bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bilanz Henkel
Authors: Bulmahn Maren
Published: May 2020

Henkels Umsatz hat sich im Jahr 2019 kaum verändert. Den größten Anteil hatten Klebstoffe. Der neue Chef ist unzufrieden und will mehr Geld für Digitalisierung und Werbung ausgeben.
Neue Regeln, neue Etiketten
Authors: Blackburn Charlotte
Published: May 2020

Die Berichtspflichten für Unternehmen, die gefährliche Gemische herstellen und verkaufen, ändern sich. Wie sie sich darauf vorbereiten können.
Von Viren und Tieren
Authors: Groß Michael
Published: May 2020

Das Virus, das die Covid‐19‐Pandemie verursacht, ist ebenso wie die Erreger von Sars, Mers und diversen Versionen der Grippe von Tieren auf den Menschen übergesprungen. Um künftige Pandemien zu vermeiden, müssen wir die Wege, auf denen sie zu uns gelangen, erkennen und blockieren.
Ein gut vernetzter Partner
Authors: Spichiger David , Lüthi Hans Peter
Published: May 2020

In mancher Hinsicht ähnelt die Schweizerische Chemische Gesellschaft (SCG) der GDCh, und an vielen Stellen arbeiten die beiden Fachgesellschaften zusammen.
Effects of individual pelvic floor muscle training vs individual training progressing to group training vs group training alone in women with stress urinary incontinence: A randomized clinical trial
Authors: Figueiredo Vilena B. , Nascimento Simony L. , Martínez Renata F. L. , Lima Clara T. S. , Ferreira Cristine H. J. , Driusso Patricia
Published: April 2020

Aims

To assess the effects of individual pelvic floor muscle (PFM) training vs individual training (IT) progressing to group training (GT) vs group‐only training in women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

Methods

Randomized controlled and pragmatic clinical trials with 90 women with SUI. Participants were randomly allocated to one of three groups: IT, GT, or four individual sessions progressing to group training (IPGT). The intervention included 12 sessions, once a week, with direct supervision by a physical therapist. Primary outcome: severity according to the King's Health Questionnaire. Secondary outcomes: PFM function by palpation and manometer, bladder and exercise diaries, PFM training adherence, and self‐efficacy. Reassessments were conducted at the end of the intervention, 3 and 6 months after the intervention. Intra‐ and intergroup analysis for all outcomes was performed using a multivariate analysis of variance. In the mixed‐effects model used, the evaluation groups and times and their interactions were considered. A significance level of 5% was adopted.

Results

After the intervention, the severity measure improved in all three groups (P < .001), without difference between them (P = .56). The benefits of the intervention were maintained 3 and 6 months after the end of the supervised training (P < .001). The IPGT group had a significant improvement in PFM function when compared to the other groups posttreatment (P < .001).

Conclusion

PFM training improved the severity of urinary incontinence in all groups after 12 sessions of training supervised by a physical therapist. IT progressing to GT improved the function of upper PFM when compared to the other groups.
Combination of the phosphodiesterase 10A inhibitor, MR1916 with risperidone shows additive antipsychotic‐like effects without affecting cognitive enhancement and cataleptic effects in rats
Authors: Arakawa Keita , Maehara Shunsuke
Published: April 2020

Aim

Phosphodiesterase 10A (PDE10A) inhibitors not only have antipsychotic‐like effects but also cause cognitive enhancement without affecting extrapyramidal side effects in rodents, suggesting that PDE10A may be a novel approach for the treatment of schizophrenia. However, how a combination of PDE10A inhibitor with a currently available antipsychotic drug, risperidone contributes to the effect of each compound in rats remains unclear. The purpose of the present study was to examine the combination effects of MR1916 with a currently available antipsychotic drug, risperidone, in rats.

Methods

We examined the combination effects of the PDE10A inhibitor, MR1916 with risperidone on conditioned avoidance response (CAR) to assess antipsychotic‐like effects in rats. We also examined them on catalepsy as extrapyramidal side effects and novel object recognition test in cognitive functions in rats.

Results

MR1916 (0.025‐0.2 mg/kg, p.o.) and risperidone (0.75‐6 mg/kg, p.o.) alone attenuated the CAR in a dose‐dependent manner. The combination of MR1916 (0.025 mg/kg, p.o.) with risperidone (0.75 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly enhanced the attenuation of CAR without increasing the escape failure response. At the same dosage, the cataleptic effects were not enhanced by combined treatment of MR1916 with risperidone. Furthermore, the enhancement of object recognition memory induced by MR1916 (0.3 mg/kg, p.o.) was not affected by the combination with risperidone (0.75 mg/kg, p.o.).

