bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Altered physiological brain variation in drug‐resistant epilepsy
Authors: Kananen Janne , Tuovinen Timo , Ansakorpi Hanna , Rytky Seppo , Helakari Heta , Huotari Niko , Raitamaa Lauri , Raatikainen Ville , Rasila Aleksi , Borchardt Viola , Korhonen Vesa , LeVan Pierre , Nedergaard Maiken , Kiviniemi Vesa
Published: August 2018

Introduction

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) combined with simultaneous electroencephalography (EEG‐fMRI) has become a major tool in mapping epilepsy sources. In the absence of detectable epileptiform activity, the resting state fMRI may still detect changes in the blood oxygen level‐dependent signal, suggesting intrinsic alterations in the underlying brain physiology.

Methods

In this study, we used coefficient of variation (CV) of critically sampled 10 Hz ultra‐fast fMRI (magnetoencephalography, MREG) signal to compare physiological variance between healthy controls (n = 10) and patients (n = 10) with drug‐resistant epilepsy (DRE).

Results

We showed highly significant voxel‐level (p < 0.01, TFCE‐corrected) increase in the physiological variance in DRE patients. At individual level, the elevations range over three standard deviations (σ) above the control mean (μ) CVMREG values solely in DRE patients, enabling patient‐specific mapping of elevated physiological variance. The most apparent differences in group‐level analysis are found on white matter, brainstem, and cerebellum. Respiratory (0.12–0.4 Hz) and very‐low‐frequency (VLF = 0.009–0.1 Hz) signal variances were most affected.

Conclusions

The CVMREG increase was not explained by head motion or physiological cardiorespiratory activity, that is, it seems to be linked to intrinsic physiological pulsations. We suggest that intrinsic brain pulsations play a role in DRE and that critically sampled fMRI may provide a powerful tool for their identification.
Anatomical and functional relationships between external abdominal oblique muscle and posterior layer of thoracolumbar fascia
Authors: FAN CHENGLEI , FEDE CATERINA , GAUDREAULT NATHALY , PORZIONATO ANDREA , MACCHI VERONICA , DE CARO RAFFAELE , Stecco Carla
Published: August 2018

The abdominal muscles are important for the stability of the lumbar region through the thoracolumbar fascia (TLF). However, there is not full agreement regarding the posterior transversal continuity of the external abdominal oblique muscle (EO) with the TLF. To clarify this point, 10 cadavers and computed tomography (CT) images from 27 subjects were used to evaluate the transversal continuity of the TLF with the abdominal muscles. The width of the fascial continuity of the EO with the posterior layer of TLF along the posterior border of the EO was also measured (40.70 ±3.92 mm). The epimysial fascia of the EO was in direct continuity with the posterior layer of TLF in eight cadavers and 23 CT images, whereas in two cadavers and four CT images, the epimysial fascia of the EO first fused with the fascia covering the latissimus dorsi, and then, both fasciae were in continuity with the posterior layer of TLF. Therefore, the transversal fascial continuity of the EO could explain the transmission of tension from the EO to the posterior layer of TLF and its importance in maintaining the stability of the lumbar spine through a hydraulic effect. Regarding fascial continuity in the trunk, and taking the EO into consideration, the TLF is formed by the fascia of all the abdominal muscles as the rectus sheath. In this manner, myofascial continuity between the TLF and the abdominal muscles is achieved through the aponeurosis and fascia, which ensures synchronization between the erector spinae and the rectus abdominis. Clin. Anat. 31:1092–1098, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Spatial distribution of smooth muscle tissue in the male pelvic floor with special reference to the lateral extent of the rectourethralis muscle: Application to prostatectomy and proctectomy
Authors: Muro Satoru , Tsukada Yuichiro , Harada Masayo , Ito Masaaki , Akita Keiichi
Published: August 2018

The anatomy of the rectourethralis muscle is essential for performing radical prostatectomy and proctectomy. The rectourethralis muscle is known to continue to the rectal wall posteriorly and to the membranous urethra anteriorly. However, the lateral extent of the rectourethralis muscle remains unclear. This study aimed to verify the hypothesis that the rectourethralis muscle laterally extends and directly adheres to the levator ani. Eight male cadavers were used for macroscopic dissection, and three male cadavers were used for immunohistological analysis using anti‐smooth muscle and anti‐skeletal muscle antibodies. The rectourethralis muscle laterally extended smooth muscle fibers both superoposteriorly and inferoanteriorly toward the levator ani. The smooth muscle fibers sandwiched the levator ani superoanteriorly and inferoanteriorly. A few smooth muscle fibers of the rectourethralis muscle inserted into the levator ani. This study clarified the spatial distribution of the rectourethralis muscle and its detailed positional relationship with the levator ani. The findings are valuable especially to urologists and anorectal surgeons for dissecting an optimal layer around the urethra and the rectum, and for avoiding rectal or urethral injuries during surgery. Clin. Anat. 31:1167–1176, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Transfer of the Dorsal Cutaneous Branch of the Ulnar Nerve for Restoration of Median Nerve Sensation: A Cadaveric Study
Authors: Luo T. David , Wigton Michael D. , Berwick Benjamin W. , Khalil Mario , Chen Wayne A. , Smithson Ian R. , Li Zhongyu
Published: August 2018

