bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Expression of CRYM in different rat organs during development and its decreased expression in degenerating pyramidal tracts in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Hommyo Reiji , Suzuki Satoshi O. , Abolhassani Nona , Hamasaki Hideomi , Shijo Masahiro , Maeda Norihisa , Honda Hiroyuki , Nakabeppu Yusaku , Iwaki Toru
Published: March 2018

The protein μ‐crystallin (CRYM) is a novel component of the marsupial lens that has two functions: it is a key regulator of thyroid hormone transportation and a reductase of sulfur‐containing cyclic ketimines. In this study, we examined changes of the expression pattern of CRYM in different rat organs during development using immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting. As CRYM is reportedly expressed in the corticospinal tract, we also investigated CRYM expression in human cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) using immunohistochemistry. In the rat brain, CRYM was expressed in the cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, hippocampus and corticospinal tract in the early postnatal period. As postnatal development progressed, CRYM expression was restricted to large pyramidal neurons in layers V and VI of the cerebral cortex and pyramidal cells in the deep layer of CA1 in the hippocampus. Even within the same regions, CRYM‐positive and negative neurons were distributed in a mosaic pattern. In the kidney, CRYM was expressed in epithelial cells of the proximal tubule and mesenchymal cells of the medulla in the early postnatal period; however, CRYM expression in the medulla was lost as mesenchymal cell numbers decreased with the rapid growth of the medulla. In human ALS brains, we observed marked loss of CRYM in the corticospinal tract, especially distally. Our results suggest that CRYM may play roles in development of cortical and hippocampal pyramidal cells in the early postnatal period, and in the later period, performs cell‐specific functions in selected neuronal populations. In the kidney, CRYM may play roles in maturation of renal function. The expression patterns of CRYM may reflect significance of its interactions with T3 or ketimines in these cells and organs. The results also indicate that CRYM may be used as a marker of axonal degeneration in the corticospinal tract.
Functional biogeography of angiosperms: life at the extremes
Authors: Zanne Amy E. , Pearse William D. , Cornwell William K. , McGlinn Daniel J. , Wright Ian J. , Uyeda Josef C.
Published: March 2018

Nonlinear relationships between species and their environments are believed common in ecology and evolution, including during angiosperms’ rise to dominance. Early angiosperms are thought of as woody evergreens restricted to warm, wet habitats. They have since expanded into numerous cold and dry places. This expansion may have included transitions across important environmental thresholds.

To understand linear and nonlinear relationships between angiosperm structure and biogeographic distributions, we integrated large datasets of growth habits, conduit sizes, leaf phenologies, evolutionary histories, and environmental limits. We consider current‐day patterns and develop a new evolutionary model to investigate processes that created them.

The macroecological pattern was clear: herbs had lower minimum temperature and precipitation limits. In woody species, conduit sizes were smaller in evergreens and related to species’ minimum temperatures. Across evolutionary timescales, our new modeling approach found conduit sizes in deciduous species decreased linearly with minimum temperature limits. By contrast, evergreen species had a sigmoidal relationship with minimum temperature limits and an inflection overlapping freezing.

These results suggest freezing represented an important threshold for evergreen but not deciduous woody angiosperms. Global success of angiosperms appears tied to a small set of alternative solutions when faced with a novel environmental threshold.
Vessel scaling in evergreen angiosperm leaves conforms with Murray's law and area‐filling assumptions: implications for plant size, leaf size and cold tolerance
Authors: Gleason Sean M. , Blackman Chris J. , Gleason Scott T. , McCulloh Katherine A. , Ocheltree Troy W. , Westoby Mark
Published: March 2018

Water transport in leaf vasculature is a fundamental process affecting plant growth, ecological interactions and ecosystem productivity, yet the architecture of leaf vascular networks is poorly understood. Although Murray's law and the West–Brown–Enquist (WBE) theories predict convergent scaling of conduit width and number, it is not known how conduit scaling is affected by habitat aridity or temperature.

We measured the scaling of leaf size, conduit width and conduit number within the leaves of 36 evergreen Angiosperms spanning a large range in aridity and temperature in eastern Australia.

Scaling of conduit width and number in midribs and 2° veins did not differ across species and habitats (P > 0.786), and did not differ from that predicted by Murray's law (P = 0.151). Leaf size was strongly correlated with the hydraulic radius of petiole conduits (r2 = 0.83, P < 0.001) and did not differ among habitats (P > 0.064), nor did the scaling exponent differ significantly from that predicted by hydraulic theory (P = 0.086).

The maximum radius of conduits in petioles was positively correlated with the temperature of the coldest quarter (r2 = 0.67; P < 0.001), suggesting that habitat temperature restricts the occurrence of wide‐conduit species in cold habitats.
Sustaining obesity prevention in communities: a systematic narrative synthesis review
Authors: Whelan J. , Love P. , Millar L. , Allender S. , Bell C.
Published: March 2018

Obesity is a global problem for which sustainable solutions are yet to be realized. Community‐based interventions have improved obesity‐related behaviours and obesity in the short term. Few papers have explored how to make the interventions and their intended outcomes sustainable. The aim of this paper is to identify factors that contribute to the sustainability of community‐based obesity prevention interventions and their intended outcomes.

