bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Isolation and characterization of adrenocortical progenitors involved in the adaptation to stress
Authors: Steenblock Charlotte , Rubin de Celis Maria F. , Delgadillo Silva Luis F. , Pawolski Verena , Brennand Ana , Werdermann Martin , Berger Ilona , Santambrogio Alice , Peitzsch Mirko , Andoniadou Cynthia L. , Schally Andrew V. , Bornstein Stefan R.
Published: December 2018

Significance

Humans are constantly confronted with multiple stressors, to which the bodily response and adaptation are essential. The adrenal gland plays a major role in the response to physiological challenges. Maintenance of the adrenal is partly accomplished by proliferation and differentiation of adult progenitors and stem cells in the cortex and medulla. In this study, we have isolated and characterized a subpopulation of adrenocortical progenitors, which are interconnected with adrenomedullary stress-dependent progenitors. Under stress, the adrenocortical progenitors are also activated and they mobilize, giving rise to steroidogenic cells. Our findings demonstrate the coordinated action of stress-inducible stem cells to ensure tissue remodeling and cellular and functional adaptation to stress.
Inosine, but none of the 8-oxo-purines, is a plausible component of a primordial version of RNA
Authors: Kim Seohyun Chris , O’Flaherty Derek K. , Zhou Lijun , Lelyveld Victor S. , Szostak Jack W.
Published: December 2018

Significance

The RNA world hypothesis assumes the abiotic synthesis of nucleotides, as well as their participation in nonenzymatic RNA replication. Whereas prebiotic syntheses of the canonical purine nucleotides remain inefficient, a prebiotically plausible route to the 8-oxo-purines has been reported. Although these noncanonical purine nucleotides are known to engage in non-Watson–Crick pairing with their canonical purine counterparts, their behavior in nonenzymatic RNA copying has not been evaluated. Our study indicates that none of the 8-oxo-purines behaves as a suitable substrate for nonenzymatic RNA copying. However, inosine turns out to exhibit reasonable rates and fidelities in RNA copying reactions. We propose that inosine could have served as a surrogate for guanosine in the early emergence of life.
Leucine-rich repeat extensin proteins regulate plant salt tolerance in
Arabidopsis
Authors: Zhao Chunzhao , Zayed Omar , Yu Zheping , Jiang Wei , Zhu Peipei , Hsu Chuan-Chih , Zhang Lingrui , Tao W. Andy , Lozano-Durán Rosa , Zhu Jian-Kang
Published: December 2018

Significance

Plants have evolved cell-wall integrity signaling pathways to maintain cell-wall homeostasis in response to stress conditions, but the components involved in the perception and transduction of cell-wall signals are largely unknown. Here we found that the
Arabidopsis
cell-wall–localized leucine-rich repeat extensins (LRX) 3/4/5 interact with RAPID ALKALINIZATION FACTOR (RALF) peptides RALF22/23. Mature RALF22/23 peptides interact with the plasma membrane-localized FERONIA (FER) and induce FER internalization. The
lrx345
and
fer
mutants and
RALF22
/
23
overexpressing transgenic plants display similar phenotypes such as retarded growth and increased sensitivity to salt stress. Our work thus reveals that the LRX3/4/5 proteins function with RALF22/23 and FER to define a signaling pathway that is critical for regulating plant growth and salt tolerance.
Persian Nationalism, Identity and Anti-Arab Sentiments in Iranian Facebook Discourses
Authors: KhosraviNik Majid , Zia Mahrou
Published: December 2018

This study adopts a Critical Discourse Analytical approach to investigate how a form of Iranian national(ist) identity is (re)constructed and (re)presented on a popular Facebook Page called Persian Gulf. It focuses on linguistic practices of the Iranian side of the debate over the name of this body of water. After briefly discussing some of the challenges of applying CDA to a participatory web platform e.g. Facebook, This paper explores the characteristics of the Persian identity discourse in the way that it is utilised to legitimize the name Persian Gulf vs. the claim to the name Arabian Gulf. The paper concludes that the emergent Persian national/ist identity discourse is strongly preoccupied with opposing a perceived cultural invasion of the Arabic Other in its emphatic defence of the name Persian Gulf but in the meantime it aspires to distinguish itself from the officially propagated Islamic identity. It is also shown that aspects pertaining to powerfulness, defiance and conflict are the main thrusts of the discursive representation of this Self-identity.
Tactics of political lying
Authors: Martin Brian
Published: December 2018

Political lying recurrently becomes a major issue in the media. Audience members seldom have first-hand information and hence rely on media stories to assess claims. Although background information may not be available, the tactics used by key players are more likely to be reported. Two models for analysing tactics are introduced, one based on methods of deception, detection and response, the other based on methods to reduce or increase outrage over something perceived to be wrong. Each model is applied to claims and counter-claims concerning the behaviour of two Australian politicians. Most of the tactics used in the case study fit the deception-detection-response model, but some do not; the outrage management model overcomes these limitations: nearly all tactics used fit into the model’s categories. Media audiences, by being aware of likely tactics, can better judge whether lying is involved.
Dermal Advanced REACH Tool (dART)—Development of a Dermal Exposure Model for Low-Volatile Liquids
Authors: Goede Henk A , McNally Kevin , Gorce Jean-Philippe , Marquart Hans , Warren Nick D , Fransman Wouter , Tischer Martin , Schinkel Jody
Published: December 2018