The use of dorsal cutaneous branch of the ulnar nerve (DCBUN) transfer for median nerve (MN) sensory restoration has not been evaluated anatomically and histologically in humans. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of DCBUN to MN transfer for sensory restoration with respect to nerve branch pattern, length, and fascicle count match.Using seven fresh frozen cadaveric upper limb specimens, the DCBUN and its branch patterns, lengths, and sizes were recorded. The MN was exposed within the carpal tunnel and dissected distally to identify the common digital nerves (CDN). Simulated nerve transfer was performed with palmar coaptation of the DCBUN branches with the CDNs. Histological analysis of each nerve branch was performed. The seven specimens had a mean of 3.57 branches (range 2–4) off the DCBUN. The longest branch innervated the dorsal 4th web space, on average reaching 7.6 cm distal to the wrist crease. Transferring the DCBUN branches palmarly did not substantially change their maximum distance distal to the wrist crease. The MN CDNs and DCBUN branches had mean cross‐sectional areas of 6.37 and 1.99 mm2, respectively, and mean fascicle counts of 10.4 and 4.05, respectively. The DCBUN provides 2–4 branches suitable for tension‐free end‐to‐end transfer to the MN CDNs. The individual size of the DCBUN branch is smaller than CDN; however, combining two or more branches of the DCBUN would overcome the fascicle and size mismatch to reconstruct the 1st web space CDN for critical sensory restoration. Clin. Anat. 31:1006–1012, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Prevalence of musculocutaneous nerve variations: Systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Sirico Felice , Castaldo Clotilde , Baioccato Veronica , Marino Nastasia , Zappia Marcello , Montagnani Stefania , Di Meglio Franca , Nurzynska Daria
Published: August 2018

We aimed to establish the prevalence of the musculocutaneous nerve (MCN) variations and the probability of the variation being pure or mixed in the same plexus. We applied the principles of evidence‐based anatomy to find, appraise, and synthesize data through a meta‐analysis of anatomical studies. The variations were grouped based on the presence and location of the communicating branch with the median nerve and the origin of branches to anterior arm muscles. Forty‐three cadaveric studies met the inclusion criteria, providing data from 4124 plexuses. The overall pooled prevalence of plexuses with MCN variations was 20%. Based on the classification applied in our study, the pooled prevalence of variations was 17% in region 1A, 20% in region 1B, 36% in region 2 and 49% in region 3. Importantly, 64.58% of variations in region 1A and 74.14% of variations in region 1B were mixed, that is, associated with a variation in another region. The odds of finding another variation in the presence of a variation in region 2 or 3 were equal 0.37 and 0.52, respectively, demonstrating a significantly lower probability of finding mixed variations involving these regions, when compared with region 1A. Variations of the MCN are most common in the part distal to the exit from within or beneath the coracobrachialis muscle. Proximal variations are more often associated with another variation located along the nerve. These findings can assist health care professionals in the treatment of brachial plexus lesions. Clin. Anat. 32:183–195, 2019. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Long‐term risk of cardiovascular mortality in lymphoma survivors: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Boyne Devon J. , Mickle Alexis T. , Brenner Darren R. , Friedenreich Christine M. , Cheung Winson Y. , Tang Karen L. , Wilson Todd A. , Lorenzetti Diane L. , James Matthew T. , Ronksley Paul E. , Rabi Doreen M.
Published: August 2018

Cardiovascular disease has been identified as one of the late complications of cancer therapy. The purpose of this study was to quantify the long‐term risk of cardiovascular mortality among lymphoma survivors relative to that of the general population. A systematic review and meta‐analysis were conducted. Articles were identified in November 2016 by searching EMBASE, MEDLINE, and CINAHL databases. Observational studies were included if they assessed cardiovascular mortality in patients with lymphoma who survived for at least 5 years from time of diagnosis or if they had a median follow‐up of 10 years. A pooled standardized mortality ratio (SMR) was estimated using a DerSimonian and Laird random‐effects model. The Q and I2 statistics were used to assess heterogeneity. Funnel plots and Begg's and Egger's tests were used to evaluate publication bias. Of the 7450 articles screened, 27 studies were included in the systematic review representing 46 829 Hodgkin and 14 764 non‐Hodgkin lymphoma survivors. The pooled number of deaths attributable to cardiovascular disease among Hodgkin and non‐Hodgkin disease was estimated to be 7.31 (95% CI: 5.29‐10.10; I2 = 95.4%) and 5.35 (95% CI: 2.55‐11.24; I2 = 94.0%) times that of the general population, respectively. This association was greater among Hodgkin lymphoma survivors treated before the age of 21 (pooled SMR = 13.43; 95% CI: 9.22‐19.57; I2 = 78.9%). There was a high degree of heterogeneity and a high risk of bias due to confounding in this body of literature. Lymphoma survivors have an increased risk of fatal cardiovascular events compared to the general population and should be targeted for cardiovascular screening and prevention campaigns.
Targeting of AKT/ERK/CTNNB1 by DAW22 as a potential therapeutic compound for malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor
Authors: Li Xiao‐Xiao , Zhang Shi‐Jie , Chiu Amy P. , Lo Lilian H. , Huang Jian , Rowlands Dewi K. , Wang Jinhui , Keng Vincent W.
Published: August 2018