A systematic narrative synthesis review was conducted of published community‐based obesity prevention interventions to identify factors contributing to intervention sustainability. Data extracted were included study authors' perspectives of intervention success and sustainability.

Eighty‐one papers met the inclusion criteria, and from these we identified ten factors that contribute to sustainability: resourcing, leadership, workforce development, community engagement, partnerships, policy, communications, adaptability, evaluation and governance.

This review of community‐based obesity prevention interventions gives rise to optimism that sustainable change is possible. We propose a framework to help practitioners build sustainability into their interventions and report on them so that others can also benefit.
Atrial transseptal left ventricular lead implantation for cardiac resynchronization therapy using arteriovenous loop technique
Authors: Liang Yixiu , Zhou Daxin , Wang Jingfeng , Qin Shengmei , Chen Xueying , Su Yangang , Ge Junbo
Published: March 2018

To date, several techniques for transseptal left ventricular (LV) endocardial pacing for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) have been proposed in patients for whom routine transvenous LV pacing is infeasible. These techniques are of varying difficulty and complexity, and some requires devices not easily accessible. We herein report a simple, safe and effective approach of atrial transseptal LV lead implantation using arteriovenous loop technique in a patient for whom transvenous LV implantation lead had failed.
Intraoperative hypoxia secondary to pneumothorax: The role of lung ultrasound
Authors: Mirabile Cristian , Malekzadeh‐Milani Sophie , Vinh Tran Quang , Haydar Ayman
Published: March 2018

Intraoperative pneumothorax during general anesthesia is a dangerous event. It is a possible cause of sudden intraoperative hypoxia, which can be critical especially in high‐risk patients such as those with end‐stage heart failure. Early diagnosis and effective treatment are essential. We describe the case of a pneumothorax during cardiac transplantation, diagnosed by ultrasound and immediately treated. A good skill in lung ultrasound is advantageous in the management of intraoperative hypoxia, particularly for prompt diagnosis of pneumothorax.
An autopsy case report: Differences in radiological images correlate with histology in Erdheim–Chester disease
Authors: Ohara Yuuki , Kato Seiichi , Yamashita Daisuke , Satou Akira , Shimoyama Yoshie , Hamaie Chie , Sato Motoki , Ban Nobutaro , Yamamoto Koji , Yamada Takehiro , Kawai Hisashi , Ohshima Koichi , Nakamura Shigeo , Toyokuni Shinya
Published: March 2018

p16 activation caused by oncogenic mutations may represent oncogene‐induced senescence (OIS), a protective mechanism against oncogenic events. However, OIS can contribute to tumor development via tissue remodeling in some tumors. Erdheim–Chester disease (ECD), a rare non‐Langerhans cell histiocytosis, is one such tumor. Its clinical and histological features vary, making it difficult to diagnose. Herein, we describe an autopsy of an ECD patient. The patient underwent radiological examinations, including 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)‐positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), bone scintigraphy and CT. A biopsy from the lesion with the highest FDG accumulation confirmed the presence of foamy macrophages, a diagnostic clue for ECD. Based on this finding and the clinical features, ECD was diagnosed. However, the patient died from heart dysfunction. After the autopsy, each radiologically different site showed various histological findings regarding the morphology of macrophages, fibrosis, inflammation, and p16 expression. OIS‐induced histological progression can cause certain changes observed in radiological images. In addition, in order to evaluate the increase in glucose metabolism, which can affect FDG accumulation, the expression of glucose transporter 1 and hexokinase II was also analyzed. Summarizing the radio‐histological correlation can help further both the understanding and diagnosis of ECD.
Expression of protein arginine methyltransferase‐5 in oral squamous cell carcinoma and its significance in epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition
Authors: Amano Yusuke , Matsubara Daisuke , Yoshimoto Taichiro , Tamura Tomoko , Nishino Hiroshi , Mori Yoshiyuki , Niki Toshiro
Published: March 2018

Protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMT) 5, a member of type II arginine methyltransferases, catalyzes the symmetrical dimethylation of arginine residues on histone and non‐histone substrates. Although the overexpression of PRMT5 has been reported in various cancers, its role in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has not been elucidated. In the present study, we immunohistochemically examined the expression of PRMT5 in surgically resected oral epithelial dysplasia (OED,n = 8), oral intraepithelial neoplasia (OIN)/carcinoma in situ (CIS) (n = 11) and OSCC (n = 52) with or without contiguous OED lesions. In the normal epithelium, PRMT5 was weakly expressed in the cytoplasm of basal layer cells. In OED, OIN/CIS, and OSCC, its expression consistently and uniformly increased in the cytoplasm of dysplastic and cancer cells. Moreover, nuclear and cytoplasmic localization was detected in the invasive front of cancer cells, particularly in cases showing poor differentiation or aggressive invasion patterns. The concomitant nuclear and cytoplasmic expression of PRMT5 correlated with the loss of E‐cadherin and cytokeratin 17, and the upregulation of vimentin, features that are both indicative of epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition. PRMT5 may play a role from early oncogenesis through to the progression of OSCC, particularly in the aggressive mode of stromal invasion.
Reference genes forRT‐qPCRnormalisation in different tissues, developmental stages and stress conditions of amaranth
Authors: Vera Hernández F. P. , Martínez Núñez M. , Ruiz Rivas M. , Vázquez Portillo R. E. , Bibbins Martínez M. D. , Luna Suárez S. , Rosas Cárdenas F.de F.
Published: March 2018

Studies of gene expression are very important for the identification of genes that participate in different biological processes. Currently, reverse transcription quantitative real‐time PCR (RT‐qPCR) is a high‐throughput, sensitive and widely used method for gene expression analysis. Nevertheless, RT‐qPCR requires precise normalisation of data to avoid the misinterpretation of experimental data. In this sense, the selection of reference genes is critical for gene expression analysis. At this time, several studies focus on the selection of reference genes in several species. However, the identification and validation of reference genes for the normalisation of RT‐qPCR have not been described in amaranth.

