bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Simplified and robust one‐step radiosynthesis of [18F]DCFPyL via direct radiofluorination and cartridge‐based purification
Authors: Dornan Mark H. , Simard José‐Mathieu , Leblond Antoine , Juneau Daniel , Delouya Guila , Saad Fred , Ménard Cynthia , DaSilva Jean N.
Published: May 2018

[18F]DCFPyL is a clinical‐stage PET radiotracer used to image prostate cancer. This report details the efficient production of [18F]DCFPyL using single‐step direct radiofluorination, without the use of carboxylic acid‐protecting groups. Radiolabeling reaction optimization studies revealed an inverse correlation between the amount of precursor used and the radiochemical yield. This simplified approach enabled automated preparation of [18F]DCFPyL within 28 minutes using HPLC purification (26% ± 6%, at EOS, n = 4), which was then scaled up for large‐batch production to generate 1.46 ± 0.23 Ci of [18F]DCFPyL at EOS (n = 7) in high molar activity (37 933 ± 4158 mCi/μmol, 1403 ± 153 GBq/μmol, at EOS, n = 7). Further, this work enabled the development of [18F]DCFPyL production in 21 minutes using an easy cartridge‐based purification (25% ± 9% radiochemical yield, at EOS, n = 3).
Suitability of fluorescence indices for the estimation of fruit maturity compounds in tomato fruits
Authors: Groher Tanja , Schmittgen Simone , Fiebig Antje , Noga Georg , Hunsche Mauricio
Published: May 2018

BACKGROUND

We examined the suitability of chlorophyll fluorescence‐based indices to monitor and predict concentrations of fruit maturity compounds during tomato ripening under different growing conditions in the greenhouse. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of chlorophyll concentration changes on fluorescence‐based indices and to exploit the relation between fluorescence and reflectance indices with the corresponding maturity compounds determined analytically.

RESULTS

Fruits grown under water deficit matured faster than control fruits as recorded with fluorescence‐based indices. The SFR_R index correlated well with the analytical determination of chlorophyll content, whereas the single‐signal FRF_G correlated with lycopene content even if the sensor was unable to differentiate precisely between maturity stages 2 to 4. Neither the FLAV index nor the FLAV_UV index was suitable for flavonoid prediction in tomato fruits. Compared with fluorescence indices, the relation between the reflection index and pigment concentrations was lower for chlorophyll and higher for lycopene.

CONCLUSION

Chlorophyll and lycopene content in tomato fruits can be estimated by means of fluorescence indices during the pre‐harvest phase. Since the chlorophyll decrease during tomato ripening is the driving force affecting all fluorescence signals, the methods are not reliable for estimation of other maturity compounds in tomato fruits. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Effect of shading intensity on morphological and color traits and on chemical components of new tea (Camellia sinensis L.) shoots under direct covering cultivation
Authors: Sano Tomohito , Horie Hideki , Matsunaga Akiko , Hirono Yuhei
Published: May 2018

BACKGROUND

Use of covering cultivation to shade tea (Camellia sinensis L.) trees to produce high‐quality, high‐priced green tea has recently increased in Japan. Knowledge of shading effects on morphological and color traits and on chemical components of new tea shoots is important for product quality and productivity. We assessed these traits of tea shoots and their relationships under covering cultivation of various radiation intensities.

RESULTS

Leaf thickness, leaf mass per area, and leaf density of new tea leaves were smaller under covering culture than under open‐field culture. SPAD values and chlorophyll contents were larger under covering culture than under open culture. The derived exponential equation for estimating chlorophyll contents from SPAD values was improved by considering leaf thickness. Covering culture decreased epicatechin and epigallocatechin contents, and increased theanine and caffeine contents. Principal component analysis on shoot and leaf traits indicated that leaf mass per area, chlorophyll, epicatechin, and epigallocatechin contents were strongly associated with shading effects.

CONCLUSION

The morphological traits, color traits, and chemical components of new tea shoots and leaves varied depending on radiation intensity, shoot growth, and cropping season. These findings are useful for covering cultivation with high quality and high productivity in tea gardens. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Interpreting environmental changes from radionuclides and soil characteristics in different landform contexts of Elephant Island (maritime Antarctica)
Authors: Navas Ana , Serrano Enrique , López‐Martínez Jerónimo , Gaspar Leticia , Lizaga Ivan
Published: May 2018

Soils in ice‐free areas of Elephant Island (South Shetland Islands) have been forming since the last deglaciation following the glacial retreat that started in the area probably later than 9.7–5.5 ka. In paraglacial landscapes, landforms and processes in transition from glacial to nonglacial conditions are experiencing rapid environmental adjustments under conditions of climate change. Soils are highly sensitive and can be good descriptors of these transitional changes. A soil sampling campaign was undertaken for characterizing soils developed on moraines and marine platforms, underlain by metamorphic rocks and with distinctive periglacial features. Eight soil profiles were sampled to investigate the processes involved in their development and the relations with main landforms and processes of ice retreat. The stony Cryosols with mosses and lichens coverage are developed in permafrost environment with an active layer depth of 15–150 cm. Soil organic C content (0.16–1.6%) and large variations of P, K and N contents are related to ornithogenic activity. Soils on moraines and platforms show differences that reflect the more recent exposure of moraines that preserve most the characteristics of the parent material. More vegetated soils on platforms show 137Cs and 210Pbex activities (11 and 25 Bq kg−1, respectively) at the topsoil whereas absence of 137Cs and depleted levels of 210Pbex occurred in more recently exposed and less developed soils on moraines. Fallout radionuclides are good tracers for identifying characteristics of soil development and providing information on environmental changes of interest to understand the soil response to actual changes in unstable paraglacial environments.
Transience in cascading paraglacial systems
Authors: Knight Jasper , Harrison Stephan
Published: May 2018