Conclusion

The combination of MR1916 with risperidone may have additive antipsychotic‐like effects without affecting extrapyramidal side effects, and the cognitive‐enhancing effect of MR1916 may not be interfered with the addition of risperidone.
Implementing a species‐specific undergraduate research program
Authors: Lerner Annie B. , Tokach Mike D. , DeRouchey Joel M. , Woodworth Jason C. , Dritz Steve S. , Goodband Robert D. , Jones Cassandra K.
Published: May 2020

Undergraduate research experiences have well‐established benefits on undergraduate education, such as improved critical thinking, professional development, and increased interest in graduate studies. In addition, the host faculty can benefit by increasing their research impact and gaining exposure to potential graduate candidates. In the production animal science field (study of domestic livestock raised for meat, milk, or fiber), research also allows for additional livestock handling experience outside of the classroom, which is critical for students without agricultural backgrounds. At Kansas State University, the swine (Sus scrofa domesticus) nutrition research group developed a swine‐specific undergraduate research program. Several different models for projects are in place to maximize the research experience for students. Steps in the process include recruitment, initial student evaluation, project execution, presentation, evaluation, and post‐graduate status update. There are several key roles in this training process. Graduate students serve as mentors and benefit from leadership training and development of interpersonal and managerial skills. Evidence collected after students have completed the program reiterates the importance of exposing students to not only the scientific method, but the swine and feed industries. Many of the students who complete projects ultimately pursue graduate or veterinary degrees, whereas those who choose nonresearch‐related careers recognize the value of research and appreciate exposure to the swine industry. This case study will outline aspects of a swine‐specific undergraduate research program, which can be applied to any life sciences discipline.
Understanding diverse approaches to predator management among gamekeepers in England
Authors: Swan George J. F. , Redpath Steve M. , Crowley Sarah L. , McDonald Robbie A.
Published: May 2020

Disagreements and disputes over the management of predatory animals are a frequent feature of conservation conflicts. In the UK, there are long‐standing conflicts surrounding legal and illegal killing of predators as part of management fostering game species as quarry for sport shooting. Despite the central role of gamekeepers as stakeholders and actors in this predominant form of predator management, little direct attention has been paid to their perspectives and motivations.

We conducted semi‐structured interviews on the subject of predator management with 20 gamekeepers across the south of England and applied a social‐psychological approach to explore the underlying beliefs, norms and information sources associated with their actions. Data were analysed for patterns in terminology, rationalization or subject and synthesized into broad ‘motivations’, which were structured using a framework from the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB).

Six primary motivations for predator management emerged: professional identity, personal norms, potential penalties, perceived impact, personal enjoyment and perceived ease. Perceived impact of predators on released game, and wildlife more broadly, was a central driver of predator killing. We identified three indirect influences on how this impact is judged: ‘maintaining balance’, ‘appeal to nature’ and ‘problem individuals’. We find that predator killing by gamekeepers is not solely a function of perceived economic loss but a product of multiple factors, including perceived professional norms, a sense of personal responsibility for game and non‐game wildlife, and assessments of predator populations and behaviours based on personal encounters.

Motivations were well characterized within the TPB framework, with links to subjective norms, attitudes and perceived behavioural control. Our use of this social‐psychological approach to understanding the actions and preferences of these key stakeholders highlights how behaviours that are central to conservation conflicts have multiple social and ecological drivers. Characterizing the multiple motivations behind predator killing might help address aspects of the social conflicts with which sport shooting is currently associated, if actions, deliberation and, where appropriate, mediation, can be targeted at the key concerns of these central stakeholders and actors.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Fetal brain, head, and neck tumors: Prenatal imaging and management
Authors: Feygin Tamara , Khalek Nahla , Moldenhauer Julie S.
Published: April 2020