A set of seven housekeeping genes were analysed using RT‐qPCR, to determine the most stable reference genes in amaranth for normalisation of gene expression analysis. Transcript stability and gene expression level of candidate reference genes were analysed in different tissues, at different developmental stages and under different types of stress. The data were compared using the geNorm, NormFinder and Bestkeeper statistical methods.

The reference genes optimum for normalisation of data varied with respect to treatment. The results indicate thatAhyMDH, AhyGAPDH, AhyEF‐1α andAhyACTwould be optimum for accurate normalisation of experimental data, when all treatment are analysed in the same experiment.

This study presents the most stable reference genes for normalisation of gene expression analysis in amaranth, which will contribute significantly to future gene studies of this species.
On the Inattention to Digital Confidentiality in Operations and Supply Chain Research
Authors: Massimino Brett , Gray John V. , Lan Yingchao
Published: March 2018

Digital assets are growing in scale, scope, and importance, amplifying the necessity to maintain their confidentiality. Yet, digital confidentiality has received vastly less research attention from operations and supply chain management (OSCM) scholars than cost, quality, flexibility, delivery, and innovation. We contend that this lack of attention has, at least partly, produced recommendations that ultimately could harm digital confidentiality performance. To guide future research, we synthesize relevant gaps across the OSCM and information systems literatures and discuss relevant OSCM research opportunities. Many of these opportunities are articulated as propositions. We also discuss contemporary industry practices aimed at upholding digital confidentiality. We call for the OSCM community to consistently and explicitly examine digital confidentiality as a performance dimension, and argue that failure to heed this call will be detrimental to our field's influence and relevance as digital assets continue to increase in value relative to physical ones.
Spatiotemporal dynamics of citrus huanglongbing spread: a case study
Authors: Gasparoto M. C. G. , Hau B. , Bassanezi R. B. , Rodrigues J. C. , Amorim L.
Published: March 2018

Citrus huanglongbing (HLB) is a severe disease caused by ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ and vectored by Diaphorina citri. In commercial orchards, where the disease is controlled by removal of trees with symptoms and by frequent vector control, epidemics of HLB are mostly driven by primary infections from inoculum sources external to the orchard. It has been previously shown that the density of D. citri populations is usually higher around the edges than the inner sections of HLB‐affected citrus orchards. Consequently, diseased trees are also concentrated on the edges of orchards. However, there is a lack of quantitative data on HLB gradient dynamics over long periods of time. The objective of this study was to characterize temporal HLB progress and spatiotemporal gradient dynamics over six years in a large citrus farm where the disease was managed according to standard recommendations. Disease incidence and annual disease progress rates were higher at the citrus blocks closer to the edge than those located around inner sections of the farm. A decreasing logistic function provided a good description of the spatiotemporal dynamics of HLB gradients. A fixed slope of disease gradients was estimated over time and diseased trees were observed up to 1500 m from the orchard border. These results confirm that primary infection is the main factor for the progress of HLB epidemics in an orchard under the recommended three‐pronged system management. Therefore, HLB management should be intensified at the blocks located on the edges of the orchards and extended to external sources of inoculum.
Association between prenatal psychological stress and oxidative stress during pregnancy
Authors: Eick Stephanie M. , Barrett Emily S. , van ‘t Erve Thomas J. , Nguyen Ruby H. N. , Bush Nicole R. , Milne Ginger , Swan Shanna H. , Ferguson Kelly K.
Published: March 2018

Background

Prenatal psychological stress during pregnancy has been associated with adverse reproductive outcomes. A growing animal literature supports an association between psychological stress and oxidative stress. We assessed this relationship in pregnant women, hypothesising that psychological stress is associated with higher concentrations of oxidative stress biomarkers during pregnancy.

Methods

Psychosocial status and stressful life events (SLE) were self‐reported. 8‐iso‐prostaglandin F2α (8‐iso‐PGF2α) was measured as a biomarker of oxidative stress in urine samples at median 32 weeks’ gestation. We examined SLEs individually (ever vs never) and in summary (any vs none) and psychosocial status as measured by individual subscales and in summary (poor vs good). Linear models estimated associations between these parameters and urinary 8‐iso‐PGF2α concentrations after adjusting for covariates.

Results

The geometric mean of 8‐iso‐PGF2α was significantly higher among pregnant women who were non‐White, smokers, had less than a college education, higher pre‐pregnancy BMI and were unmarried. Having ever had a death in the family (n = 39) during pregnancy was associated with a 22.9% increase in 8‐iso‐PGF2α in unadjusted models (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.50, 48.8). Poor psychosocial status was associated with a 13.1% (95% CI 2.43, 25.0) greater mean 8‐iso‐PGF2α in unadjusted analyses. Associations were attenuated, but remained suggestive, after covariate adjustment.