Two main ways in which the progress of deglaciation in mountains can be identified and monitored are through (a) meltwater loss over time as glaciers and permafrost melt and (b) enhanced sediment yield over time as loose sediments are released downslope. Conceptually, both these outcomes of glacier retreat can be considered through their relationship to models of paraglacial landscape evolution, which describe how volume fluxes of meltwater and sediments change over time in mountains that are becoming deglacierized, and the different landforms that exist during different stages of landscape evolution. This paper critically reconsiders paraglacial landscape evolution models with respect to the separate timings and magnitudes of meltwater and sediment fluxes, drawing from examples from past and present deglacierizing mountains worldwide. This analysis shows that constructions of paraglacial systems simply as sediment cascades cannot be uncritically supported and that paraglacial systems can be best considered as reflecting transient stages of evolution in which meltwater and sediment fluxes vary over time and space. These transient properties of paraglacial systems have important implications for the ways in which the dynamics of these systems are conceptualized and modelled, with respect to the paraglacial evolution of mountain landscapes and mountain geohazards, especially under conditions of global warming and glacier recession.
Centrosymmetric Thiophenemethyleneoxindole‐Based Donor–Acceptor Copolymers for Organic Field‐Effect Transistors
Authors: Deng Zhifeng , Li Leiquan , Ai Taotao , Hao Xiaoli , Bao Weiwei
Published: May 2018

Two novel, donor–acceptor‐type π‐conjugated polymers (P1 and P2) with 3′‐(thieno[3,2‐b]thiophene‐2,5‐diylbis(methan‐1‐yl‐1‐ylidene))bis‐(indolin‐2‐one) (ITTI) as the acceptor and thiophene/bithiophene as the donor are designed and synthesized by palladium‐catalyzed Stille coupling. The optical and electrochemical properties of these polymers are characterized and further implemented into organic field‐effect transistors (OFET). Both polymers exhibit excellent thermal stability, broad UV–vis absorption, and high highest occupied molecular orbital energy levels. Thermal annealing induces a well‐ordered structure, a highly planar π‐system (oxygen–sulfur interaction), and a bathochromic shift in the polymers; furthermore, significant enhancement of the long wavelength intensity is also observed. Both polymers exhibit p‐type charge transport behavior, with hole mobilities up to 0.51 cm2 V−1 s−1 for P1 and 0.65 cm2 V−1 s−1 for P2. This work demonstrates that ITTI can be a promising building block for the construction of donor–acceptor polymers with high‐performance OFETs.
Effects of Aquaculture on Lakes in the Central Yangtze River Basin, China, II: Benthic Macroinvertebrates
Authors: Qu Xiao , Xia Wengtong , Wang Rui , Zhang Yingxue , Xie Zhicai , Trushenski Jesse , Chen Yushun
Published: May 2018

There is limited information available on the effects of extensive aquaculture or “fish ranching” operations on lake ecosystems. To study the effects of aquaculture on lake ecosystems, benthic macroinvertebrate communities were investigated from July to September 2015 in 23 lakes within the middle reach of the Yangtze River basin. The lakes represented four lake management strategies: fish ranching supported by low (LOW), medium (MEDIUM), or high (HIGH) stocking rates; or fallowing (FALLOW) in which previously ranched HIGH lakes had not been stocked for 2 years. Total macroinvertebrate densities did not vary significantly but were highest in the FALLOW lakes (2,352 individuals/m2), lowest in the LOW lakes (544 individuals/m2), and intermediate in the HIGH (1,734 individuals/m2) and MEDIUM lakes (1,208 individuals/m2). Chironomid densities were significantly lower in LOW lakes compared to all others, and mollusks were not observed in LOW lakes. Chironomid and total macroinvertebrate biomasses were also significantly lower in LOW lakes than in the other lakes. The FALLOW lakes had significantly greater biomasses of mollusks, oligochaetes, and total macroinvertebrates than all other lakes. Two pollution-tolerant taxa, Tubificidae and Chironomidae, were dominant in all lakes regardless of management strategy, indicating that all study lakes were experiencing some degree of eutrophication. Results indicated that fish ranching does not affect macroinvertebrate communities in a predictable manner based on stocking density, but allowing for a fallowing period could potentially benefit lake macroinvertebrates. Canonical correspondence analysis indicated that chlorophyll a, chloride, conductivity, and total nitrogen were affecting macroinvertebrate density in these lakes, while total suspended solids, alkalinity, turbidity, total hardness, and water depth affected macroinvertebrate biomass.
Identification of Children's BMI Trajectories and Prediction from Weight Gain in Infancy
Authors: Bichteler Anne , Gershoff Elizabeth T.
Published: May 2018

Objective

The goal of this study was to identify patterns of BMI changes across childhood (ages 24 months to 13 years) and to assess whether demographic characteristics, birth weight, and percent infant weight gain from birth to 15 months predicted BMI patterns.

Methods

Eleven waves of data from the Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development were used. Trained technicians assessed children's weight at birth and 10 times from 15 months to eighth grade (N = 1364). Latent growth modeling was used to estimate BMI change trajectories, and logistic regression was used to predict membership in trajectory classes.

