bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evidence of utilization behavior in children with ADHD
Authors: ARCHIBALD SARAH J. , KERNS KIMBERLY A. , MATEER CATHERINE A. , ISMAY LAURA
Published: April 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether inappropriate/excessive motor activity seen in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) could be characterized as Utilization Behavior (UB). Given evidence that the neuropathology of ADHD may involve frontal-striatal systems, we investigated the possibility that children with ADHD may demonstrate “utilization behavior.” Utilization Behavior (UB) is a neurobehavioral syndrome documented in individuals with damage or dysfunction in the frontal areas of the brain; patients exhibiting UB are often described as reaching out and utilizing objects in the environment in an automatic and inappropriate manner. The sample consisted of two group of children; children with ADHD (n= 32) and control children (n= 31). Children were assessed individually in a testing room where various objects, selected to elicit UB, were present. They completed cognitive tests and also were allowed to engage in an unsupervised activity. Testing sessions were videotaped and instances of physical activity (i.e., upper limb motor activity and utilization of objects) were counted by two raters. Results indicated high levels of object utilization in approximately one-half of the children with ADHD, whereas almost no such behavior was observed in controls. This behavior did not appear to be a result of generally heightened activity levels or due to instruction set, but differed according to object familiarity and object visibility. Levels of UB were statistically associated with the severity of hyperactivity, as reported by parents, of children with ADHD. This study suggests that inappropriate/excessive motor activity may, at least in part, be characterized as UB in some children with ADHD. (JINS, 2005,11, 367–375.)
Action (verb) fluency: Test–retest reliability, normative standards, and construct validity
Authors: WOODS STEVEN PAUL , SCOTT J. COBB , SIRES DANIELLE A. , GRANT IGOR , HEATON ROBERT K. , TRÖSTER ALEXANDER I. , GROUP THE HIV NEUROBEHAVIORAL RESEARCH CENTER (HNRC)
Published: April 2019

Action (verb) fluency is a newly developed verbal fluency task that requires the examinee to rapidly generate as many verbs (i.e., “things that people do”) as possible within 1 min. Existing literature indicates that action fluency may be more sensitive to frontal–basal ganglia loop pathophysiology than traditional noun fluency tasks (e.g., animal fluency), which is consistent with the hypothesized neural dissociation between noun and verb retrieval. In the current study, a series of analyses were undertaken to examine the psychometric properties of action fluency in a sample of 174 younger healthy participants. The first set of analyses describes the development of demographically adjusted normative data for action fluency. Next, a group of hypothesis-driven correlational analyses reveals significant associations between action fluency and putative tests of executive functions, verbal working memory, verbal fluency, and information processing speed, but not between action fluency and tests of learning or constructional praxis. The final set of analyses demonstrates the test–retest stability of the action fluency test and provides standards for determining statistically reliable changes in performance. In sum, this study enhances the potential clinical applicability of action fluency by providing demographically adjusted normative data and demonstrating evidence for its reliability and construct validity. (JINS, 2005,11, 408–415.)
Investigating temporal lobe contribution to confrontation naming using MRI quantitative volumetrics
Authors: SEIDENBERG MICHAEL , GEARY ELIZABETH , HERMANN BRUCE
Published: April 2019

Confrontation naming ability entails the operation of distinct cognitive operations and the integrity of a distributed neural network. Previous research has indicated a critical role for the left temporal lobe region in naming ability, but there is less agreement about the relative role of distinct temporal lobe regions. In the current paper, we used quantitative MR volumetrics to investigate the relative contribution of the hippocampus and extrahippocampal temporal lobe (segmented gray and white matter) volumes to confrontation naming performance in 53 patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. Findings showed (1) a stronger relationship for left temporal lobe volume than right temporal lobe volume in predicting naming performance; (2) both left temporal lobe white matter volume and left hippocampus volume contributed a significant amount of unique variance to spontaneous naming performance; and (3) left temporal lobe white matter volume but not left hippocampus volume predicted recognition naming performance. (JINS, 2005,11, 358–366.)
Executive function as a predictor of inattentive behavior after traumatic brain injury
Authors: KIM JUNGHOON , WHYTE JOHN , HART TESSA , VACCARO MONICA , POLANSKY MARCIA , COSLETT H. BRANCH
Published: April 2019

Emerging evidence from recent studies using laboratory and naturalistic attention tasks suggests that individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) may have a deficit mainly in strategic control of attention. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that inattentive behavior after TBI could be predicted by performance on psychometric measures of executive function. A group of 37 individuals with moderate to severe TBI were assessed with previously validated naturalistic measures of attention. A battery of neuropsychological tests was also administered to assess various aspects of executive function. Seven measures of executive function and 10 variables reflecting inattentive behavior were combined to form 1 executive and 3 inattentive behavior (IB) composite scores. Three predictors (executive composite, current disability scores, and age) were associated, at the univariate level, with one of the IB composites reflecting frequency and duration of off-task episodes. A stepwise multiple regression procedure indicated that the executive composite was the only significant predictor of the IB composite. Additionalpost-hocregression analyses suggested that the relationship was not likely to be mediated by processing speed. The current study supports the hypothesis that executive function, measured by commonly used neuropsychological tests, significantly predicts certain aspects of inattentive behavior in real-world tasks after TBI. (JINS, 2005,11, 434–445.)
In the Spotlight or the Shadow of Alzheimer? The Role of Cerebrovascular Disease in Dementia
Authors: Reed Bruce
Published: April 2019

Vascular Dementia: Cerebrovascular Mechanisms and Clinical Management. Robert H. Paul, Ronald Cohen, Brian R. Ott, and Stephen Salloway (Eds.). 2004. Totowa, NJ: Humana Press, 356 pp., $145.00, £91.00 (HB).

