bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Firing properties of muscle spindles supplying the intrinsic foot muscles of humans in unloaded and freestanding conditions
Authors: Knellwolf T. P. , Burton A. R. , Hammam E. , Macefield V. G.
Published: November 2018

We recently developed an approach for recording from muscle spindles in the intrinsic muscles of the foot in freestanding humans by inserting a tungsten microelectrode into the posterior tibial nerve behind the medial malleolus of the ankle. Here we characterize the behavior of muscle spindles in the small muscles of the foot in 1) seated subjects with the leg horizontal and the foot naturally plantarflexed and 2) standing subjects. In the first study, recordings were made from 26 muscle spindle afferents located within flexor digiti minimi brevis ( n = 4), abductor digiti minimi ( n = 3), quadratus plantae ( n = 3), plantar interossei ( n = 4), flexor digitorum brevis ( n = 3), dorsal interossei ( n = 2), and lumbricals ( n = 2), with one each supplying abductor hallucis, adductor hallucis, and flexor hallucis brevis. The identity of another two muscle afferents was unknown. The majority of the units were silent at rest, only seven (27%) being spontaneously active. Because of the anatomic constraints of the foot, some spindles supplying muscles acting on the toes responded to movements of one or more digits. In the second study, 12 muscle spindle afferents were examined during standing. The ongoing discharge of eight spindle afferents covaried with changes in the center of pressure during postural sway. We conclude that the majority of spindle endings in the small muscles of the foot are silent at rest, which may allow them to encode changes in conformation of the foot when it is loaded during standing. Moreover, these muscle spindle afferents can provide useful proprioceptive information during standing and postural sway.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY We have characterized the firing properties of muscle spindles in the intrinsic muscles of the human foot for the first time. The majority of the spindle endings are silent in seated subjects, and most fire tonically during standing, their discharge covarying with center of pressure during postural sway. We conclude that spindle endings in the intrinsic muscles of the foot provide useful proprioceptive information during free standing.
Alpha Mangostin Inhibits the Proliferation and Activation of Acetaldehyde Induced Hepatic Stellate Cells through TGF-β and ERK 1/2 Pathways
Authors: Lestari Novriantika , Louisa Melva , Soetikno Vivian , Suwana Averina Geffanie , Ramadhan Putra Andito , Akmal Taufiq , Arozal Wawaimuli
Published: November 2018

Liver fibrosis is characterized by excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix in chronic liver injury. Alcohol-induced fibrosis may develop into cirrhosis, one of the major causes of liver disease mortality. Previous studies have shown that alpha mangostin can decrease ratio of pSmad/Smad and pAkt/Akt in TGF-β-induced liver fibrosis model in vitro. Further investigation of the mechanism of action of alpha mangostin in liver fibrosis model still needs to be done. The present study aimed to analyze the mechanism of action of alpha mangostin on acetaldehyde induced liver fibrosis model on TGF-β and ERK 1/2 pathways. Immortalized HSCs, LX-2 cells, were incubated with acetaldehyde, acetaldehyde with alpha mangostin (10 and 20 μM), or alpha mangostin only (10 μM). Sorafenib 10 μM was used as positive control. LX-2 viability was counted using trypan blue exclusion method. The effect of alpha mangostin on hepatic stellate cells proliferation and activation markers and its possible mechanism of action via TGF-β and ERK1/2 were studied. Acetaldehyde was shown to increase proliferation and expression of profibrogenic and migration markers on HSC, while alpha mangostin treatment resulted in a reduced proliferation and migration of HSC and decreased Ki-67 and pERK 1/2 expressions. These findings were followed with decreased expressions and concentrations of TGF-β; decreased expression of Col1A1, TIMP1, and TIMP3; increased expression of MnSOD and GPx; and reduction in intracellular reactive oxygen species. These effects were shown to be dose dependent. Therefore, we conclude that alpha mangostin inhibits hepatic stellate cells proliferation and activation through TGF-β and ERK 1/2 pathways.
The Antiapoptosis Effect of Geum japonicum Thunb. var. chinense Extracts on Cerebral Ischemia Reperfusion Injury via PI3K/Akt Pathway
Authors: Ou Bingjin , Tao Wei , Yang Songbai , Feng Jiateng , Wang Jinfeng , Yang Tong , Wu Hanyu , Huang Yaguang , Tan Lingjing , Huang Weifeng , Feng Zhitao , Mei Zhigang
Published: November 2018

Geum japonicum Thunb. var. chinense (GJ) is a type of wild vegetable found in China and other Asian countries; it has been reported that its extracts possess a neuroprotective effect against cerebral ischemia reperfusion (CIR) injury. The aim of this study is to explore the effect GJ extracts on transient focal CIR injury and neurons apoptosis and to clarify its possible underlying mechanisms in vivo. Our results indicated that pretreatment with GJ extracts significantly ameliorated the infarct volume, decreased neurological deficits, lessened neural cells apoptosis, downregulated GFAP activity level, and increased surviving neurons. Moreover, GJ extracts preadministration increased Bcl‐2 levels and attenuated the increase in the expressions of Bax and it also lowered the cleaved caspase‐3 activity in ischemic cortex tissues which was caused by CIR and increased the expression of PI3K and p‐Akt. The above effects of high dose of GJ (GJ‐H) group were much better than those of low dose of GJ (GJ‐L), which indicated that GJ extracts may be helpful in the suppression of CIR injury with a dose‐dependent manner.
The Effect of Periarticular Injection of Methylprednisolone Acetate in Patients with Primary Osteoarthritis of the Proximal Interphalangeal Joints: A Case Controlled Study
Authors: Habib George , Sakas Fahed , Artul Suheil , Khazin Fadi
Published: November 2018

