M C
Published: July 2018

In infective endocarditis vegetations are stabilized by fibrin. To learn if fibrin digestion would be therapeutic, experimental endocarditis was induced in rabbits by inoculation with a platelet-aggregating strain (Agg+) of Streptococcus sanguis and treated with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA), rt-PA with penicillin, or penicillin alone. Control rabbits were inoculated with saline. All treatments of Agg+ endocarditis reduced the mass of valvular vegetations and clinical signs of endocarditis, including the frequency of left axis deviation and heart ischemia. rt-PA with penicillin was more effective than penicillin or rt-PA alone, reducing the mass of vegetations and clinical signs to that of saline controls. Within 50 min, rt-PA cleared 5-fold more 111Indium-labelled platelets from the heart than untreated rabbits and 1.4-fold more after 3 days. Combined with penicillin, thrombolytic therapy for human endocarditis should be reconsidered.
Marked Increase of Activated Factor VII in Uremic Patients
Authors: Kario Kazuomi , Matsuo Takefumi , Matsuo Miyako , Koide Masanobu , Yamada Tsutomu , Nakamura Shin , Sakata Toshiyuki , Kato Hisao , Miyata Toshiyuki
Published: July 2018

We investigated plasma activated factor VII (FVIIa) levels in uremic patients (nondialysis group: n = 38; dialysis group: n = 36) and healthy controls (n = 32). We also measured the plasma levels of thrombomodulin (an indicator of endothelial cell injury) and tissue factor. Plasma FVIIa showed a marked increase in the nondialysis group (mean [95% confidence interval]: 4.6 [4.1-5.1] ng/ml, p <0.0001) with the progressive impairment of renal function, as indicated by the serum creatinine level, when compared with the 32 controls (2.8 [2.5-3.1] ng/ml), and was further increased in the dialysis group (6.1 [5.5-6.8] ng/ml, p <0.001 vs. nondialysis group). Plasma levels of thrombomodulin and tissue factor were also higher in the nondialysis group than the control group, and were further increased in the dialysis group. Plasma tissue factor levels did not show any correlation with FVIIa or thrombomodulin in both the nondialysis and dialysis groups. Thus, circulating tissue factor appears to be released by a different mechanism from thrombomodulin and may not contribute to the direct activation of factor VII in uremic patients. On the other hand, the plasma level of thrombomodulin was positively correlated with that of FVIIa in the nondialysis group, and this correlation was independent of renal function. Thus, enhanced conversion of factor VII zymogen to FVIIa, probably related to endothelial cell injury, may be a risk factor for cardiovascular events in uremic patients.
Synchronized Inhibition of the Phospholipid Mediated Autoactivation of Factor XII in Plasma by β2-glycoprotein I and Anti-β2-glycoprotein I
Authors: Schousboe Inger , Rasmussen Margit Søe
Published: July 2018

Lupus anticoagulants are a group of antibodies commonly found in patients with autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus. Lupus anticoagulants inhibit phospholipid dependent coagulation and may bind to negatively charged phospholipids. Recent studies have suggested an association between anti-β2-glycoprotein I and a lupus anticoagulant, whose activity is frequently dependent on the presence of β2-glycoprotein I. Based on these observations, the effect of anti-β2-glycoprotein I on the autoactivation of factor XII in plasma was investigated. Autoactivation initiated by the presence of negatively charged phospholipids, but not by sulfatide, was strongly inhibited by immunoaffinity purified anti-β2-glycoprotein I. The dose-response curve of anti-β2-gly coprotein I was identical with that of a precipitating antibody, showing no inhibition at low and high antibody dilutions and maximal inhibition at an intermediate dilution. At high antibody concentrations, an increased rate of factor Xlla activation was observed. This increase was of the same magnitude as the decreased rate observed in plasma supplemented with the same amount of β2-glycoprotein I as in the plasma itself. This confirms the inhibitory effect of β2-GP-I on the contact activation and shows that inhibition is effective on the autoactivation of factor XII in plasma. The inhibitory action of β2-glycoprotein I was independent of the inhibition caused by the anti- β2-glycoprotein I/β2-glycoprotein I complex suggesting a synchronized inhibition of factor XII autoactivation by β2-glycoprotein I and anti-β2-gly coprotein I. The inhibition caused by the antibody is suggested to be caused by a reduced availability of negatively charged phospholipids due to the binding of the anti-β2- GP-I/β2-GP-I complex. This complex may be a lupus anticoagulant.
Transforming Growth Factor Betal and Beta2 Induce Down-Modulation of Thrombomodulin in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
Authors: Ohji Taro , Urano Hajime , Shirahata Akira , Yamagishi Minoru , Higashi Ken , Gotoh Sadao , Karasaki Yuji
Published: July 2018