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are an aggressive form of soft tissue neoplasm with extremely poor prognosis and no effective medical options currently available. MPNSTs can occur either sporadically or in association with the neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) syndrome. Importantly, activation of RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, and WNT/CTNNB1 signaling pathways has been reported in both NF1‐related and late‐stage sporadic MPNSTs. In this study, we found that DAW22, a natural sesquiterpene coumarin compound isolated from Ferula ferulaeoides (Steud.) Korov., could inhibit cell proliferation and colony formation in five established human MPNST cancer cell lines. Further molecular mechanism exploration indicated that DAW22 could target the main components in the MPNST tumorigenic pathways: namely suppress phosphorylation of AKT and ERK, and reduce levels of non‐phospho (active) CTNNB1. Using the xenograft mouse model transplanted with human MPNST cancer cell line, daily treatment with DAW22 for 25 days was effective in reducing tumor growth. These results support DAW22 as an alternative therapeutic compound for MPNST treatment by affecting multiple signaling transduction pathways in its disease progression.
Genomics‐Driven Discovery of a Symbiont‐Specific Cyclopeptide from Bacteria Residing in the Rice Seedling Blight Fungus
Authors: Niehs Sarah P. , Dose Benjamin , Scherlach Kirstin , Roth Martin , Hertweck Christian
Published: August 2018

The rice seedling blight fungus Rhizopus microsporus harbors endosymbiotic bacteria (Burkholderia rhizoxinica) that produce the virulence factor rhizoxin and control host development. Genome mining indicated a massive inventory of cryptic nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) genes, which have not yet been linked to any natural products. The discovery and full characterization of a novel cyclopeptide from endofungal bacteria is reported. In silico analysis of an orphan, symbiont‐specific NRPS predicted the structure of a nonribosomal peptide, which was targeted by LC‐MS/MS profiling of wild‐type and engineered null mutants. NMR spectroscopy and chemical derivatization elucidated the structure of the bacterial cyclopeptide. Phylogenetic analyses revealed the relationship of starter C domains for rare N‐acetyl‐capped peptides. Heptarhizin is produced under symbiotic conditions in geographically constrained strains from the Pacific clade; this indicates a potential ecological role of the peptide.
Hollow Mesoporous Organic Polymeric Nanospheres (HMOPNs)‐Supported Carbene Rovis Catalyst: Mesopore and Morphology‐Dependent Catalytic Performances in Asymmetric Organocascade
Authors: Teng Fei , Xie Guangxing , Zhang Li , Ma Xuebing
Published: August 2018

In view of the vital functions of mesopore and hydrophobicity of organic polymer in the mass transfer of reactants and enantioselectivity in heterogeneous asymmetric organocatalysis, a novel type of well‐shaped hollow mesoporous organic polymeric nanospheres (HMOPNs)‐supported triazolium carbene Rovis catalyst was developed for the first time by the copolymerization of styrene and vinylated triazoline on the surface of polystyrene nanosphere (PS), etching of PS template by THF and then trityl cation‐mediated oxidation. The as‐fabricated well‐shaped HMOPNs with mesoporous shell and thin shell thickness was proven to be highly active in asymmetric Michael/Stetter cascade with the higher yields and enantioselectivities than mesopore‐deficient polystyrene‐supported triazolium carbene Rovis catalyst (PS‐7), and achieve the same enantioselectivities as corresponding homogeneous triazolium carbene Rovis catalyst. The as‐fabricated mesopores in the shell of HMOPNs played an important role in enantioselectivity on the basis of the calculated transition state of Breslow intermediate. Moreover, the HMOPNs‐supported Rovis catalyst displayed good reusability and mechanical stability in batch repeated experiments.
Discovery of Layered Indium Hydroxide via a Hydroperoxyl Anion Coordinated Precursor at Room Temperature
Authors: Qiu Yaming , Lin Cong , Li Jian , Zhang Lei , Xu Le , Zhao Yifang , Du X. Xin , Wang Ligang , Pan Fengjuan , Liao Fuhui , Sun Junliang
Published: August 2018

All reported layered metal hydroxides have brucite‐like metal‐hydroxyl host layers, and the discovery of other types of layered metal hydroxides could significantly extend the layered metal hydroxide families, which is meaningful in both theory and applications. Here, through hydroperoxyl anion coordinated In3+ cations as a precursor, a new layered indium hydroxide was synthesized, where only a three‐dimensional cubic phase had existed before. The layer of the product exhibits an unusual structure where In(OH)6 octahedra share edges and vertexes with each other to form layers, which is completely different from the common edge‐sharing brucite‐like metal‐hydroxyl layers. By investigating the formation mechanism, the new layered structure is found to be formed by changing the traditional crystallization path through the hydroperoxyl anion coordinated intermediates. Many other new phases could also be discovered by following the same intrinsic principle.
Aerobic Oxidation of Primary Amines to Imines in Water using a Cobalt Complex as Recyclable Catalyst under Mild Conditions
Authors: Hazra Susanta , Pilania Priti , Deb Mayukh , Kushawaha Ajay Kishor , Elias Anil J.
Published: August 2018