Interest in how vascular factors contribute to dementia is ascendant, propelled by a number of factors. One is the widespread use of MRI, which is a highly sensitive (if not always specific) test for cerebrovascular lesions. A second is a string of epidemiological reports revealing that Alzheimer's disease shares many of the well established risk factors for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease (Skoog & Gustafson, 2003). Recent autopsy studies using cohorts obtained outside of the potentially winnowing influence of the Alzheimer's disease centers have reminded us that vascular lesions are common in patients with dementia (Neuropathology Group of the Medical Research Council Cognitive Function and Ageing Study, 2001). The Nun study report suggesting that infarcts create an additive or greater effect on mental function in concert with AD pathology (Snowdon et al., 1997) received particularly wide exposure and helped revive interest in combined effects of AD and ischemic lesions. Finally, the discovery that polymorphisms of the apoE gene, long of interest in cardiovascular disease, strongly modify the risk of AD suggested the possibility of shared pathophysiological mechanisms between AD and vascular dementia (Panza et al., 2004; Strittmatter & Roses, 1995). The volumeVascular Dementia, edited by Paul, Cohen, Ott and Salloway, is thus a timely resource for those interested in the numerous issues surrounding the role of vascular factors in dementia.
The Potential of Early Intervention for Preventing and Reducing ACE-Related Trauma
Authors: Asmussen Kirsten , McBride Tom , Waddell Stephanie
Published: April 2019

Too many children face disadvantages that negatively impact their health, happiness and future life chances. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) represent a particularly traumatic set of circumstances that have been found through research to dramatically increase the likelihood of poor adult physical and mental health outcomes. While we do not view ACEs to represent the only or necessarily the most serious risks to children’s development, we do recognise them to pose a substantial threat. This article identifies twenty-four interventions with causal evidence of preventing or reducing ACE-related trauma and considers how they could be offered through system-wide strategies aimed at improving the lives of children who are at the greatest risk. While we are not suggesting that these interventions – on their own or in combination – represent a magic solution to ACEs, or the wider societal issues that contribute to them, we do propose that knowledge about their effectiveness can improve the quality of services that support the needs of highly vulnerable children.
Social bodies and social justice
Authors: Lewis Sam , Thomson Michael
Published: April 2019

This paper identifies and engages with thesocial bodiesemerging by virtue of the social turn in the life sciences and recent embodied approaches to social justice. Across these diverse domains, bodies are being narrated as shaped by and dependent on their environments. To explore this potentially important and productive convergence, we bring Martha Fineman's vulnerability theory into conversation with neuroscience and environmental epigenetics. We foreground significant intersecting concerns and argue that vulnerability theory – and other embodied models of social justice – is strengthened by taking embodiment seriously, including attending to the social turn in the life sciences. This can enhance the potential traction of these progressive theories. These in turn provide an alternative theoretical framework to the neoliberal lens through which neuroscience and epigenetics have hitherto been translated into policy and practice. We nevertheless acknowledge the potential limitations and dangers of the current biopolitical landscape.
Neues zu hirneigenen Tumoren
Authors: Wirsching Hans-Georg , Weller Michael
Published: April 2019

Zusammenfassung. Hirneigene Tumoren sind eine heterogene Gruppe klinisch, histologisch und molekular sehr unterschiedlicher Entitäten. Mit der 2016 überarbeiteten Klassifikation der hirneigenen Tumoren wurden von der Weltgesundheitsorganisation (WHO) erstmals molekulare Marker zur Diagnosestellung einzelner Tumoren definiert, die teilweise der histologischen Beurteilung übergeordnet wurden. So ist beispielsweise das Oligodendrogliom durch den gleichzeitigen Verlust der Chromosomenarme 1 p und 19 q definiert, ungeachtet des histopathologischen Befundes. Astrozytome werden seit 2016 unterteilt in solche mit mutierter Isozitratdehydrogenase (IDH) und besserer Prognose sowie solche mit Wildtyp-IDH-Status, die mit der grossen Mehrzahl der Glioblastome auch die häufigste und prognostisch ungünstigste Entität umfassen. Hier werden neben einem kurzen Überblick über die häufigsten Entitäten hirneigener Tumoren die wichtigsten Neuerungen und therapeutischen Implikationen der WHO-Klassifikation von 2016 zusammengefasst. Zudem wird ein Ausblick auf neue Therapieansätze gegeben.
Neue Antikonvulsiva im klinischen Alltag
Authors: Zieglgänsberger Dominik , Flügel Dominique
Published: April 2019

