bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A longitudinal plasma lipidomics dataset from children who developed islet autoimmunity and type 1 diabetes
Authors: Lamichhane Santosh , Ahonen Linda , Dyrlund Thomas Sparholt , Siljander Heli , Hyöty Heikki , Ilonen Jorma , Toppari Jorma , Veijola Riitta , Hyötyläinen Tuulia , Knip Mikael , Orešič Matej
Published: November 2018

Early prediction and prevention of type 1 diabetes (T1D) are currently unmet medical needs. Previous metabolomics studies suggest that children who develop T1D are characterised by a distinct metabolic profile already detectable during infancy, prior to the onset of islet autoimmunity. However, the specificity of persistent metabolic disturbances in relation T1D development has not yet been established. Here, we report a longitudinal plasma lipidomics dataset from (1) 40 children who progressed to T1D during follow-up, (2) 40 children who developed single islet autoantibody but did not develop T1D and (3) 40 matched controls (6 time points: 3, 6, 12, 18, 24 and 36 months of age). This dataset may help other researchers in studying age-dependent progression of islet autoimmunity and T1D as well as of the age-dependence of lipidomic profiles in general. Alternatively, this dataset could more broadly used for the development of methods for the analysis of longitudinal multivariate data.
Oxygen-rich chemotherapyviamodified Abraxane to inhibit the growth and metastasis of triple-negative breast cancer
Authors: Meng Lingtong , Gan Shaoju , Zhou Ya , Cheng Yali , Ding Yawen , Tong Xiaoning , Wu Jinhui , Hu Yiqiao , Yuan Ahu
Published: November 2018

Oxygen-rich chemotherapyviaMnO2modified Abraxane® for inhibiting growth and metastasis of triple negative breast cancer.
Anti-biofouling therapeutic nanoparticles with removable shell and highly efficient internalization by cancer cells
Authors: Chen Dong , Jiang Huangyong , Guo Dongbo , Yasen Wumaier , Ao Junping , Su Yue , Pan Dongsheng , Jin Xin , Zhu Xinyuan
Published: November 2018

We fabricated a novel nanomedicine possessing both anti-biofouling feature and relatively high cellular internalization.
Enhanced release of palladium and platinum from catalytic converter materials exposed to ammonia and chloride bearing solutions
Authors: Aruguete Deborah M. , Murayama Mitsuhiro , Blakney Terry , Winkler Christopher
Published: November 2018

Results suggest that systems with elevated salinity and trace ammonia could induce release of palladium/platinum from emitted vehicle catalytic converter (VCC) materials; electron microscopy suggests the presence of non-metallic palladium in VCCs.
Diallyl disulphide suppresses the cannonical Wnt signaling pathway and reverses the fibronectin-induced epithelial mesenchymal transition of A549 lung cancer cells
Authors: Das Bornita , Sinha Dona
Published: November 2018

DADS reflected the potential of reversal of FN-induced EMT by inhibition of Wnt signaling in A549 lung cancer cells.
Correction: Unsupervised capture and profiling of rare immune cells using multi-directional magnetic ratcheting
Authors: Murray Coleman , Miwa Hiromi , Dhar Manjima , Park Da Eun , Pao Edward , Martinez Jessica , Kaanumale Sireesha , Loghin Evelina , Graf John , Raddassi Khadir , Kwok William W. , Hafler David , Puleo Chris , Di Carlo Dino
Published: November 2018

Correction for ‘Unsupervised capture and profiling of rare immune cells using multi-directional magnetic ratcheting’ by Coleman Murray et al., Lab Chip, 2018, 18, 2396–2409.
Synthesis and evaluation of novel purple acid phosphatase inhibitors
Authors: Hussein Waleed M. , Feder Daniel , Schenk Gerhard , Guddat Luke W. , McGeary Ross P.
Published: November 2018

Inhibitors of the binuclear metallohydrolase purple acid phosphatase, with potential application for the treatment of osteoporosis.
Adaptable polyionic elastomers with multiple sensations and entropy-driven actuations for prosthetic skins and neuromuscular systems
Authors: Lei Zhouyue , Wu Peiyi
Published: November 2018

Polyionic elastomers were designed to address issues encountered by soft electronic and ionic conductors, and be applied to human–machine interactions.
A needle-like optofluidic probe enables targeted intracellular delivery by confining light-nanoparticle interaction on single cell
Authors: Doppenberg Andrew , Meunier Michel , Boutopoulos Christos
Published: November 2018

A needle-like optofluidic probe enables targeted intracellular delivery of molecular cargo.
Control of near infrared photoluminescence properties of single-walled carbon nanotubes by functionalization with dendrons
Authors: Maeda Yutaka , Konno Yui , Yamada Michio , Zhao Pei , Zhao Xiang , Ehara Masahiro , Nagase Shigeru
Published: November 2018

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) were functionalized by reacting them with sodium naphthalenide and dendrons to control their photoemission in the near-IR region.
Determination of major and trace element variability in healthy human urine by ICP-QMS and specific gravity normalisation
Authors: E. T. Moore Rebekah , Rehkämper Mark , Kreissig Katharina , Strekopytov Stanislav , Larner Fiona
Published: November 2018