This article describes the development of a mechanistic model for underpinning the dermal Advanced REACH Tool (dART), an extension of the existing ART model and its software platform. It was developed for hand exposure to low volatile liquids (vapour pressure ≤ 10 Pa at 20°C) including solids-in-liquid products. The model is based on an existing conceptual dermal source-receptor model that has been integrated into the ART framework. A structured taxonomy of workplace activities referred to as activity classes are adopted from ART.  Three key processes involved in mass transport associated with dermal exposure are applied, i.e. deposition, direct emission and contact, and transfer. For deposition, the model adopts all the relevant modifying factors (MFs) applied in ART. In terms of direct emission and contact (e.g. splashes) and transfer (e.g. hand-surface contacts), the model defines independent principal MFs, i.e. substance-related factors, activity-related factors, localized- and dispersion control and exposed surface area of the hands. To address event-based exposures as much as possible, the model includes crucial events during an activity (e.g. hand immersions) and translates objective information on tools and equipment (manual or automated) to probable events (e.g. splashes) and worker behaviours (e.g. surface contacts). Based on an extensive review of peer-reviewed literature and unpublished field studies, multipliers were assigned to each determinant and provide an approximated (dimensionless) numerical value. In the absence of (sufficient) evidence, multipliers were assigned to determinants based on assumptions made during discussions by experts in the consortium. A worked example is presented to illustrate the calculation of hand exposure for a specific scenario. The dART model is not yet implemented in the ART software platform, and a robust validation of the model is necessary to determine its predictive ability. With advancing knowledge on dermal exposure and its determinants, this model will require periodic updates and refinements, in addition to further expansion of the applicability domain of the model.
Use of Bone-Cartilaginous Unit in Revision Rhinoplasty
Authors: Sazgar Amir A , Teimouri Yeganeh , Sazgar Amir K
Published: December 2018

Background

Insufficient septal cartilage is a common finding when performing revision rhinoplasty. Such cases require costal or conchal cartilage to be harvested, which is time consuming and brings the risk of morbidity. A new technique involves the use of a septal bone-cartilage composite graft or a bone-cartilaginous (BC) unit as a rhinoplasty graft.

Objectives

The aim of this research was to evaluate the subjective and objective effects of using a BC unit graft in revision rhinoplasty.

Methods

In this clinical trial, we examined 40 patients with insufficient septal cartilage for grafting who were referred to a tertiary center and a private setting from January 2016 to March 2017 for revision septorhinoplasty. The patients had nasal deformity and nasal obstruction. Assessment of surgical outcome was based on anthropometric measurements and by measuring the width of the middle nasal third from photographs, and on 2 patient questionnaires: the Nasal Obstruction and Septoplasty Effectiveness (NOSE) and the Rhinoplasty Outcome Evaluation (ROE) questionnaires.

Results

Nasolabial angles and the middle nasal third improved significantly after surgery (P < 0.005). Based on the NOSE questionnaire, 85% of patients had no or mild nasal obstruction, and the ROE questionnaire indicated that 62.5% were completely or very satisfied with the appearance of their nose.

Conclusions

The BC unit is an effective graft in revision rhinoplasty, and can be used in place of the rib graft. In skilled hands, harvesting of this graft results in no morbidity and is not time consuming.

Level of Evidence: 4
BaiHui: cross-species brain-specific network built with hundreds of hand-curated datasets
Authors: Li Hong-Dong , Bai Tianjian , Sandford Erin , Burmeister Margit , Guan Yuanfang
Published: December 2018

Motivation

Functional gene networks, representing how likely two genes work in the same biological process, are important models for studying gene interactions in complex tissues. However, a limitation of the current network-building scheme is the lack of leveraging evidence from multiple model organisms as well as the lack of expert curation and quality control of the input genomic data.

Results

Here, we present BaiHui, a brain-specific functional gene network built by probabilistically integrating expertly-hand-curated (by reading original publications) heterogeneous and multi-species genomic data in human, mouse and rat brains. To facilitate the use of this network, we deployed a web server through which users can query their genes of interest, visualize the network, gain functional insight from enrichment analysis and download network data. We also illustrated how this network could be used to generate testable hypotheses on disease gene prioritization of brain disorders.

Availability and implementation

BaiHui is freely available at: http://guanlab.ccmb.med.umich.edu/BaiHui/.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Global Biobank Engine: enabling genotype-phenotype browsing for biobank summary statistics
Authors: McInnes Gregory , Tanigawa Yosuke , DeBoever Chris , Lavertu Adam , Olivieri Julia Eve , Aguirre Matthew , Rivas Manuel A
Published: December 2018

Large biobanks linking phenotype to genotype have led to an explosion of genetic association studies across a wide range of phenotypes. Sharing the knowledge generated by these resources with the scientific community remains a challenge due to patient privacy and the vast amount of data. Here, we present Global Biobank Engine (GBE), a web-based tool that enables exploration of the relationship between genotype and phenotype in biobank cohorts, such as the UK Biobank. GBE supports browsing for results from genome-wide association studies, phenome-wide association studies, gene-based tests and genetic correlation between phenotypes. We envision GBE as a platform that facilitates the dissemination of summary statistics from biobanks to the scientific and clinical communities.