Zusammenfassung. Das Armamentarium des klinisch tätigen Epileptologen erweitert sich ständig. Die neueren Substanzen zeigen dabei oft eine bessere Verträglichkeit und ein geringeres Interaktionspotential als die älteren Substanzen, sie sind dabei aber nicht wirkstärker. Die Auswahl des Antikonvulsivums richtet sich nach der individuellen Situation und berücksichtigt Art der Epilepsie, Alter, Komorbiditäten und bei Frauen auch einen allfälligen Kinderwunsch. Aufgrund der oft weiterhin bestehenden Therapierefraktärität von Epilepsien, werden neue Substanzen dringend benötigt und es sind derzeit etliche vielversprechende Präparate in Entwicklung. Auch die Epilepsiechirurgie macht grosse Fortschritte, so dass empfohlen wird, nach dem erfolglosen Einsatz von zwei adäquaten Antikonvulsiva auch an diese oft sehr erfolgreiche Option zu denken, die im Idealfall zu einer Heilung von der Epilepsie führt, und die Patienten in ein entsprechendes Zentrum zuzuweisen.
Effect of branched-Chain Amino Acid Supplementation on Muscle Soreness following Exercise: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Fedewa Michael V. , Spencer Steven O. , Williams Tyler D. , Becker Zachery E. , Fuqua Collin A.
Published: April 2019

Abstract. Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is a symptom of exercise-induced muscle damage that occurs following exercise. Previous research has indicated that branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation may attenuate exercise-induced muscle damage that causes delayed onset muscle soreness, however the results are inconsistent. The primary aim of this study was to examine the previous literature assessing the effect of BCAA supplementation on DOMS following an acute bout of exercise in adults. This review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses), and identified peer-reviewed articles comparing a BCAA supplement to a placebo non-BCAA supplement following an acute bout of exercise. An electronic search of three databases (EbscoHost, Web of Science, and SPORTDiscus) yielded 42 articles after duplicates were removed. All studies included in the current analyis were: 1) peer-reviewed publications; 2) available in English; 3) utilized a random control design that compared a BCAA group to a placebo control group following exercise; 4) and assessed soreness of muscle tissue during recovery. DOMS was assessed in 61 participants following ingestion of a BCAA supplement over the course of these interventions. The cumulative results of 37 effects gathered from 8 studies published between 2007 and 2017 indicated that BCAA supplementation reduced DOMS following exercise training (ES = 0.7286, 95% CI: 0.5017 to 0.9555, p < 0.001). A large decrease in DOMS occurs following BCAA supplementation after exercise compared to a placebo supplement.
Non-Fatal Deliberate Self-Harm in Three Remote Indigenous Communities in Far North Queensland, Australia
Authors: Rouen Chris , Clough Alan R. , West Caryn
Published: April 2019

Abstract. Background: Indigenous Australians experience a suicide rate over twice that of the general population. With nonfatal deliberate self-harm (DSH) being the single most important risk factor for suicide, characterizing the incidence and repetition of DSH in this population is essential. Aims: To investigate the incidence and repetition of DSH in three remote Indigenous communities in Far North Queensland, Australia. Method: DSH presentation data at a primary health-care center in each community were analyzed over a 6-year period from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2011. Results: A DSH presentation rate of 1,638 per 100,000 population was found within the communities. Rates were higher in age groups 15–24 and 25–34, varied between communities, and were not significantly different between genders; 60% of DSH repetitions occurred within 6 months of an earlier episode. Of the 227 DSH presentations, 32% involved hanging. Limitations: This study was based on a subset of a larger dataset not specifically designed for DSH data collection and assesses the subset of the communities that presented to the primary health-care centers. Conclusion: A dedicated DSH monitoring study is required to provide a better understanding of DSH in these communities and to inform early intervention strategies.
Evaluation of the Safety and Design of Community Internet Resources for Veteran Suicide Prevention
Authors: Chen Jason I. , Mastarone Ginnifer L. , Ambrosino Santisia A. , Anzalone Nicole , Carlson Kathleen F. , Dobscha Steven K. , Teo Alan R.
Published: April 2019

Abstract. Background: Recent data show many veterans who die by suicide are not currently engaged in mental health care. Veterans frequently use the Internet for health information and may look online for community resources when in distress. However, little is known about their design characteristics. Aim: To evaluate the design and content of community, veteran suicide prevention websites. Method: Community websites focused on veteran suicide prevention were gathered through Internet searches using standardized search terms. Websites that met the inclusion criteria ( n = 9) were evaluated for adherence to suicide safe messaging, usability, readability, and credibility heuristics. Interrater reliability was evaluated using kappa statistics. Descriptive statistics were used to describe website features. Results: Community websites tended to provide help-seeking information, safe messaging, and community activities. However, no websites provided information on lethal means safety or references to signal credibility. Limitations: The sample was small and only included English-language websites, and focused on veteran-oriented, community websites. Conclusion: Community suicide prevention websites focused on veterans could be improved through increased readability, credibility, and provision of lethal means safety information.
Using Ambient Noise to Image the Northern East African Rift
Authors: Chambers Emma L. , Harmon Nicholas , Keir Derek , Rychert Catherine A.
Published: April 2019