Backgrounds. Primary osteoarthritis of the proximal interphalangeal joints (PIPJ) is a common entity. It could be associated with local pain that has no effective treatment. Local subcutaneous periarticular injection of methylprednisolone acetate (MPA) was evaluated in a prospective case-control study. Methods. Patients with painful osteoarthritis of the PIPJ for more than 1 month not responding to nonsteroidal meds were prospectively recruited. Radiographic, demographic, clinical, and lab parameters were documented. Visual analogue scale (VAS) was documented regarding the level of PIPJ pain prior to the injection. Patients had local subcutaneous periarticular injection at the medial and lateral sides of each painful PIPJ of one hand, of 8 mg (0.2 ml) of MPA mixed with 0.1 ml of lidocaine 1% (group 1) at each side. Age- and sex-matched control group were given 0.3 ml of normal saline using the same approach (group 2) at each side. VAS was evaluated 1, 4, and 10 weeks following the injection and compared to baseline levels using Wilcoxon’s ranks signed test. Results. Eighteen and sixteen patients were recruited in group 1 and group 2, respectively. There were 11 females in group 1 with mean age of 52.7 ± 9.2 years. Mean VAS in group 1 at baseline was 67 and at weeks 1, 4, and 10 was 23 (p=0.001), 29 (p=0.001), and 55 (p=0.043), respectively. Mean VAS in group 2 at baseline was 65 and at weeks 1, 4, and 10 was 43 (p=0.005), 64 (p=0.534), and 69 (0.698), respectively. Conclusions. Subcutaneous periarticular injection of MPA + lidocaine at the PIP joints resulted in a small but significant improvement that gradually diminished with time across the week 10, among patients with primary OA of hands.
A New GNB Model of Crash Frequency for Freeway Sharp Horizontal Curve Based on Interactive Influence of Explanatory Variables
Authors: Wang Xiaofei , Pu HuaQiao , Li Xinwei , Yan Ying , Yao Jiangbei
Published: November 2018

Crash prediction of the sharp horizontal curve segment of freeway is a key method in analyzing safety situation of freeway horizontal alignment. The target of this paper is to improve predicting accuracy after considering the elastic influence of explanatory variables and interaction of explanatory variables on crash rate prediction. In the paper, flexibility and elasticity are defined to express the elastic influence of explanatory variables and interaction of explanatory variables on crash rate prediction. Thus, we proposed 6 types of models to predict crash frequency. These 6 types of models include 2 NB models (models 1 and 2), 2 GNB models (models 3 and 4), one NB model (model 5), and one GNB model (model 6) with flexibility and variable elasticity considered. The alignment and crash report data of 88 sharp horizontal curve segments from different institutions were surveyed to build the crash models. Traffic volume, highway horizontal radius, and curve length have been assigned as explanatory variables. Subsequently, statistical analysis is performed to determine the model parameters and conducted sensitivity analysis by AIC, BIC, and Pseudo R2. The results demonstrated the effective use of flexibility and elasticity in analyzing explanatory variables and in predicting freeway sharp horizontal curve segments. In six models, the result of model 6 is much better than those of the other models by fitting rules. We also compared the actual results from crashes of 88 sharp horizontal curve segments with those predicted by models 1, 3, and 6. Results demonstrate that model 6 is much more reasonable than the others.
Inhibition of LEF1-Mediated DCLK1 by Niclosamide Attenuates Colorectal Cancer Stemness
Authors: Park So-Yeon , Kim Ji-Young , Choi Jang-Hyun , Kim Jee-Heun , Lee Choong-Jae , Singh Pomila , Sarkar Shubhashish , Baek Jeong-Heum , Nam Jeong-Seok
Published: November 2018

Purpose:

Niclosamide, an FDA-approved anthelmintic drug, has been characterized as a potent Wnt inhibitor that can suppress tumor growth and cancer stem-like cell (CSC) populations. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study aimed to examine how Wnt inhibition by niclosamide preferentially targets CSCs.

Experimental Design:

The mechanistic role of niclosamide in CSC inhibition was examined in public databases, human colorectal cancer cells, colorectal cancer xenografts, and azoxymethane/dextran sulfate sodium (AOM/DSS)-induced colorectal cancer model.

Results:

Niclosamide suppresses CSC populations and their self-renewal activities in colorectal cancer cells, and this CSC-targeting effect leads to irreversible disruption of tumor-initiating potential in vivo. Mechanistically, niclosamide downregulates multiple signaling components of the Wnt pathway, specifically lymphoid enhancer-binding factor 1 (LEF1) expression, which is critical for regulating stemness. Subsequently, we identified that the doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1)-B is a target of LEF1 and upregulates cancer stemness in colorectal cancer cells. We first documented that niclosamide blocks the transcription of DCLK1-B by interrupting the binding of LEF1 to DCLK1-B promoter. DCLK1-B depletion impairs cancer stemness resulting in reduced survival potential and increased apoptosis, thus sensitizing colorectal cancer to chemoradiation.