Availability and implementation

GBE currently hosts data from the UK Biobank and can be found freely available at biobankengine.stanford.edu.
Temporal Metacognition as the Decoding of Self-Generated Brain Dynamics
Authors: Kononowicz Tadeusz W , Roger Clémence , van Wassenhove Virginie
Published: December 2018

Metacognition, the ability to know about one’s thought process, is self-referential. Here, we combined psychophysics and time-resolved neuroimaging to explore metacognitive inference on the accuracy of a self-generated behavior. Human participants generated a time interval and evaluated the signed magnitude of their temporal production. We show that both self-generation and self-evaluation relied on the power of beta oscillations (β; 15–40 Hz) with increases in early β power predictive of increases in duration. We characterized the dynamics of β power in a low-dimensional space (β state-space trajectories) as a function of timing and found that the more distinct trajectories, the more accurate metacognitive inferences were. These results suggest that β states instantiate an internal variable determining the fate of the timing network’s trajectory, possibly as release from inhibition. Altogether, our study describes oscillatory mechanisms for timing, suggesting that temporal metacognition relies on inferential processes of self-generated dynamics.
Loss of CXCR4 on non-classical monocytes in participants of the Women’s Interagency HIV Study (WIHS) with subclinical atherosclerosis
Authors: Mueller Karin A L , Hanna David B , Ehinger Erik , Xue Xiaonan , Baas Livia , Gawaz Meinrad P , Geisler Tobias , Anastos Kathryn , Cohen Mardge H , Gange Stephen J , Heath Sonya L , Lazar Jason M , Liu Chenglong , Mack Wendy J , Ofotokun Igho , Tien Phyllis C , Hodis Howard N , Landay Alan L , Kaplan Robert C , Ley Klaus
Published: December 2018

Aims

To test whether human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and subclinical cardiovascular disease (sCVD) are associated with expression of CXCR4 and other surface markers on classical, intermediate, and non-classical monocytes in women.

Methods and results

sCVD was defined as presence of atherosclerotic lesions in the carotid artery in 92 participants of the Women’s Interagency HIV Study (WIHS). Participants were stratified into four sets (n = 23 each) by HIV and sCVD status (HIV−/sCVD−, HIV−/sCVD+, HIV+/sCVD−, and HIV+/sCVD+) matched by age, race/ethnicity, and smoking status. Three subsets of monocytes were determined from archived peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Flow cytometry was used to count and phenotype surface markers. We tested for differences by HIV and sCVD status accounting for multiple comparisons. We found no differences in monocyte subset size among the four groups. Expression of seven surface markers differed significantly across the three monocyte subsets. CXCR4 expression [median fluorescence intensity (MFI)] in non-classical monocytes was highest among HIV−/CVD− [628, interquartile range (IQR) (295–1389)], followed by HIV+/CVD− [486, IQR (248–699)], HIV−/CVD+ (398, IQR (89–901)), and lowest in HIV+/CVD+ women [226, IQR (73–519)), P = 0.006 in ANOVA. After accounting for multiple comparison (Tukey) the difference between HIV−/CVD− vs. HIV+/CVD+ remained significant with P = 0.005 (HIV−/CVD− vs. HIV+/CVD− P = 0.04, HIV−/CVD− vs. HIV−/CVD+ P = 0.06, HIV+/CVD+ vs. HIV+/CVD− P = 0.88, HIV+/CVD+ vs. HIV−/CVD+ P = 0.81, HIV+/CVD− vs. HIV−/CVD+, P = 0.99). All pairwise comparisons with HIV−/CVD− were individually significant (P = 0.050 vs. HIV−/CVD+, P = 0.028 vs. HIV+/CVD−, P = 0.009 vs. HIV+/CVD+). CXCR4 expression on non-classical monocytes was significantly higher in CVD− (501.5, IQR (249.5–887.3)) vs. CVD+ (297, IQR (81.75–626.8) individuals (P = 0.028, n = 46 per group). CXCR4 expression on non-classical monocytes significantly correlated with cardiovascular and HIV−related risk factors including systolic blood pressure, platelet and T cell counts along with duration of antiretroviral therapy (P < 0.05). In regression analyses, adjusted for education level, study site, and injection drug use, presence of HIV infection and sCVD remained significantly associated with lower CXCR4 expression on non-classical monocytes (P = 0.003), but did not differ in classical or intermediate monocytes.

Conclusion

CXCR4 expression in non-classical monocytes was significantly lower among women with both HIV infection and sCVD, suggesting a potential atheroprotective role of CXCR4 in non-classical monocytes.
Depression Among Older Adults in the United States by Disaggregated Race and Ethnicity
Authors: Hooker Karen , Phibbs Sandi , Irvin Veronica L , Mendez-Luck Carolyn A , Doan Lan N , Li Tao , Turner Shelbie , Choun Soyoung
Published: December 2018

Background and Objectives

As the population becomes increasingly diverse, it is important to understand the prevalence of depression across a racially and ethnically diverse older population. The purpose of this study was to compare rates of depression by age and disaggregated racial and ethnic groups to inform practitioners and target resource allocation to high risk groups.