To investigate the effects of transforming growth factor-betas (TGF-βs) on endothelial anticoagulant activity, we assayed thrombomodulin (TM) activity and antigen levels of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) incubated with TGF-βs in vitro. TGF-β1 suppressed surface TM activity and surface TM antigen levels maximally 12 h after incubation in dose-dependent manners. TGF-β2 was almost equipotent with TGF-β1 for the suppression of them. Both TGF-βs suppressed total TM antigen level in HUVECs, and the time course of the suppression was similar to that of the cell surface TM antigen level. The maximal reductions of TM mRNA levels by TGF-βs were observed at several hours ahead of those observed in both surface and total TM antigen levels, suggesting that the TGF-β-mediated suppression of TM antigen of HUVECs is primarily regulated at the TM mRNA level. Our present work suggests that the down-modulation of TM level induced by TGF-βs in HUVECs contributes in vivo to promoting the thrombogenesis either at the sites of injury of vessel walls, such as atherosclerotic lesions where TGF-β1 is released from platelets, smooth muscle cells and monocytes, or at neovascular walls in tumors secreting TGF-β2.
Differential Inhibition with Antifibrinolytic Agents of Staphylokinase and Streptokinase Induced Clot Lysis
Authors: Lijnen H Roger , Stassen Jean-Marie , Collen Désiré
Published: July 2018

The inhibitory effects of antifibrinolytic amino acids on clot lysis induced with recombinant staphylokinase (SakSTAR) or with streptokinase (SK) were evaluated in a human plasma milieu in vitro and in a hamster pulmonary embolism model in vivo. Addition of tranexamic acid to a system composed of 60 μ1 125I-fibrin-labeled plasma clots submerged in 0.5 ml human plasma, caused dose-dependent inhibition of lysis; complete lysis in 120 min required 30 nM SakSTAR or 100 nM SK and was reduced to 50% with 0.015 mM or with 0.07 mM tranexamic acid, respectively. Aprotinin also produced dose-dependent inhibition; lysis with SakSTAR or with SK was reduced to 50% of the control value with 8 KIU/ml or with 10 KIU/ml aprotinin, respectively. Thus, in human plasma in vitro the antifibrinolytic potency of tranexamic acid was 5-fold higher towards SakSTAR than towards SK, whereas that of aprotinin was comparable towards both agents.

In hamsters with pulmonary embolism given 0.063 mg/kg SakSTAR or 0.20 mg/kg SK over 30 min, the antifibrinolytic potency of tranexamic acid, administered as a single bolus injection or as a bolus injection followed by continuous infusion, was 8- to 10-fold higher towards SakSTAR than towards SK (50% reduction of clot lysis with SakSTAR at 12.5 mg/kg, as compared to 100-150 mg/kg with SK). In contrast, aprotinin was equipotent towards SakSTAR and SK (50% reduction of clot lysis with 2,000 to 2,700 KlU/kg).

The higher antifibrinolytic potency of tranexamic acid (which prevents binding of plasminogen to fibrin) towards SakSTAR than towards SK is most likely related to the requirement of fibrin-bound plasminogen for efficient fibrinolysis with SakSTAR. Tranexamic acid thus may be a useful and relatively specific antidote to clot lysis with SakSTAR and, at higher concentrations, to clot lysis with SK.
KRDS, a Peptide Derived from Human Lactotransferrin, Inhibits Thrombin-Induced Thromboxane Synthesis by a Cyclooxygenase-Independent Mechanism
Authors: Lévy-Toledano Sylviane , Grelac Françoise , Caen Jacques P , Maclouf Jacques
Published: July 2018

KRDS, a tetrapeptide from human lactotransferrin, inhibits thrombin-induced platelet aggregation, secretion and thromboxane (TX) synthesis without interfering with phospholipase C (PLC) β activation, since in previous work we have shown that Ca2+ mobilization and phosphorylation of the myosin light chain kinase (20 kDa) and pleckstrin (47 kDa) were normal. However, the inhibition of arachido- nic acid-induced aggregation in the presence of KRDS is accompanied by normal TX synthesis suggesting that it does not interfere with the cyclooxygenase activity. To elucidate further the mechanisms of action of this peptide we tested its effect on U46619-induced platelet activation. KRDS inhibits U46619-induced platelet aggregation time- and dose-dependently without inhibiting the phosphorylation of pleckstrin. This suggests that the PLC pathway is not affected and that the inhibitory effect of KRDS is not due to an uncoupling of TXA2 from its receptor. In addition to the PLC pathway, protein tyrosine kinases play a major role in platelet signal transduction mechanisms. At least 7 tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins are detected upon stimulation of platelets by thrombin. KRDS strongly inhibits the tyrosine- phosphorylated substrates, in particular two 100-105 kDa substrates which are related to GP Ilb/IIIa activation and platelet aggregation. The absence of TX synthesis observed in the presence of KRDS could be due to the inactivation of cPLA2 since the latter needs tyrosine phosphorylation to be activated, thus explaining the inhibitory action of KRDS on platelet functions.
Sites of Tissue Factor Pathway Inhibitor (TFPI) and Tissue Factor Expression under Physiologic and Pathologic Conditions
Authors: Østerud Bjarne , Bajaj Madhu S , Bajaj Paul S
Published: July 2018