The northern East African Rift (EAR) is a unique location where we observe continental rifting in the Main Ethiopian Rift (MER) transitioning to incipient seafloor spreading in Afar. Here we present a 3‐D absolute shear wave velocity model of the crust and uppermost mantle of the northern EAR generated from ambient noise tomography. We generate 4,820 station pair correlation functions, from 170 stations (present over 12 years), which were inverted for phase velocity from 8–33 s period and finally for 3‐D absolute shear velocity structure to 60‐km depth. Everywhere in the uppermost mantle, shear velocity is slower than expected for a mantle peridotite composition (<4.1 km/s). This suggests the presence of pervasive partial melt, with focused upwelling and melt storage beneath the MER, where the slowest velocities (3.20 km/s ± 0.03) are observed. Average crustal shear velocity is faster beneath Afar (3.83 km/s ± 0.04) than the MER (3.60 km/s ± 0.04), albeit Afar has localized slow velocities beneath active volcanic centers. We interpret these slow‐velocity regions (including the MER) as magmatic intrusions and heating of the crust. Beneath the northwestern plateau, crustal velocities are laterally heterogeneous (3.3–3.65 ± 0.05 km/s at 10 km), suggesting a complex geological history and inhomogeneous magma distribution during rift development. Comparison between the MER and Afar allows us to draw conclusions between different stages of rifting. In particular, the MER has the slowest crustal velocities, consistent with longer magma residence times in the crust, early during the breakup process.
Comparing EGF Methods for Estimating Corner Frequency and Stress Drop From P Wave Spectra
Authors: Shearer Peter M. , Abercrombie Rachel E. , Trugman Daniel T. , Wang Wei
Published: April 2019

Empirical Green's functions (EGFs) are widely applied to correct earthquake spectra for attenuation and other path effects in order to estimate corner frequencies and stress drops, but these source parameter estimates often exhibit poor agreement between different studies. We examine this issue by analyzing a compact cluster of over 3,000 aftershocks of the 1992 Landers earthquake. We apply and compare two different analysis and modeling methods: (1) the spectral decomposition and global EGF fitting approach and (2) a more traditional EGF method of modeling spectral ratios. We find that spectral decomposition yields event terms that are consistent with stacks of spectral ratios for individual events, but source parameter estimates nonetheless vary between the methods. The main source of differences comes from the modeling approach used to estimate the EGF. The global EGF‐fitting approach suffers from parameter trade‐offs among the absolute stress drop, the stress drop scaling with moment, and the high‐frequency falloff rate but has the advantage that the relative spectral shapes and stress drops among the different events in the cluster are well resolved even if their absolute levels are not. The spectral ratio approach solves for a different EGF for each target event without imposing any constraint on the corner frequency, fc, of the smaller events, and so can produce biased results for target event fc. Placing constraints on the small‐event fc improves the performance of the spectral ratio method and enables the two methods to yield very similar results.
Accelerating and Parallelizing Lagrangian Simulations of Mixing‐Limited Reactive Transport
Authors: Engdahl Nicholas B. , Schmidt Michael J. , Benson David A.
Published: April 2019

Recent advances in random walk particle tracking have enabled direct simulation of mixing and reactions by allowing the particles to interact with each other using a multipoint mass transfer scheme. The mass transfer scheme allows separation of mixing and spreading processes, among other advantages, but it is computationally expensive because its speed depends on the number of interacting particle pairs. This note explores methods for relieving the computational bottleneck caused by the mass transfer step, and we use these algorithms to develop a new parallel, interacting particle model. The new model is a combination of a sparse search algorithm and a novel domain decomposition scheme, both of which offer significant speedup relative to the reference case—even when they are executed serially. We combine the strengths of these methods to create a parallel particle scheme that is highly accurate and efficient with run times that scale as 1/P for a fixed number of particles, where P is the number of computational cores (equivalently, subdomains, in this work) being used. The new parallel model is a significant advance because it enables efficient simulation of large particle ensembles that are needed for environmental simulations and also because it can naturally pair with parallel geochemical solvers to create a practical Lagrangian tool for simulating mixing and reactions in complex chemical systems.
Term birth weight and ambient air pollutant concentrations during pregnancy, among women living in Monroe County, New York
Authors: Li Rui , Hopke Philip K. , Dozier Ann , Thurston Sally W. , Thevenet-Morrison Kelly , Croft Daniel , Masiol Mauro , Squizzato Stefania , Chalupa David , Rich David Q.
Published: April 2019

Increased ambient air pollutant concentrations during pregnancy have been associated with reduced birth weight, but the etiologically relevant pregnancy time window(s) is/are unclear. In 76,500 singleton births in Monroe County, NY (2005–2016), who were 37–42 gestational weeks at delivery, we used generalized linear models to regress term birth weight against mean gestational month pollutant concentrations, adjusting for mean temperature, and maternal, infant, and medical service use characteristics. Overall, there were no clear patterns of term birth weight change associated with increased concentrations of any pollutant across gestational months. However, among Hispanic women only, increases in all pollutants, except O3, in multiple gestational months, were associated with decreased term birth weight. Each 3.25 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 concentration in the 6th gestational month was associated with a −20.4 g (95% CI = −34.0, −6.8) reduction in term birth weight among Hispanic women, but a 4.1 g (95% CI = −2.5, 10.8) increase among non-Hispanic mothers (p for interaction < 0.001). Although ambient air pollutant concentrations during pregnancy were not associated with reduced term birth weight among women of all ethnicities living in Monroe County, this observed association in Hispanic mothers may be a result of less exposure misclassification and bias (due to closer residential proximity to the monitoring site).
Trans-provincial health impacts of atmospheric mercury emissions in China
Authors: Chen Long , Liang Sai , Liu Maodian , Yi Yujun , Mi Zhifu , Zhang Yanxu , Li Yumeng , Qi Jianchuan , Meng Jing , Tang Xi , Zhang Haoran , Tong Yindong , Zhang Wei , Wang Xuejun , Shu Jiong , Yang Zhifeng
Published: April 2019