Research Design and Methods

Data were from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Health Outcomes Survey, Cohorts 15 and 16, a national and annual survey of a racially diverse group of adults aged 65 and older who participate in Medicare Advantage plans (N = 175,956). Depression was operationalized by the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2); we estimated a logistic regression model and adjusted standard errors to account for 403 Medicare Advantage Organizations.

Results

Overall, 10.2% of the sample (n = 17,957) reported a PHQ-2 score of 3 or higher, indicative of a positive screen for depression. After adjusting for covariates, odds of screening positively for depression were higher among participants self-reporting as Mexican (odds ratio [OR] = 1.19), Puerto Rican (OR = 1.46), Cuban (OR = 1.57), another Hispanic/Latino (OR = 1.29), and multiple Hispanic/Latino (OR = 1.84) ethnicities, compared with non-Hispanic whites. Odds were also higher among participants reporting that their race was black/African American (OR = 1.20), Asian Indian (OR = 1.67), Filipino (OR = 1.30), Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (OR = 1.82), or two or more races (OR = 1.50), compared with non-Hispanic whites.

Discussion and Implications

Prevalence varied greatly across segments of the population, suggesting that certain racial/ethnic groups are at higher risk than others. These disparities should inform distribution of health care resources; efforts to educate and ameliorate depression should be culturally targeted.
Beyond novelty effect: a mixed-methods exploration into the motivation for long-term activity tracker use
Authors: Shin Grace , Feng Yuanyuan , Jarrahi Mohammad Hossein , Gafinowitz Nicci
Published: December 2018

Objectives

Activity trackers hold the promise to support people in managing their health through quantified measurements about their daily physical activities. Monitoring personal health with quantified activity tracker-generated data provides patients with an opportunity to self-manage their health. Many have been conducted within short-time frames; makes it difficult to discover the impact of the activity tracker’s novelty effect or the reasons for the device’s long-term use. This study explores the impact of novelty effect on activity tracker adoption and the motivation for sustained use beyond the novelty period.

Materials and methods

This study uses a mixed-methods approach that combines both quantitative activity tracker log analysis and qualitative one-on-one interviews to develop a deeper behavioral understanding of 23 Fitbit device users who used their trackers for at least 2 months (range of use = 69–1073 days).

Results

Log data from users’ Fitbit devices revealed 2 stages: the novelty period and the long-term use period. The novelty period for Fitbit users in this study was approximately 3 months, during which they might have discontinued using their devices.

Discussion

The qualitative interview data identified various factors that users to continuously use the Fitbit devices in different stages. The discussion of these results provides design implications to guide future development of activity tracking technology.

Conclusion

This study reveals important dynamics emerging over long-term activity tracker use, contributes new knowledge to consumer health informatics and human-computer interaction, and offers design implications to guide future development of similar health-monitoring technologies that better account for long-term use in support of patient care and health self-management.
A Procedure to Standardize Puff Topography During Evaluations of Acute Tobacco or Electronic Cigarette Exposure
Authors: Perkins Kenneth A , Karelitz Joshua L
Published: December 2018

Introduction

Documenting factors that influence differential sensitivity to acutely inhaled nicotine products requires carefully controlling the amount of exposure (dose), and thus a procedure by which to control such exposure.

Methods

We evaluated consistency of puff volume from intermittent acute exposures to smoked tobacco cigarettes (study 1, n = 45, plus a comparison study of uninstructed use with n = 59) and to vaped electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes; study 2, n = 27 naive to e-cigarettes) in adult-dependent smokers. All in primary studies 1 and 2 participated in research administering different nicotine levels in each product under blind conditions, one per session using within-subject designs. In both studies, participants followed an automated instructional procedure on a computer monitor standardizing the timing and amount of exposure to each product during a given trial, with four trials per session, each separated by 20 minutes. Puff volume per trial via Clinical Research Support System (CReSS) was the primary dependent measure to determine consistency across trials via intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs).

Results

Control over topography with both inhaled products was demonstrated by highly significant ICCs for puff volume across trials. Instructed control with own brand was generally better in study 1 than with uninstructed smoking in the comparison sample, as expected. As intended, reliability of puff volume generally did not differ by menthol preference or sex in either study, but ICCs in study 2 tended to be lower for some men using the placebo e-cigarette.

Conclusions

This instructional procedure may substantially improve control over amounts of acute exposure to tobacco or e-cigarette use.

Implications

Control over topography in studies of acute exposure to these inhaled products can potentially aid validity of research into differential sensitivity to use, so findings can be attributed to factors of interest and not to variable exposure. Our procedure minimized variability in exposure to the same product and between moderate nicotine products, but remaining differences suggest that compensation for very low or no nicotine commercial products may be difficult to totally eliminate with these instructions alone. Further study is needed to determine this procedure’s utility with other inhaled products among experienced users and when comparing different products in between-groups analyses.
Transfer-Based Decentralization and Poverty Alleviation: Evidence from a Quasi-Experiment in China
Authors: Su Fubing , Li Ming , Tao Ran
Published: December 2018