Conclusions:

Disruption of the LEF1/DCLK1-B axis by niclosamide eradicates cancer stemness and elicits therapeutic effects on colorectal cancer initiation, progression, and resistance. These findings provide a preclinical rationale to broaden the clinical evaluation of niclosamide for the treatment of colorectal cancer.
CCR2 Chemokine Receptors Enhance Growth and Cell-Cycle Progression of Breast Cancer Cells through SRC and PKC Activation
Authors: Yao Min , Fang Wei , Smart Curtis , Hu Qingting , Huang Shixia , Alvarez Nehemiah , Fields Patrick , Cheng Nikki
Published: November 2018

Basal-like breast cancers are an aggressive breast cancer subtype, which often lack estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and Her2 expression, and are resistant to antihormonal and targeted therapy, resulting in few treatment options. Understanding the underlying mechanisms that regulate progression of basal-like breast cancers would lead to new therapeutic targets and improved treatment strategies. Breast cancer progression is characterized by inflammatory responses, regulated in part by chemokines. The CCL2/CCR2 chemokine pathway is best known for regulating breast cancer progression through macrophage-dependent mechanisms. Here, we demonstrated important biological roles for CCL2/CCR2 signaling in breast cancer cells. Using the MCF10CA1d xenograft model of basal-like breast cancer, primary tumor growth was significantly increased with cotransplantation of patient-derived fibroblasts expressing high levels of CCL2, and was inhibited with CRISP/R gene ablation of stromal CCL2. CRISP/R gene ablation of CCR2 in MCF10CA1d breast cancer cells inhibited breast tumor growth and M2 macrophage recruitment and validated through CCR2 shRNA knockdown in the 4T1 model. Reverse phase protein array analysis revealed that cell-cycle protein expression was associated with CCR2 expression in basal-like breast cancer cells. CCL2 treatment of basal-like breast cancer cell lines increased proliferation and cell-cycle progression associated with SRC and PKC activation. Through pharmacologic approaches, we demonstrated that SRC and PKC negatively regulated expression of the cell-cycle inhibitor protein p27KIP1, and are necessary for CCL2-induced breast cancer cell proliferation.

Implications:

This report sheds novel light on CCL2/CCR2 chemokine signaling as a mitogenic pathway and cell-cycle regulator in breast cancer cells.
Blastic Transformation of a Mantle Cell Lymphoma Presenting as an Enlarging Unilateral Orbital Mass
Authors: De Niear Matthew A. , Greer John P. , Seegmiller Adam , Mawn Louise A.
Published: November 2018

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is an uncommon form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma predominantly affecting male individuals of advanced age. Approximately 1–9% of cases of lymphoma affecting the orbital and ocular adnexal regions are attributed to MCL. We describe the case of a 65-year-old man with a 24-year history of MCL with initial remission followed by multiple relapses who presented with acute-onset binocular diplopia and proptosis of the left eye. Subsequent imaging demonstrated a new left superior orbital mass. Biopsy of the mass revealed two clonally related, yet distinct cellular components demonstrating the classical mantle cell morphology and large cells that appeared to have transformed to the blastoid variant of MCL. Transformation of classical MCL to the blastoid variant of MCL is rare, with few reports in the literature. The blastoid variant of MCL tends to be aggressive and associated with a poor prognosis. The case we describe represents perhaps the first report of MCL transformation observed in the orbit.
Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A New Tool for the Diagnosis of Bladder Pain Syndrome/Interstitial Cystitis
Authors: Charlanes Audrey , Boudghene Frank , Chesnel Camille , Ciofu Calin , Le Breton Frédérique , Jousse Marylène , Amarenco Gérard , Manceau Philippe
Published: November 2018

Objectives: To determine whether diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWMRI), a noninvasive procedure, can contribute to the diagnosis of bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC). Methods: The pelvic DWMRI of patients with chronic pelvic pain syndrome was selected between January 2012 and June 2017. A radiologist analyzed the bladder wall signal; he was blinded to the patients’ clinical data. According to the 2008 European Society for the Study of Bladder Pain Syndrome/Interstitial Cystitis criteria, 2 groups of patients were determined: BPS/IC and no BPS/IC. The association between BPS/IC and the wall signal intensity was compared. Results: In the 106 patients included, 82 had criteria for BPS/IC and 24 did not. A significant difference in the distribution of the signal was found between the 2 groups (p = 0.01). High signal intensity of the bladder wall was related to the presence of a BPS/IC with a sensitivity of 28% and a specificity of 88%. No signal intensity of the bladder wall was related to the absence of a BPS/IC with a sensitivity of 96% and a specificity of 29%. Conclusions: In ­DWMRI, high bladder wall signal intensity helps to affirm a BPS/IC, whereas the absence of signal helps to exclude the diagnosis. Further studies are needed to confirm these preliminary results.
Beneficial Effects of Vaccination on Cardiovascular Events: Myocardial Infarction, Stroke, Heart Failure
Authors: Fountoulaki Katerina , Tsiodras Sotirios , Polyzogopoulou Eftychia , Olympios Christophoros , Parissis John
Published: November 2018