Mercury (Hg) exposure poses substantial risks to human health. Investigating a longer chain from economic activities to human health can reveal the sources and critical processes of Hg-related health risks. Thus, we develop a more comprehensive assessment method which is applied to mainland China—the largest global Hg emitter. We present a map of Hg-related health risks in China and estimate that 0.14 points of per-foetus intelligence quotient (IQ) decrements and 7,360 deaths from fatal heart attacks are related to the intake of methylmercury in 2010. This study, for the first time, reveals the significant impacts of interprovincial trade on Hg-related health risks across the whole country. For instance, interprovincial trade induced by final consumption prevents 0.39 × 10−2 points for per-foetus IQ decrements and 194 deaths from fatal heart attacks. These findings highlight the importance of policy decisions in different stages of economic supply chains to reduce Hg-related health risks.
Extremes of summer climate trigger thousands of thermokarst landslides in a High Arctic environment
Authors: Lewkowicz Antoni G. , Way Robert G.
Published: April 2019

Retrogressive thaw slumps (RTS) – landslides caused by the melt of ground ice in permafrost – have become more common in the Arctic, but the timing of this recent increase and its links to climate have not been fully established. Here we annually resolve RTS formation and longevity for Banks Island, Canada (70,000 km2) using the Google Earth Engine Timelapse dataset. We describe a 60-fold increase in numbers between 1984 and 2015 as more than 4000 RTS were initiated, primarily following four particularly warm summers. Colour change due to increased turbidity occurred in 288 lakes affected by RTS outflows and sediment accumulated in many valley floors. Modelled RTS initiation rates increased by an order of magnitude between 1906–1985 and 2006–2015, and are projected under RCP4.5 to rise to >10,000 decade−1 after 2075. These results provide additional evidence that ice-rich continuous permafrost terrain can be highly vulnerable to changing summer climate.
Plant-inspired adhesive and tough hydrogel based on Ag-Lignin nanoparticles-triggered dynamic redox catechol chemistry
Authors: Gan Donglin , Xing Wensi , Jiang Lili , Fang Ju , Zhao Cancan , Ren Fuzeng , Fang Liming , Wang Kefeng , Lu Xiong
Published: April 2019

Adhesive hydrogels have gained popularity in biomedical applications, however, traditional adhesive hydrogels often exhibit short-term adhesiveness, poor mechanical properties and lack of antibacterial ability. Here, a plant-inspired adhesive hydrogel has been developed based on Ag-Lignin nanoparticles (NPs)triggered dynamic redox catechol chemistry. Ag-Lignin NPs construct the dynamic catechol redox system, which creates long-lasting reductive-oxidative environment inner hydrogel networks. This redox system, generating catechol groups continuously, endows the hydrogel with long-term and repeatable adhesiveness. Furthermore, Ag-Lignin NPs generate free radicals and trigger self-gelation of the hydrogel under ambient environment. This hydrogel presents high toughness for the existence of covalent and non-covalent interaction in the hydrogel networks. The hydrogel also possesses good cell affinity and high antibacterial activity due to the catechol groups and bactericidal ability of Ag-Lignin NPs. This study proposes a strategy to design tough and adhesive hydrogels based on dynamic plant catechol chemistry.
Successive modification of polydentate complexes gives access to planar carbon- and nitrogen-based ligands
Authors: Zhou Xiaoxi , Pang Xin , Nie Liming , Zhu Congqing , Zhuo Kaiyue , Zhuo Qingde , Chen Zhixin , Liu Gang , Zhang Hong , Lin Zhenyang , Xia Haiping
Published: April 2019

Polydentate complexes containing combinations of nitrogen and carbon (N and C) ligating atoms are among the most fundamental and ubiquitous molecules in coordination chemistry, yet the formation of such complexes with planar high-coordinate N/C sites remains challenging. Herein, we demonstrate an efficient route to access related complexes with tetradentate CCCN and pentadentate CCCCN and NCCCN cores by successive modification of the coordinating atoms in complexes with a CCCC core. Combined experimental and computational studies reveal that the rich reactivity of metal-carbon bonds and the inherent aromaticity of the metallacyclic skeletons play key roles in these transformations. This strategy addresses the paucity of synthetic approaches to mixed N/C planar pentadentate chelating species and provides valuable insights into the synthesis of carbon-based high-coordinate complexes. Furthermore, the resulting complexes are the examples of organometallic species with combined photoacoustic, photothermal, and sonodynamic properties, which makes them promising for application in related areas.
Whole genome sequencing of canids reveals genomic regions under selection and variants influencing morphology
Authors: Plassais Jocelyn , Kim Jaemin , Davis Brian W. , Karyadi Danielle M. , Hogan Andrew N. , Harris Alex C. , Decker Brennan , Parker Heidi G. , Ostrander Elaine A.
Published: April 2019

Domestic dog breeds are characterized by an unrivaled diversity of morphologic traits and breed-associated behaviors resulting from human selective pressures. To identify the genetic underpinnings of such traits, we analyze 722 canine whole genome sequences (WGS), documenting over 91 million single nucleotide and small indels, creating a large catalog of genomic variation for a companion animal species. We undertake both selective sweep analyses and genome wide association studies (GWAS) inclusive of over 144 modern breeds, 54 wild canids and a hundred village dogs. Our results identify variants of strong impact associated with 16 phenotypes, including body weight variation which, when combined with existing data, explain greater than 90% of body size variation in dogs. We thus demonstrate that GWAS and selection scans performed with WGS are powerful complementary methods for expanding the utility of companion animal systems for the study of mammalian growth and biology.
Synthetic ligands for PreQ1 riboswitches provide structural and mechanistic insights into targeting RNA tertiary structure
Authors: Connelly Colleen M. , Numata Tomoyuki , Boer Robert E. , Moon Michelle H. , Sinniah Ranu S. , Barchi Joseph J. , Ferré-D’Amaré Adrian R. , Schneekloth John S.
Published: April 2019