Results

Children in the high‐rising and low‐to‐high BMI patterns had the highest BMI of all trajectory groups during middle childhood. Birth weight and infant weight gain were stronger predictors of trajectory membership than gender or race/ethnicity. Infant weight gain predicted high‐rising membership over and above the effect of birth weight. African American children had lower birth weight, faster infant weight increase, and higher odds of being in one of the rising trajectories. Risk algorithms are provided.

Conclusions

Clinicians should monitor weight gain during infancy independent of birth weight. Researchers should continue investigating the lasting physiological effects of early rapid weight gain in infancy.
Glycemic Management in the Bariatric Surgery Population: A Review of the Literature
Authors: Howard Meredith L. , Steuber Taylor D. , Nisly Sarah A.
Published: May 2018

Obesity is a worldwide epidemic often complicated by multiple comorbidities, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Bariatric surgery is an increasingly common and effective weight‐loss strategy for obese patients that may result in resolution of metabolic‐related disease states, such as T2DM. Although bariatric surgery has many positive outcomes for patients, dietary and pathophysiologic changes can create difficult‐to‐control blood glucose, especially in the immediate perioperative setting. Depending on oral antidiabetic agent and insulin needs preoperatively, many patients require cessation of oral agents and reduction or cessation of insulin. Unfortunately, despite available perioperative bariatric surgery guidelines, no specific recommendations for perioperative oral antidiabetic agent or insulin management exist. The purpose of this article is to review the current body of evidence for blood glucose management in the setting of bariatric surgery. An English‐language PubMed and MEDLINE search was conducted from 1964 through March 2018 using the following search terms alone and in various combinations: bariatric surgery, gastric banding, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG), Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass (RYGB), glucose management, insulin, and oral antidiabetic agent. Five articles were identified evaluating insulin management in the perioperative bariatric surgery setting, which were separated into two categories: immediate perioperative insulin management and long‐term postoperative insulin management. Overall, various blood glucose management insulin protocols were evaluated. All studies included some type of insulin reduction in the perioperative setting. No studies identified specifically evaluated down‐titration or discontinuation of oral antidiabetic agents. Given the lack of specific guideline recommendations, limitations of standardized insulin protocols, and inconsistency of outcomes studied, perioperative insulin at reduced doses compared to previous maintenance doses coupled with frequent blood glucose monitoring is reasonable. An opportunity exists for successful protocols to be addressed in future, larger studies.
High‐resolution crystal structures reveal a mixture of conformers of the Gly61‐Asp62 peptide bond in an oxidized flavodoxin from Bacillus cereus
Authors: Gudim Ingvild , Lofstad Marie , van Beek Wouter , Hersleth Hans‐Petter
Published: May 2018

Flavodoxins (Flds) are small proteins that shuttle electrons in a range of reactions in microorganisms. Flds contain a redox‐active cofactor, a flavin mononucleotide (FMN), and it is well established that when Flds are reduced by one electron, a peptide bond close to the FMN isoalloxazine ring flips to form a new hydrogen bond with the FMN N5H, stabilizing the one‐electron reduced state. Here, we present high‐resolution crystal structures of Flavodoxin 1 from Bacillus cereus in both the oxidized (ox) and one‐electron reduced (semiquinone, sq) state. We observe a mixture of conformers in the oxidized state; a 50:50 distribution between the established oxidized conformation where the peptide bond is pointing away from the flavin, and a conformation where the peptide bond is pointing toward the flavin, approximating the conformation in the semiquinone state. We use single‐crystal spectroscopy to demonstrate that the mixture of conformers is not caused by radiation damage to the crystal. This is the first time that such a mixture of conformers is reported in a wild‐type Fld. We therefore carried out a survey of published Fld structures, which show that several proteins have a pronounced conformational flexibility of this peptide bond. The degree of flexibility seems to be modulated by the presence, or absence, of stabilizing interactions between the peptide bond carbonyl and its surrounding amino acids. We hypothesize that the degree of conformational flexibility will affect the Fld ox/sq redox potential.
The structure of the N‐terminal module of the cell wall hydrolase RipA and its role in regulating catalytic activity
Authors: Steiner Eva Maria , Lyngsø Jeppe , Guy Jodie E. , Bourenkov Gleb , Lindqvist Ylva , Schneider Thomas R. , Pedersen Jan Skov , Schneider Gunter , Schnell Robert
Published: May 2018

RipA plays a vital role during cell division of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by degrading the cell wall peptidoglycan at the septum, allowing daughter cell separation. The peptidoglycan degrading activity relies on the NlpC/P60 domain, and as it is potentially harmful when deregulated, spatial and temporal control is necessary in this process. The N‐terminal domain of RipA has been proposed to play an inhibitory role blocking the C‐terminal NlpC/P60 domain. Accessibility of the active site cysteine residue is however not limited by the presence of the N‐terminal domain, but by the lid‐module of the inter‐domain linker, which is situated in the peptide binding groove of the crystal structures of the catalytic domain. The 2.2 Å resolution structure of the N‐terminal domain, determined by Se‐SAD phasing, reveals an all‐α‐fold with 2 long α‐helices, and shows similarity to bacterial periplasmic protein domains with scaffold‐building role. Size exclusion chromatography and SAXS experiments are consistent with dimer formation of this domain in solution. The SAXS data from the periplasmic two‐domain RipA construct suggest a rigid baton‐like structure of the N‐terminal module, with the catalytic domain connected by a 24 residue long flexible linker. This flexible linker allows for a catalytic zone, which is part of the spatiotemporal control of peptidoglycan degradation.
Why did fewer people change address in England and Wales in the 2000s than in the 1970s? Evidence from an analysis of the ONS Longitudinal Study
Authors: Shuttleworth Ian , Cooke Thomas , Champion Tony
Published: May 2018