Under normal conditions, TFPI expression is restricted to megakaryocytes and the endothelium of the microvasculature. It is not synthesized by normal hepatocytes or by the endothelium of larger vessels. In contrast, endothelium and peripheral blood cells do not express tissue factor under normal conditions. Expression of tissue factor under normal physiologic conditions is widespread and is localized in areas which are physically separated from the circulating blood. During an inflammatory response, circulating monocytes have been shown to express tissue factor, whereas in general, expression of tissue factor has not been observed in the endothelium. Adherent monocytes/macrophages express both tissue factor and TFPI under pathologic conditions. Whether or not circulating peripheral blood monocytes under inflammatory conditions express TFPI is not known.
Hemostasis at Extremes of Body Weight
Authors: Hunt Beverley
Published: July 2018

Extremes of body weight are not uncommon in the modern world and include anorexia nervosa (AN) and obesity. Both conditions are associated with increased morbidity and mortality: AN has the highest mortality rate of all mental illnesses and unfortunately obesity has reached epidemic proportions and is a well-recognized risk factor for cardiovascular disease including venous thromboembolism (VTE). This article summarizes the current understanding of hemostatic changes of these extremes of body weight. The hemostatic changes of AN have not been well described. Severe AN is associated with pancytopenia with decreased bone marrow cellularity, which causes a mild thrombocytopenia. Platelet hyperaggregability has been recognized in AN and has been attributed at least in part to increased adrenoceptor density. Obesity and the metabolic syndrome are associated with prothrombotic changes, which have been well characterized and related to complex adipocyte-induced inflammatory changes, including increased levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1, von Willebrand factor, fibrinogen, and other evidence of increased coagulation and platelet activation. Accumulating evidence suggests a significant role for increased tissue factor expression and signaling in this relationship, with increased tissue factor expression present in adipose and possibly systemic tissues, induced by adipose-generated cytokines. Intriguingly, the hemostatic changes do not seem to increase with increasing BMI, although the risk of VTE increases with BMI, suggesting that decreased venous flow due to venous enlargement may play the most important role in increased VTE risk with obesity.
The Role of Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex in Axial Stability of the Forearm
Authors: Zhu Andy , Burns Geoffrey , Siljander Breana , Waljee Jennifer , Ozer Kagan
Published: July 2018

Background The triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) provides stability to the wrist and disruption of this complex can result in axial instability which can lead to ulnocarpal abutment.

Purpose This article determines the individual contributions of the volar radioulnar ligament (VRUL), dorsal radioulnar ligament (DRUL), and foveal attachment of the TFCC to longitudinal stability of the forearm under axial load.

Materials and Methods Eighteen cadaveric specimens were randomly assigned into three groups representing the component of the TFCC to be initially transected: VRUL, DRUL, and foveal attachment. Prior to transection, posterioranterior radiographs of the wrist were obtained at 0, 44.5, and 90 N of axial load. Serial transection of the TFCC components were performed with radiographs obtained at each of the aforementioned loads. Ulnar variance was assessed with two-way repeated measures analysis of variance and paired t-tests.

Results Transection of the foveal attachment demonstrated a significant change in ulnar variance of 1.5 and 0.6 mm under 45 and 90 N of load, respectively. At 0 N of load, there was no significant change in ulnar variance between an intact wrist and a wrist with all three ligaments transected; however, a significant change in ulnar variance, 1.0 mm, was observed under 90 N of load.

Conclusion The foveal attachment of the TFCC provides the largest contribution to axial stability.

Clinical Relevance The TFCC provides axial stability to the wrist and disruption of the TFCC may result in change in ulnar variance observed on an axial loaded wrist radiograph.
'A New You, That’s Who': an evaluation of short videos on puberty and human reproduction
Authors: Hurwitz Lisa B. , Lovato Silvia B. , Lauricella Alexis R. , Woodruff Teresa K. , Patrick Eric , Wartella Ellen
Published: July 2018

Learning basic information about puberty and human reproduction can alleviate concerns about the transition to adolescence and provide a foundation for later learning about more advanced reproductive health topics, such as family planning. Parents and children alike believe educational videos make these topics more engaging, and socio-cultural theory suggests such videos can effectively promote learning. To that end, we tested the efficacy of a series of reproductive health education videos called 'A New You, That’s Who', with a sample of 80 11-year-old children in a research laboratory setting. The series was designed with socio-cultural theory learning principles in mind and consisted of three 5-min animated music videos focused on puberty, reproductive anatomy, and menstruation. Children were randomly assigned to watch the 'A New You, That’s Who' videos or a control set of videos on the scientific method. Children who watched the treatment videos out-performed peers in the control group on a measure reproductive health knowledge. However, there were no differences in attitudes towards puberty between conditions. The videos provide effective ways to learn factual information about puberty and human reproduction, and may be valuable tools to supplement social-emotional lessons provided at home, at school, or in other real-world settings.
Period multiplication in a parametrically driven superconducting resonator
Authors: Svensson Ida-Maria , Bengtsson Andreas , Bylander Jonas , Shumeiko Vitaly , Delsing Per
Published: July 2018