Conclusions

These data suggest that 8‐iso‐PGF2α is elevated in pregnant women with who are at a sociodemographic disadvantage and who have higher psychological stress in pregnancy. Previous studies have observed that 8‐iso‐PGF2α levels are associated with adverse birth outcomes, oxidative stress could be a mediator in these relationships.
PROTON GRADIENT REGULATION 5 supports linear electron flow to oxidize photosystem I
Authors: Takagi Daisuke , Miyake Chikahiro
Published: March 2018

In higher plants, light drives the linear photosynthetic electron transport reaction from H2O to electron sinks, which is called the linear electron flow (LEF). LEF activity should be regulated depending on electron sinks; otherwise excess electrons accumulate in the thylakoid membranes and stimulate reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in photosystem I (PSI), which causes oxidative damage to PSI. To prevent ROS production in PSI, PSI should be oxidized during photosynthesis, and PROTON GRADIENT REGULATION 5 (PGR5) and PGR like 1 (PGRL1) are important for this oxidation. PGR5 and PGRL1 are recognized as a component of ferredoxin‐dependent cyclic electron flow around PSI (Fd‐CEF‐PSI), however there is no direct evidence for the significant operation of Fd‐CEF‐PSI during photosynthesis in wild‐type (WT) plants. Thus, electron distribution by PGR5 and PGRL1 between Fd‐CEF‐PSI and LEF is still elusive. Here, we show direct evidence that Fd‐CEF‐PSI activity is minor during steady‐state photosynthesis by measuring the Fd redox state in vivo in Arabidopsis thaliana. We found that Fd oxidation rate is determined by LEF activity during steady‐state photosynthesis in WT. On the other hand, pgr5 and pgrl1 showed lower electron transport efficiency from PSI to electron sinks through Fd during steady‐state photosynthesis. These results demonstrate that electrons are exclusively consumed in electron sinks through Fd, and the phenotypes of pgr5 and pgrl1 are likely caused by the disturbance of the LEF between PSI and electron sinks. We suggest that PGR5 and PGRL1 modulate the LEF according to electron sink activities around PSI.
Supplementation with sunflower seeds in beef cattle did not impact on oocyte and in vitro embryo production
Authors: Baltazar AL , de Mattos GM , Ropelli BM , Firetti SMG , Castilho C , Pugliesi G , Maldonado MBC , Binelli M , Silva JOF , Lupatini GC , Lafuente BS , Membrive CMB
Published: March 2018

Contents

Supplementation with compounds rich in linoleic acid, including sunflower seed supplementation, promotes increase in conception rates in cows. We aimed to evaluate whether the sunflower seed (linoleic acid source) supplementation in beef donor females alters the plasma concentrations of cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL and LDL, increases the number and quality of oocytes, increases the cleavage rates and determines an improvement in number and quality of in vitro produced blastocysts. Thus, Nelore females were divided into two groups of 15 animals to receive supplementation with or without sunflower seed for 57 days. Females underwent follicular aspiration and the oocytes were subjected to in vitro embryo production. There was no difference (p > .1) between control group and group supplemented with sunflower seed on the number of displayed follicles; number of aspired oocytes; recovery rate; cleavage rate; number of embryos; number of blastocysts; embryos number of grades I and II; plasma concentrations of total cholesterol, triglycerides; HDL and LDL. Therefore, sunflower seed supplementation in oocyte donors did not increase the number and quality of oocytes, cleavage rates and the number and quality of blastocysts produced in vitro.
Modelling Non-Stationary Multivariate Time Series of Counts via Common Factors
Authors: Wang Fangfang , Wang Haonan
Published: March 2018

We develop a new parameter-driven model for multivariate time series of counts. The time series is not necessarily stationary. We model the mean process as the product of modulating factors and unobserved stationary processes. The former characterizes the long-run movement in the data, whereas the latter is responsible for rapid fluctuations and other unknown or unavailable covariates. The unobserved stationary processes evolve independently of the past observed counts and might interact with each other. We express the multivariate unobserved stationary processes as a linear combination of possibly low dimensional factors that govern the contemporaneous and serial correlation within and across the observed counts. Regression coefficients in the modulating factors are estimated via pseudo-maximum-likelihood estimation, and identification of common factor(s) is carried out through eigenanalysis on a positive definite matrix that pertains to the autocovariance of the observed counts at non-zero lags. Theoretical validity of the two-step estimation procedure is documented. In particular, we establish consistency and asymptotic normality of the pseudo-maximum-likelihood estimator in the first step and the convergence rate of the second-step estimator. We also present an exhaustive simulation study to examine the finite sample performance of the estimators, and numerical results corroborate our theoretical findings. Finally, we illustrate the use of the proposed model through an application to the numbers of National Science Foundation fundings awarded to seven research universities from January 2001 to December 2012.
Sedimentological analysis of a Late Quaternary coastal dune system: An example from Gopnath, south‐east Saurashtra, Western India
Authors: Acharya Bhaskar , Bhatt Nilesh
Published: March 2018