Oxidative coupling of primary amines to imines has been achieved by using a water soluble cobalt complex as catalyst and air as the oxidant at near ambient conditions. Aromatic, heteroaromatic and aliphatic amines were successfully converted to the corresponding imines with yields of up to 96 %. A 20 gram scale reaction for the synthesis of imine from benzylamine in good yield is also demonstrated with this method. The catalyst has been found to be reusable with up to five cycles. It is highly efficient, gives a turnover number (TON) of up to 128, and shows chemoselectivity with the only byproducts being water and ammonia. Control experiments and mechanistic studies indicate that the CoII/CoIII catalytic cycle is responsible for these oxidative transformations. Some of the reactive intermediates of this reaction have also been isolated and structurally characterized.
Design trade‐offs of a capacitance‐to‐voltage converter with a zoom‐in technique for grounded capacitive sensors
Authors: Ahmadpour Bijargah Arash , Heidary Ali , Torkzadeh Pooya , Nihtianov Stoyan
Published: August 2018

This paper presents a low‐power, high‐precision capacitance‐to‐voltage converter (CVC) for grounded capacitive sensors. To measure very small capacitance variations in the presence of a large offset capacitance, a new zoom‐in structure is proposed. The major non‐idealities of the CVC such as the settling error, charge injection, and parasitic capacitance of the switches are minimized through an optimized design. Accordingly, it is shown that the zoom‐in technique can significantly reduce many of these errors. The effect of the parasitic capacitances around the sensor capacitance is significantly reduced by using a switched‐capacitor‐based active‐shielding technique. The interface is designed as an integrated circuit using a standard 0.18‐μm CMOS technology. Simulation results show that for a sensor capacitor with a nominal value of 10 pF, variation of only 200 fF, and parasitic capacitance of up to 20 pF, a worst‐case capacitance error of 0.2 fF can be achieved by taking into account the layout mismatches and the interconnection effects. The achieved latency is 100 μs, and the CVC consumes only 80 μA from a 2‐V power supply. The simulated input capacitance resolution for this latency is 123 aF, which is quite close to our calculated resolution (126 aF). This resolution corresponds to an energy efficiency of 9.82 pJ/Step. A temperature sweep simulation has been performed over the temperature range from −45°C to 125°C to demonstrate the small thermal drift of the designed circuit.
The limited link between accommodation space, sediment thickness, and inner platform facies distribution (Holocene–Pleistocene, Bahamas)
Authors: Weij Rieneke , Reijmer John J. G. , Eberli Gregor P. , Swart Peter K.
Published: August 2018

Cyclic facies variations in shallow‐water carbonate platforms often show repetitive facies patterns that are frequently interpreted to reflect the sedimentary response to variations in sea‐level related to changes in climate linked to orbital variations, the Milankovitch frequencies. Whether these shallow‐marine carbonates represent a complete infill of accommodation space, or are subtidal cycles, has been discussed in numerous papers. The extent to which the thickness of a single depositional cycle is a direct measure of the amplitude of relative sea‐level change is not fully understood. New shallow seismic data from Great Bahama Bank reveal that accommodation space created during the Holocene sea‐level rise is not filled in a predictable way. Three seismic horizons were identified: the seabed, the Pleistocene top, and a horizon within the Pleistocene. Depth surface and thickness maps of the Holocene and Pleistocene layers were combined with 326 in situ water‐depth measurements to assess the upper limit of the present accommodation space. The analysis showed that accommodation space and Holocene sediment thickness, and water depth are not correlated. In addition, the actual water depth and inner platform facies distribution showed no straightforward link. The energy distribution across the shallow‐water platform appears to control the facies type rather than water depth. Mud‐dominated sediments prevail in shallow low‐energy areas protected by a topographic barrier, whereas mud‐free coarse‐grained sediments mainly occur in deeper areas with hydrodynamic energy induced by strong tidal currents, ocean water influx, and winds. Hence, the uneven energy distribution not only results in unpredictable differences in the carbonate‐cycle thickness on the platform but also to a water depth independent facies distribution pattern within the inner platform. Therefore, care should be taken when deducing sea‐level signals from inner platform facies distribution and sediment thickness patterns on ancient platforms.
Association of changes in inflammation with variation in glycaemia, insulin resistance and secretion based on the KORA study
Authors: de las Heras Gala Tonia , Herder Christian , Rutters Femke , Carstensen‐Kirberg Maren , Huth Cornelia , Stehouwer Coen D.A. , Nijpels Giel , Schalkwijk Casper , Flyvbjerg Allan , Franks Paul W. , Dekker Jacqueline , Meisinger Christa , Koenig Wolfgang , Roden Michael , Rathmann Wolfgang , Peters Annette , Thorand Barbara ,   for the IMI DIRECT Consortium
Published: August 2018

Aims

Subclinical systemic inflammation may contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes, but its association with early progression of glycaemic deterioration in persons without diabetes has not been fully investigated. Our primary aim was to assess longitudinal associations of changes in pro‐inflammatory (leukocytes, high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hsCRP)) and anti‐inflammatory (adiponectin) markers with changes in markers that assessed glycaemia, insulin resistance, and secretion (HbA1c, HOMA‐IR, and HOMA‐ß). Furthermore, we aimed to directly compare longitudinal with cross‐sectional associations.