Fetal tumors represent an infrequent pathology when compared to congenital malformations, although their true incidence may be underestimated. A variety of benign and malignant neoplasms may occur anywhere in the neural axis. Imaging plays an important role in the fetal tumor diagnosis and evaluation of their resultant complications. Discovery of a fetal mass on obstetric ultrasound necessitates further evaluation with prenatal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). New MR sequences and new applications of existing techniques have been successfully implemented in prenatal imaging. A detailed assessment may be performed using a variety of MR. Fetal tumors may be histologically benign or malignant, but their prognosis generally remains poor, especially for intracranial lesions. Unfavorable tumor location or heightened metabolic demands on a developing fetus may result in severe complications and a fatal outcome, even in cases of benign lesions. Nowadays, prenatal treatment focuses mainly on alleviation of secondary complications caused by the tumors. In this article we review congenital tumors of the brain, face, and neck encountered in prenatal life, and discuss diagnostic clues for appropriate diagnosis.
Nullpunktsbewegung eines schwebenden Glaspartikels
Authors: Tebbenjohanns Felix , Frimmer Martin , Novotny Lukas
Published: May 2020

Optische Präzisionsmessungen haben es erstmals erlaubt, eine Signatur der Nullpunktsbewegung eines im Vakuum schwebenden Glaspartikels zu beobachten. Das Ergebnis macht Hoffnung, dass es eines Tages gelingen kann, die Grenzen der Quantentheorie an makroskopischen Objekten zu testen.
Energieumwandlungen beim Laufen mit adidas Running
Authors: Vogt Patrik , Kasper Lutz , Kuhn Jochen , Wilhelm Thomas
Published: May 2020

Fitness‐Apps geben für verschiedene Aktivitäten, wie Laufen, Skaten, Kniebeuge, Liegestütze und anderes, Zahlenwerte der „verbrannten Kalorien“ an. Welche Angaben braucht eine App, um für die Aktivität einer Person diesen Wert zu ermitteln? Welche Sensoren des Smartphones lassen sich dafür nutzen?
Effect of a combined exercise program on physical fitness, lung function, and quality of life in patients with controlled asthma and exercise symptoms: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Sanz‐Santiago Verónica , Diez‐Vega Ignacio , Santana‐Sosa Elena , Lopez Nuevo Carlos , Iturriaga Ramirez Tamara , Vendrusculo Fernanda Maria , Donadio Márcio Vinícius Fagundes , Villa Asensi José Ramón , Pérez‐Ruiz Margarita
Published: April 2020

Background

Asthmatic patients may benefit from exercise training, although the effects of a combined aerobic and resistance training program are still poorly investigated in children and adolescents.

Objective

To analyze the effects of a combined exercise training (resistance and aerobic) program on aerobic fitness, lung function, asthma control and quality of life in a group of mild‐moderate asthmatic children with exercise symptoms.

Methods

This was a 12‐week randomized controlled trial including children and adolescents diagnosed with mild‐moderate asthma and presenting exercise‐induced symptoms. The intervention group (IG) performed the exercise training (resistance and aerobic) 3 days/week, for 60 minutes. The control group (CG) followed routine clinical orientations. The main outcomes were cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, lung function, quality of life, asthma control, and functional tests after 3 months of the intervention.

Results

Fifty‐three patients (IG = 25 and CG = 28) with a mean age of 11.5 ± 2.6 years were included. No significant differences were found between groups regarding lung function, asthma control, quality of life, and functional tests. Ventilatory equivalent for oxygen consumption at ventilatory threshold (P = .025;  = 0.083), peak oxygen consumption (P = .008;  = 0.116) and test duration (P = .014;  = 0.1) presented greater improvements in the IG. In addition, improvements were observed in leg press (P < .001;  = 0.36), hamstring curl (P = .001;  = 0.217), high row (P = .003;  = .167), low row (P = .009;  = 0.128) and quadriceps leg extension (P = .015;  = 0.108) in the IG.

Conclusion

Combined exercise training (resistance and aerobic) improved cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle strength in children and adolescents with controlled asthma and exercise symptoms.
Stability of discrete‐time systems with time‐varying delay via a novel Lyapunov‐Krasovskii functional
Authors: Chen Jun , Park Ju H. , Xu Shengyuan , Zhang Xian‐Ming
Published: May 2020

This article is concerned with the problem of stability analysis of discrete‐time systems with time‐varying delay. Unlike previous articles concentrating on the improvement of summation inequalities, this article constructs a novel augmented Lyapunov‐Krasovskii (L‐K) functional by fully considering the coupling information among state‐related vectors. Based on the newly developed L‐K functional, a more relaxed stability criterion is derived by exploring the interest of existing inequalities. Three numerical examples are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Atomically Thin Superconductors
Authors: Li Zhi , Sang Lina , Liu Peng , Yue Zengji , Fuhrer Michael S. , Xue Qikun , Wang Xiaolin
Published: May 2020