Urinary element concentrations were quantified by ICP-QMS and variations over time, between individuals and with gender and diet were assessed.
Continuous hydrogen regeneration through the oxygen vacancy control of metal oxides using microwave irradiation
Authors: Seo Keumyoung , Jeong Sang-Mi , Lim Taekyung , Ju Sanghyun
Published: November 2018

Continuous hydrogen generation could be performed using microwave irradiation with polyvinylpyrrolidone for low energy reduction.
Effects of Maillard-type caseinate glycation on the preventive action of caseinate digests in acrylamide-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction in IEC-6 cells
Authors: Shi Jia , Fu Yu , Zhao Xin-Huai
Published: November 2018

Glycated caseinate digest of the Maillard-type has lower protective action than caseinate digest against acrylamide-induced barrier dysfunction in IEC-6 cells.
Development and mechanistic investigation of the manganese(iii) salen-catalyzed dehydrogenation of alcohols
Authors: Samuelsen Simone V. , Santilli Carola , Ahlquist Mårten S. G. , Madsen Robert
Published: November 2018

Manganese(iii) salen has been developed as a new catalytic motif for alcohol dehydrogenation and the mechanism has been elucidated.
Nano-embedded microstructured FeS2@C as a high capacity and cycling-stable Na-storage anode in an optimized ether-based electrolyte
Authors: Zhou Min , Tao Hongwei , Wang Kangli , Cheng Shijie , Jiang Kai
Published: November 2018

Benefiting from the fast charge-transfer kinetics and robust structure, the nano-embedded microstructured FeS2@C demonstrates significantly improved Na-storage performance in NaPF6/DME.
Hollow carbon shells enhanced by confined ruthenium as cost-efficient and superior catalysts for the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction
Authors: Peng Zhikun , Wang Haiyang , Zhou Leilei , Wang Yibo , Gao Jie , Liu Guoji , Redfern Simon A. T. , Feng XiaoLei , Lu Siyu , Li Baojun , Liu Zhongyi
Published: November 2018

Ru species encapsulated in HCSs can effectively break the homogeneous electron distribution and generate abundant active sites for the HER.
The facile synthesis and enhanced lithium–sulfur battery performance of an amorphous cobalt boride (Co2B)@graphene composite cathode
Authors: Guan Bin , Fan LiShuang , Wu Xian , Wang Pengxiang , Qiu Yue , Wang Maoxu , Guo Zhikun , Zhang Naiqing , Sun Kening
Published: November 2018

The facile synthesis of (Co2B)@graphene as a novel sulfur host, which provides good specific capacity and cycling performance, endowed by the unique “synergistic effect” of Co and B.
One-step fabrication of robust and anti-oil-fouling aliphatic polyketone composite membranes for sustainable and efficient filtration of oil-in-water emulsions
Authors: Zhang Lei , Cheng Liang , Wu Haochen , Yoshioka Tomohisa , Matsuyama Hideto
Published: November 2018

A robust and anti-oil-fouling aliphatic polyketone composite membrane for sustainable and efficient filtration of oil-in-water emulsions.
Field enhanced in-plane homostructure in a pure MoSe2 phototransistor for the efficient separation of photo-excited carriers
Authors: Deng Wenjie , Wang Yi , You Congya , Chen Yongfeng , Zhang Yongzhe
Published: November 2018

A homojunction as a photoresponse enhancement scheme in a pure MoSe2 device is introduced.
Transformerless quadratic‐based high step‐down DC–DC converter with wide duty cycle range
Authors: Chavoshipour Heris Pedram , Saadatizadeh Zahra , Rostami Naghi
Published: November 2018

In this study, a quadratic‐based transformerless high step‐down DC‐DC buck converter is presented. There are two switching patterns applied to the switches. Through the first switching pattern, the proposed converter provides a constant step‐down voltage conversion ratio for the whole ranges of duty cycles. On the other hand, by using an interleaved switching pattern for the proposed converter the input voltage will be divided equally between the primary capacitors, as a result, low voltage stress will be across the semiconductor components. This feature allows the designer to select switches and diodes with lower voltage ratings. However, with the interleaved switching pattern, the converter will have two different voltage conversion ratios for duty cycles larger and less than 0.5. Furthermore, the proposed converter is capable of providing a high range of currents without applying extremely narrow duty ratios. Theoretical analysis is provided in this study. To show the merits of the proposed converter, it is compared with other similar recently presented converters. A 430 W prototype of the proposed converter with 600 V/20 V is implemented and experimental results are presented and compared with the theoretical ones.
Investment for process quality improvement and setup cost reduction in an imperfect production process with warranty policy and shortages
Authors: Guchhait Rekha , Dey Bikash Koli , Bhuniya Shaktipada , Ganguly Baisakhi , Mandal Buddhadev , Bachar Raj Kumar , Sarkar Biswajit , Wee Huiming , Chaudhuri Kripasindhu
Published: November 2018