We report on the experimental observation of period multiplication in parametrically driven tunable superconducting resonators. We modulate the magnetic flux through a superconducting quantum interference device, attached to a quarter-wavelength resonator, with frequencies nω close to multiples, n = 2, 3, 4, and 5, of the resonator fundamental mode and observe intense output radiation at ω. The output field manifests n-fold degeneracy with respect to the phase, and the n states are phase shifted by 2π/n with respect to each other. Our demonstration verifies the theoretical prediction by Guo et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 205303 (2013)] and paves the way for engineering complex macroscopic quantum cat states with microwave photons.
Enhanced collection efficiencies and performance of interband cascade structures for narrow bandgap semiconductor thermophotovoltaic devices
Authors: Huang Wenxiang , Lei Lin , Li Lu , Massengale Jeremy A. , Yang Rui Q. , Mishima Tetsuya D. , Santos Michael B.
Published: July 2018

We report on a comparative study of narrow-bandgap (∼0.2 eV at 300 K) thermophotovoltaic (TPV) devices with InAs/GaSb type-II superlattice absorbers. By comparing the characteristics of three narrow bandgap TPV structures with a single absorber or multiple discrete absorbers, it is clearly demonstrated that the device performance of a conventional single-absorber TPV cell is limited mainly by the small collection efficiency associated with a relatively short diffusion length (1.5 μm at 300 K). Furthermore, this study revealed that multi-stage interband cascade (IC) TPV structures with thin individual absorbers can circumvent the diffusion length limitation and are capable of achieving a collection efficiency approaching 100% for photo-generated carriers. Additionally, the open-circuit voltage, the fill factor, the output power, and the power conversion efficiency can be significantly increased in IC TPV devices compared to the conventional single-absorber TPV structure. These results have further validated the potential and advantages of narrow bandgap IC structures for TPV cells.
Influence of hydrodynamic interactions on stratification in drying mixtures
Authors: Statt Antonia , Howard Michael P. , Panagiotopoulos Athanassios Z.
Published: July 2018

Nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations are used to investigate the influence of hydrodynamic interactions on vertical segregation (stratification) in drying mixtures of long and short polymer chains. In agreement with previous computer simulations and theoretical modeling, the short polymers stratify above the long polymers at the top of the drying film when hydrodynamic interactions between polymers are neglected. However, no stratification occurs under the same drying conditions when hydrodynamic interactions are incorporated through an explicit solvent model. Our analysis demonstrates that models lacking hydrodynamic interactions do not faithfully represent stratification in drying mixtures, in agreement with the recent analysis of an idealized model for diffusiophoresis. Hydrodynamic interactions must be incorporated into such models for drying mixtures in future.
Electromagnetic proximity effect in planar superconductor-ferromagnet structures
Authors: Mironov S. , Mel'nikov A. S. , Buzdin A.
Published: July 2018

The spread of Cooper pairs in a ferromagnet in proximity coupled superconductor-ferromagnet structures is shown to cause a strong inverse electromagnetic phenomenon, namely, the long-range transfer of the magnetic field from the ferromagnet to the superconductor. Contrary to the previously investigated inverse proximity effect resulting from the spin polarization of a superconducting surface layer, the characteristic length of the above inverse electrodynamic effect is of the order of the London penetration depth, which usually is much larger than the superconducting coherence length. The corresponding spontaneous currents appear even in the absence of the stray field of the ferromagnet and are generated by the vector-potential of magnetization near the S/F interface, and they should be taken into account in the design of nanoscale S/F devices. Similarly to the well-known Aharonov-Bohm effect, the discussed phenomenon can be viewed as a manifestation of the role of vector potential in quantum physics.
Two-dimensional Au-1,3,5 triethynylbenzene organometallic lattice: Structure, half-metallicity, and gas sensing
Authors: Zheng Junfeng , Hao Jiongyue , Ling Faling , Jing Huirong , Chen Yankun , Zhou Tingwei , Fang Liang , Chen Qian , Zhou Miao
Published: July 2018

On the basis of first-principles calculations, we investigated the structural and electronic properties of the two-dimensional (2D) Au-1,3,5 triethynylbenzene (Au-TEB) framework, which has been recently synthesized by homocoupling reactions in experiments. Featured by the C-Au-C linkage, the 2D Au-TEB network has a kagome lattice by Au atoms and a hexagonal lattice by organic molecules within the same metal-organic framework (MOF), which exhibits intrinsic half-metallicity with one spin channel metallic and the other spin channel fully insulating with a large energy gap of 2.8 eV. Two branches of kagome bands are located near the Fermi level, with each branch including one flat band and two Dirac bands, which originates from the out-of-plane dxz and dyz orbitals of Au and may lead to many exotic topological quantum phases. We further studied the adsorption of F atoms, Cl atoms, and small gas molecules including O2, CO, NO2, and NH3 on the Au-TEB network, aiming to exploit its potential applications in gas sensors. Detailed analyses on adsorption geometry, energy, molecular orbital interaction, and electronic structure modification suggest the great potential of Au-TEP as a promising alternative for gas sensing. We expect these results to expand the universe of low-dimensional half-metallic MOF structures and shed new light on their practical applications in nanoelectronics/spintronics.
Theoretical prediction electronic properties of Group-IV diamond nanothreads
Authors: Chen Min-Min , Xiao Jin , Cao Can , Zhang Dan , Cui Li-Ling , Xu Xue-Mei , Long Meng-Qiu
Published: July 2018