The paper explores why internal migration rates fell in England and Wales between 1971 to 1981 and 2001 to 2011. It considers all‐address changing rates, short‐distance migration (address changes involving moves of 10 km or less) and long‐distance migration (moves of 50 km or more). It does so by using the Blinder–Oaxaca method to decompose the differences between the 2 time periods into a compositional component (changes in the aggregate migration rate attributable to increases or decreases in more or less migratory groups of the population) and a rate component—the extent to which these population groups behave differently in the 2 time periods. The analysis finds that changing population structure since the 1970s does not fully account for the observed decreases. Instead, it seems that changed migratory behaviour and in particular, a large general downward effect that cuts across all population groups are the most important component. The greater decrease in address changing observed for all moves and those of less than 10 km (compared with longer distance moves) points the search for further explanations in the direction of factors known to be associated with short‐distance moves such as the housing market, and this is identified as an avenue for more research.
Apoptotic effect of lambertianic acid through AMPK/FOXM1 signaling in MDA‐MB231 breast cancer cells
Authors: Lee Jae Hee , Lee Hyo‐Jung , Sim Deok Yong , Jung Ji Hoon , Kim Ka Ram , Kim Sung‐Hoon
Published: May 2018

Though lambertianic acid (LA) was known to exert antitumor effect in liver and prostate cancers, its underlying anticancer mechanism is never reported in breast cancers so far. Thus, in this study, apoptotic mechanism of LA was elucidated in MDA‐MB‐231 breast cancer cells. Here, LA increased cytotoxicity in MCF‐7 and MDA‐MB‐231 cells; enhanced sub‐G1 population, G2/M arrest, and cleaved poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase; activated phosphorylation of AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK)/acetyl‐CoA carboxylase pathway; and also suppressed phosphorylation of AKT and the expression of forkhead box M1 (FOXM1), X‐linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein, B‐cell lymphoma 2, and CyclinB1 in MDA‐MB‐231 cells. Furthermore, AMPK inhibitor compound C reversed the effect of LA on FOXM1, Cyclin B1, and cleaved poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase in MDA‐MB‐231 cells. Notably, immunoprecipitation revealed that LA disturbed the direct binding of AKT and FOXM1 in MDA‐MB‐231 cells. Overall, these findings suggest that LA‐induced apoptosis is mediated via activation of AMPK and inhibition of AKT/FOXM1 signaling pathway.
A flexible quantile regression model for medical costs with application to Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Study
Authors: Zhao Xiaobing , Wang Weiwei , Liu Lei , Shih Ya‐Chen T.
Published: May 2018

Medical costs are often skewed to the right and heteroscedastic, having a sophisticated relation with covariates. Mean function regression models with low‐dimensional covariates have been extensively considered in the literature. However, it is important to develop a robust alternative to find the underlying relationship between medical costs and high‐dimensional covariates. In this paper, we propose a new quantile regression model to analyze medical costs. We also consider variable selection, using an adaptive lasso penalized variable selection method to identify significant factors of the covariates. Simulation studies are conducted to illustrate the performance of the estimation method. We apply our method to the analysis of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey dataset.
Regioselective Copper(I)‐Catalyzed Ullmann Amination of Halopyridyl Carboxylates using Sodium Azide: A Route for Aminopyridyl Carboxylates and their Transformation to Pyrido[2, 3‐d]pyrimidin‐4(1H)‐ones
Authors: Nisha  , Sharma Mr. Chetan , Kumar Rupesh , Kumar Yogesh
Published: May 2018

We report herein an efficient, straightforward and ligand free synthesis of aminopyridyl carboxylates, an important building block used in pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. The C(sp2)‐N bond formation utilize a readily available Cu‐catalyst, NaN3 as the amino source in ethanol, and the corresponding ortho‐functionalized aromatic amines were synthesized in good to excellent yields. This ligand free one‐pot domino methodology proceeds through Ullmann‐type coupling of halopyridyl carboxylates with sodium azide followed by reduction with ethanol. These functionalized aminopyridyl carboxylates provides an easy access to biologically potent pyrido[2, 3‐d]pyrimidin‐4(1H)‐one hybrids.
Comprehensive long‐term efficacy and safety of recombinant human alpha‐mannosidase (velmanase alfa) treatment in patients with alpha‐mannosidosis
Authors: Lund Allan M. , Borgwardt Line , Cattaneo Federica , Ardigò Diego , Geraci Silvia , Gil‐Campos Mercedes , De Meirleir Linda , Laroche Cécile , Dolhem Philippe , Cole Duncan , Tylki‐Szymanska Anna , Lopez‐Rodriguez Monica , Guillén‐Navarro Encarna , Dali Christine I. , Héron Bénédicte , Fogh Jens , Muschol Nicole , Phillips Dawn , Van den Hout J. M. Hannerieke , Jones Simon A. , Amraoui Yasmina , Harmatz Paul , Guffon Nathalie
Published: May 2018

Introduction

Long‐term outcome data provide important insights into the clinical utility of enzyme replacement therapies. Such data are presented for velmanase alfa in the treatment of alpha‐mannosidosis (AM).