Cost reduction for setup and improvement of processes quality are the main target of this research along with free minimal repair warranty for an imperfect production System. This paper deals with the effect of setup cost reduction and process quality improvement on the optimal production cycle time for an imperfect production process with free product minimal repair warranty. Here the production system is subject to a random breakdown from ancontrolledsystem to anout-of-controlstate. Shortages are fully backlogged. The main target to minimize the total cost by simultaneously optimizing the production run time, setup cost, and process quality. A solution algorithm with some numerical experiments are provided such as the proposed model can illustrate briefly. Sensitivity analysis section is decorated for the optimal solution of the model with respect to major cost parameters of the system are carried out, and the implications of the analysis are discussed.
Aktuelle operative Therapiekonzepte zur Behandlung von Wirbelsäulendeformitäten bei Morbus Bechterew
Authors: Bogert J. , Koller H. , Tateen A. , Hempfing A.
Published: November 2018

Die Korrektur von Wirbelsäulendeformitäten beim M. Bechterew erfordert eine große operative Erfahrung. Ist die OP-Indikation bei Absenkung der Blickachse und damit verbundener Einschränkung der Lebensqualität recht klar zu stellen, so erfordert die OP-Planung eine sorgfältige Beurteilung der individuellen Anatomie und des sagittalen Profils. Durch die präoperative Analyse wird, neben dem notwendigen Korrekturausmaß, insbesondere die Lokalisation und die Art der Osteotomie festgelegt. Über die eigentliche Osteotomie hinaus ist die Technik der implantatgeführten Korrektur von entscheidender Bedeutung, um Komplikationen wie eine Translation zu vermeiden. Die vorliegende Übersichtsarbeit fasst das aktuelle Vorgehen von Planung und operativer Korrektur zusammen.
Muskelkrämpfe: Halbwissen versus Evidenz
Authors: Esser Margarete
Published: November 2018

Hintergrund Muskelkrämpfe sind weit verbreitet in der Bevölkerung, gerade auch bei Sportlern. Viele haben ihre Vorstellungen, was dagegen helfen könnte.

Ziel Abgleich zwischen den therapeutischen Vorstellungen der Menschen, vornehmlich Sportlern, was sie gemeinhin bei Muskelkrämpfen als hilfreich erachten und der durch Studien belegten Wirksamkeit.

Methode Literaturrecherche.

Ergebnisse Die Studienlage unterscheidet sich deutlich vom „Halbwissen“ der Teilnehmer.

Schlussfolgerung Mit Halbwissen sollte aufgeräumt werden, und aktuelles, wissenschaftlich belegtes Wissen muss sich, gerade auch über Multiplikatoren wie Trainer, Ärzte etc., in der Bevölkerung verbreiten.
Impact of surface treatment on metal-work-function dependence of barrier height of GaN-on-GaN Schottky barrier diode
Authors: Isobe Kazuki , Akazawa Masamichi
Published: November 2018

The impact of surface treatment on Schottky contacts on a GaN-on-GaN epitaxial layer was comprehensively investigated by combining X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) at each step of the treatment process and electrical measurements on Schottky barrier diodes. XPS showed that a photolithography process on a GaN surface reduced the surface oxide and band bending and that the subsequent HCl-based treatment reduced them further. Electrical measurements indicated that HCl treatment after photolithography affected the metal-work-function, ϕM, dependence of the Schottky barrier height, ϕB, resulting in an increase in the slope factor compared with that of the samples without HCl treatment. It is highly likely that the reduction in interface disorder by the chemical treatment led to a reduction in the interface state density at the metal/GaN interface. On the basis of the obtained ϕB–ϕM plots, the charge neutrality level was measured experimentally to be 5.0 eV from the vacuum level and 0.9 eV from the conduction band edge, while the electron affinity was measured to be 4.1 eV.
Responses of nitre goosefoot (Chenopodium nitrariaceum) to simulated rainfall and depth and duration of experimental flooding
Authors: Higgisson William , Briggs Sue , Dyer Fiona
Published: November 2018

Nitre goosefoot (Chenopodium nitrariaceum (F.Muell.) is a woody shrub that occurs at the edges of floodplains and other intermittently flooded areas across the Murray–Darling Basin. No studies have been conducted on the hydrological requirements of nitre goosefoot, and the species is not considered in watering requirements of floodplain species of the Murray–Darling Basin. This study investigated the effects of simulated rainfall and depth and duration of experimental flooding on mortality, leaf production, biomass and seed production of nitre goosefoot. Nitre goosefoot plants were grown from seeds collected near Hillston, New South Wales, Australia. The plants were subjected to the following 14 hydrological treatments: dry (no water applied), rainfall (simulating rainfall conditions at Hillston) and 12 combinations of three water depths (10cm, 50cm, 75cm) with four durations of inundation (5 days, 10 days, 20 days, 40 days). The study found that nitre goosefoot plants survived flooding, providing plants were not totally submerged, leaf production increased during flooding and after drawdown, and leaf production, biomass and seeding were highest under shallow flooding for approximately 1 month. The results of the study allow the hydrological requirements of nitre goosefoot to be considered in environmental watering programs.
Deprescribing for older adults in Australia: factors influencing GPs
Authors: Gillespie Robyn , Mullan Judy , Harrison Lindsey
Published: November 2018