In recent years, atomically thin superconductors, including atomically thin elemental superconductors, single layer FeSe films, and few‐layer cuprate superconductors, have been studied extensively. This hot research field is mainly driven by the discovery of significant superconductivity enhancement and high‐temperature interface superconductivity in single‐layer FeSe films epitaxially grown on SrTiO3 substrates in 2012. This study has attracted tremendous research interest and generated more studies focusing on further enhancing superconductivity and finding the origin of the superconductivity. A few years later, research on atomically thin superconductors has extended to cuprate superconductors, unveiling many intriguing properties that have neither been proposed or observed previously. These new discoveries challenge the current theory regarding the superconducting mechanism of unconventional superconductors and indicate new directions on how to achieve high‐transition‐temperature superconductors. Herein, this exciting recent progress is briefly discussed, with a focus on the recent progress in identifying new atomically thin superconductors.
Burmorussidae, a new family of parasitic wasps (Insecta, Hymenoptera) from mid‐Cretaceous Burmese amber
Authors: Zhang Qi , Kopylov Dmitry S. , Rasnitsyn Alexandr P. , Zheng Yan , Zhang Haichun
Published: April 2020

A new genus and species, Burmorussus mirabilis, is described based on two specimens from the mid‐Cretaceous Burmese amber, and considered to be a specialized parasitic wasp of wood‐living hosts. The new taxon is characterized by an orussid‐like ocellar crown, big eyes, antennae attached well above the clypeus, and antennal grooves or ventral transverse frontal carinae absent. Additionally, all legs carry a prominent lanceolate lobe on the third tarsomere. A similar structure is found, but organized differently, in Recent Orussidae and Stephanidae, serving as part of a vibration analyser. Although sharing some characters with families Karatavitidae, Orussidae and Paroryssidae, this new taxon cannot be assigned to any of these families. We propose a new monotypic family Burmorussidae and assign it to the superfamily Orussoidea. A phylogenetic analysis confirms the monophyly of Orussoidea, which occurs a sister group to Apocrita.
Equilibrium Analysis of Multi‐Energy Markets with Microgrids Bidding
Authors: Wang Xian , Zhang Ying , Zhang Shaohua
Published: May 2020

As an effective way to accommodate the distributed renewable energy, microgrid participating in the electricity market competition is an inevitable trend. Because of severe uncertainty and poor dispatchability of the distributed renewable energy in the microgrid, how to counterbalance the deviation between microgrid's actual output/demand and cleared quantity from the market is an important issue needed to address. First, a multi‐energy trading framework is introduced where microgrids bid in a distribution electricity market (DEM). An arbitrageur is presented to buy and sell electricity between the DEM and the day‐ahead wholesale market (DAWM). In order to compensate the bid deviations of microgrids with uncertain output/demand in the DEM, the power to gas (P2G) technologies are applied by a microgrid when it has excess electricity, while the natural gas generating unit (NGGU) is applied when it has deficit electricity. Second, based on the multi‐energy trading framework, a joint stochastic equilibrium model for the DEM, DAWM, and the gas market (GM) is proposed. In addition, Monte Carlo simulation and scenario reduction techniques are applied to tackle the uncertainty in the actual output/demand of microgrids. Finally, the numerical examples show that the proposed multi‐energy trading model can compensate the deviation of the microgrids with uncertain output/demand in the DEM, and help to improve the market competitiveness of microgrids and the utilization of distributed renewable energy. © 2020 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Regenerative medicine in urology: the future of urinary reconstruction
Authors: Harris Kelly , Bivalacqua Trinity J
Published: April 2020

Tissue engineering and regenerative technology are at the cutting edge in reconstructive urology today. However, despite the advances, there are still challenges to be overcome and novel ideas to be investigated.
USA and UK: differences on neonatal circumcision
Authors: Hodgson Dominic
Published: April 2020

The popularity of neonatal circumcision has declined significantly in the last half century in the UK, but it persists in the USA where most boys are still circumcised soon after birth. In this article the author considers why the practice is now so different in the two countries and explores the pros and cons of neonatal male circumcision.
Advances in the prediction of mouse liver microsomal studies: From machine learning to deep learning
Authors: Renn Alex , Su Bo‐Han , Liu Hsin , Sun Joseph , Tseng Yufeng J.
Published: April 2020