China launched a massive poverty alleviation program in the 1990s that focused on nationally designated poverty counties. By injecting earmarked transfers with clear spending mandates, the central government hoped for major investments in productive capacities in the poverty counties so they could develop sustainably. Comparing fiscal data of county governments through a regression discontinuity approach, we show that the opposite was true. Poverty county officials failed to make extra investments in production-oriented areas while diversion of central transfers for administrative consumption was rampant. This article develops a better empirical strategy to challenge some earlier findings. Theoretically, this article offers a different case of elite capture under a non-democratic regime. Our focus on poverty regions also reveals the importance of maintaining bureaucratic support in local politics. It complements the popular notion that Chinese local officials are mostly geared toward growth.
Deltex1 suppresses T cell function and is a biomarker for diagnosis and disease activity of systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Leu Chuen-Miin , Hsu Tzu-Sheng , Kuo Yu-Ping , Lai Ming-Zong , Liu Po-Chun , Chen Ming-Huang , Chang Deh-Ming , Tsai Chang-Youh , Chen Ming-Han
Published: December 2018

Objective

Deletion of Deltex1 (DTX1) in mice caused hyperactivation of T cells and lupus-like autoimmune syndromes, however, the association of DTX1 with human autoimmune diseases is totally unknown. This study investigated the role of DTX1 in human T cell functions and its correlation with disease activity in patients with SLE.

Methods

The influence of DTX1 on T cell function was evaluated using human primary cells. DTX1 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy controls and SLE patients was measured by quantitative real-time PCR and the SLEDAI was used to assess disease activity.

Results

After stimulation with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28, silencing of DTX1 expression enhanced IFN-γ secretion by human T cells. The expression of DTX1 in PBMCs was significantly lower in 100 SLE patients than in 50 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (DTX1/glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, 0.452 vs 1.269, P < 0.001). The area under the receiver operator characteristics curve of the model was 0.737 (95% CI 0.658, 0.815). Intriguingly, a low DTX1 level in T cells led to high IFN-γ production in SLE patients and had a correlation with severe disease activity. In addition, low DTX1 expression in SLE patients was associated with active LN, lung involvement or hypocomplementaemia.

Conclusion

Knockdown DTX1 expression in human T cells reduced IFN-γ secretion. DTX1 expression in the PBMCs was significantly lower in SLE patients and had an inverse correlation with disease activity, indicating that the DTX1 level may be a good disease marker of SLE.
Cucurbit Rootstocks Resistant to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum Remain Resistant When Coinfected by Meloidogyne incognita in the Field
Authors: Keinath Anthony P. , Wechter W. Patrick , Rutter William B. , Agudelo Paula A.
Published: December 2018

Interspecific hybrid squash (Cucurbita maxima × Cucurbita moschata) rootstocks used to graft watermelon (Citrullus lanatus var. lanatus) are resistant to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum, the fungus that causes Fusarium wilt of watermelon, but they are susceptible to Meloidogyne incognita, the southern root knot nematode. A new citron (Citrullus amarus) rootstock cultivar Carolina Strongback is resistant to F. oxysporum f. sp. niveum and M. incognita. The objective of this study was to determine if an interaction between M. incognita and F. oxysporum f. sp. niveum race 2 occurred on grafted or nongrafted triploid watermelon susceptible to F. oxysporum f. sp. niveum race 2. In 2016 and 2018, plants of nongrafted cultivar Fascination and Fascination grafted onto Carolina Strongback and interspecific hybrid squash cultivar Carnivor were inoculated or not inoculated with M. incognita before transplanting into field plots infested or not infested with F. oxysporum f. sp. niveum race 2. Incidence of Fusarium wilt and area under the disease progress curve did not differ when hosts were inoculated with F. oxysporum f. sp. niveum alone or F. oxysporum f. sp. niveum and M. incognita together. Fusarium wilt was greater on nongrafted watermelon (78% mean incidence) than on both grafted rootstocks and lower on Carnivor (1% incidence) than on Carolina Strongback (12% incidence; P ≤ 0.01). Plants not inoculated with F. oxysporum f. sp. niveum did not wilt. At the end of the season, Carnivor had a greater percentage of the root system galled than the other two hosts, whereas galling did not differ on Fascination and Carolina Strongback. F. oxysporum f. sp. niveum reduced marketable weight of nongrafted Fascination with and without coinoculation with M. incognita. M. incognita reduced marketable weight of Fascination grafted onto Carnivor compared with noninoculated, nongrafted Fascination. In conclusion, cucurbit rootstocks that are susceptible and resistant to M. incognita retain resistance to F. oxysporum f. sp. niveum when they are coinfected with M. incognita.
Alcohol Consumption and Binge Drinking Among Young Adults Aged 20–30 Years in Lisbon, Portugal
Authors: Moutinho Lídia Susana Mendes , de Oliveira Cruz Mendes Aida Maria , Lopes Manuel
Published: December 2018

Background:

Over the past decade, the changes to the pattern of alcohol consumption in Portugal, in particular among young people with heavy episodic drinking (binge drinking), are well documented. However, there are limited studies in individuals aged between 20 and 30 years, which is an important period of transition into adulthood where binge drinking can negatively influence the resolution of developmental tasks. Therefore, this study aims at analyzing the pattern of alcohol consumption and binge drinking among young adults aged between 20 and 30 years living in the municipality of Lisbon.