Polypharmacy is increasing among older Australians, raising their risk of experiencing medication-related harm. As part of the prescribing continuum, deprescribing is a strategy proposed to reduce inappropriate polypharmacy. This study explored factors that influence deprescribing among Australian GPs using a new 21-item survey to measure GP attitudes and practices. The 85 GP responses indicated that many factors are supportive of deprescribing. GPs suggest that they are willing to explore their older patients’ deprescribing preferences; they believe that they have enough information about the potential harms and benefits of medication to inform their deprescribing decisions and are confident to communicate this information to their patients. GPs did not consider their patients would interpret deprescribing as being ‘given up on’. Limited time to review medications, poor communication between prescribers and a perception that other prescribers do not respect their role as overall coordinators of their older patients’ medications were considered by respondents to be unsupportive of deprescribing. Overall, despite GPs reporting many supportive factors for deprescribing, the influence of unsupportive factors appears to remain strong, as deprescribing is not routinely considered in practice.
Structural alignment in L2 task-based interaction
Authors: Dao Phung , Trofimovich Pavel , Kennedy Sara
Published: November 2018

This study investigated L2 structural alignment, the tendency for interlocutors to re-use a syntactic structure present in recent discourse, focusing on two information-gap interactive tasks. Thirty-four university students from diverse language backgrounds, recruited from different academic programs at a Canadian English-medium university, carried out the two information-gap interactive tasks in dyads. Interaction data were transcribed and coded for instances of structural alignment and the alignment’s characteristics in terms of structure type and accuracy. Results indicated that structural alignment occurred in L2 task-based interaction generated by both tasks. This structural repetition was linked to an improved accuracy of subsequent language production. Furthermore, the two tasks were associated with different structures that were converged on, and with varying degrees of structural alignment. These findings are discussed in terms of effects of task features on structural alignment, and the role of structural alignment in subsequent language production.
Multi-modal visually-oriented translanguaging among Deaf signers
Authors: Allard Karin , Chen Pichler Deborah
Published: November 2018

Translanguaging is often regarded with great skepticism in the context of Deaf education, as an approach that has already been
tried, with disastrous results. Already in the 1960’s educators understood the critical importance of allowing deaf children to
exploit their full linguistic repertoire for learning: not only listening, lip-reading and reading/writing, but also sign
language, fingerspelling, gesture, and other strategies that render language visually accessible. The resulting teaching
philosophy, Total Communication (TC), quickly became the dominant approach employed in Deaf education. Yet despite its progressive
stance on multilingualism and multimodality, TC ultimately failed to provide deaf students with full access to a natural language.
This chapter contrasts the ineffective multilingual practices under TC with characteristically “Deaf ways” of multilingual
meaning-making observed among skilled Deaf signers. Excerpts from life story interviews illustrate the impact these practices have
for scaffolding learning among Deaf students newly arrived in Sweden. We conclude that prioritizing visually-oriented practices
and supporting both students and teachers to become skilled signers offer the best assurance for successful translanguaging in
Deaf education without engendering the problems that caused TC to fail.
Finite-dimensional representations of minimal nilpotent W-algebras and zigzag algebras
Authors: Petukhov Alexey
Published: November 2018

Let

g
\frak g

be a simple finite-dimensional Lie algebra over an algebraically closed field

F

\mathbb F

of characteristic 0. We denote by

U

(
g
)

\mathrm {U}(\frak g)

the universal enveloping algebra of

g
\frak g

. To any nilpotent element

e
∈
g

e\in \frak g

one can attach an associative (and noncommutative as a general rule) algebra

U

(
g
,
e
)

\mathrm {U}(\frak g, e)

which is in a proper sense a “tensor factor” of

U

(
g
)

\mathrm {U}(\frak g)

. In this article we consider the case in which

e
e

belongs to the minimal nonzero nilpotent orbit of

g
\frak g

. Under these assumptions

U

(
g
,
e
)

\mathrm {U}(\frak g, e)

was described explicitly in terms of generators and relations. One can expect that the representation theory of

U

(
g
,
e
)

\mathrm {U}(\frak g, e)

would be very similar to the representation theory of

U

(
g
)

\mathrm {U}(\frak g)

. For example one can guess that the category of finite-dimensional

U

(
g
,
e
)

\mathrm {U}(\frak g, e)

-modules is semisimple.

The goal of this article is to show that this is the case if

g
\frak g

is not simply-laced. We also show that, if

g
\frak g

is simply-laced and is not of type

A
n

A_n

, then the regular block of finite-dimensional

U
⁡
(
g
,
e
)

\operatorname {U}(\frak g, e)

-modules is equivalent to the category of finite-dimensional modules of a zigzag algebra.
Identify origin of replication inSaccharomyces cerevisiaeusing two-step feature selection technique
Authors: Dao Fu-Ying , Lv Hao , Wang Fang , Feng Chao-Qin , Ding Hui , Chen Wei , Lin Hao
Published: November 2018

Motivation

DNA replication is a key step to maintain the continuity of genetic information between parental generation and offspring. The initiation site of DNA replication, also called origin of replication (ORI), plays an extremely important role in the basic biochemical process. Thus, rapidly and effectively identifying the location of ORI in genome will provide key clues for genome analysis. Although biochemical experiments could provide detailed information for ORI, it requires high experimental cost and long experimental period. As good complements to experimental techniques, computational methods could overcome these disadvantages.