Coastal dune systems consisting of allochemical grains are important sedimentary archives of Pleistocene age in both of the hemispheres between the latitudes of 20° to 40°. The south Saurashtra coast in western India exhibits a large section of Middle Pleistocene aeolianites in the form of coastal cliffs, which is famous as ‘Miliolite’. Miliolites of Gopnath in south‐east Saurashtra are the oldest known coastal aeolianite deposits (age >156 ka which corresponds to Marine Isotope Stage 6) in western India. Aeolian deposits of similar ages have also been reported from the Thar Desert in north‐west India and from Southern Arabia which were largely controlled by the south‐west monsoon wind system that affects the entire belt corresponding to Sahara–Sahel, the Arabian Peninsula and north‐western India. Miliolite deposits in Gopnath are characterized by grainfall, grainflow and wind ripple laminations. At least three types of aeolian bounding surfaces have been identified. Five major facies have been identified which represent the dune and interdune relationship within the coastal aeolian system. The major dune bodies are identified as transverse dune types. The Gopnath aeolianites were deposited under dominantly dry aeolian conditions. Facies association reveals two different phases of aeolian accumulation, namely initiation of aeolian sedimentation after a prolonged hiatus and the establishment of a regularized aeolian sedimentation system. While initiation of aeolian sedimentation is marked by vast stretches of sheet sand with occasional dune bodies, the overlying thick, tabular, laterally extensive cross‐stratified units manifest regular aeolian sedimentation. However, the dune building events in Gopnath were interrupted by development of laterally extensive palaeosol horizons. Eustasy and climate exerted the major allogenic controls on the aeolian sedimentation by affecting the sediment budget as well as influencing the sedimentation pattern.
Video analysis of acute injuries and referee decisions during the 24th Men's Handball World Championship 2015 in Qatar
Authors: Andersson S. H. , Cardinale M. , Whiteley R. , Popovic N. , Hansen C. , Lopez F. S. , Bere T. , Bahr R. , Myklebust G.
Published: March 2018

Although handball is a contact sport with a high risk of acute match injuries, their mechanisms have not yet been investigated. We aimed to describe the mechanisms of acute match injuries in elite male handball and evaluate referee performance in injury situations. Based on injury surveillance from the 24th Men′s Handball World Championship 2015 in Qatar, injury situations and the referee decisions were identified on video footage. A total of 55 injury situations and 37 referee decisions were included for analysis. The injury situations were analyzed individually by five handball experts, followed by a consensus meeting. An expert referee panel performed individual blinded evaluation of the referee decisions, followed by an online consensus meeting. Injuries were evenly distributed among attackers (n = 29) and defenders (n = 26). The most frequent injury cause was contact trauma due to a tackle (n = 27). At the time of injury, attackers were most frequently performing a jump shot (n = 9), while defenders were completing a tackle (n = 10). Defenders most commonly tackled the throwing arm (n = 7) or toward the head/face region (n = 6) of injured attackers, while attackers most frequently hit injured defenders with the knee during jump shots (n = 5). Agreement between the referees and the expert panel was weak (kappa: 0.22, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.36), with substantially more lenient rule interpretation by the referees. Our results suggest that stricter refereeing and rule amendments should be considered to prevent acute match injuries in elite handball, especially in relation to tackling episodes when an attacker is performing a jump shot.
Preservice mathematics teachers' conceptions and enactments of modeling standards
Authors: Jung Hyunyi , Newton Jill A.
Published: March 2018

Mathematical modeling has been highlighted recently as Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM) included Model with Mathematics as one of the Standards for Mathematical Practices (SMP) and a modeling strand in the high school standards. This common aspect of standards across most states in the United States intended by CCSSM authors and policy makers seems to mitigate the diverse notions of mathematical modeling. When we observed secondary mathematics preservice teachers (M‐PSTs) who learned about the SMP and used CCSSM modeling standards to plan and enact lessons, however, we noted differences in their interpretations and enactments of the standards, despite their attendance in the same course sections during a teacher preparation program. This result led us to investigate the ways the M‐PSTs understood modeling standards, which could provide insights into better preparing teachers to teach mathematical modeling. We present the contrasting ways in which M‐PSTs presented modeling related to their conceptions of mathematical modeling, choices of problems, and enactments over an academic year, connecting their practices to extant research. We consider this teaching and research experience as an opportunity to make significant changes in our instruction that may result in our students enhanced implementation of mathematical modeling.
Identification of the novel HLA‐B*51:230 allele in a Saudi individual
Authors: Gattan M. , Alanazi H. , Aloufi F. , Alqasem A. , Hajeer A. H.
Published: March 2018

One nucleotide replacement at codon 349 of HLA‐B*51:01:01:01 results in a new allele, HLA‐B*51:230.
Wound swab and wound biopsy yield similar culture results
Authors: Haalboom Marieke , Blokhuis‐Arkes Miriam H.E. , Beuk Roland J. , Klont Rob , Guebitz Georg , Heinzle Andrea , van der Palen Job
Published: March 2018