Influenza and pneumococcal infections have been suggested to be potential risk factors for causing adverse cardiovascular events, especially in high-risk patients. Vaccination against respiratory infections in patients with established cardiovascular disease (CVD) could serve as a potential cost-effective intervention to improve their clinical outcomes and cardiac societies have encouraged it. Previous studies have shown that influenza vaccination reduce mortality, acute coronary syndromes and hospitalization in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and/or heart failure (HF). However, there is a paucity of randomized prospective clinical trials in the field of the pneumococcal vaccination, and additional higher-quality evidence is needed. Furthermore, questions around the role of vaccination in the primary prevention of CVD, the optimal dose and timing are largely unanswered. The pathophysiologic mechanism in which vaccination provides cardiovascular protection may be related to the modification of the immune-inflammatory model of atherogenesis. The present review summarizes the current evidence and understanding for vaccination against influenza and streptococcus pneumoniae in CHD, HF and stroke and highlights its beneficial effect in the reduction of adverse cardiovascular events.
The Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in Adolescents from 1988 to 2014: Results from the HBSC Portuguese Survey
Authors: Marques Adilson , Gaspar de Matos Margarida , Machado Maria do Céu , Naia Ana , Mota Jorge
Published: November 2018

Objective: Using a national representative sample of Portuguese adolescents, this study aimed to report the prevalence of overweight and obesity over 16 years, from 1998 to 2014. Methods: The total sample comprised 26,479 adolescents (12,711 boys and 13,768 girls) aged 11–16 years (mean age ± SD = 13.5 ± 1.7) from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) Portuguese survey cohorts from 1998 (n = 5,999), 2002 (n = 5,454), 2006 (n = 4,430), 2010 (n = 4,702), and 2014 (n = 5,894). Weight and height were self-reported. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was calculated along with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: The highest prevalence of overweight and obesity was achieved in 2010 (20.5%; 95% CI: 19.5, 21.9) and the lowest in 1998 (17.8%; 95% CI: 16.8, 18.8). The results of trend tests between 1998 and 2014 show that there was no significant change in overweight and obesity prevalence. Although the prevalence of obesity increased from 1998 to 2014 for the entire sample (0.8%; 95% CI: –5.5, 7.0), for boys (1.1%; 95% CI: –4.1, 6.3), and girls (0.5%; 95% CI: –4.5, 5.4), there were no significant changes in obesity prevalence. Conclusion: The prevalence of overweight and obesity in Portuguese adolescents was around 20% between 1998 and 2014. The extent of overweight and obesity seems to have stabilized over time.
Efficacy of Magnifying Narrow Band Imaging for Delineating Horizontal Margins of Early Gastric Cancer
Authors: Horii Yusuke , Dohi Osamu , Naito Yuji , Takayama Shun , Ogita Kazuyuki , Terasaki Kei , Nakano Takahiro , Majima Atsushi , Yoshida Naohisa , Kamada Kazuhiro , Uchiyama Kazuhiko , Ishikawa Takeshi , Takagi Tomohisa , Handa Osamu , Konishi Hideyuki , Yagi Nobuaki , Yanagisawa Akio , Itoh Yoshito
Published: November 2018

Background/Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of magnifying narrow-band imaging (M-NBI) with histopathological confirmation in identifying the demarcation line (DL) of early gastric cancer (EGC). Methods: EGCs resected by endoscopic submucosal dissection after identifying the DL using M-NBI following histopathological confirmation were included. After determining the DL for the entire EGC lesion using M-NBI, at least 4 biopsies were taken from non-cancerous tissues outside the EGC lesion for histopathological confirmation. Results: A total of 330 EGCs were analyzed in this study. The rate of biopsy-negative and negative horizontal margin were 96.7% (319/330) and 97.9% (323/330) in EGC respectively. Tumors larger than 20 mm showed a higher risk for showing remnant cancer cells on biopsies taken outside the DL. Risk factors for a positive horizontal resection margin were tumor size > 20 mm and moderately or poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas. Conclusion: The assessment of demarcation of EGC using M-NBI was excellent in well-differentiated (WD) adenocarcinoma and lesions below 20 mm in size. However, histopathological confirmation is needed to assess the demarcation of non-WD adenocarcinomas and EGC over 20 mm in size.
Dandy-Walker Malformation-Like Condition Revealed by Refractory Schizophrenia: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Tréhout Maxime , Zhang Norbert , Blouet Marie , Borha Alin , Dollfus Sonia
Published: November 2018

Introduction: Dandy-Walker malformation is a rare congenital malformation involving cystic dilatation of the fourth ventricle, enlarged posterior fossa, complete or partial agenesis of the cerebellar vermis, elevated tentorium cerebelli, and hydrocephalus. Previous research highlighted a possible role for the cerebellum in schizophrenia as well as the contribution of underlying brain malformations to treatment resistance. Here, we present a case of a Dandy-Walker malformation-like condition revealed by a refractory schizophrenia in a 24-year-old male patient. We also conduct a literature review of all previously published case reports or case series of co-occurring posterior fossa abnormalities and schizophrenia or psychosis using a PubMed search query to better understand the potential link between these two disorders. Case Presentation: A 9-month hospital stay was needed to address the treatment-resistant psychotic symptoms, and the patient continued to experience moderate symptoms despite the prescription of various antipsychotic and antidepressant medications. After an irregular initial medical follow-up, the patient is currently treated with 350 mg daily clozapine and 20 mg daily prazepam and still exhibits moderate anxiety without delirious thoughts, however allowing him to re-enroll at the university. Regarding the literature, 24 cases published between 1996 and 2017 were identified, reviewed and compared to the present case report. Discussion: This case report and literature review further illuminates the pathophysiology of psychotic disorders including the potential role of the cerebellum, reinforces the importance of a multidisciplinary approach for the neurological and psychiatric management of patients with schizophrenia, and highlights optimal pharmacological management strategies for treatment-resistant schizophrenia.
Cycles, Arrows and Turbulence: Time Patterns in Renal Disease, a Path from Epidemiology to Personalized Medicine?
Authors: Kooman Jeroen P. , Usvyat Len A. , Dekker Marijke J.E. , Maddux Dugan W. , Raimann Jochen G. , van der Sande Frank M. , Ye Xiaoling , Wang Yuedong , Kotanko Peter
Published: November 2018

Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) experience unique patterns in their lifetime, such as the start of dialysis and renal transplantation. In addition, there is also an intricate link between ESRD and biological time patterns. In terms of cyclic patterns, the circadian blood pressure (BP) rhythm can be flattened, contributing to allostatic load, whereas the circadian temperature rhythm is related to the decline in BP during hemodialysis (HD). Seasonal variations in BP and interdialytic-weight gain have been observed in ESRD patients in addition to a profound relative increase in mortality during the winter period. Moreover, nonphysiological treatment patters are imposed in HD patients, leading to an excess mortality at the end of the long interdialytic interval. Recently, new evidence has emerged on the prognostic impact of trajectories of common clinical and laboratory parameters such as BP, body temperature, and serum albumin, in addition to single point in time measurements. Backward analysis of changes in cardiovascular, nutritional, and inflammatory parameters before the occurrence as hospitalization or death has shown that changes may already occur within months to even 1–2 years before the event, possibly providing a window of opportunity for earlier interventions. Disturbances in physiological variability, such as in heart rate, characterized by a loss of fractal patterns, are associated with increased mortality. In addition, an increase in random variability in different parameters such as BP and sodium is also associated with adverse outcomes. Novel techniques, based on time-dependent analysis of variability and trends and interactions of multiple physiological and laboratory parameters, for which machine-learning ­approaches may be necessary, are likely of help to the clinician in the future. However, upcoming research should also evaluate whether dynamic patterns observed in large epidemiological studies have relevance for the individual risk profile of the patient.
Inflammatory Signaling in Post-Stroke Fatigue and Depression
Authors: Wen Hongmei , Weymann Kristianna B. , Wood Lisa , Wang Qing Mei
Published: November 2018

Background: In the United States, stroke continues to be the cause for long-term disability. Of the patients with a first stroke, up to 75% will experience post-stroke fatigue (PSF) in the first year following stroke. PSF is one of the most disabling symptoms in stroke survivors; it decreases quality of life, increases mortality, and is a barrier to stroke rehabilitation. Given the incidence of stroke and the prevalence and detrimental impact of PSF on quality of life, independent living, and overall survival, efficient management of PSF must be a priority in stroke rehabilitation. The cause of PSF remains unknown. The burden of fatigue in stroke survivors is influenced by other stroke-related symptoms, most notably post-stroke depression (PSD). It is well known that stroke induces a systemic inflammatory response that is the trigger for sickness behavior, of which fatigue and depression are predominant symptoms. Summary: To date, only a handful of studies have sought to explore the relationship between stroke-induced inflammation and PSF and PSD. In this review, we describe this evidence, highlight the strengths and weaknesses of these existing studies, and suggest further experiments that may further support the association between stroke-related inflammatory processes and stroke-related symptoms. Key Messages: The current concept and further research are important for a more specific therapeutic intervention for PSF and PSD.
Connectome sorting by consensus clustering increases separability in group neuroimaging studies
Authors: Rasero Javier , Diez Ibai , Cortes Jesus M. , Marinazzo Daniele , Stramaglia Sebastiano
Published: November 2018

A fundamental challenge in preprocessing pipelines for neuroimaging datasets is to increase the signal-to-noise ratio for subsequent analyses. In the same line, we suggest here that the application of the consensus clustering approach to brain connectivity matrices can be a valid additional step for connectome processing to find subgroups of subjects with reduced intragroup variability and therefore increasing the separability of the distinct subgroups when connectomes are used as a biomarker. Moreover, by partitioning the data with consensus clustering before any group comparison (for instance, between a healthy population vs. a pathological one), we demonstrate that unique regions within each cluster arise and bring new information that could be relevant from a clinical point of view.
Haplopappus mieresii sp. nov. (Asteraceae) and the reinstatement of H. reicheanus from central Chile
Authors: GARCÍA NICOLÁS , MEDINA PATRICIO , MORALES VANEZZA
Published: November 2018

A new species of Haplopappus (Asteraceae), H. mieresii P. Medina & Nic. García, from the Coquimbo Region, Chile, is described and illustrated. Additionally, the reinstatement of H. reicheanus H. M. Hall is proposed in agreement with the exhaustive revision of type material and protologues, as well as the study of herbarium specimens. We provide distributional maps, illustrations, conservation assessments, and taxonomic notes for both species, and a key to the species most allied to H. mieresii within H. section Haplopappus.
The osteology of Shaochilong maortuensis, a carcharodontosaurid (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Late Cretaceous of Asia
Authors: BRUSATTE STEPHEN L. , CHURE DANIEL J. , BENSON ROGER B.J. , XU XING
Published: November 2018