Results

Thus, in this study, we developed a predictor called iORI-PseKNC2.0 to identify ORIs in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae genome based on sequence information. The PseKNC including 90 physicochemical properties was proposed to formulate ORI and non-ORI samples. In order to improve the accuracy, a two-step feature selection was proposed to exclude redundant and noise information. As a result, the overall success rate of 88.53% was achieved in the 5-fold cross-validation test by using support vector machine.

Availability and implementation

Based on the proposed model, a user-friendly webserver was established and can be freely accessed at http://lin-group.cn/server/iORI-PseKNC2.0. The webserver will provide more convenience to most of wet-experimental scholars.
FactorialHMM: fast and exact inference in factorial hidden Markov models
Authors: Schweiger Regev , Erlich Yaniv , Carmi Shai
Published: November 2018

Motivation

Hidden Markov models (HMMs) are powerful tools for modeling processes along the genome. In a standard genomic HMM, observations are drawn, at each genomic position, from a distribution whose parameters depend on a hidden state, and the hidden states evolve along the genome as a Markov chain. Often, the hidden state is the Cartesian product of multiple processes, each evolving independently along the genome. Inference in these so-called Factorial HMMs has a naïve running time that scales as the square of the number of possible states, which by itself increases exponentially with the number of sub-chains; such a running time scaling is impractical for many applications. While faster algorithms exist, there is no available implementation suitable for developing bioinformatics applications.

Results

We developed FactorialHMM, a Python package for fast exact inference in Factorial HMMs. Our package allows simulating either directly from the model or from the posterior distribution of states given the observations. Additionally, we allow the inference of all key quantities related to HMMs: (i) the (Viterbi) sequence of states with the highest posterior probability; (ii) the likelihood of the data and (iii) the posterior probability (given all observations) of the marginal and pairwise state probabilities. The running time and space requirement of all procedures is linearithmic in the number of possible states. Our package is highly modular, providing the user with maximal flexibility for developing downstream applications.

Availability and implementation

https://github.com/regevs/factorial_hmm

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Valve-in-valve-prosthesis embolization and aortic dissection: single procedure, double complication
Authors: Szlapka Michal , Michel Eriberto , Ricciardi Mark J , Malaisrie S Christopher
Published: November 2018

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a recognized treatment method for high-risk patients with aortic stenosis. TAVI is also recommended for structural valve degeneration of a biological valve prosthesis. TAVI-specific complications, such as prosthesis embolization and aortic dissection, are uncommon but potential concerns. A 73-year-old woman presented with structural valve degeneration 14 years after aortic root replacement with a bioprosthetic valved conduit. The patient underwent TAVI valve-in-valve under monitored anaesthesia care. Intraoperatively, the self-expandable prosthesis was difficult to deploy within the valved conduit and ultimately migrated distally. During the technically difficult passage of the prosthesis delivery system through the tortuous aorta, the patient started reporting symptoms suggestive of aortic dissection. An emergency computed tomography scan confirmed type B dissection. Thoracic endovascular aortic repair followed by deployment of a balloon-expandable prosthesis below the self-expandable implant was performed. Careful prosthesis selection in valve-in-valve patients after aortic root replacement is crucial for procedural success.
Sparsity/undersampling tradeoffs in anisotropic undersampling, with applications in MR imaging/spectroscopy
Authors: Monajemi Hatef , Donoho David L
Published: November 2018

We study anisotropic undersampling schemes like those used in multi-dimensional magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy and imaging, which sample exhaustively in certain time dimensions and randomly in others. Our analysis shows that anisotropic undersampling schemes are equivalent to certain block-diagonal measurement systems. We develop novel exact formulas for the sparsity/undersampling tradeoffs in such measurement systems, assuming uniform sparsity fractions in each column. Our formulas predict finite-$N$ phase transition behavior differing substantially from the well-known asymptotic phase transitions for classical Gaussian undersampling. Extensive empirical work shows that our formulas accurately describe observed finite-$N$ behavior, while the usual formulas based on universality are substantially inaccurate at the moderate $N$ involved in realistic applications. We also vary the anisotropy, keeping the total number of samples fixed, and for each variation we determine the precise sparsity/undersampling tradeoff (phase transition). We show that, other things being equal, the ability to recover a sparse object decreases with an increasing number of exhaustively sampled dimensions.
Metabolic regulation of T cell development by Sin1–mTORC2 is mediated by pyruvate kinase M2
Authors: Ouyang Xinxing , Han Yuheng , Qu Guojun , Li Man , Wu Ningbo , Liu Hongzhi , Arojo Omotooke , Sun Hongxiang , Liu Xiaobo , Liu Dou , Chen Lei , Zou Qiang , Su Bing
Published: November 2018