The question remains whether wound swabs yield similar culture results to the traditional gold standard, biopsies. Swabs are not invasive and easy to perform. However, they are believed to capture microorganisms from the surface rather than microorganisms that have invaded tissue. Several studies compared swabs and biopsies using different populations and sampling methods, complicating the ability to draw conclusions for clinical practice. This study aimed to compare swab and biopsy in clinical practice, by including a variety of wounds and using standard sampling and culture procedures. Swabs (Levine technique) and biopsies were taken for microbiological culture in a standardized manner from the same location of one wound for each patient. Statistical analyses were performed to determine overall agreement, and observed agreement and kappa for specific microorganisms. A variety of wounds of 180 patients from different healthcare facilities in The Netherlands were included. Skin flora was more frequently cultured from swabs, resulting in similar recovery rates when excluding skin flora (1.34 vs 1.35). Swabs were able to identify all microorganisms cultured from biopsies in 131 wounds (72.8%) wounds. Most frequently identified organisms were Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and beta‐haemolytic streptococci species. Observed agreement and kappa for these organisms varied between 87.2 and 97.8% and 0.73 and 0.85, respectively. This study demonstrates that swabs and biopsies tend to yield the same culture results when taken from the same location. For frequently occurring microorganisms, agreement between the two methods was even higher. Therefore, there seems to be no direct need for invasive biopsy in clinical practice.
B4GALNT2 and xenotransplantation: A newly appreciated xenogeneic antigen
Authors: Byrne Guerard , Ahmad‐Villiers Saadullah , Du Zeji , McGregor Christopher
Published: March 2018

Analysis of non‐Gal antibody induced after pig‐to‐baboon cardiac xenotransplantation identified the glycan produced by porcine beta‐1,4‐N‐acetyl‐galactosaminyltransferase 2 (B4GALNT2) as an immunogenic xenotransplantation antigen. The porcine B4GALNT2 enzyme is homologous to the human enzyme, which synthesizes the human SDa blood group antigen. Most humans produce low levels of anti‐SDa IgM which polyagglutinates red blood cells from rare individuals with high levels of SDa expression. The SDa glycan is also present on GM2 gangliosides. Clinical GM2 vaccination studies for melanoma patients suggest that a human antibody response to SDa can be induced. Expression of porcine B4GALNT2 in human HEK293 cells results in increased binding of anti‐SDa antibody and increased binding of Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA), a lectin commonly used to detect SDa. In pigs, B4GALNT2 is expressed by vascular endothelial cells and endothelial cells from a wide variety of pig backgrounds stain with DBA, suggesting that porcine vascular expression of B4GALNT2 is not polymorphic. Mutations in B4GALNT2 have been engineered in mice and pigs. In both species, the B4GALNT2‐KO animals are apparently normal and no longer show evidence of SDa antigen expression. Pig tissues with a mutation in B4GALNT2, added to a background of alpha‐1,3‐galactosyltransferase deficient (GGTA1‐KO) and cytidine monophosphate‐N‐acetylneuraminic acid hydroxylase deficient (CMAH‐KO), show reduced antibody binding, confirming the presence of B4GALNT2‐dependent antibodies in both humans and non‐human primates. Preclinical xenotransplantation using B4GALNT2‐deficient donors has recently been reported. Elimination of this source of immunogenic pig antigen should minimize acute injury by preformed anti‐pig antibody and eliminate an induced clinical immune response to this newly appreciated xenotransplantation antigen.
HYPOTHESIS TESTING FOR THE PARAMETERS OF LOG-LOGISTIC REGRESSION MODEL WITH LEFT-TRUNCATED AND RIGHT-CENSORED SURVIVAL DATA
Authors: Wan Mohd Adnan Wan Nur Atikah , Arasan Jayanthi
Published: April 2018

Left-truncation and right-censoring (LTRC) arise naturally in lifetime data. Data may be left-truncated due to a limitation in the study design. Failure of a unit is observed only if it fails after a certain period. Usually, the units under study may not be followed until all of them have failed but the study has to be stopped at a certain time. This introduces the right censoring into the survival data.  Log-logistic model is extended to accommodate the left-truncated and right-censored survival data.  The bias, standard error (SE), and root mean square error (RMSE) of the parameter estimates are computed to evaluate the performance of the model at different sample sizes, censoring proportion (CP), and truncation level (TL). The results show that the SE of the parameter estimates increase as the truncation level (TL) and censoring proportion (CP) increase. Having low and high TL (5% and 15%) in the data, the graphs clearly show that the empirical power of both tests increases with the increase of TL for parameter and . The SE and RMSE also decrease as the sample size increases. Following that, power analysis is conducted via simulation to compare the performance of hypothesis tests based on the Wald and Likelihood Ratio (LR) for the parameters. The results clearly indicate that the Wald performs slightly better than the LR when dealing with the proposed model.
ISOLATING FREE FATTY ACIDS FROM VIRGIN COCONUT OIL USING LIPASES FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES
Authors: Nguyen Van T. A. , Le Truong D. , Phan Hoa N. , Tran Lam B.
Published: April 2018