Methods

Patient data (n = 33; 14 adults, 19 paediatric) from the clinical development programme for velmanase alfa were integrated in this prospectively‐designed analysis of long‐term efficacy and safety. Patients who participated in the phase I/II or phase III trials and were continuing to receive treatment after completion of the trials were invited to participate in a comprehensive evaluation visit to assess long‐term outcomes. Primary endpoints were changes in serum oligosaccharide and the 3‐minute stair climb test (3MSCT).

Results

Mean (SD) treatment exposure was 29.3 (15.2) months. Serum oligosaccharide levels were significantly reduced in the overall population at 12 months (mean change: –72.7%, P < 0.001) and remained statistically significant at last observation (−62.8%, P < 0.001). A mean improvement of +9.3% in 3MSCT was observed at 12 months (P = 0.013), which also remained statistically significant at last observation (+13.8%, P = 0.004), with a more pronounced improvement detected in the paediatric subgroup. No treatment‐emergent adverse events were reported leading to permanent treatment discontinuation.

Conclusions

Patients treated with velmanase alfa experienced improvements in biochemical and functional measures that were maintained for up to 4 years. Long term follow‐up is important and further supports the use of velmanase alfa as an effective and well‐tolerated treatment for AM. Based on the currently available data set, no baseline characteristic can be predictive of treatment outcome. Early treatment during paediatric age showed better outcome in functional endpoints.
Too much or too little? A short‐term longitudinal study of youth's own economic resources and risk behaviour
Authors: Plenty Stephanie
Published: May 2018

This study examined socioeconomic differences in risk behaviours according to youth‐oriented measures of economic resources. Using a representative sample of Swedish adolescents (n = 3,939, 51% females), the associations that youth's own economy shared with smoking, drinking and conduct problems were examined. Data was based on population register and self‐report information when participants were in grades 8 (T1 aged 14–15) and 9 (T2 aged 15–16). Missing activities due to financial constraints and having a cash margin were each positively associated with concurrent risk behaviours. However, longitudinal analyses showed that missing activities only increased the likelihood of conduct problems and having a cash margin only increased the likelihood of drinking one‐year later. The results demonstrate that youth‐oriented conceptualisations of economic resources identify gradients in drinking, smoking and conduct problems that are distinct from family socioeconomic status. However, adolescents' absolute and relative economic resources are associated with risk behaviours in opposite directions.
Formation of mosaic diamonds from the Zarnitsa kimberlite
Authors: Ragozin A.L. , Zedgenizov D.A. , Shatsky V.S. , Kuper K.E.
Published: May 2018

Mosaic diamonds from the Zarnitsa kimberlite (Daldyn field, Yakutian diamondiferous province) are morphologicaly and structurally similar to dark gray mosaic diamonds of varieties V and VII found frequently in placers of the northeastern Siberian craton. However, although being similar in microstructure, the two groups of diamonds differ in formation mechanism: splitting of crystals in the case of placer diamonds (V and VII) and growth by geometric selection in the Zarnitsa kimberlite diamonds. Selective growth on originally polycrystalline substrates in the latter has produced radial microstructures with grains coarsening rimward from distinctly polycrystalline cores. Besides the formation mechanisms, diamonds of the two groups differ in origin of mineral inclusions, distribution of defects and nitrogen impurity, and carbon isotope composition. Unlike the placer diamonds of varieties V and VII, the analyzed crystals from the Zarnitsa kimberlite enclose peridotitic minerals (olivines and subcalcic Cr-bearing pyropes) and have total nitrogen contents common to natural kimberlitic diamonds (0 to 1761 ppm) and typical mantle carbon isotope compositions (–1.9 to –6.2‰ δ13C; –4.2‰ on average). The distribution of defect centers in the Zarnitsa diamond samples fits the annealing model implying that nitrogen aggregation decreases from core to rim.
Tension grips the flow
Authors: Bandi M. M.
Published: May 2018

Surface tension plays a dominant role in the formation and stability of soap films. It renders them both a quasi-two-dimensional fluid and an elastic membrane at the same time. The techniques for measuring the surface tension of the soap solution may very well apply to the static soap film, but how can the surface tension of a soap film be unintrusively measured, and what value would it assume? The answer, being at the intersection of physical chemistry, non-equilibrium physics and interfacial fluid dynamics, is not amenable to deduction via established methods. In a joint theoretical and experimental study, Sane et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 841, 2018, R2) exploit elasticity theory to glean the answer through a simple, yet elegant framework.
Rejection Sensitivity and Responses to Rejection: Serial Mediators Linking Parenting to Adolescents and Young Adults’ Depression and Trait-Anxiety
Authors: Gardner Alex A. , Zimmer-Gembeck Melanie J.
Published: May 2018