Glucose metabolism plays a key role in thymocyte development. The mammalian target of rapamycin complex 2 (mTORC2) is a critical regulator of cell growth and metabolism, but its role in early thymocyte development and metabolism has not been fully studied. We show here that genetic ablation of Sin1, an essential component of mTORC2, in T lineage cells results in severely impaired thymocyte development at the CD4−CD8− double negative (DN) stages but not at the CD4+CD8+ double positive (DP) or later stages. Notably, Sin1-deficient DN thymocytes show markedly reduced proliferation and glycolysis. Importantly, we discover that the M2 isoform of pyruvate kinase (PKM2) is a novel and crucial Sin1 effector in promoting DN thymocyte development and metabolism. At the molecular level, we show that Sin1–mTORC2 controls PKM2 expression through an AKT-dependent PPAR-γ nuclear translocation. Together, our study unravels a novel mTORC2−PPAR-γ−PKM2 pathway in immune-metabolic regulation of early thymocyte development.
Zebrafish hhex-null mutant develops an intrahepatic intestinal tube due to de-repression of cdx1b and pdx1
Authors: Gao Ce , Huang Weidong , Gao Yuqi , Lo Li Jan , Luo Lingfei , Huang Honghui , Chen Jun , Peng Jinrong
Published: November 2018

The hepatopancreatic duct (HPD) system links the liver and pancreas to the intestinal tube and is composed of the extrahepatic biliary duct, gallbladder, and pancreatic duct. Haematopoietically expressed-homeobox (Hhex) protein plays an essential role in the establishment of HPD; however, the molecular mechanism remains elusive. Here, we show that zebrafish hhex-null mutants fail to develop the HPD system characterized by lacking the biliary marker Annexin A4 and the HPD marker sox9b. The hepatobiliary duct part of the mutant HPD system is replaced by an intrahepatic intestinal tube characterized by expressing the intestinal marker fatty acid-binding protein 2a (fabp2a). Cell lineage analysis showed that this intrahepatic intestinal tube is not originated from hepatocytes or cholangiocytes. Further analysis revealed that cdx1b and pdx1 are expressed ectopically in the intrahepatic intestinal tube and knockdown of cdx1b and pdx1 could restore the expression of sox9b in the mutant. Chromatin-immunoprecipitation analysis showed that Hhex binds to the promoters of pdx1 and cdx1b genes to repress their expression. We therefore propose that Hhex, Cdx1b, Pdx1, and Sox9b form a genetic network governing the patterning and morphogenesis of the HPD and digestive tract systems in zebrafish.
Suicide in the Military: Understanding Rates and Risk Factors Across the United States’ Armed Forces
Authors: Pruitt Larry D , Smolenski Derek J , Bush Nigel E , Tucker Jennifer , Issa Fuad , Hoyt Timothy V , Reger Mark A
Published: November 2018

This paper presents data from the United States Department of Defense Suicide Event Report System for years 2012–2015 to detail descriptive, longitudinal rate data and risk factor profiles associated with military suicide. The annual findings were aggregated from all U.S. military suicide deaths and suicide attempts. Data elements included the most common method of suicide (firearms), most common behavioral health diagnoses (substance abuse/dependence), common life stressors (failed intimate–partner relationships), and an individual’s history of operational deployment. Age- and sex-adjusted rates for the Services were compared with rates for the U.S. adult population. Results showed that the current reporting period (2015) is similar to patterns that have been observed over the preceding years and to patterns reported in the overall U.S. adult population. Suicide rates remain elevated but stable for both the Active and Reserve Components of the Military Services compared to historical levels observed prior to 2003. Finally, we discuss common errors and misinterpretations that can occur when analyzing surveillance data.
Programmable time-domain digital-coding metasurface for non-linear harmonic manipulation and new wireless communication systems
Authors: Zhao Jie , Yang Xi , Dai Jun Yan , Cheng Qiang , Li Xiang , Qi Ning Hua , Ke Jun Chen , Bai Guo Dong , Liu Shuo , Jin Shi , Alù Andrea , Cui Tie Jun
Published: November 2018

Optical non-linear phenomena are typically observed in natural materials interacting with light at high intensities, and they benefit a diverse range of applications from communication to sensing. However, controlling harmonic conversion with high efficiency and flexibility remains a major issue in modern optical and radio-frequency systems. Here, we introduce a dynamic time-domain digital-coding metasurface that enables efficient manipulation of spectral harmonic distribution. By dynamically modulating the local phase of the surface reflectivity, we achieve accurate control of different harmonics in a highly programmable and dynamic fashion, enabling unusual responses, such as velocity illusion. As a relevant application, we propose and realize a novel architecture for wireless communication systems based on the time-domain digital-coding metasurface, which largely simplifies the architecture of modern communication systems, at the same time yielding excellent performance for real-time signal transmission. The presented work, from new concept to new system, opens new pathways in the application of metamaterials to practical technology.
The Value of Systemic Unimportance: The Case of MetLife*
Authors: Naubert Christopher , Tesar Linda L
Published: November 2018

We use an event study approach to estimate the burden of the financial regulations associated with Systemically Important Financial Institution (SIFI) designation. On March 30, 2016, the US District Court determined that MetLife’s SIFI designation was arbitrary and capricious because the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) failed to weigh the economic cost of the financial regulation on MetLife against the benefits of increased financial stability. We find significant positive abnormal returns for MetLife and AIG on the date of the ruling. We estimate that the lifting of the SIFI designation created $1.4 billion in corporate wealth for MetLife, suggesting that MetLife would be 3.4% more profitable as a non-SIFI. These gains fall short of the $8 billion stipulated by MetLife in its complaint. We also find significant abnormal returns to SIFI institutions on the day following the US Presidential election.
Finding Jobs, Forming Families, and Stressing Out? Work, Family, and Stress among Young Adult Women in the United States
Authors: Lippert Adam M , Damaske Sarah
Published: November 2018