Materials and methods

This study includes 819 initially nondiabetic individuals with repeated measurements from the Cooperative Health Research in the Region of Augsburg (KORA) S4/F4 cohort study (median follow‐up: 7.1 years). Longitudinal and cross‐sectional associations were simultaneously examined using linear mixed growth models. Changes in markers of inflammation were used as independent and changes in markers of glycaemia/insulin resistance/insulin secretion as dependent variables. Models were adjusted for age, sex, major lifestyle and metabolic risk factors for diabetes using time‐varying variables in the final model.

Results

Changes of leukocyte count were positively associated with changes in HbA1c and HOMA‐ß while changes in adiponectin were inversely associated with changes in HbA1c. All examined cross‐sectional associations were statistically significant; they were generally stronger and mostly directionally consistent to the longitudinal association estimates.

Conclusions

Adverse changes in low‐grade systemic inflammation go along with glycaemic deterioration and increased insulin secretion independently of changes in other risk factors, suggesting that low‐grade inflammation may contribute to the development of hyperglycaemia and a compensatory increase in insulin secretion.
An approach for controlling the timing and order of engineered mutations in mice
Authors: Goodrich Maxwell M. , Talhouk Ramzi , Zhang Xiaojing , Goodrich David W.
Published: August 2018

Significant advances in our understanding of normal development and disease have been facilitated by engineered mice in which genes can be altered in a spatially, temporally, or cell type restricted manner using site specific recombinase systems like Cre‐loxP or Flp‐frt. In many circumstances it is important to understand how interactions between multiple genes influence a given phenotype. Robust approaches for precisely controlling multiple genetic alterations independently are limited, however, thus the impact of mutation order and timing on phenotype is generally unknown. Here we describe and validate a novel Gt(ROSA)26Sor targeted transgene allowing precise control over the order and timing of multiple genetic mutations in the mouse. The transgene expresses an optimized, Flp‐estrogen receptor fusion protein (Flpo‐ERT2) under the control of a loxP‐stop‐loxP cassette. In this system, genes modified by loxP sites are altered first upon expression of Cre. Cre also eliminates the loxP‐stop‐loxP cassette, permitting widespread expression of Flpo‐ERT2. Because of the estrogen receptor fusion, Flp activity remains inert until administration of tamoxifen, allowing genes modified by frt sites to be modified subsequently with controllable timing. This mouse transgene will be useful in a wide variety of applications where independent control of different mutations in the mouse is desirable.
Landscape position strongly affects the resistance and resilience to water deficit anomaly of floodplain vegetation community
Authors: Wen Li , Powell Megan , Saintilan Neil
Published: August 2018

The continuous provision of ecological services by wetlands is largely dependent on the stability of ecosystem functions such as biomass production. Biomass production is in turn strongly impacted by the frequency, duration, and intensity of climate extremes such as droughts and floods. This is particularly true for the floodplain wetlands in the Murray–Darling basin, Australia, which exhibits high interannual and interdecal climatic variability. In this study, we evaluated the ecological resistance and resilience to water deficit anomalies in terms of biomass production for the major woody floodplain vegetation community types (VCT) in the semiarid northern‐west of New South Wales including River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) forest, Black Box (Eucalyptus largiflorens), Coolibah (Eucalyptuscoolabah) woodlands, and Lignum (Duma florulenta) shrublands. Our hypothesis is that different VCTs have different trends of biomass production over time by virtue of their landscape position. Landscape position was defined by the weighted distance to water courses (DIST) and local deviation of elevation from global mean. Biomass production stability in response to water deficit anomalies was modelled using time series (2000–2016) of the normalized difference vegetation index and hydrological and meteorological drought indices. We found that (a) River Red Gum forest exhibits higher resistance and resilience than other VCTs, (b) vegetation located closer to water courses has significantly higher resilience, (c) the resistance to drought indices is not significantly different across landscape positions, and (d) distance to water course is more important than topography in terms of effects on ecological resistance and resilience.
Determinants of invasive species policy: Print media and agriculture determine U.S. invasive wild pig policy
Authors: Miller Ryan S. , Opp Susan M. , Webb Colleen T.
Published: August 2018

Conflicts between wildlife, invasive species, and agricultural producers are increasing. Although direct management actions taken to mitigate these conflicts remain controversial, most stakeholders agree that better policies are needed to balance socioeconomic considerations with invasive species management, wildlife conservation, and agriculture. However, the interaction between societal and biological drivers that influence human–invasive species–wildlife conflict mitigation policy is poorly understood. We identify factors influencing policy leading to the establishment of a new federal program to control invasive wild pigs (IWPs) in the United States. We fit generalized linear models relating frequency of congressional policy activity, such as congressional hearings and reports, to frequency of print newspaper media and percent of the U.S. agricultural industry co‐occurring with IWPs for 29 yr preceding the establishment of the federal program in 2013. Our models explained 89% of the deviance in congressional policy activity indicating a strong linkage between congressional IWP policy activity and predictors representing the number of negative of newspaper articles, geographic distribution of print media, and percent of agricultural producers co‐occurring with IWPs. These effects translated to 3.7% increase in the number of congressional policy actions for every additional five states with negative news media. Invasive wild pig congressional policy activity increased 6.7% for every additional 10 negative newspaper articles. Increases in co‐occurrence of agriculture and IWPs had the largest effect; for every 1% increase in co‐occurrence, there was a 41% increase in congressional policy activity. Invasive wild pig congressional policy activity that explicitly addressed livestock increased at nearly twice the rate of policy activity addressing crop agriculture. These results suggest that agriculture and media coverage may act as determinants for invasive species policy. Our approach may provide early insight into emerging policy areas enabling proactive policy development by agencies or early engagement by scientists to find solutions before the policy area becomes gridlocked. Our results can also support policy and program evaluation providing a means of determining if the implemented policies match the original policy determinants ensuring best alignment with public, environmental, and stakeholder interests.
Decision support algorithm for the selection of analytical methods in organic compounds detection for future extraterrestrial exploratory missions
Authors: Mátyás Bence , Bautista Gabriela , Szarka Máté , Serrano Vanessa , Morales Arteaga Juan , Loja David , Yaguana Stalin Gabriel , Gómez Francisco , Ramírez‐Cando Lenin J.
Published: August 2018