Drawing from and extending rejection sensitivity (RS) theory, we tested a serial mediation pathway model, whereby perceived parenting practices were expected to be indirectly related to participants’ depressive and trait-anxious symptoms through RS, as well as emotional and behavioural responses to rejection. Participants were 628 adolescents and young adults (M= 19.8 years,SD= 2.6, 65.3% female) completing self-report measures assessing current perceived parenting practices, RS, emotion dysregulation, emotion suppression, social withdrawal, and depressive and trait-anxious symptoms. In latent-variable structural equation modelling, a latent construct of more positive (and fewer negative) perceived parenting practices was directly associated with offsprings’ lower level of depression and trait-anxiety symptoms. Also, there were indirect associations of parenting via RS, emotion dysregulation, suppression, and social withdrawal, regardless of whether the model focused on depressive or trait-anxious symptoms. The findings provide further support of the importance for adolescents and young adults to perceive that they experience warm and autonomy-supportive relationships with their parents (instead of rejecting, coercive, or psychologically controlling relationships); along with providing an extended model whereby anxious expectations of rejection associates with greater emotional difficulties through negative responses to difficult emotions and the tendency to withdraw from such experiences. Together, perceived parenting practices and rejection-related beliefs and responses seem to activate a pathway to elevated depressive and trait-anxiety symptoms.
ON THE DERIVATION LIE ALGEBRAS OF FEWNOMIAL SINGULARITIES
Authors: HUSSAIN NAVEED , YAU STEPHEN S.-T. , ZUO HUAIQING
Published: May 2018

Let $V$ be a hypersurface with an isolated singularity at the origin defined by the holomorphic function $f:(\mathbb{C}^{n},0)\rightarrow (\mathbb{C},0)$. The Yau algebra, $L(V)$, is the Lie algebra of derivations of the moduli algebra of $V$. It is a finite-dimensional solvable algebra and its dimension $\unicode[STIX]{x1D706}(V)$ is the Yau number. Fewnomial singularities are those which can be defined by an $n$-nomial in $n$ indeterminates. Yau and Zuo [‘A sharp upper estimate conjecture for the Yau number of weighted homogeneous isolated hypersurface singularity’, Pure Appl. Math. Q.12(1) (2016), 165–181] conjectured a bound for the Yau number and proved that this conjecture holds for binomial isolated hypersurface singularities. In this paper, we verify this conjecture for weighted homogeneous fewnomial surface singularities.
Possible case of trichinellosis associated with beaver (Castor fiber) meat
Authors: Bronstein A.M. , Lukashev A.N.
Published: May 2018

Although there have been occasional reports of rare and low-level trichinellae infestation in beavers, no human cases of beaver-associated trichinellosis have been described. This report presents a possible case of human trichinellosis linked to beaver meat. Increasing consumption of beaver meat necessitates raising awareness of this potential source of trichinellosis.
Population trends of seabirds at Stinker Point, Elephant Island, Maritime Antarctica
Authors: Petry Maria V. , Valls Fernanda C.L. , Petersen Elisa S. , Finger Júlia V.G. , Krüger Lucas
Published: May 2018

Available information about seabird breeding population trends on Stinker Point (Elephant Island, Maritime Antarctic Peninsula) is outdated by decades. This study reports current numbers of breeding species, and evaluates population trends over 28 years. We counted breeding pairs of seabirds along all ice-free areas on Stinker Point during two distinct periods (summers of 1985/86–1991/92 and 2009/10–2013/14). Thirteen species currently breed in the area: four Sphenisciformes, four Procellariiformes, one Suliforme and four Charadriiformes. Chinstrap penguin Pygoscelis antarcticus has the highest number of breeding pairs (4971±590), followed by gentoo penguin Pygoscelis papua (1242±339). Comparisons between the two intervals showed declining trends for almost all breeding populations, although southern giant petrels Macronectes giganteus are experiencing a subtle population growth. Population decreases in locations with low human disturbance, such as Stinker Point, may indicate sensibility to climate and environmental change and need further investigation.
Differential Item Functioning in Brief Instruments of Disordered	Eating
Authors: Thielemann Desiree , Richter Felicitas , Strauss Bernd , Braehler Elmar , Altmann Uwe , Berger Uwe
Published: May 2018

Abstract. Most instruments for the assessment of disordered eating were developed and validated in young female samples. However, they are often used in heterogeneous general population samples. Therefore, brief instruments of disordered eating should assess the severity of disordered eating equally well between individuals with different gender, age, body mass index (BMI), and socioeconomic status (SES). Differential item functioning (DIF) of two brief instruments of disordered eating (SCOFF, Eating Attitudes Test [EAT-8]) was modeled in a representative sample of the German population ( N = 2,527) using a multigroup item response theory (IRT) and a multiple-indicator multiple-cause (MIMIC) structural equation model (SEM) approach. No DIF by age was found in both questionnaires. Three items of the EAT-8 showed DIF across gender, indicating that females are more likely to agree than males, given the same severity of disordered eating. One item of the EAT-8 revealed slight DIF by BMI. DIF with respect to the SCOFF seemed to be negligible. Both questionnaires are equally fair across people with different age and SES. The DIF by gender that we found with respect to the EAT-8 as screening instrument may be also reflected in the use of different cutoff values for men and women. In general, both brief instruments assessing disordered eating revealed their strengths and limitations concerning test fairness for different groups.
Soil Particle Transport and Mixing Near a Hillslope Crest: 2. Cosmogenic Nuclide and Optically Stimulated Luminescence Tracers
Authors: Furbish David Jon , Roering Joshua J. , Keen‐Zebert Amanda , Almond Peter , Doane Tyler H. , Schumer Rina
Published: May 2018