To obtain free fatty acids (FFAs), virgin coconut oil (VCO) was hydrolyzed by two kinds of lipase: lipase from Candida rugosa (CRL) and lipase from porcine pancreas (PPL). The hydrolysis process was controlled under four parameters: VCO to buffer ratio, lipase concentration, pH condition and temperature. In term of CRL, the best conditions for hydrolysis reaction was 1:5 VCO to buffer ratio, 1.5% lipase (w/w oil), pH 7 and at 40°C. And for PPL was 1:4 VCO to buffer ratio, 2% lipase (w/w oil), pH 7.5 and at 40°C. Hydrolysis degree (HD) of VCO which was catalyzed by CRL reached 79.64%. Whereas, HD value as using PPL to hydrolyze VCO only achieved 27.94%, less than approximately three times compared to CRL. Morever, hydrolysis reaction for CRL also took less time than PPL. The length of hydrolysis time was 16 hours and 26 hours, respectively. FFAs were obtained from the hydrolyzed products and analyzed by GC – FID. It was obviously that lauric acid (C12) took the biggest contribution to FFAs content (47.23% for CRL and 44.23% for PPL).
Trends and Changes in Training History Teachers in Academia, and Its Interface With the Israeli Education System
Authors: Cytrin Yitzhak
Published: March 2018

This article aims to examine the difficulties, misgivings, and criticism that exist in academia and the field of education, regarding creating history curricula relevant and significant to twenty-first century society and individuals; how compulsory history curricula can be suited to the methodology and didactics of training students as history teachers, and suggest several solutions to the issues discussed.The structure of knowledge approach in the discipline of history is problematic, and creates a complex challenge regarding preparing history students as teachers of the future. This is because this discipline represents, to a great extent, the wider fields of the humanities and social sciences which are very difficult to integrate into the school educational process.Historical research and the education system have different goals. The historian strives to clarify “historical questions”, meaning issues from the past with the perspective of their having certain relevance to the future. In contrast, the education system seeks to shape the student’s worldview and provide him with significant tools for coping with the challenges of the twenty-first century, as part of the “toolbox” that the education system believes will serve as a basis for the student’s preparation to be a useful individual in society and for himself.In light of the weight of history in teaching values, based on reliable facts gained from historical research, the main role that should be given to teaching the subject is to teach critical thinking. The ability to understand history in its framework of reference, meaning, understanding change and the environment, needs to be developed. Likewise, it is necessary to arouse and develop the judicious use of facts and drawing conclusions. Learning history can, and must, take place both experientially and logically. Presenting the “historical story” alongside the “cognitive-critical” approach must be the primary “pedagogy” when instilling students with teaching skills.Achieving history curriculum goals is greatly dependent on the teaching and evaluation methods, and how well teachers succeed in bringing their students to be active and involved in the learning process. Therefore, a variety of teaching strategies must be employed, in the spirit of the constructionist approach. Training teaching students requires a variety of pedagogic methods and methodological approaches, and teaching literacy for strategies for interdisciplinary teaching methods, integrative learning, and use of digital technologies.
Femoral vascular conductance and peroneal muscle sympathetic nerve activity responses to acute epidural spinal cord stimulation in humans
Authors: Holwerda Seth W. , Holland Marshall T. , Reddy Chandan G. , Pierce Gary L.
Published: March 2018

New Findings

What is the central question of this research?

Does acute spinal cord stimulation increase vascular conductance and decrease muscle sympathetic nerve activity in the lower limbs of humans?

What is the main finding and its importance?

Acute spinal cord stimulation led to a rapid rise in femoral vascular conductance, and peroneal muscle sympathetic nerve activity demonstrated a delayed reduction that was not associated with the initial increase in femoral vascular conductance. These findings suggest that neural mechanisms in addition to attenuated muscle sympathetic nerve activity might be involved in the initial increase in femoral vascular conductance during acute spinal cord stimulation.

Clinical cases have indicated an increase in peripheral blood flow after continuous epidural spinal cord stimulation (SCS) and that reduced muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) might be a potential mechanism. However, no studies in humans have directly examined the effects of acute SCS (<60 min) on vascular conductance and MSNA. In study 1, we tested the hypothesis that acute SCS (<60 min) of the thoracic spine would lead to increased common femoral vascular conductance, but not brachial vascular conductance, in 11 patients who previously underwent surgical SCS implantation for management of neuropathic pain. Throughout 60 min of SCS, common femoral artery conductance was elevated and significantly different from brachial artery conductance [in millilitres per minute: 15 min, change (Δ) 26 ± 37 versus Δ−2 ± 19%; 30 min, Δ28 ± 45 versus Δ0 ± 26%; 45 min, Δ48 ± 43 versus Δ2 ± 21%; 60 min, Δ36 ± 61 versus Δ1 ± 24%; and 15 min post‐SCS, Δ51 ± 64 versus Δ6 ± 33%; P = 0.013]. A similar examination in a patient with cervical SCS revealed minimal changes in vascular conductance. In study 2, we examined whether acute SCS reduces peroneal MSNA in a subset of SCS patients (n = 5). The MSNA burst incidence in response to acute SCS gradually declined and was significantly reduced at 45 and 60 min of SCS (in bursts per 100 heart beats: 15 min, Δ−1 ± 12%; 30 min, Δ−14 ± 12%; 45 min, Δ−19 ± 16%; 60 min, Δ−24 ± 18%; and 15 min post‐SCS: Δ−11 ± 7%; P = 0.015). These data demonstrate that acute SCS rapidly increases femoral vascular conductance and reduces peroneal MSNA. The gradual reduction in peroneal MSNA observed during acute SCS suggests that neural mechanisms in addition to attenuated MSNA might be involved in the acute increase in femoral vascular conductance.
Mutations in the voltage‐sensing domain affect the alternative ion permeation pathway in the TRPM3 channel
Authors: Held Katharina , Gruss Fabian , Aloi Vincenzo Davide , Janssens Annelies , Ulens Chris , Voets Thomas , Vriens Joris
Published: March 2018

Key points

Mutagenesis at positively charged amino acids (arginines and lysines) (R1–R4) in the voltage‐sensor domain (transmembrane segment (S) 4) of voltage‐gated Na+, K+ and Ca2+ channels can lead to an alternative ion permeation pathway distinct from the central pore.