Large-bodied theropod dinosaurs from the Early-mid Cretaceous of the northern continents (Laurasia) are poorly known. One of the most complete and intriguing theropods from this interval is Shaochilong maortuensis Hu, 1964 from the Turonian (< 92 Ma) Ulansuhai Formation of Inner Mongolia, China. The phylogenetic placement of Shaochilong has long been a subject of debate, as it has been referred to several disparate theropod groups (e.g., Megalosauridae, Allosauridae, Tyrannosauroidea, Maniraptora). In a recent taxonomic reassessment, Shaochilong was identified as the first Asian member of Carcharodontosauridae, a clade of allosauroid theropods that was once thought to be restricted to Gondwana and includes some of the largest terrestrial predators to ever live. However, the characters supporting such a placement were only briefly discussed, and a full anatomical description of Shaochilong has yet to be presented. We provide a detailed osteological description of the lectotype and paralectotype series, show that Shaochilong is a small-bodied and short-snouted carcharodontosaurid, and highlight numerous cranial features shared with other carcharodontosaurids. We argue that the vicariant hypothesis of allosauroid biogeography, in which lineages split in concert with the fragmentation of Pangaea, is poorly supported. Finally, large-scale patterns of theropod evolution and faunal replacement are discussed, and it is argued that allosauroids persisted as large-bodied predators later in the Cretaceous than previously thought.
Structural, Morphological and Methanol Sensing Properties of Jet Nebulizer Spray Pyrolysis Effect of TiO2 Doped SnO2 Thin Film for Removal of Heavy Metal Ions
Authors: Manjula N. , Kaviyarasu K. , Ayeshamariam A. , Selvan G. , Diallo A. , Ramalingam G. , Mohamed S. B. , Letsholathebe D. , Jayachandran M.
Published: November 2018

Lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) are two highly toxic heavy metals which must be removed completely or reduced to very low levels in drinking water supplies. TiO2:SnO2 nanoparticles and thin films were exploited for this purpose. TiO2:SnO2 nanoparticles
were prepared by using the sol–gel combustion synthesis technique. The synthesized particles obtained were used in the analysis of the heavy metals of (Pb and Hg). The same material was used to deposit TiO2:SnO2 thin films by employing the Jet Nebulizer Technique
(JNT). The films were subsequently characterized and used as adsorbents in the removal of heavy metal residues from contaminated water samples. The developed TiO2:SnO2 absorbents were characterized by transmission electron microscopy. The crystallite size of the prepared
samples varied from 27 nm to 33 nm. The shape of the response curve for a given temperature variation depends on the well agreement with previously reported values ranging from zero for clean air to high positive values for strong interaction with reducing gas molecules. The application of
these materials in many water filters may be helping to filter the sediments and economically feasible technology to filter microorganisms biological zone to purify the water.
Reduced Fresnel Reflection by Photon Tunneling in Antireflection Coating Layer of Crystalline Si Solar Cells
Authors: Ryu Sel Gi , Ji Hyung Yong , Kim Myeong Jun , Peck Jong Hyeon , Kim Keunjoo
Published: November 2018

We investigated the light absorption of multi-antireflective layers on the microtextured surface of a crystalline silicon solar cell. Triple antireflection coating layers were deposited with SiNx/SiO2/SiNx thin films. A 20 nm SiO2
layer was sandwiched between two SiNx layers, forming a total thickness around 90 nm. Triple antireflection layers showed the enhanced light absorption in the infrared wavelength range, which is consistent with the Si energy band gap region. Further optical simulation on
triple antireflection layers using a transfer matrix method showed similar reflection behavior to that of the experimental results. The SiO2 layer sandwiched between the SiNx thin films acts not only as the Fresnel reflection layer in the blue and UV spectral regions,
but also as a photon tunneling layer in the infrared spectral region.
Fifty Years of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics: Past, Present, and Future
Authors: Johnson David S. , McGonagle Katherine A. , Freedman Vicki A. , Sastry Narayan
Published: November 2018

The Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) is the world’s longest running household panel survey. Since it began in 1968, it has collected data on the same families and their descendants, making it an essential part of America’s data infrastructure for empirically based social science research. The PSID arose from the War on Poverty as a tool for evaluating poverty dynamics, and this year (2018) marks 50 years of data collection. Because of its long history and distinctive design of following adult children as they form their own households, the PSID is uniquely positioned to address emerging social and behavioral research questions and related policy issues. This overview presents the design and structural aspects and its evolution over the past 50 years, the successes of the current survey, possible future directions, and the value of using the PSID to understand the challenges facing American families.
Educational Inequality, Educational Expansion, and Intergenerational Income Persistence in the United States
Authors: Bloome Deirdre , Dyer Shauna , Zhou Xiang
Published: November 2018