We examine probabilistic elements of how cosmogenic nuclide (e.g., 10Be) concentrations and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) particle ages are distributed within a soil mantle near a hillslope crest as a consequence of disturbance‐driven transport and particle mixing. We use an Eulerian‐Lagrangian algorithm in which fluctuating particle motions, representing depth‐dependent mixing, are superimposed on a two‐dimensional mean motion. The intensity of mixing is characterized by a Péclet number involving the vertical speed of particles entering the soil mantle at the soil‐bedrock interface, the mechanically active soil thickness, and a particle diffusivity at the soil surface. With weak mixing, the vertical profile of 10Be concentration reflects the strong influence of the mean motion in which particles spend much of their lives in the higher part of the soil column with higher 10Be production rates. With increasing mixing intensity, the profile becomes linear, then uniform, and the vertically averaged concentration is larger than that expected with one‐dimensional motion. With weak mixing, particles possessing a finite OSL age tend to remain near the soil surface; with increasing mixing they become more uniformly distributed with depth. Depth‐interval‐averaged OSL ages increase linearly with depth and then become uniform with strong mixing. With moderate to strong mixing, the probability distribution of OSL ages is approximately exponential with an average much less than the mean residence time of particles. The formulation is consistent with profiles of 10Be concentrations and interval‐averaged OSL particle ages compiled from published data, suggesting moderate to strong mixing in the cases examined.
Geoscientists Collaborate to Understand Silicic Magma Systems
Authors: Delph Jonathan , Singer Brad , Dufek Josef
Published: May 2018

American Geophysical Union Chapman Conference: Merging Geophysical, Petrochronologic, and Modeling Perspectives of Large Silicic Magma Systems; Quinamavida, Chile, 7–12 January 2018
Laboratory Excitation of the Kelvin‐Helmholtz Instability in an Ionospheric‐Like Plasma
Authors: Liu Yu , Lei Jiuhou , Yu Pengcheng , Ling Yiming , Zhang Zhongkai , Liu Pengfei , Cao Jinxiang
Published: May 2018

In the work, laboratory experiments were designed to simulate the collisional plasma environment of the ionosphere. Neutral gas was injected to increase the ion‐neutral collisions, and the ambient plasma subsequently transforms from the magnetospheric‐like collisionless plasma to the ionospheric‐like collisional one. In the collisionless plasma, the classical electrostatic Kelvin‐Helmholtz instability (KHI) was generated using an interpenetrating plasma method. However, the collisionless KHI was dissipated in the collisional plasma and subsequently a new wave mode was excited. The mode was identified as the collisional KHI by comparing the experimental results with the theoretical wave dispersion relation. The result indicates that the KHI can be excited in the ionospheric‐like collisional plasma, which could be applied to understand the generation mechanism of the ionospheric irregularities by the bottomside sheared flow.
Synaptic phospholipids as a new target for cortical hyperexcitability and E/I balance in psychiatric disorders
Authors: Thalman Carine , Horta Guilherme , Qiao Lianyong , Endle Heiko , Tegeder Irmgard , Cheng Hong , Laube Gregor , Sigurdsson Torfi , Hauser Maria Jelena , Tenzer Stefan , Distler Ute , Aoki Junken , Morris Andrew J. , Geisslinger Gerd , Röper Jochen , Kirischuk Sergei , Luhmann Heiko J. , Radyushkin Konstantin , Nitsch Robert , Vogt Johannes
Published: May 2018

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a synaptic phospholipid, which regulates cortical excitation/inhibition (E/I) balance and controls sensory information processing in mice and man. Altered synaptic LPA signaling was shown to be associated with psychiatric disorders. Here, we show that the LPA-synthesizing enzyme autotaxin (ATX) is expressed in the astrocytic compartment of excitatory synapses and modulates glutamatergic transmission. In astrocytes, ATX is sorted toward fine astrocytic processes and transported to excitatory but not inhibitory synapses. This ATX sorting, as well as the enzymatic activity of astrocyte-derived ATX are dynamically regulated by neuronal activity via astrocytic glutamate receptors. Pharmacological and genetic ATX inhibition both rescued schizophrenia-related hyperexcitability syndromes caused by altered bioactive lipid signaling in two genetic mouse models for psychiatric disorders. Interestingly, ATX inhibition did not affect naive animals. However, as our data suggested that pharmacological ATX inhibition is a general method to reverse cortical excitability, we applied ATX inhibition in a ketamine model of schizophrenia and rescued thereby the electrophysiological and behavioral schizophrenia-like phenotype. Our data show that astrocytic ATX is a novel modulator of glutamatergic transmission and that targeting ATX might be a versatile strategy for a novel drug therapy to treat cortical hyperexcitability in psychiatric disorders.
Dicer1 downregulation by multiple myeloma cells promotes the senescence and tumor-supporting capacity and decreases the differentiation potential of mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Guo Juan , Zhao Youshan , Fei Chengming , Zhao Sida , Zheng Qingqing , Su Jiying , Wu Dong , Li Xiao , Chang Chunkang
Published: May 2018

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) facilitate the growth of multiple myeloma (MM) cells, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study demonstrates that the senescence of MM-MSCs significantly increased, as evidenced by a decrease in proliferation and increase in the number of cells positive for senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity. Senescent MM-MSCs displayed decreased differentiation potential and increased tumor-supporting capacity. Dicer1 knockdown in the MSCs of healthy controls promoted cellular senescence and tumor-supporting capacity, while decreasing the differentiation capacity. Dicer1 overexpression in MM-MSCs reversed the effects on differentiation and reduced cellular senescence. In addition, decreased expression of the microRNA-17 family was identified as a favorable element responsible for increasing senescence, with the expression of p21 increased in Dicer1 knockdown cells. Furthermore, we observed decreased expression of miR-93 and miR-20a in MM-MSCs, while upregulation of miR-93/miR-20a decreased cellular senescence, as evidenced by the increased p21 expression. Importantly, we found that myeloma cells could induce the senescence of MSCs from healthy controls, as observed from the decreased expression of Dicer1 and miR-93/miR-20a and increased expression of p21. Overall, MM cells downregulate Dicer1 in MSCs, which leads to senescence; in turn, senescent MSCs promote MM cell growth, which most likely contributes to disease progression.
Breaking the limitation of mode building time in an optoelectronic oscillator
Authors: Hao Tengfei , Cen Qizhuang , Dai Yitang , Tang Jian , Li Wei , Yao Jianping , Zhu Ninghua , Li Ming
Published: May 2018