The search for biotic compounds beyond planet Earth is among the highest priorities in space discovery. We sought to detect organic molecules in various earth soil samples collected from environments with extreme climatic conditions comparable to extraterrestrial environments using HPLC, spectrophotometry (UV, IR), GC/MS and vertical gel electrophoresis analyses systems. The applied methods in the study were compared using a self‐developed software tool that was designed to evaluate the viability of instrument selection for organics detection in any given exploratory mission. The tool was created to aid further development and refinements of rapidly improving technological solutions such as MCE and MS instruments. Such comparison can be done quickly and easily, acting as a decision support tool when choosing between analytical methods during any planning phase of future exploration missions led by space agencies (i.e., NASA).
Evaluation of seismic displacement demands from the September 19, 2017 Puebla‐Morelos (Mw = 7.1) earthquake in Mexico City
Authors: Ruiz‐García Jorge , Miranda Eduardo
Published: August 2018

This short communication presents the assessment of seismic inelastic and elastic displacement demands computed from earthquake ground motions (EQGMs) recorded in Mexico City during the intermediate‐depth intraslab Puebla‐Morelos earthquake on 19 September 2017 (Mw = 7.1). Evaluation is conducted by means of peak elastic and inelastic displacement demand spectra, inelastic displacement ratio, CR, spectra, and generalized interstory drift spectra computed for selected recording stations located in different soil sites of Mexico City, including those located in areas of reported collapsed buildings. Results of this study confirm previous observations made from interplate (subduction) EQGMs that peak inelastic displacement demands are greater than corresponding elastic counterparts for short‐to‐medium period structures, while the opposite is true for medium‐to‐long period structures. Possible basin site effects were identified from generalized interstory drift spectra. It is also shown that an equation introduced in the literature to obtain estimates of CR developed from interplate EQGMs provides also a good estimate for mean CR computed from the intermediate‐depth intraslab EQGMs.
Lineages evolved under stronger sexual selection show superior ability to invade conspecific competitor populations
Authors: Godwin Joanne L. , Spurgin Lewis G. , Michalczyk Łukasz , Martin Oliver Y. , Lumley Alyson J. , Chapman Tracey , Gage Matthew J. G.
Published: August 2018

Despite limitations on offspring production, almost all multicellular species use sex to reproduce. Sex gives rise to sexual selection, a widespread force operating through competition and choice within reproduction, however, it remains unclear whether sexual selection is beneficial for total lineage fitness, or if it acts as a constraint. Sexual selection could be a positive force because of selection on improved individual condition and purging of mutation load, summing into lineages with superior fitness. On the other hand, sexual selection could negate potential net fitness through the actions of sexual conflict, or because of tensions between investment in sexually selected and naturally selected traits. Here, we explore these ideas using a multigenerational invasion challenge to measure consequences of sexual selection for the overall net fitness of a lineage. After applying experimental evolution under strong versus weak regimes of sexual selection for 77 generations with the flour beetle Tribolium castaneum, we measured the overall ability of introductions from either regime to invade into conspecific competitor populations across eight generations. Results showed that populations from stronger sexual selection backgrounds had superior net fitness, invading more rapidly and completely than counterparts from weak sexual selection backgrounds. Despite comprising only 10% of each population at the start of the invasion experiment, colonizations from strong sexual selection histories eventually achieved near-total introgression, almost completely eliminating the original competitor genotype. Population genetic simulations using the design and parameters of our experiment indicate that this invasion superiority could be explained if strong sexual selection had improved both juvenile and adult fitness, in both sexes. Using a combination of empirical and modeling approaches, our findings therefore reveal positive and wide-reaching impacts of sexual selection for net population fitness when facing the broad challenge of invading competitor populations across multiple generations.
Early Jurassic high‐Mg andesites in the Quxu area, southern Lhasa terrane: Implications for magma evolution related to a slab rollback of the Neo‐Tethyan Ocean
Authors: Wang Chao , Ding Lin , Zhang Li‐Yun , Ding Xiang‐Li , Yue Ya‐Hui
Published: August 2018