We have investigated the atomic and electronic structures, and carrier mobility on Group-IV diamond nanothreads (DNTs-C, DNTs-SiC, DNTs-Si and DNTs-Ge) using density functional theory. It is shown that all of Group-IV diamond nanothreads are wide gap semiconductors (>3eV). The highest electron (hole) mobility value is even up to ∼1.15×105 (1.38×103) cm2V-1s-1. Due to the huge difference mobility in hole and electron, DNTs-Si and DNTs-Ge can be considered as p-type semiconductors, and DNTs-C can be considered as n-type semiconductor. Our results suggest that Group-IV diamond nanothreads is a new material that can be applied in optoelectronics and nanoelectronic devices in some special conditions, such as high-temperature devices, wide-gap semiconductors, transparent conductors and so on.
X-ray photoelectron spectra of Ge-As-Te glasses
Authors: Pan Hongbo , Yang Zhen , Chen Yimin , Wang Rongping , Shen Xiang
Published: July 2018

Ternary Ge10AsxTe90-x glasses with a mean coordination number (MCN) from 2.3 to 2.8 were prepared, and their physical and structural properties were characterized. It was found that, the density of the glass decreases but glass transition temperature Tg increases, and the near infrared transmission edge shifts to shorter wavelength with increasing As content. The Ge, As, and Te 3d spectra were decomposed into different doublets that correspond to different structural units and the results showed that, the numbers of Te-Te-Te trimmers and Te-Te-As(Ge) structural units decrease and finally disappear, while the perfect AsTe3/2 pyramidal and GeTe4/2 tetrahedral structure in Te-rich samples gradually transferred to defect structures including As-As and Ge-Ge homopolar bonds with increasing As concentration. No threshold behaviour can be found in the structural evolution of Ge10AsxTe90-x glasses due to a large atomic contrast between As and Te, and no any change in the chemical coordination of Te can be observed even in Te-poor glasses.
Morphological diversity of β-diketone wax tubules on Eucalyptus gunnii leaves and real time observation of self-healing of defects in the wax layer
Authors: Huth Miriam A. , Huth Axel , Koch Kerstin
Published: July 2018

As part of the plant cuticle, epicuticular waxes build the boundary layer of a plant to its environment, fulfilling many vital functions. Epicuticular waxes are small crystalline structures which originate by self-assembly. The morphology of β-diketone tubules on Eucalyptus gunnii Hook.f. leaves was studied by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and regeneration of removed waxes was investigated in real time by atomic force microscopy (AFM) on leaf surfaces. Smooth tubules as well as helically wound ribbons and transitional forms of tubules were found on adaxial leaf surfaces. Leaves of different developmental stages revealed no differences in their wax morphologies, but in the amount of wax allocation. After removal of the waxes regeneration was observed on leaves of all investigated ages. The regeneration of wax crystals started directly after wax removal and tubule growth could be observed in real time.
The combined treatments of Canada goldenrod leaf extracts and cadmium pollution confer an inhibitory effect on seed germination and seedling development of lettuce
Authors: Wang Congyan , Jiang Kun , Wu Bingde , Zhou Jiawei
Published: July 2018

Increasing levels of heavy metals are released into ecosystems. The influence of heavy metal pollution on successful invasive species has raised considerable interest, particularly regarding potential allelopathic effects on seed germination and seedling development of native species. Adding heavy metals may alter or even enhance such allelopathic effects of invasive species. The aim of the present study was to address the combined treatments of the invasive species Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis L.) leaf extracts and cadmium (Cd) pollution on seed germination and seedling development of the homologous native species lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). Results showed that the combined treatments of Canada goldenrod leaf extracts and Cd pollution significantly decreased seed germination and seedling development of lettuce compared with the control. In addition, the indices of allelopathic effects for all seed germination and seedling development indices of lettuce were less than zero under the combined treatments of high concentration of Canada goldenrod leaf extracts and Cd pollution (regardless of concentration). Thus, the combined treatments of high concentration of Canada goldenrod leaf extracts and Cd pollution pose an inhibitory effect on seed germination and seedling development of lettuce. Further, the combined treatments of high concentration of Canada goldenrod leaf extracts and Cd pollution (regardless of concentration) cause more toxic effects than the combined treatments of low concentration of Canada goldenrod leaf extracts and Cd pollution (regardless of concentration) on all seed germination and seedling development indices of lettuce. Thus, the inhibitory effects of Canada goldenrod on the seed germination and seedling development of co-occurring native species may be intensified at heavy invasion degrees under increased heavy metal pollution. Subsequently, the competitiveness and fitness of native species may be notably decreased via the reduced seed germination and seedling development and then the notorious invader can establish progressively-growing populations in the colonised ecosystems.
Homeless adults' access to dental services and strategies to improve their oral health: a systematic literature review
Authors: Goode Jacqueline , Hoang Ha , Crocombe Leonard
Published: July 2018