An optoelectronic oscillator (OEO) is a microwave photonic system with a positive feedback loop used to create microwave oscillation with ultra-low phase noise thanks to the employment of a high-quality-factor energy storage element, such as a fiber delay line. For many applications, a frequency-tunable microwave signal or waveform, such as a linearly chirped microwave waveform (LCMW), is also needed. Due to the long characteristic time constant required for building up stable oscillation at an oscillation mode, it is impossible to generate an LCMW with a large chirp rate using a conventional frequency-tunable OEO. In this study, we propose and demonstrate a new scheme to generate a large chirp-rate LCMW based on Fourier domain mode locking technique to break the limitation of mode building time in an OEO. An LCMW with a high chirp rate of 0.34 GHz/μs and a large time-bandwidth product of 166,650 is demonstrated.
Crural Closure improves Outcomes of Magnetic Sphincter Augmentation in GERD patients with Hiatal Hernia
Authors: Schwameis Katrin , Nikolic Milena , Castellano Deivis G. Morales , Steindl Ariane , Macheck Sarah , Riegler M. , Kristo Ivan , Zörner Barbara , Schoppmann Sebastian F.
Published: May 2018

Magnetic sphincter-augmentation (MSA) has been proven effective in the treatment of GERD. No consensus exists on whether crural closure should be performed. Our aim was to assess the impact of cruroplasty on reflux-control and quality of life. MSA-Patients treated between 03/2012-03/2017 were classified into those without hiatal hernia (“NHH”), those post-MSA (NHR) and those post-MSA/hiatal repair (HR). GERD-symptoms, PPI-intake, GERD-Health-related-Quality-of-Life (GERD-HRQL) and Alimentary Satisfaction were assessed. Sixty-eight patients underwent MSA, 26 patients had additional crural closure. PH-monitoring was negative in 80% of HR, 73% of NHR and 89% of NHH-patients. GERD-HRQL-total scores decreased significantly in all groups (p < 0.001). Alimentary satisfaction was 8/10 in HR/NHH and 10/10 in NHR-patients. Satisfaction with heartburn relief was high (HR: 96%, NR: 95%, NHH: 94%) as was the elimination of PPI-intake (HR/NHH: 87%, NR: 86%). Heartburn and regurgitations were eliminated in 100% of HR, 88% and 94% of NHR and 87% and 91% of NHH-patients. Endoscopic dilatation or device explantation was performed in 3% each. MSA leads to significant symptom relief, increased quality of life and alimentary satisfaction with low perioperative morbidity. Cruroplasty tends to result in better reflux control and symptom relief than exclusive MSA without increasing dysphagia rates.
Dynamics of social contagions with local trend imitation
Authors: Zhu Xuzhen , Wang Wei , Cai Shimin , Stanley H. Eugene
Published: May 2018

Research on social contagion dynamics has not yet included a theoretical analysis of the ubiquitous local trend imitation (LTI) characteristic. We propose a social contagion model with a tent-like adoption probability to investigate the effect of this LTI characteristic on behavior spreading. We also propose a generalized edge-based compartmental theory to describe the proposed model. Through extensive numerical simulations and theoretical analyses, we find a crossover in the phase transition: when the LTI capacity is strong, the growth of the final adoption size exhibits a second-order phase transition. When the LTI capacity is weak, we see a first-order phase transition. For a given behavioral information transmission probability, there is an optimal LTI capacity that maximizes the final adoption size. Finally we find that the above phenomena are not qualitatively affected by the heterogeneous degree distribution. Our suggested theoretical predictions agree with the simulation results.
Maternal effects of the English grain aphids feeding on the wheat varieties with different resistance traits
Authors: Hu Xiang-Shun , Zhang Zhan-Feng , Zhu Tong-Yi , Song Yue , Wu Li-Juan , Liu Xiao-Feng , Zhao Hui-Yan , Liu Tong-Xian
Published: May 2018

The maternal effects of the English grain aphid, Sitobion avenae on offspring phenotypes and performance on wheat varieties with different resistance traits were examined. We found that both conditioning wheat varieties(the host plant for over 3 months) and transition wheat varieties affected the biological parameters of aphid offspring after they were transferred between wheat varieties with different resistance traits. The conditioning varieties affected weight gain, development time (DT), and the intrinsic rate of natural increase (rm), whereas transition varieties affected the fecundity, rm, net reproductive rate, and fitness index. The conditioning and transition wheat varieties had significant interaction effects on the aphid offspring’s DT, mean relative growth rate, and fecundity. Our results showed that there was obvious maternal effects on offspring when S. avenae transferred bwteen wheat varieties with different resistance level, and the resistance traits of wheat varieties could induce an interaction between the conditioning and transition wheat varieties to influence the growth, development, reproduction, and even population dynamics of S. avenae. The conditioning varieties affected life-history traits related to individual growth and development to a greater extent, whereas transition varieties affected fecundity and population parameters more.