In the drug development process, mouse liver microsomal (MLM) studies are an invaluable biological assay used to assess the metabolic stability of novel drug candidates prior to human studies. However, determining MLM stability, in addition to other absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) properties, can be a time‐intensive and expensive process if it were tested in many compounds, thus leading to the need to create computational models capable of predicting properties of novel compounds. Additionally, building accurate computational models for the prediction of MLM stability can greatly accelerate the screening process for the selection of an appropriate drug candidate and further reduce the failure rate of the compounds in later trial stages. Our study outlined within this paper will discuss the history of computational models and their ability to predict MLM stability using traditional machine learning methods, as well as discuss a novel deep learning architecture, graph convolutional neural networks, capable of stronger predictive capabilities when compared to traditional methods. With future advances in hardware and research, deep learning methods applied to the prediction of ADME properties including but not limited to microsomal stability prediction represent an invaluable tool for future drug discovery efforts in both industry and academic settings.

This article is categorized under:

Computer and Information Science > Chemoinformatics

Computer and Information Science > Computer Algorithms and Programming
Nanomedicine and drug delivery systems in cancer and regenerative medicine
Authors: Garbayo Elisa , Pascual‐Gil Simon , Rodríguez‐Nogales Carlos , Saludas Laura , Estella‐Hermoso de Mendoza Ander , Blanco‐Prieto Maria J.
Published: April 2020

Nanomedicine and drug delivery technologies play a prominent role in modern medicine, facilitating better treatments than conventional drugs. Nanomedicine is being increasingly used to develop new methods of cancer diagnosis and treatment, since this technology can modulate the biodistribution and the target site accumulation of chemotherapeutic drugs, thereby reducing their toxicity. Regenerative medicine provides another area where innovative drug delivery technology is being studied for improved tissue regeneration. Drug delivery systems can protect therapeutic proteins and peptides against degradation in biological environments and deliver them in a controlled manner. Similarly, the combination of drug delivery systems and stem cells can improve their survival, differentiation, and engraftment. The present review summarizes the most important steps carried‐out by the group of Prof Blanco‐Prieto in nanomedicine and drug delivery technologies. Throughout her scientific career, she has contributed to the area of nanomedicine to improve anticancer therapy. In particular, nanoparticles loaded with edelfosine, doxorubicin, or methotrexate have demonstrated great anticancer activity in preclinical settings of lymphoma, glioma, and pediatric osteosarcoma. In regenerative medicine, a major focus has been the development of drug delivery systems for brain and cardiac repair. In this context, several microparticle‐based technologies loaded with biologics have demonstrated efficacy in clinically relevant animal models such as monkeys and pigs. The latest research by this group has shown that drug delivery systems combined with cell therapy can achieve a more complete and potent regenerative response. Cutting‐edge areas such as noninvasive intravenous delivery of cardioprotective nanomedicines or extracellular vesicle‐based therapies are also being explored.

This article is categorized under:

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease
Efficacy of Acoustic Triangulation for Gray Wolves
Authors: O'Gara Jordyn R. , Wieder Charlie A. , Mallinger Elyse C. , Simon Alyx N. , Wydeven Adrian P. , Olson Erik R.
Published: April 2020

Acoustic triangulation is a unique, relatively noninvasive monitoring approach that can inform our understanding of a species’ distribution in time and space. Acoustic triangulation relies on standard triangulation techniques to determine the location of an acoustic event. Howl surveys are frequently used to survey wolves (Canis lupus) and other canids. We evaluated the efficacy of acoustic triangulation for estimating the location of wolves. We measured precision and accuracy of acoustic triangulation using an experimental mock howl survey and field data collected with wild wolves in northern Wisconsin, USA (2014–2018). Precision of acoustic triangulation was similar to triangulation with ground‐based radiotelemetry for both pooled data and individual wolves at specific times, although the 2 techniques did not result in similar predicted locations. Distance from the howl source was the most consistently significant factor influencing the efficacy of acoustic triangulation. Error ellipse size was 33 times smaller at distances <1 km. Wind speed also reduced the accuracy of acoustic triangulation for mock howl surveys. Precision for modified howl surveys with wild wolves improved with the number of bearings. We estimated a mean bearing error of 13.2° (±2.1, 95% CI) for single bearings and a maximum distance of 1.76 km (range = 0.96–1.76 km;  = 1.41 km) detection for audible anthropogenic howls. Such information can be applied to howl survey data to generate more fine‐scale location information for wolf‐pack home sites. Acoustic triangulation of wolves can provide high‐quality location information in areas where wolves are not monitored with radiocollars. © 2020 The Wildlife Society.
Pangenome Flux Balance Analysis Toward Panphenomes
Authors: Norsigian Charles J. , Fang Xin , Palsson Bernhard O. , Monk Jonathan M.
Published: April 2020