Homeless people have poor oral health and high treatment needs, yet tend to make problem-based dental visits. This review aimed to determine how and where homeless adults receive oral health care, the barriers that prevent homeless adults accessing dental care and find strategies to promote oral health to homeless adults. The databases MEDLINE via OvidSP, PubMed, CINAHL and Scopus were searched using the keywords: homeless, roofless, houseless, rough sleeper, couch surfer, shelter, hostel, dental and oral health. The inclusion criteria were: participants over the age of 17 years, studies written in English, based in developed countries and published after 2003. Selected articles were assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool and data extracted were thematically analysed. Twenty-two studies met the inclusion criteria. Five main themes were found: how homeless people accessed dental care; factors affecting the uptake of care; strategies used to improve access to care; the effect of non-dental staff on dental care; and challenges with providing care to homeless people. Dental care for homeless adults was affected by numerous factors. Improving their access to dental services requires collaboration between support service providers, dental care to be near homeless populations and flexibility by dental services.
Trophic ecology of the mountain lizard, Liolaemus monticola (Müller & Hellmich, 1932), an endemic species of the central Andes of Chile
Authors: Jara Manuel , Muñoz-Pedreros Andrés
Published: July 2018

Knowledge of trophic ecology is fundamental for understanding feeding strategies and niche dynamics, which can provide information on the vulnerability and conservation status of some poorly known species, such as Liolaemus monticola, a rock-dwelling lizard endemic to the central Andes of Chile. We studied its trophic ecology, analysing its diet and the availability of prey during three activity seasons (summer, autumn and spring). The results show that L. monticola is insectivorous, preying on epigean arthropods. The most frequent prey is formicid ants, on which it feeds in a greater proportion than that at which they occur in the environment. The annual diet is less variable than the seasonal fluctuations in the abundance of prey in the environment. We conclude that L. monticola is a trophic specialist with a preference for the ants Camponotus morosus, Araucomyrmex hypocritus and Brachymyrmex giardii. This diet presupposes an equilibrium between the relative toxicity of the ants, the energy cost of dealing with the prey and detoxification.
Scleral hypoxia is a target for myopia control
Authors: Wu Hao , Chen Wei , Zhao Fei , Zhou Qingyi , Reinach Peter S. , Deng Lili , Ma Li , Luo Shumeng , Srinivasalu Nethrajeith , Pan Miaozhen , Hu Yang , Pei Xiaomeng , Sun Jing , Ren Ran , Xiong Yinghui , Zhou Zhonglou , Zhang Sen , Tian Geng , Fang Jianhuo , Zhang Lina , Lang Jidong , Wu Deng , Zeng Changqing , Qu Jia , Zhou Xiangtian
Published: July 2018

Significance

Myopia is the leading cause of visual impairment. Myopic eyes are characterized by scleral extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, but the initiators and signaling pathways underlying scleral ECM remodeling in myopia are unknown. In the present study, we found that hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) signaling promoted myopia through myofibroblast transdifferentiation. Furthermore, antihypoxic treatments prevented the HIF-1α–associated molecular changes, thus suppressing myopia progression. Our findings defined the importance of hypoxia in scleral ECM remodeling and myopia development. The identification of the scleral hypoxia in myopia not only provides a concept for understanding the mechanisms of myopia development but also suggests viable therapeutic approach to control myopia progression in humans.
Dual-process theory of racial isolation, legal cynicism, and reported crime
Authors: Hagan John , McCarthy Bill , Herda Daniel , Cann Chandrasekher Andrea
Published: July 2018

Significance

Cynicism about lawlessness and police crime prevention and protection efforts is often high in predominately African-American neighborhoods, but residents persist in calling 911 and requesting police assistance. These calls continue to rise in neighborhoods that have recently experienced further increases in racial isolation, incarceration, and home foreclosures. These patterns are independent of statistical controls for an array of potentially confounding variables. The implication is that in the absence of alternatives, and despite past and continuing perceived police ineffectiveness, residents in racially isolated and disadvantaged neighborhoods will continue to call 911, seeking crime prevention and protection by police.
Circadian misalignment induces fatty acid metabolism gene profiles and compromises insulin sensitivity in human skeletal muscle
Authors: Wefers Jakob , van Moorsel Dirk , Hansen Jan , Connell Niels J. , Havekes Bas , Hoeks Joris , van Marken Lichtenbelt Wouter D. , Duez Hélène , Phielix Esther , Kalsbeek Andries , Boekschoten Mark V. , Hooiveld Guido J. , Hesselink Matthijs K. C. , Kersten Sander , Staels Bart , Scheer Frank A. J. L. , Schrauwen Patrick
Published: July 2018