Over the past few years, an increasing number of Early Jurassic magmatic rocks have been found in the southern Lhasa terrane and well studied; however, high‐Mg andesitic rocks are considerably rare, and the Mesozoic palaeotectonic framework of Neo‐Tethyan Ocean remains controversial. The present study focuses on Early Jurassic high‐Mg andesites that outcropped in the Quxu area, southern Lhasa terrane. In the Quxu area, the Early Jurassic (189 Ma) volcanic sequences are mainly composed of andesites and basaltic andesites and are unconformably in contact with Late Triassic diorites (226 Ma). These volcanic rocks are characterized by SiO2 (49–58 wt.%), MgO (6.2–11.1 wt.%) and Mg# (61–69), TiO2 (0.48–0.76 wt.%) and TFeO/MgO ratios (0.80–1.13), with geochemical features similar to those of high‐Mg andesites. Their depleted mantle‐type Nd (εNd(t) = +4.9 to +6.9) and Hf (εHf(t) = +9.6 to +14.9) isotopic compositions, together with their geochemical characteristics, suggest that the Quxu high‐Mg andesites were most likely produced by the interaction between the asthenospheric mantle and lithospheric mantle that metasomatized by slab‐derived fluids. The diorites belong to metaluminous calc‐alkaline series with highly positive εHf(t) values (+13.4 to +15.8) and are interpreted to be produced mainly by partial melting of the juvenile crustal basaltic rocks with minor input from the depleted mantle. We speculate that, in combination with the distribution of the Mesozoic magmatic rocks in the southern Lhasa terrane, the rollback of the subducting Neo‐Tethyan Ocean was the prime reason for the Early Jurassic tectono‐magmatic evolution in the southern Lhasa terrane. This process facilitated a rapid linear upwelling of the asthenospheric mantle beneath the southern Lhasa terrane and ultimately led to the large‐scale magmatic flare‐ups. Furthermore, events associated with slab rollback likely played an important role in crustal growth in the southern Lhasa terrane.
Discriminatory Demands by Patients
Authors: Rosoff Philip M.
Published: August 2018

Most of us working in health care are concerned—perhaps even appalled—when patients make demands for doctors or nurses or other caregivers that accord with their bigoted sentiments. Even though there may be some reasons to believe that matching certain characteristics of doctors with those of their patients (whether the latter ask for them or not) may produce both more patient satisfaction and even some health benefits, how does one tease apart or distinguish requests that are potentially beneficial from those we find abhorrent? What facts might make it acceptable for an African American patient to request an African American doctor or a Chinese Mandarin‐speaking patient to request a physician who is fluent in Mandarin and is also of Chinese ethnicity? At the same time, why do we recoil or find it objectionable that the father of the baby under Tonya Battle's care in Michigan might want a nurse caring for his child with whom he identifies ethnically, or racially or religiously, or based on any other superficial trait(s) that we use to characterize people?
When Voluntary Stopping of Eating and Drinking in Advanced Dementia Is No Longer Voluntary
Authors: Chuang Elizabeth , Flicker Lauren Sydney
Published: August 2018

In “On Avoiding Deep Dementia,” Norman Cantor astutely notes that, for some individuals, the concept of “protracted maintenance during progressive cognitive dysfunction and helplessness is an intolerably degrading prospect.” This cannot be argued with. Cantor's solution, however—that in the wake of a dementia diagnosis, patients should have the option to direct, in advance, instructions for voluntary stopping of eating and drinking should they develop a state of deep dementia—is more ethically challenging than it may first appear.

Respect for autonomy is one of the most fundamental principles of bioethics, and it requires that we allow patients with capacity to refuse life‐sustaining treatment, even when that treatment is something as seemingly innocuous as nutrition and hydration. If a capacitated person uses an advance directive to prospectively refuse artificial nutrition or hydration, then that treatment must be withheld if the person develops dementia and loses the ability or willingness to eat. Cantor is incorrect, however, in suggesting that an advance directive can require that nutrition and hydration be withheld from a patient with dementia who actively requests to eat or drink. Regardless of the language in an advance directive, caregivers cannot be compelled to abandon their duty to attend to the person's human dignity, nor can physicians be compelled to sedate a person with moderate or severe dementia because that person continues to be receptive to eating and drinking.
On Talking Together about Ordinary Abortion
Authors: Buchbinder Mara
Published: August 2018

The scarlet “A” that the protagonist of Nathaniel Hawthorne's seventeenth‐century novel is forced to pin to her dress symbolizes the shame and social disgrace that she endures for conceiving a child out of adultery. In Scarlet A: The Ethics, Law, & Politics of Ordinary Abortion, Katie Watson argues that abortion is our era's scarlet letter: a mark of stigma that is invisible yet no less shameful, causing unnecessary cultural silences around what is a remarkably common practice. In this brilliant new book, Watson draws on legal proceedings, bioethics literature, and personal experience; offers cultural and literary analysis; and uses her unique vantage point as a lawyer, bioethicist, and medical educator to develop a thought‐provoking and thoroughly fresh perspective on one of the most divisive moral issues of our time.
Are Obese Children Abused Children?
Authors: Priest Maura
Published: August 2018

In 2010, a South Carolina mother was taken to court when her fourteen‐year‐old son reached 555 pounds. An article on the story reported, “His mother, Jerri Gray, lost custody of her son and is being charged with criminal neglect. Gray is facing 15 years on two felony counts, the first U.S. felony case involving childhood obesity.” If the caretakers of obese children are negligent, then they are also morally and legally blameworthy. I want to suggest, however, that important ethical differences exist between negligent or abusive caretakers and the caretakers of obese children and that these differences ought to make a moral and legal difference. The distinctions are nuanced, and the ethical pictures in cases of abuse, neglect, and obesity are far from black and white. However, the various types of harm that children face from their caretakers should be placed in neither the same ethical nor the same legal category.