Methodology:

This is a quantitative, descriptive correlational study using a convenience sample composed of 259 individuals. We used the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test for data collection.

Results:

Among the sampled subjects, 19.3% of them reported being nondrinkers. Among the alcohol-drinking subjects (N = 209), 61.3% reported binge drinking behaviors. We found a higher percentage of binge drinkers among vocational training students than among university students, as well as a relatively higher percentage of women. In both cases, we found no statistically significant differences. Within the total sample, 10.8% reported hazardous or harmful consumption, with men showing greater hazardous consumption.

Conclusions:

Although approximately one fifth of the sampled subjects reported being nondrinkers, the percentage of binge drinkers in this study was significantly higher than that reported in other studies. We also found that binge drinking is more common among vocational training students, although this difference was not statistically significant. Further studies are needed on this age group and in nonacademic settings.
Opening the “Dor,” Not Always an Inferior Approach
Authors: Wagle Sugat , Lakhani Baqir A. , CHAUDHRY SUNIT-PREET , Ravichandran Ashwin K. , SALERNO CHRISTOPHER T.
Published: December 2018

The Dor procedure was historically used to restore the geometry of the heart in a patient with a left ventricular (LV) aneurysm via reduction and reshaping of the LV with an aneurysmectomy. Unfortunately, morbidity and mortality remain high with this procedure, with many patients little to no recovery of their ejection fraction while developing severe diastolic failure, often requiring further support; however, the natural history of these patients remains largely unknown. Heart transplant has long been considered the most durable of treatment for patients with end-stage heart failure (HF), but because of the scarcity of donor hearts, the implantation of left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) for mechanical circulatory support has also proven to be an essential tool in the treatment of the advanced heart failure patient. While various techniques for LVAD implantation have been well outlined, there is very limited literature on placement of a VAD in patients with a history of LV aneurysmectomy or Dor procedures, particularly with regard to the challenging aspects of apical cannulation in those with prior apical ventriculotomy and patch placement. In this series, we describe three patients with a history of LV aneurysmectomy procedures who underwent Heartware ventricular assist device (HVAD) implantations for end-stage HF.
Tau Is Elevated in Pediatric Patients on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
Authors: Lee Amy E. , Pandiyan Poornima , Liu Ming-Mei , Williams Monica A. , Everett Allen D. , Mueller Gregory P. , Morriss Michael Craig , Raman Lakshmi , Carlson Deborah , Gatson Joshua W.
Published: December 2018

Neurologic injury is a known and feared complication of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Neurologic biomarkers may have a role in assisting in early identification of such. Axonal biomarker tau has not been investigated in the pediatric ECMO population. The objective of this study is to evaluate plasma levels of tau in pediatric patients supported with ECMO. Eighteen patients requiring ECMO support in a quaternary pediatric intensive care unit at a university-affiliated children’s hospital from October 2015 to February 2017 were enrolled. Patients undergoing extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation or recent history of bypass were excluded. Plasma tau was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Neuroimaging was reviewed for acute neurologic injury, and tau levels were analyzed to assess for correlation. Tau was significantly higher in ECMO patients than in control subjects. Sixty-one percent of subjects had evidence of acute brain injury on neuroimaging, but tau level did not correlate with injury. Subjects with multifocal injury all experienced infarction and had significantly higher tau levels on ECMO day 3 than patients with isolated injury. In addition, peak tau levels of neuro-injured subjects were compared with controls and noninjured ECMO subjects using receiver operating curve analysis. This study demonstrates preliminary evidence of axonal injury in pediatric ECMO patients.
ECMO Flow as a Sign of Intraabdominal Hemorrhage After Prolonged CPR
Authors: Ranney David , Hatch Sarah , Bonadonna Desiree , Daneshmand Mani
Published: December 2018

Although life-saving, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) has been associated with traumatic injuries in adult patients surviving cardiac arrest. In addition to rib and sternal fractures, intraabdominal injuries have also been shown to occur, particularly after prolonged external cardiac massage. Early detection of these injuries remains difficult and is often masked by concomitant hemodynamic instability and the higher likelihood of other injuries such as retroperitoneal hemorrhage. Accurate diagnosis is further complicated when venoarterial (VA) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is instituted. As such, it is imperative for ECMO providers to maintain a high index of suspicion for intraabdominal/intraperitoneal solid organ injury and hemoperitoneum when managing patients who survive prolonged cardiac arrest. Furthermore, fluctuating or low ECMO circuit flow rates despite volume infusion may serve as indicators of intraabdominal bleeding and should be promptly assessed.
Outcomes of Repeat Left Ventricular Assist Device Exchange
Authors: Chou Brendan P. , Lamba Harveen K. , Cheema Faisal H. , Civitello Andrew B. , Delgado Reynolds M. , Simpson Leo , Nair Ajith P. , Oberton Selby , Taimeh Ziad A. , Rosengart Todd K. , Frazier O. H. , Morgan Jeffrey A.
Published: December 2018