Significance

Shift workers are affected by circadian misalignment and have an increased risk to develop metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes. Here, we show that during simulated short-term night shift work insulin sensitivity at the level of skeletal muscle is decreased in male volunteers, which could contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes in the long term. We also find that the muscle molecular clock does not align rapidly to the new behavioral cycle. Importantly, on the level of the transcriptome, circadian misalignment induced upregulation of fatty acid metabolism pathways, potentially resulting in substrate competition on the cellular level. These findings help to better understand the negative consequences during night shift work.
Monitoring disease activity noninvasively in the
mdx
model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Authors: Filareto Antonio , Maguire-Nguyen Katie , Gan Qiang , Aldanondo Garazi , Machado Léo , Chamberlain Jeffrey S. , Rando Thomas A.
Published: July 2018

Significance

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is characterized by a catastrophic progression of muscle degeneration that leads to early death. Currently, there is neither a cure for DMD nor any treatments that effectively halt muscle degeneration. Novel methods that assess disease activity non-invasively would greatly accelerate the development of effective therapies. Here we present a novel preclinical animal model that uses bioluminescence imaging as a read-out of muscle degeneration, therefore constituting a non-invasive method to assess disease progression and response to experimental gene therapy in the mdx model of DMD. This model should be widely applicable for monitoring disease activity and responses to therapy in mouse models of muscular dystrophy.
Urban mobility and neighborhood isolation in America’s 50 largest cities
Authors: Wang Qi , Phillips Nolan Edward , Small Mario L. , Sampson Robert J.
Published: July 2018

Significance

Living in disadvantaged neighborhoods is widely assumed to undermine life chances because residents are isolated from neighborhoods with greater resources. Yet, residential isolation may be mitigated by individuals spending much of their everyday lives outside their home neighborhoods, a possibility that has been difficult to assess on a large scale. Using new methods to analyze urban mobility in the 50 largest American cities, we find that residents of primarily black and Hispanic neighborhoods—whether poor or not—are far less exposed to either nonpoor or white middle-class neighborhoods than residents of primarily white neighborhoods. Although residents of disadvantaged neighborhoods regularly travel as far and to as many different neighborhoods as those from advantaged neighborhoods, their relative isolation and segregation persist.
Hsp70–Bag3 complex is a hub for proteotoxicity-induced signaling that controls protein aggregation
Authors: Meriin Anatoli B. , Narayanan Arjun , Meng Le , Alexandrov Ilya , Varelas Xaralabos , Cissé Ibrahim I. , Sherman Michael Y.
Published: July 2018

Significance

This work dissects how cells monitor failure of proteasomes and trigger signaling responses defining whether cells survive proteotoxic stress or undergo apoptosis. The monitoring mechanism involves detection of a buildup of abnormal polypeptides released from ribosomes. Accordingly, the system simultaneously monitors effectiveness of several major processes, including protein synthesis, folding, and degradation. A special scaffold complex composed of heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) and its cofactor Bcl-2–associated athanogene 3 (Bag3) links accumulation of abnormal polypeptide species with a number of protein kinases involved in various signal-transduction pathways. A startling finding is that an Hsp70–Bag3–regulated kinase, LATS1, regulates very early events of formation of protein aggregates; thus protein aggregation appears to be a tightly regulated process rather than the simple collapse of abnormal proteins.
Subsistence practices, past biodiversity, and anthropogenic impacts revealed by New Zealand-wide ancient DNA survey
Authors: Seersholm Frederik V. , Cole Theresa L. , Grealy Alicia , Rawlence Nicolas J. , Greig Karen , Knapp Michael , Stat Michael , Hansen Anders J. , Easton Luke J. , Shepherd Lara , Tennyson Alan J. D. , Scofield R. Paul , Walter Richard , Bunce Michael
Published: July 2018

Significance

The mode and tempo of extinctions and extirpations after the first contact phase of human settlements is a widely debated topic. As the last major landmass to be settled by humans, New Zealand offers a unique lens through which to study interactions of people and biota. By analyzing ancient DNA from more than 5,000 nondiagnostic and fragmented bones from 38 subfossil assemblages, we describe species and patterns that have been missed by morphological approaches. We report the identification of five species of whale from an archaeological context in New Zealand and describe the prehistoric kākāpō population structure. Taken together, this study demonstrates insights into subsistence practices and extinction processes and demonstrates the value of genetic analyses of fossil assemblages.
Superinfection and cure of infected cells as mechanisms for hepatitis C virus adaptation and persistence
Authors: Ke Ruian , Li Hui , Wang Shuyi , Ding Wenge , Ribeiro Ruy M. , Giorgi Elena E. , Bhattacharya Tanmoy , Barnard Richard J. O. , Hahn Beatrice H. , Shaw George M. , Perelson Alan S.
Published: July 2018