The transition to adulthood is increasingly characterized by complex paths into the world of work and family, especially for young women. Yet how work and family combine to influence stress among young adult women is not well understood. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, we leverage new extensions to latent class analysis (LCA) to identify common combinations of work and family circumstances among young adult women, their earlier life and contemporaneous correlates, and associations with two stress measures: a multi-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Epstein–Barr Viral (EBV) antibody titers, a well-validated biomarker of stress-related immunity impairments. We identify seven different common combinations of latent work–family combinations among young adult women ranging from well-compensated professional workers with and without children, mothers without paid employment, and delayed transitions to work and family. Completing a college degree was associated with a higher likelihood of membership in classes marked by professional work irrespective of motherhood, while being raised in a community with greater female labor opportunities was generally associated with membership in child-free classes. Mothers and child-free women in “pink-collar” work with low wages and decision-marking freedom reported higher stress compared to women in “white-collar” work with higher wages and decision-making freedom. These differences are mostly attenuated following adjustments for poverty-related stressors and work–family conflict. While prior work has emphasized the health benefits for women of combining work and family, our research suggests these benefits may be limited to women of higher socioeconomic status with flexible, well-compensated jobs.
A Qualitative Study on Cancer Care Burden
Authors: Hassankhani Hadi , Eghtedar Samereh , Rahmani Azad , Ebrahimi Hossein , Whitehead Bill
Published: November 2018

The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of Iranian family caregivers with regard to the burden of caregiving. This is in the context of illuminating and identifying the experiences of family members from different contextual perspectives. In this qualitative study, purposive sampling was conducted in 2016. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and were analyzed using content analysis. Data analysis identified 4 categories and 8 subcategories: (1) burnout (physical problems and psychoemotional stress), (2) role conflict (balancing caring roles and family responsibilities; failure in professional or educational roles), (3) health system tensions (inadequate support from health professionals; ignorance of family members in health structure), and (4) social challenges of cancer (economic burden; taboo of cancer). In conclusion, nurses need to provide individualized support and counseling that address the sources of burden. This highlights the benefit of training health care professionals to provide culturally sensitive support based on family caregivers' needs and circumstances.
Decitabine attenuates nociceptive behavior in a murine model of bone cancer pain
Authors: Appel Camilla Kristine , Scheff Nicole Newell , Viet Chi Tonglien , Schmidt Brian Lee , Heegaard Anne-Marie
Published: November 2018

Bone cancer metastasis is extremely painful and decreases the quality of life of the affected patients. Available pharmacological treatments are not able to sufficiently ameliorate the pain, and as patients with cancer are living longer, new treatments for pain management are needed. Decitabine (5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine), a DNA methyltransferases inhibitor, has analgesic properties in preclinical models of postsurgical and soft-tissue oral cancer pain by inducing an upregulation of endogenous opioids. In this study, we report that daily treatment with decitabine (2 µg/g, intraperitoneally) attenuated nociceptive behavior in the 4T1-luc2 mouse model of bone cancer pain. We hypothesized that the analgesic mechanism of decitabine involved activation of the endogenous opioid system through demethylation and reexpression of the transcriptionally silenced endothelin B receptor gene, Ednrb. Indeed, Ednrb was hypermethylated and transcriptionally silenced in the mouse model of bone cancer pain. We demonstrated that expression of Ednrb in the cancer cells lead to release of β-endorphin in the cell supernatant, which reduced the number of responsive dorsal root ganglia neurons in an opioid-dependent manner. Our study supports a role of demethylating drugs, such as decitabine, as unique pharmacological agents targeting the pain in the cancer microenvironment.
Lung cancer screening: Practice guidelines and insurance coverage are not enough
Authors: McDonnell Karen Kane , Estrada Robin Dawson , Dievendorf Amy Clark , Blew Lauren , Sercy Erica , Khan Samira , Hardin James W. , Warden Deborah , Eberth Jan M.
Published: November 2018

Background and purpose:

Low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) is expected to increase early detection of lung cancer and improve survival. The growth in the number of advanced nurse practitioners (NPs) in primary care settings increases the likelihood that an NP will serve as a patient’s provider. This study's purpose was to examine knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding LDCT among NPs who work in primary care settings.

Methods:

An explanatory, sequential, mixed-method design used a 32-item questionnaire, followed by a semi-structured telephone interview. The development of the survey and interview questions were guided by a conceptual framework representing a temporal sequence for behavior change and potential barriers to guideline adherence.

Conclusions:

Nurse practitioners believe that shared decision making with their high-risk patients about LDCT is within their scope of their practice. Working in time-constrained primary care settings, NPs have limited abilities to improve the uptake of LDCT. Substantial patient barriers exist that deter follow through on providers' recommendation. Disseminating guidelines and authorizing health insurance reimbursement is insufficient.