Implantable continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (CF-LVADs) are used for long-term LV support in bridging patients to heart transplantation or as destination therapy. With prolonged support times, some patients will have repeat complications necessitating multiple device exchanges. To elucidate the safety and efficacy of repeat device exchange, we retrospectively reviewed data from 25 patients who underwent two or more CF-LVAD implantations between July 2005 and August 2017. Indications for exchange were thrombus/hemolysis (n = 8, 32%), electromechanical device malfunction (n = 14, 56%), and infection (n = 3, 12%). The implanted devices were the HeartMate II (n = 13, 52%), the HeartWare HVAD (n = 11, 44%), and the Jarvik 2000 (n = 1, 4%). Average hospital length of stay was 44 days (range 4–221 days), and 17 patients (68%) survived to discharge. Average duration of support after the most recent LVAD implantation was 802 days (range 1–3,229 days). Overall survival was 72% at 1 year and 60% at 2 years. Postoperative complications included respiratory failure in five patients (20%), device infection in five (20%), bleeding requiring reoperation in four (16%), neurologic dysfunction in four (16%), and acute renal failure in two (8%). Overall, our data suggest that repeat LVAD exchange is a feasible option for patients with recurrent device-related complications.
Electrophysiological Assessment of the Impact of Mobile Phone Radiation on Cognition in Persons With Epilepsy
Authors: Elsawy Noha , Elkholy Saly , Azmy Radwa , Maher Eman A. , Shamloul Reham
Published: December 2018

Purpose:

Serious concerns about the effect of mobile phone radiation on cognition are growing. This study aimed to assess the possible effect of mobile phone radiation in persons with epilepsy and in normal subjects.

Methods:

The amplitude and reaction time of auditory event–related potentials (P300) and occipital alpha frequency were compared before and after exposure with a 30-minute call in 30 persons with epilepsy and in 30 control subjects. Alpha power was monitored before, during, and after exposure to mobile phone radiation. Moreover, correlations with clinical aspects were analyzed.

Results:

Increased reaction time and decreased P300 amplitude were more evident in persons with epilepsy. A significant decrease in alpha power was noted in control subjects and persons with epilepsy and was associated with an increased bilateral alpha frequency. In persons with epilepsy, such changes significantly correlated with the time since the last seizure and with the therapy regimen.

Conclusions:

Thirty-minute exposure to mobile phone radiation has a significant effect on the electrophysiological correlates of cognition, especially in persons with epilepsy.
ESCRT-III accumulates in micronuclei with ruptured nuclear envelopes
Authors: Willan Jessica , Cleasby Alexa , Flores-Rodriguez Neftali , Stefani Flavia , Rinaldo Cinzia , Pisciottani Alessandra , Grant Emma , Woodman Philip , Bryant Helen , Ciani Barbara
Published: December 2018

1.

Micronuclei represent the cellular attempt to compartmentalize DNA to maintain genomic integrity threatened by mitotic errors and genotoxic events. Micronuclei show aberrant nuclear envelopes that collapse, generating damaged DNA and promoting complex genome alterations. However, ruptured micronuclei also provide a pool of cytosolic DNA that stimulates anti-tumour immunity, revealing the complexity of micronuclei impact on tumour progression.

The ESCRT-III complex ensures nuclear envelope (NE) resealing during late mitosis and NE repair in interphase. Therefore, ESCRT-III activity maybe crucial for maintaining the integrity of other genomic structures enclosed by a nuclear envelope. ESCRT-III activity at the nuclear envelope is coordinated by the subunit CHMP7.

We show that CHMP7 and ESCRT-III protects against the genomic instability associated with micronuclei formation. Loss of ESCRT-III activity increases the population of micronuclei with ruptured nuclear envelopes, in interphase cells. Surprisingly, ESCRT-III is retained at acentric micronuclei suggesting that ESCRT-III cannot repair these structures. Depletion of CHMP7 expression removes ESCRT-III accumulations at ruptured micronuclei, and removes the population of micronuclei with damaged DNA also containing a sensor for cytosolic DNA.

Thus, ESCRT-III activity appears to protect from the consequence of genomic instability in a dichotomous fashion. Membrane repair activity prevents the occurrence of MN with weak envelopes; conversely, aberrant membrane remodelling at micronuclei generates a steady state pool of cytosolic DNA that may contribute to sustaining pro-inflammatory pathways in cancer cells.
Regulation of Cilia Abundance in Multiciliated Cells
Authors: Nanjundappa Rashmi , Kong Dong , Shim Kyuhwan , Stearns Tim , Brody Steven L. , Loncarek Jadranka , Mahjoub Moe R.
Published: December 2018

Multiciliated cells (MCC) are specialized epithelia that contain hundreds of motile cilia used to propel fluid over the surface of the cell. To template these cilia, each MCC produces hundreds of centrioles by a process termed centriole amplification. Airway progenitor cells initially contain two parental centrioles that nucleate multiple centrioles at once, and structures called deuterosomes that assemble the vast majority of centrioles during amplification. Remarkably, how each cell regulates the precise number of its centrioles and cilia remains unknown. Here, we investigate mechanisms that establish centriole number in MCC using anex vivoairway culture model. We show that ablation of parental centrioles, via inhibition of Plk4 kinase, does not perturb deuterosome formation and centriole amplification, nor alter the total complement of centrioles per cell. Airway MCC vary in size and surface area, and exhibit a broad range in centriole number. Quantification of centriole abundancein vitroandin vivoidentified a direct relationship between cell-surface area and centriole number. By manipulating cell size and shape, we discovered that centriole number scales with increasing surface area. Collectively, our results demonstrate that parental centrioles and Plk4 are dispensable for deuterosome formation, centriole amplification, and establishment of centriole number. Instead, a cell-intrinsic surface area-dependent mechanism controls centriole and cilia abundance in multiciliated cells.
Confidence as a priority signal
Authors: Aguilar-Lleyda David , Lemarchand Maxime , Gardelle Vincent de
Published: December 2018