The children of high-income parents often become high-income adults, while their low-income peers often become low-income adults. Education plays a central role in this intergenerational income persistence. Because education-based inequalities grew in recent decades, many scholars predicted that intergenerational income persistence would increase. However, previous research suggests that it remained stable across recent cohorts. We address this puzzle. Analyzing National Longitudinal Surveys of Youth data, we find that growing educational inequality by parental income, along with rising economic returns to education, increased intergenerational persistence, as scholars expected. However, two countervailing trends offset this increase. The expansion of higher education reduced persistence, because completing college helps low-income children become high-income adults. Yet, this reduction in persistence was far from enough to offset the increase in persistence associated with growing educational inequality and rising educational returns. Intergenerational persistence would have increased if not for another change: within educational groups, parental income became less predictive of adult income. New methodological tools underlie these findings, tools that quantify, for the first time, education’s full force in intergenerational income persistence. These findings suggest that to reduce intergenerational persistence, educational policies should focus less on how many people complete college and more on who completes college.
Career stage dependent effects of law firm governance: A multilevel study of professional-client misconduct
Authors: Lander Michel W , van Oosterhout J (Hans) , Heugens Pursey , Pruijssers Jorien L
Published: November 2018

Are governance practices employed by professional service firms equally effective in preventing professional-client misconduct for professionals at different stages of their career? Drawing upon professional-agency theory and the literature documenting professional career patterns, we develop a multilevel theoretical model to answer this question. We test our model in the empirical context of the Dutch legal profession, using firm-level survey data on 142 law firms and individual-level archival data from the 2994 lawyers working for these firms to explain 97 formally adjudicated complaints of professional-client misconduct committed by individual lawyers registered with the Amsterdam Bar Association. We find that the ‘orthodox’ distinction between informal behavioral and formal outcome-based governance practices is too course-grained to receive empirical support, and that firm-level governance practices only reduce professional-client misconduct when they are specifically targeted at the career stage of the lawyers employed. Our findings not only allow us to develop a finer-grained version of Sharma’s professional-agency model, but may also be practically useful in developing firm-level governance practices targeted at different strata of professionals.
Challenges in improving the performance of eddy current testing: Review
Authors: AbdAlla Ahmed N , Faraj Moneer A , Samsuri Fahmi , Rifai Damhuji , Ali Kharudin , Al-Douri Y.
Published: November 2018

Eddy current testing plays an important role in numerous industries, particularly in material coating, nuclear and oil and gas. However, the eddy current testing technique still needs to focus on the details of probe structure and its application. This paper presents an overview of eddy current testing technique and the probe structure design factors that affect the accuracy of crack detection. The first part focuses on the development of different types of eddy current testing probes and their advantages and disadvantages. A review of previous studies that examined testing samples, eddy current testing probe structures and a review of factors contributing to eddy current signals is also presented. The second part mainly comprised an in-depth discussion of the lift-off effect with particular consideration of ensuring that defects are correctly measured, and the eddy current testing probes are optimized. Finally, a comprehensive review of previous studies on the application of intelligent eddy current testing crack detection in non destructive eddy current testing is presented.
Identification of the Novel Tooth-Specific Transcription Factor AmeloD
Authors: He B. , Chiba Y. , Li H. , de Vega S. , Tanaka K. , Yoshizaki K. , Ishijima M. , Yuasa K. , Ishikawa M. , Rhodes C. , Sakai K. , Zhang P. , Fukumoto S. , Zhou X. , Yamada Y.
Published: November 2018

Basic-helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors play an important role in various organs’ development; however, a tooth-specific bHLH factor has not been reported. In this study, we identified a novel tooth-specific bHLH transcription factor, which we named AmeloD, by screening a tooth germ complementary DNA (cDNA) library using a yeast 2-hybrid system. AmeloD was mapped onto the mouse chromosome 1q32. Phylogenetic analysis showed that AmeloD belongs to the achaete-scute complex-like ( ASCL) gene family and is a homologue of ASCL5. AmeloD was uniquely expressed in the inner enamel epithelium (IEE), but its expression was suppressed after IEE cell differentiation into ameloblasts. Furthermore, AmeloD expression showed an inverse expression pattern with the epithelial cell-specific cell–cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin in the dental epithelium. Overexpression of AmeloD in dental epithelial cell line CLDE cells resulted in E-cadherin suppression. We found that AmeloD bound to E-box cis-regulatory elements in the proximal promoter region of the E-cadherin gene. These results reveal that AmeloD functions as a suppressor of E-cadherin transcription in IEE cells. Our study demonstrated that AmeloD is a novel tooth-specific bHLH transcription factor that may regulate tooth development through the suppression of E-cadherin in IEE cells.
Attention, Impulsiveness, and Gender in Academic Achievement Among Typically Developing Children
Authors: Alavi Masoumeh , Seng Jyi H. , Mustaffa Mohamed S. , Ninggal Mohd T. , Amini Mansour , Latif Adibah A.
Published: November 2018

Although several studies have examined the relationships among attention, impulse control, gender, and academic achievement, most have focused on clinical samples and have considered only one or two academic subjects. This study investigated these relationships among typically developing children using general achievement measures (academic scores and grades). Our participants were 270 typically developing primary school students (142 boys and 128 girls) of different nationalities living in Malaysia, recruited with purposive sampling with a mean age of 9.75 years. We found that both attention and impulse control significantly predicted academic achievement. Girls had a higher level of attention and impulse control than boys, but gender was not a significant moderator between either attention or impulse control and academic achievement. We discuss the implications of these findings and the need for further research.
Opportunity Youth: Insights and Opportunities for a Public Health Approach to Reengage Disconnected Teenagers and Young Adults
Authors: Mendelson Tamar , Mmari Kristin , Blum Robert W. , Catalano Richard F. , Brindis Claire D.
Published: November 2018