Recently, a non‐canonical ion permeation pathway was described in TRPM3, a member of the transient receptor potential (TRP) superfamily. The non‐canonical pore exists in the native TRPM3 channel and can be activated by co‐stimulation of the endogenous agonist pregnenolone sulphate and the antifungal drug clotrimazole or by stimulation of the synthetic agonist CIM0216.

Alignment of the voltage sensor of Shaker K+ channels with the entire TRPM3 sequence revealed the highest degree of similarity in the putative S4 region of TRPM3, and suggested that only one single gating charge arginine (R2) in the putative S4 region is conserved.

Mutagenesis studies in the voltage‐sensing domain of TRPM3 revealed several residues in the voltage sensor (S4) as well as in S1 and S3 that are crucial for the occurrence of the non‐canonical inward currents.

In conclusion, this study provides evidence for the involvement of the voltage‐sensing domain of TRPM3 in the formation of an alternative ion permeation pathway.

Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels are cationic channels involved in a broad array of functions, including homeostasis, motility and sensory functions. TRP channel subunits consist of six transmembrane segments (S1–S6), and form tetrameric channels with a central pore formed by the region encompassing S5 and S6. Recently, evidence was provided for the existence of an alternative ion permeation pathway in TRPM3, which allows large inward currents upon hyperpolarization independently of the central pore. However, very little knowledge is available concerning the localization of this alternative pathway in the native TRPM3 channel protein. Guided by sequence homology with Shaker K+ channels, in which mutations in S4 can create an analogous ‘omega’ pore, we performed site‐directed mutagenesis studies and patch clamp experiments to identify amino acid residues involved in the formation of the non‐canonical pore in TRPM3. Based on our results, we pinpoint four residues in S4 (W982, R985, D988 and G991) as crucial determinants of the properties of the alternative ion permeation pathway.
Atomic layer deposition of PbTiO3 and PbZrxTi1-xO3 films using metal alkyl and alkylamide precursors
Authors: Sbrockey Nick M. , Tompa Gary S. , Lavelle Robert , Trumbull Kathleen A. , Fanton Mark A. , Snyder David W. , Polcawich Ronald G. , Potrepka Daniel M.
Published: April 2018

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) processes were demonstrated for lead-titanate (PbTiO3) and lead-zirconium-titanate (PZT) films. The metal organic precursors were tetraethyl lead Pb(Et)4 reacted with ozone; along with tetrakis ethylmethylamino zirconium and tetrakis dimethylamino titanium reacted with either water or ozone. These precursors were selected based on compatibility with ALD processes for the component oxides. Single oxide films of PbO, ZrO2, and TiO2 were easily deposited using the selected precursors. ALD of the complex oxide films was done by combining the ALD processes for the component oxide films. The compositions of Pb, Zr, and Ti in the films could be predictably controlled by the relative ratio of Pb, Zr, and Ti precursor doses during the ALD process, and controlled composition for both PbTiO3 and PZT films was demonstrated.
Nanomaterial interactions with biomembranes: Bridging the gap between soft matter models and biological context
Authors: Werner Marco , Auth Thorsten , Beales Paul A. , Fleury Jean Baptiste , Höök Fredrik , Kress Holger , Van Lehn Reid C. , Müller Marcus , Petrov Eugene P. , Sarkisov Lev , Sommer Jens-Uwe , Baulin Vladimir A.
Published: April 2018

Synthetic polymers, nanoparticles, and carbon-based materials have great potential in applications including drug delivery, gene transfection, in vitro and in vivo imaging, and the alteration of biological function. Nature and humans use different design strategies to create nanomaterials: biological objects have emerged from billions of years of evolution and from adaptation to their environment resulting in high levels of structural complexity; in contrast, synthetic nanomaterials result from minimalistic but controlled design options limited by the authors' current understanding of the biological world. This conceptual mismatch makes it challenging to create synthetic nanomaterials that possess desired functions in biological media. In many biologically relevant applications, nanomaterials must enter the cell interior to perform their functions. An essential transport barrier is the cell-protecting plasma membrane and hence the understanding of its interaction with nanomaterials is a fundamental task in biotechnology. The authors present open questions in the field of nanomaterial interactions with biological membranes, including: how physical mechanisms and molecular forces acting at the nanoscale restrict or inspire design options; which levels of complexity to include next in computational and experimental models to describe how nanomaterials cross barriers via passive or active processes; and how the biological media and protein corona interfere with nanomaterial functionality. In this Perspective, the authors address these questions with the aim of offering guidelines for the development of next-generation nanomaterials that function in biological media.