Implications for practice:

Research is needed that investigates the screening process so that barriers can be closely studied. Culture change is needed where early detection has greater value for insurers, providers, and patients.
The one-minute preceptor model: A systematic review
Authors: Gatewood Elizabeth , De Gagne Jennie C.
Published: November 2018

Background and purpose:

Teaching models provide a systemic framework for didactic and clinical teaching. The One-Minute Preceptor (OMP) is one teaching model, providing five microskills to organize a learning experience for students in the clinical environment. This review aims to integrate the literature on the OMP model by highlighting potential use for nurse practitioners while identifying directions for future research.

Methods:

Electronic databases were searched from December 2017 to January 2018 for articles published in English. The databases included PubMed, CINAHL, and MEDLINE using terms including “preceptor,” “clinical teaching,” “time-efficient teaching,” and “precepting.” Of 32 articles in the final search, only 12 experimental quantitative studies were included in the synthesis and 20 descriptive studies in the discussion.

Conclusions:

The OMP model is supported by literature for its effectiveness as a teaching model and preference by students and preceptors. It has been shown to increase teaching techniques including feedback and assessment of students' clinical reasoning.

Implications for practice:

The OMP model has the potential to overcome clinicians' barriers to precepting nurse practitioner students. Future research may evaluate the use of this model specific to nurse practitioner preceptors and students, perceived time benefits in clinical teaching, overall improvement in clinical teaching, and use in interprofessional precepting.
Efficacy of vitamin D in treatment of inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Li Jinzhong , Chen Ning , Wang Dan , Zhang Jie , Gong Xiaobing
Published: November 2018

Background:

Vitamin D (VitD) deficiency is prevalent in patient with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Recent studies have found that VitD can induce and maintain IBD remission through antibiosis, anti-inflammatory, and repair of intestinal mucosal barriers, thus improving the patient's disease activity and quality-of-life. The purpose of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the therapeutic effect and safety of VitD in the treatment of IBD.

Methods:

Published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included from electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane library, Web of Science, and so forth). Cochrane handbook was applied to evaluate the methodological quality. The levels of 25(OH)D3, relapse rate, inflammation index, and adverse events were compared between the experimental group and the control group (placebo group). All statistical analyses were directed by Revman 5.3 software and statistical significance was defined as P < .05.

Results:

Eighteen RCTs involved 908 patients were included. Meta-analysis showed that VitD improved the 25(OH)D3 levels more significantly than the control group (ng/mL, weighted mean deviation [WMD] = 7.85, 95% CI (5.52, 10.18), P < .000001), and compared with lower doses, there were significant differences increasing 25(OH)D3 levels (WMD = 11.19, 95% CI [4.73, 17.65], P = .0007) in high-dose VitD treatment while there was no significant difference in the adverse events between 2 groups (WMD = 1.56, 95% CI [0.74, 3.29], P = .24). VitD reduced the relapse rate more significantly than the control group, but there were no significant differences between the low-dose and high-dose vitamin D treatment. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) of the VitD and the control group showed no statistically significant difference (ESR [mm/h]: WMD = –0.22, 95% CI [–5.73, 5.29], P = .94; hsCRP (mg/dL): WMD = −0.53, 95% CI [–1.68, 0.62], P = .37).

Conclusions:

The treatment of VitD in patients with IBD can improve the level of 25(OH)D3 and control the relapse rate of the disease, whose clinical curative effect is more accurate. Thus VitD should be recommended for the treatment of IBD, at least as an adjunctive treatment.
WNT6 is an effective marker for osteosarcoma diagnosis and prognosis
Authors: Jiang Kai , Li Sha , Li Lu , Wang Xiaohua , Gu Yuanjie , Jin Zhiqiang
Published: November 2018

Wingless-Type MMTV Integration Site Family, Member 6 (WNT6) is a member of the Wnt family and its expression is abnormal in different human cancer cell lines. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of WNT6 in osteosarcoma.

The levels of WNT6 mRNA and protein in tissue and serum were detected through quantitative real-time polymorperase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Enzyme Lined Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), respectively. Chi-square test was performed to estimate the association of WNT6 expression with clinical parameters among osteosarcoma patients. Receiver operation characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to determine diagnostic performance of serum WNT6 in osteosarcoma. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan–Meier method. Cox regression analysis was adopted to evaluate prognostic significance of WNT6 expression among osteosarcoma patients.

Compared with the controls, WNT6 mRNA and protein levels were significantly elevated in patients with osteosarcoma (P > .05 for all). Furthermore, WNT6 upregulation showed positive correlation with patients’ age (P < .001), tumor grade (P < .001) and distant metastasis (P = .001). WNT6 might be a diagnostic marker for osteosarcoma with an AUC of 0.854 combining a specificity of 88.4% and a sensitivity of 77.8%. Survival analysis result indicated that high WNT6 expression predicted poor survival (log rank test, P = .001). WNT6 might be a potential prognostic biomarker for osteosarcoma (HR = 2.227, 95%CI = 1.061–10.842, P = .027).

WNT6 may be a diagnostic and prognostic marker in osteosarcoma.