Riboswitches are naturally occurring RNA aptamers that regulate gene expression by binding to specific small molecules. Riboswitches control the expression of essential bacterial genes and are important models for RNA-small molecule recognition. Here, we report the discovery of a class of synthetic small molecules that bind to PreQ1 riboswitch aptamers. These molecules bind specifically and reversibly to the aptamers with high affinity and induce a conformational change. Furthermore, the ligands modulate riboswitch activity through transcriptional termination despite no obvious chemical similarity to the cognate ligand. X-ray crystallographic studies reveal that the ligands share a binding site with the cognate ligand but make different contacts. Finally, alteration of the chemical structure of the ligand causes changes in the mode of RNA binding and affects regulatory function. Thus, target- and structure-based approaches can be used to identify and understand the mechanism of synthetic ligands that bind to and regulate complex, folded RNAs.
Co-regulated gene expression of splicing factors as drivers of cancer progression
Authors: Koedoot Esmee , Smid Marcel , Foekens John A. , Martens John W. M. , Le Dévédec Sylvia E. , van de Water Bob
Published: April 2019

Splicing factors (SFs) act in dynamic macromolecular complexes to modulate RNA processing. To understand the complex role of SFs in cancer progression, we performed a systemic analysis of the co-regulation of SFs using primary tumor RNA sequencing data. Co-regulated SFs were associated with aggressive breast cancer phenotypes and enhanced metastasis formation, resulting in the classification of Enhancer- (21 genes) and Suppressor-SFs (64 genes). High Enhancer-SF levels were related to distinct splicing patterns and expression of known oncogenic pathways such as respiratory electron transport, DNA damage and cell cycle regulation. Importantly, largely identical SF co-regulation was observed in almost all major cancer types, including lung, pancreas and prostate cancer. In conclusion, we identified cancer-associated co-regulated expression of SFs that are associated with aggressive phenotypes. This study increases the global understanding of the role of the spliceosome in cancer progression and also contributes to the development of strategies to cure cancer patients.
Trends in caries experience in the permanent dentition in Germany 1997–2014, and projection to 2030: Morbidity shifts in an aging society
Authors: Jordan Rainer A. , Krois Joachim , Schiffner Ulrich , Micheelis Wolfgang , Schwendicke Falk
Published: April 2019

The aims of this study were to assess the trends in dental caries experience in the permanent dentition (i.e., the number of decayed, missing, or filled teeth, DMFT) in Germany from 1997–2014 and to project caries experience to 2030. Components of caries experience (decayed teeth, DT, missing teeth, MT, filled teeth, FT) from repeated waves (1997, 2005, 2014) of the nationally representative German Oral Health Studies were analyzed in 12-, 35–44-, and 65–74-year-olds. Weighted means were interpolated cross-sectionally by fitting piecewise-cubic spline-curves and were then subjected to longitudinal regression and combined with population estimates. In 1997, children (12-year-olds) had a mean caries experience (decayed, missing, filled teeth, DMFT) of 1.7 teeth; this experience decreased to 0.5 teeth in 2014. For 2030, an experience of 0.2 teeth is projected. In adults (35–44-year-olds), a decrease was recorded (1997: 16.1 teeth; 2014: 11.2 teeth). This decrease is expected to continue until 2030 (to 7.7 teeth). Similarly, in seniors (65–74-year-olds), a decrease was recorded (1997: 23.6 teeth; 2014: 17.7 teeth); this decrease is expected to continue until 2030 (to 14.9 teeth). While the number of missing teeth has decreased consistently across age groups, the number of filled and decayed teeth has increased in seniors and is expected to continue to increase. The cumulative caries experience has decreased from 1.1 billion DMFT in 2000 to 867 million in 2015 and is expected to decrease to 740 million in 2030. Caries experience in the permanent dentition has been decreasing substantially, mainly due to a decrease in missing teeth. Younger age groups also show fewer decayed and filled teeth, while in older groups, restorative needs have not decreased, as more teeth are retained. Concepts for addressing the emanating morbidity shifts are required.
Reconfigurable and optically transparent microwave absorbers based on deep eutectic solvent-gated graphene
Authors: Grande Marco , Bianco Giuseppe Valerio , Perna Filippo Maria , Capriati Vito , Capezzuto Pio , Scalora Michael , Bruno Giovanni , D’Orazio Antonella
Published: April 2019

Electrolytically tunable graphene “building blocks” for reconfigurable and optically transparent microwave surfaces and absorbers have been designed and fabricated by exploiting Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs). DESs have been first explored as electrolytic and environmentally friendly media for tuning sheet resistance and Fermi level of graphene together with its microwave response (reflection, transmission and absorption). We consider the tunability of the reconfigurable surfaces in terms of transmittance, absorption and reflectance, respectively, over the X and Ku bands when the gate voltage is varied in the −1.4/+1.4 V range. The numerical simulations and experimental measurements also show the ability of the absorber, in the Salisbury screen configuration, to achieve near perfect absorption with a modulation of about 20%. These results could find applications in several technological fields, ranging from electromagnetic pollution to integrated multi-physical regulation systems, thereby helping the advance of the performance of microwave cloaking systems, stealth windows, frequency selective surfaces, modulators and polarizers.
A generalized model for combining dependent SNP-level summary statistics and its extensions to statistics of other levels
Authors: Svishcheva Gulnara R.
Published: April 2019