When dealing with multiple tasks, we often find ourselves in the problem of establishing the order in which to tackle them. Here we asked whether confidence, the subjective feeling in the accuracy of our decisions, plays an active role in this ordering problem. In a series of experiments, we show that confidence acts as a priority signal when ordering responses about tasks already completed, or ordering tasks that are to be made. In experiments 1-3, participants were engaged in a dual task and categorized perceptual stimuli along two dimensions. We found that they tended to give first the decision in which they were more confident. We also prove that confidence drives prioritization above and beyond task difficulty or response accuracy, and we discard alternative interpretations in terms of response availability or task demands. In experiments 4-6, we show that when participants have to select which of two sets of trials they want to perform first, they engage first in the set associated with higher confidence, and we extend this finding to situations involving non-perceptual (mental calculation) decisions. Our results thus support the role of confidence as a priority signal, thereby demonstrating a new way in which it regulates human behavior.

Highlights

We show that when having to decide the order in which to approach two tasks, humans prefer to start with the one they feel more confident in.

This holds both when deciding in which order to report two already completed tasks, and when deciding the order in which to tackle two tasks yet to complete. Our results are replicated in perceptual and non-perceptual situations.

The role of confidence on prioritization cannot be reduced to that of task difficulty or response accuracy.

Our findings demonstrate a new way in which confidence regulates human behavior.
Talent Identification at the limits of Peer Review: an analysis of the EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowships Selection Process
Authors: Klaus Bernd , del Alamo David
Published: December 2018

Scientific peer review is still the most common system for fund allocation despite having been shown in multiple instances to lack accuracy in identifying the most meritorious applications among high quality ones. This study evaluates two aspects of the selection process of the top- ranked applicants to the EMBO Long-Term Fellowship program in 2007. First, the accuracy of the system is evaluated by comparing the level of career progression of the candidates in 2017 with the original award decisions made in 2007. The second aspect, explores the relationship of career progression with indicators derived from the information available to evaluators at the time of application. The results obtained suggest that the peer review system is not substantially better than random selection in identifying the best candidates once an initial pre-selection of the most promising ones is performed. Not only that, the analysis of the indicators studied, some of which have not been analyzed in detail in the past, suggests that among other potential sources of uncertainty, the information available at the time of application is not sufficiently predictive of career progression. As previously described, however, we find differences in career progression between men and women. We propose a new mixed model of fellowship evaluation in which peer review is used to select high quality applications, and random allocation of funds is subsequently used to award fellowships among these top ranked candidates.
Hydrodynamic and electrophoretic properties of Trastuzumab/HER2 complexes. Experiments and modeling.
Authors: Ramos Javier , Vega Juan Francisco , Cruz Victor , Sanchez-Sanchez Eduardo , Cortes Javier , Martinez-Salazar Javier
Published: December 2018

The combination of hydrodynamic and electrophoretic experiments and computer simulations is indeed a powerful approach to study the interaction between proteins. In this work, we present hydrodynamic and electrophoretic experiments in aqueous solution along with molecular dynamics and hydrodynamic modeling to monitor and compute biophysical properties of the interactions between the extracellular domain of the HER2 protein (eHER2) and the monoclonal antibody trastuzumab (TZM). The importance of this system relies on the fact that the overexpression of HER2 protein is related with the poor prognosis breast cancers (HER2++ positives) being the TZM a monoclonal antibody for the treatment of this cancer. We have found and characterize two different complexes between the TZM and eHER2 proteins (1:1 and 1:2 TZM:eHER2 complexes). The conformational features of these complexes regulate their hydrodynamic and electrostatic properties. Thus, the results indicate a high degree of molecular flexibility in the systems, that ultimately leads to higher values of the intrinsic viscosity and as well as lower values of diffusion coefficient than those expected for simple globular proteins. A highly asymmetric charge distribution is detected for the monovalent complex (1:1 complex), which has strong implications in correlations between the experimental electrophoretic mobility and the modeled net charge. In order to understand the dynamics of these systems and the role of the specific domains involved, it is essential to find biophysical correlations between dynamics, macroscopic transport and electrostatic properties. The results should be of general interest for researchers working in this area.
pdb-tools: a swiss army knife for molecular structures
Authors: Rodrigues João P.G.L.M. , Teixeira João M.C. , Trellet Mikaël , Bonvin Alexandre M.J.J.
Published: December 2018

The pdb-tools are a collection of Python scripts for working with molecular structure data in the PDB format. They allow users to edit, convert, and validate PDB files, from the command-line, in a simple but efficient manner. The pdb-tools are implemented in Python, without any external dependencies, and are freely available under the open-source Apache License at https://github.com/haddocking/pdb-tools/ and on PyPI (https://pypi.org/project/pdb-tools/).