When children are beaten or sexually molested, the justification for taking them out of the home is clear: the caretakers are violating the rights of their children. Similarly, with neglect, caretakers are failing to provide their children the necessities to which they are entitled. The central question that I want to address in this article is whether the actions (or inaction) of caretakers that allow a child to become obese are morally or practically analogous to physical abuse or neglect. Ultimately, I will argue that parenting that allows a child to become obese is so morally different from both abuse and neglect that it is best understood as falling outside these categories altogether. This conclusion has important moral, practical, and legal implications.
The Next Wave in Health Care Priority Setting
Authors: Rid Annette
Published: August 2018

A new problem in health care priority‐setting is currently emerging for wealthy countries: what should be done when a new drug is considered cost effective but implementing it would still be unaffordable? The standard approach to setting priorities in health care rests on cost effectiveness. This approach is now being tested by new drugs that are highly effective but very costly. Because they are so effective, these drugs deliver “value for money” despite their high cost. However, when the targeted condition affects a sizeable number of patients, implementing the drugs becomes unaffordable. There are no easy alternatives. A key virtue of setting health care priorities with a presumptive cost‐effectiveness threshold is that it provides all patients a prima facie equal claim on the available resources, and alternative approaches to addressing affordability face their own challenges.
Advance Directives and Dementia
Authors: Kaebnick Gregory E.
Published: August 2018

A competent person can avoid the onset of dementia by refusing life‐sustaining medical care and by voluntarily stopping eating and drinking, bringing life to an end well before any health crisis. A competent person can also try to limit the duration of dementia by drafting an advance directive that sets bounds on the life‐sustaining care, including artificial nutrition and hydration, that medical caregivers can provide when the person no longer has the capacity to make her own medical decisions. But between these two strategies there can lie a significant gap. A person could live with moderate to severe dementia for a considerable time, no longer able to voluntarily stop eating and drinking yet also not yet requiring the life‐sustaining care forbidden by advance directive.

This gap has been much discussed in recent years in the Hastings Center Report. Several years ago (in the May‐June 2014 issue), Paul Menzel and M. Colette Chandler‐Cramer argued for what they described as a moderate correction to the dominant view that food and water should always be offered to a patient with dementia if the patient expresses a desire to eat and drink. The problem is taken up again by the legal scholar Norman L. Cantor in this issue (July‐August 2018), and Cantor, too, tries to find a moderate alternative.
Development and evaluation of a multimodal marker of major depressive disorder
Authors: Yang Jie , Zhang Mengru , Ahn Hongshik , Zhang Qing , Jin Tony B. , Li Ien , Nemesure Matthew , Joshi Nandita , Jiang Haoran , Miller Jeffrey M. , Ogden Robert Todd , Petkova Eva , Milak Matthew S. , Sublette Mary Elizabeth , Sullivan Gregory M. , Trivedi Madhukar H. , Weissman Myrna , McGrath Patrick J. , Fava Maurizio , Kurian Benji T. , Pizzagalli Diego A. , Cooper Crystal M. , McInnis Melvin , Oquendo Maria A. , Mann Joseph John , Parsey Ramin V. , DeLorenzo Christine
Published: August 2018

This study aimed to identify biomarkers of major depressive disorder (MDD), by relating neuroimage‐derived measures to binary (MDD/control), ordinal (severe MDD/mild MDD/control), or continuous (depression severity) outcomes. To address MDD heterogeneity, factors (severity of psychic depression, motivation, anxiety, psychosis, and sleep disturbance) were also used as outcomes. A multisite, multimodal imaging (diffusion MRI [dMRI] and structural MRI [sMRI]) cohort (52 controls and 147 MDD patients) and several modeling techniques—penalized logistic regression, random forest, and support vector machine (SVM)—were used. An additional cohort (25 controls and 83 MDD patients) was used for validation. The optimally performing classifier (SVM) had a 26.0% misclassification rate (binary), 52.2 ± 1.69% accuracy (ordinal) and r = .36 correlation coefficient (p < .001, continuous). Using SVM, R2 values for prediction of any MDD factors were <10%. Binary classification in the external data set resulted in 87.95% sensitivity and 32.00% specificity. Though observed classification rates are too low for clinical utility, four image‐based features contributed to accuracy across all models and analyses—two dMRI‐based measures (average fractional anisotropy in the right cuneus and left insula) and two sMRI‐based measures (asymmetry in the volume of the pars triangularis and the cerebellum) and may serve as a priori regions for future analyses. The poor accuracy of classification and predictive results found here reflects current equivocal findings and sheds light on challenges of using these modalities for MDD biomarker identification. Further, this study suggests a paradigm (e.g., multiple classifier evaluation with external validation) for future studies to avoid nongeneralizable results.