Here I propose a fundamentally new flexible model to reveal the association between a trait and a set of genetic variants in a genomic region/gene. This model was developed for the situation when original individual-level phenotype and genotype data are not available, but the researcher possesses the results of statistical analyses conducted on these data (namely, SNP-level summary Z score statistics and SNP-by-SNP correlations). The new model was analytically derived from the classical multiple linear regression model applied for the region-based association analysis of individual-level phenotype and genotype data by using the linear compression of data, where the SNP-by-SNP correlations are among the explanatory variables, and the summary Z score statistics are categorized as the response variables. I analytically show that the regional association analysis methods developed within the framework of the classical multiple linear regression model with additive effects of genetic variants can be reformulated in terms of the new model without the loss of information. The results obtained from the regional association analysis utilizing the classical model and those derived using the proposed model are identical when SNP-by-SNP correlations and SNP-level statistics are estimated from the same genetic data.
Enrichment of periodontal pathogens from the biofilms of healthy adults
Authors: Naginyte Monika , Do Thuy , Meade Josephine , Devine Deirdre Ann , Marsh Philip David
Published: April 2019

Periodontitis is associated with shifts in the balance of the subgingival microbiome. Many species that predominate in disease have not been isolated from healthy sites, raising questions as to the origin of these putative pathogens. The study aim was to determine whether periodontal pathogens could be enriched from pooled saliva, plaque and tongue samples from dentally-healthy adult volunteers using growth media that simulate nutritional aspects of the inflamed subgingival environment. The microbiome was characterised before and after enrichment using established metagenomic approaches, and the data analysed bioinformatically to identify major functional changes. After three weeks, there was a shift from an inoculum in whichStreptococcus,Haemophilus,Neisseria,VeillonellaandPrevotellaspecies predominated to biofilms comprising an increased abundance of taxa implicated in periodontitis, includingPorphyromonas gingivalis,Fretibacterium fastidiosum,Filifactor alocis,Tannerella forsythia, and severalPeptostreptococcusandTreponemaspp., with concomitant decreases in health-associated species. Sixty-four species were present after enrichment that were undetectable in the inoculum, includingJonquetella anthropi,Desulfovibrio desulfuricansandDialister invisus. These studies support the Ecological Plaque Hypothesis, providing evidence that putative periodontopathogens are present in health at low levels, but changes to the subgingival nutritional environment increase their competitiveness and drive deleterious changes to biofilm composition.
Synthetic standard aided quantification and structural characterization of amyloid-beta glycopeptides enriched from cerebrospinal fluid of Alzheimer’s disease patients
Authors: Nilsson Jonas , Brinkmalm Gunnar , Ramadan Sherif , Gilborne Lisa , Noborn Fredrik , Blennow Kaj , Wallin Anders , Svensson Johan , Abo-Riya Mohamed A. , Huang Xuefei , Larson Göran
Published: April 2019

An early pathological hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is amyloid-β (Aβ) deposits in the brain, which largely consist of up to 43 amino acids long Aβ peptides derived from the amyloid precursor protein (APP). We previously identified a series of sialylated Tyr-10 O-glycosylated Aβ peptides, 15–20 residues long, from human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and observed a relative increase of those in AD vs non-AD patients. We report here on the synthesis and use of an isotopically double-labeled Aβ1-15 glycopeptide, carrying the core 1 Galβ3GalNAcα1-O-Tyr-10 structure, to (1) identify by HCD LC-MS/MS the definite glycan core 1 structure of immunopurified and desialylated Aβ glycopeptides in human CSF and to (2) establish a LC-MS/MS quantification method for desialylated Aβ1-15 (and Aβ1-17) glycopeptides and to (3) compare the concentrations of these Aβ glycopeptides in CSF from 20 AD patients and 20 healthy controls. Although we unambiguously identified the core 1 structures and Tyr-10 attachment sites of the glycopeptides, we did not observe any quantitative differences, determined through both peptide and oxonium ion fragments, of the desialylated Aβ1-15 or Aβ1-17 glycopeptides between the AD and non-AD group. The new quantitative glycoproteomic approach described, using double-labeled glycopeptide standards, will undoubtedly facilitate future studies of glycopeptides as clinical biomarkers but should also embrace sialylated Aβ standards to reveal specific sialylation patterns of individual Aβ glycopeptides in AD patients and controls.
Ovarian cancer cell lines derived from non-serous carcinomas migrate and invade more aggressively than those derived from high-grade serous carcinomas
Authors: Hallas-Potts Amelia , Dawson John C. , Herrington C. Simon
Published: April 2019