Significance

Viral populations exhibit an extraordinary ability to survive abrupt changes in host environment by rapidly generating adaptive mutations. However, our understanding of how viral populations respond to selection pressure and the underlying molecular mechanisms supporting viral adaptation in vivo is limited. Here, we report a set of clinical data sampled from subjects chronically infected by hepatitis C virus (HCV). The data show rapid expansion and turnover of drug-resistant viruses following treatment with an HCV protease inhibitor. By fitting mathematical models to the data, we propose that superinfection and cure of infected cells play critical roles in facilitating the rapid expansion and turnover of viral populations. Our results highlight the importance of considering intracellular viral competition in understanding rapid viral adaptation.
River-discharge effects on United States Atlantic and Gulf coast sea-level changes
Authors: Piecuch Christopher G. , Bittermann Klaus , Kemp Andrew C. , Ponte Rui M. , Little Christopher M. , Engelhart Simon E. , Lentz Steven J.
Published: July 2018

Significance

River discharge exerts an important influence on coastal ocean circulation but has been overlooked as a driver of historical coastal sea-level change and future coastal flood risk. We explore the relation between observed river discharge and sea level on the United States Atlantic and Gulf coasts over interannual and longer periods. We formulate a theory that predicts the observed correspondence between river discharge and sea level, demonstrating a causal relation between the two variables. Our results highlight a significant but overlooked driver of coastal sea level, indicating the need for (1) improved resolution in remote sensing and modeling of the coastal zone and (2) inclusion of realistic river runoff variability in climate models.
Protein moonlighting elucidates the essential human pathway catalyzing lipoic acid assembly on its cognate enzymes
Authors: Cao Xinyun , Zhu Lei , Song Xuejiao , Hu Zhe , Cronan John E.
Published: July 2018

Significance

Lipoic acid is an enzyme cofactor found throughout the biological world that is required for key steps in central metabolism. In humans, defective lipoic acid synthesis results in defective energy production, accumulation of toxic levels of certain amino acids, and early death. The different pathways for lipoic acid synthesis put forth have not been validated by direct analysis of the postulated enzyme reactions, excepting a protein called LIPT1. Unfortunately, the enzyme activity reported for LIPT1 is misleading and seems to be an evolutionary remnant. We report that LIPT1 has a second “moonlighting” enzyme activity that fully explains the physiology of individuals lacking LIPT1 activity. We also document the postulated activity of LIPT2, another essential enzyme of the pathway.
Anomalous diffusion, spatial coherence, and viscoelasticity from the energy landscape of human chromosomes
Authors: Di Pierro Michele , Potoyan Davit A. , Wolynes Peter G. , Onuchic José N.
Published: July 2018

Significance

Several active processes operate on eukaryotic genomes, dictating their three-dimensional arrangement and dynamical properties. The combination of structural organization and dynamics is essential to the proper functioning of the cell. We show that an effective energy landscape model for chromatin provides a unifying description of both the structural and dynamical aspects of the genome, recapitulating many of its features. Using this quasi-equilibrium energy landscape model, we demonstrate that the physical interactions accounting for genome architecture also lead to the nontrivial dynamical behavior of genomes previously described in multiple experimental observations.
Deictic and sociopragmatic effects in Tibeto-Burman SAP
indexation
Authors: DeLancey Scott
Published: July 2018

The study of hierarchical argument indexation systems shows that
while the ranking of both 1st and 2nd person over other arguments is
robust and reliable, it is impossible to find any compelling
crosslinguistic evidence for one or the other ranking of the two
Speech Act Participants, and rare to find a consistent ranking even
within a single language. This paper assembles and reviews
historical changes in the indexation of the “local” categories (1→2
and 2→1) in a number of Tibeto-Burman languages. We see that the
fundamental deictic ranking SAP > 3 is conservative, and inverse
marking to emphasize that ranking has been reinvented several times
in the family. Changes in the marking of local categories are more
diverse, but two phenomena recur independently in different
languages and branches: a tendency for the 1→2 form to be uniquely
marked, sometimes with forms which are not synchronically relatable
to anything else in the paradigm, and a contrasting tendency for the
2→1 form to merge with the marking of 3→1. I propose that these
tendencies reflect what I call sociopragmatic effects, i.e.
the socially delicate nature of any and all natural utterances
involving both the speaker and the addressee.
Morphosyntactic coding of proper names and its implications for
the Animacy Hierarchy
Authors: Helmbrecht Johannes , Denk Lukas , Thanner Sarah , Tonetti Ilenia
Published: July 2018

The Animacy Hierarchy (AH) is an important construct employed for the
description and explanation of variation and splits in case marking
and agreement in various grammatical domains. The AH is a scale that
combines person, definiteness and semantic animacy and is used to
state clear preferences of certain morphosyntactic coding types over
others. One assumption of the AH is that proper names (PNs) occupy
an intermediate place between personal pronouns and common nouns.
Despite the large body of research since its first extensive
formulation in Silverstein
(1976), it is astonishing that there has been almost no
empirical evidence published for this claim. Since the AH has been
formulated mostly on the basis of case marking and agreement
phenomena in languages with split ergativity or hierarchical
alignment, we compiled a sample of more than 30 such languages in
order to find data on the morphosyntactic coding of PNs. While there
are only a very few instances that confirm the claim, there are more
instances that contradict it. We concluded that PNs should be
removed from the AH, since their assumed position has no predictive
value for typological generalizations.