Approximately 1 in 9 teenagers and young adults aged 16-24 in the United States is currently disconnected from school and employment. These disconnected young people (ie, opportunity youth) are not only at high risk for long-term emotional, behavioral, and health problems, but they also represent a loss of human capital, with high social and economic costs. In this article, we offer a public health perspective on opportunity youth by describing their distribution in the population and consequences of their disconnection; proposing a conceptual model of the issue based on epidemiological principles, life course development concepts, and ecological theory; and recommending multisector strategies for preventing disconnection of young people and reengaging opportunity youth. A public health approach to the problem of opportunity youth would involve developing and investing in youth monitoring data systems that can be coordinated across multiple sectors, consolidating both the delivery and funding of services for opportunity youth, developing policies and programs that encourage engagement of young people, and fostering systematic approaches to the testing and scaling up of preventive and reengagement interventions.
Patellar Tendon–Lateral Trochlear Ridge Distance: A Novel Measurement of Patellofemoral Instability
Authors: Mistovich R. Justin , Urwin John W. , Fabricant Peter D. , Lawrence J. Todd R.
Published: November 2018

Background:

Abnormalities in the trochlea-patella-tibia relationship have been shown to be risk factors for recurrent patellofemoral instability, although no current measurements quantify patellar containment in the trochlea. Standard measurements, such as tibial tubercle–trochlear groove (TT-TG) distance, do not account for the containment of the patella by the trochlea. Our goal was to develop a measurement to assess how well the trochlea contained the extensor mechanism.

Hypothesis:

A novel measurement describing the amount of the patellar tendon lateral to the lateral trochlear ridge (PT-LTR) would be a reliable measurement and significantly greater among patients with patellofemoral instability.

Study Design:

Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2.

Methods:

The authors analyzed radiology records from 2005 to 2014 for patients aged 5 to 18 years with and without patellofemoral dislocations who had knee magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Two blinded reviewers evaluated 215 MRI studies. Standard and novel morphology measurements were calculated for each knee and compared in a case-control design. Interobserver reliability of each measure was assessed by the intraclass correlation coefficient. Predictability for patellofemoral dislocation was calculated with 2-tailed independent-samples Student t tests. Discriminative capacity was calculated with receiver operating characteristic analyses and area under the curve (AUC). An optimal measurement cutoff with resultant sensitivity and specificity was calculated.

Results:

Standard measurements of TT-TG distance, tangential axial width of the patella (TAWP), and tangential axial trochlear width (TATW) had excellent agreement between raters; lateral femoral condyle length had good agreement; and the novel measurement—width of the tendon beyond the lateral femoral condyle (PT-LTR)—also had excellent agreement. These underwent predictability and discriminative capacity analyses. TT-TG, TAWP, TATW, and PT-LTR were significant predictors of patellofemoral instability. In receiver operating characteristic analysis, TAWP had an AUC of 0.65, below the 0.8 threshold. TATW had an AUC of 0.814 and, when <32.5 mm, was 76% sensitive and 77% specific for dislocations. TT-TG demonstrated an AUC of 0.806. TT-TG ≥13.5 mm was 76% sensitive and 76% specific for dislocations. PT-LTR demonstrated an AUC of 0.876 and, when ≥5.55 mm, was 73% sensitive and 89% specific for patellofemoral dislocation.

Conclusion:

PT-LTR is reliable, predictable, and discriminative for patellofemoral dislocations. This measurement had sensitivity similar to that of TT-TG but with higher specificity.
Examining musical sophistication: A replication and theoretical commentary on the Goldsmiths Musical Sophistication Index
Authors: Baker David John , Ventura Juan , Calamia Matthew , Shanahan Daniel , Elliott Emily M.
Published: November 2018

The difficulties associated with measuring the complex construct of musicianship have received considerable attention in the music psychology literature. Multiple measures exist for various constructs, yet the need for the careful replication and documentation of the use of these measures remains an area of critical importance. Here, we describe the replication of the Goldsmiths Musical Sophistication Index (Gold-MSI) in a sample of 346 university students, drawn from both a school of music and a department of psychology. The original approach to modeling the Gold-MSI was followed as closely as possible, and the results replicated well overall. Issues were noted, however, with the characteristics of the sample, the skew of some of the individual items, and the overall use of the bifactor structure. These findings are discussed in relation to the state of measuring musicianship in the current literature, as well as in relation to the larger theoretical concerns surrounding the modeling of complex psychological and musical constructs.
Retouching and Revisiting the Strangers Within: An Exploration Journey on the Waves of Meaning and Matter in Dance
Authors: Blockmans Inge G. E. , De Schauwer Elisabeth , Van Hove Geert , Enzlin Paul
Published: November 2018

This article explores what (working with) matter can tell us that language cannot or does not completely tell, about becoming a sensual, sexual woman free to move smoothly in and with her body. It explores how (working with) matter can transform living in, with and through a body, and how it affects and is affected. The text is centred around “touchpoints,” that is, encounters through touch, as experienced by the first author as a dancer on wheels, and diffracted and narrated through poetry and images interwoven with theory. These encounters are seen as mo(ve)ments in a powerful agential assemblage that holds both danger and transformative possibilities, leading us to reimagine freedom as a river of sparring intensities.