The term ovarian cancer describes a heterogeneous group of tumours that grow in the ovary but are not necessarily of ovarian origin. Recent genomic analysis has shown that many of the most commonly used ovarian cancer cell lines have been mischaracterised, leading to erroneous conclusions and a gap in the translation of laboratory research into novel treatments for patients. Here, we use 10 epithelial ovarian cancer cell lines to investigate 2D migration, cell cycle parameters and 3D invasion behaviour into different substrates and find significant differences between the behaviours of cell lines from different origins. Cell lines derived from non-serous carcinomas migrated more quickly and were more likely to invade into Matrigel and collagen I substrates than cell lines derived from high-grade serous carcinomas. However not all cell lines derived from non-serous carcinomas exhibited similar invasive behaviour. These findings may reflect differences in the behaviour of the primary tumour types from which the cell lines were derived, given that high-grade serous carcinomas typically expand and spread over peritoneal surfaces. These results provide the basis of an in vitro model for identifying differences between ovarian cancer tumour types.
Measuring and regulating oxygen levels in microphysiological systems: design, material, and sensor considerations
Authors: Rivera Kristina R. , Yokus Murat A. , Erb Patrick D. , Pozdin Vladimir A. , Daniele Michael
Published: April 2019

Quantifying and regulating oxygen in a microphysiological models can be achievedviaan array of technologies, and is an essential component of recapitulating tissue-specific microenvironments.
Prospects of production technologies and manufacturing costs of oxide-based all-solid-state lithium batteries
Authors: Schnell Joscha , Tietz Frank , Singer Célestine , Hofer Andreas , Billot Nicolas , Reinhart Gunther
Published: April 2019

This manuscript analyzes different scenarios to estimate the manufacturing cost for small-scale and mass production of all-solid-state batteries.
Electrochemical cross-coupling of biogenic di-acids for sustainable fuel production
Authors: Holzhäuser F. Joschka , Creusen Guido , Moos Gilles , Dahmen Manuel , König Andrea , Artz Jens , Palkovits Stefan , Palkovits Regina
Published: April 2019

Tailored electrochemical cross-coupling enables a flexible modular access to bio-fuels starting from biomass derived mono- and di-acids and renewable energy.
Photo-induced selective etching of GaN nanowires in water
Authors: Kraut Max , Pantle Florian , Winnerl Julia , Hetzl Martin , Eckmann Felix , Sharp Ian D. , Stutzmann Martin
Published: April 2019

The photoelectrochemical stability of GaN nanostructures strongly depends on exposed facets and crystal quality and can be enhanced by facet-engineering.
Viscosity and fragility of confined polymer nanocomposites: a tale of two interfaces
Authors: A Nimmi Das , Begam Nafisa , Ibrahim Mohd , Chandran Sivasurender , Padmanabhan Venkat , Sprung Michael , Basu J. K.
Published: April 2019

Viscosity and fragility are key parameters determining the processability and thermo-mechanical stability of glassy polymers and polymer nanocomposites (PNCs).
Role of polyvinylpyrrolidone in the electrochemical performance of Li2MnO3 cathode for lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Lee Ji-Eun , Kim Min-Cheol , Moon Sang-Hyun , Kim Eun-Soo , Shin Yeon-Kyung , Choi Sojeong , Kwon Suk-Hui , Kim Si-Jin , Kwon Hye-Jin , Park Kyung-Won
Published: April 2019

The modified OLO cathode materials for improved LIB performance were obtained by heating the as-prepared OLO in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) under an N2 atmosphere.
Molecular interactions of phospholipid monolayers with a model phospholipase
Authors: Zhang Pin , Villanueva Veronica , Kalkowski Joseph , Liu Chang , Donovan Alexander J. , Bu Wei , Schlossman Mark L. , Lin Binhua , Liu Ying
Published: April 2019

Degradation of DPPC catalyzed by sPLA2 resulted in a mixture of highly-ordered multilayer domains and a loosely packed monolayer phase.
Morphology-dependent third-order optical nonlinearity of a 2D Co-based metal–organic framework with a porphyrinic skeleton
Authors: Niu Ru-Jie , Zhou Wen-Fa , Liu Yan , Yang Jun-Yi , Zhang Wen-Hua , Lang Jian-Ping , Young David J.
Published: April 2019

A two-dimensional (2D) Co-based metal–organic framework (MOF) with a porphyrinic skeleton forms crystalline plates, flower-shaped clusters, and ultrathin films under optimized conditions and these forms give distinctively different nonlinear optical properties.
Control over the synthesis of homovalent and mixed-valence cubic cobalt-imidazolate cages
Authors: Liang Liang , Luo Dong , Zuo Tao , Zhou Xiao-Ping , Li Dan
Published: April 2019

A series of cubic cobalt-imidazolate cages have been successfully synthesized via subcomponent self-assembly in different solvents under solvothermal conditions.
Synthesis, structure and superconductivity of FeS1−xSex (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) solid solution crystals
Authors: Guo Zhongnan , Sun Fan , Chen Yuyuan , Mao Yingluo , Wan Lin , Yan Xiaoxiao , Yang Yang , Yuan Wenxia
Published: April 2019

FeS1−xSex solid solution crystals with the whole range (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) were synthesized, and the superconductivity and magnetism of these crystals were investigated.
Gold@Prussian blue analogue core–shell nanoheterostructures: their optical and magnetic properties
Authors: Maurin-Pasturel Guillaume , Mamontova Ekaterina , Palacios Maria A. , Long Jérôme , Allouche Joachim , Dupin Jean-Charles , Guari Yannick , Larionova Joulia
Published: April 2019

Au@Prussian-blue analogue shell nanoheterostructures are multifunctional nano-objects combining optical and magnetic properties.