Studies of the pangenome have been empowered by an exponentially increasing amount of strain-specific genome sequencing data. With this data deluge comes a need for new tools to contextualize, analyze, and interpret such a vast amount of information. Network reconstructions, genome-scale metabolic models (GEMs), and the corresponding computational analysis frameworks such as flux balance analysis (FBA) have been proven useful toward this end. Network reconstructions can be used to interpret genomic variation not just from a single strain but for an entire species. By applying these approaches at the pangenome scale, it becomes possible to systematically evaluate phenotypic properties for an entire species thus enabling the study of a panphenome directly from a pangenome. Applying insights gained from analysis of the panphenome has diverse implications with applications ranging from human health to metabolic engineering. The future of pangenomics will include panphenomic analyses, thus supplementing traditional pangenomic analyses and helping to address the Big-data-to-knowledge grand challenge of analyzing thousands of genomic sequences.
Computational Strategies for Eukaryotic Pangenome Analyses
Authors: Hu Zhiqiang , Wei Chaochun , Li Zhikang
Published: April 2020

Over the last few years, pangenome analyses have been applied to eukaryotes, especially to important crops. A handful of eukaryotic pangenome studies have demonstrated widespread variation in gene presence/absence among plant species and its implications on agronomically important traits. In this chapter, we focus on the methodology of pangenome analysis, which can generally be classified into two different types of approaches, a homolog-based strategy and a “map-to-pan” strategy. In a homolog-based strategy, the genomes of individuals are independently assembled, and the presence/absence of a gene family is determined by clustering protein sequences into homologs. Alternatively, in a “map-to-pan” strategy, pangenome sequences are constructed by combining a well-annotated reference genome with newly identified non-reference representative sequences, from which the presence/absence of a gene is then determined based on read coverage after individual reads are mapped to the pangenome. We highlight the advantages and limitations of the homolog-based strategy and several variant approaches to the “map-to-pan” strategy. We conclude that the “map-to-pan” strategy is highly recommended for eukaryotic pangenome analysis. However, programs and parameters for pangenome analysis need to be carefully selected for eukaryotes with different genome sizes.
What microRNAs could tell us about the human X chromosome
Authors: Di Palo Armando , Siniscalchi Chiara , Salerno Mariacarolina , Russo Aniello , Gravholt Claus Højbjerg , Potenza Nicoletta
Published: April 2020

MicroRNAs (miRNA) are small-non coding RNAs endowed with great regulatory power, thus playing key roles not only in almost all physiological pathways, but also in the pathogenesis of several diseases. Surprisingly, genomic distribution analysis revealed the highest density of miRNA sequences on the X chromosome; this evolutionary conserved mammalian feature equips females with a larger miRNA machinery than males. However, miRNAs contribution to some X-related conditions, properties or functions is still poorly explored. With the aim to support and focus research in the field, this review analyzes the literature and databases about X-linked miRNAs, trying to understand how miRNAs could contribute to emerging gender-biased functions and pathological mechanisms, such as immunity and cancer. A fine map of miRNA sequences on the X chromosome is reported, and their known functions are discussed; in addition, bioinformatics functional analyses of the whole X-linked miRNA targetome (predicted and validated) were performed. The emerging scenario points to different gaps in the knowledge that should be filled with future experimental investigations, also in terms of possible implications and pathological perspectives for X chromosome aneuploidy syndromes, such as Turner and Klinefelter syndromes.
Diffuse hyperkeratotische Papeln am unteren Abdomen und im Genitalbereich bei einem 38‑jährigen Patienten
Authors: Kuntz T. , Mitrakos G. , Koushk-Jalali B. , Oellig F. , Eismann L. , Tigges C. , Kreuter A.
Published: May 2020

Bei einem Patienten mit diffusen Angiokeratomen im Bereich des unteren Abdomens und Genitalbereichs konnte mithilfe einer genetischen Untersuchung die Diagnose eines Morbus Fabry gestellt werden. Der Morbus Fabry ist eine X‑chromosomal vererbte Speicherkrankheit mit teilweise schwerwiegenden Multiorganbeteiligungen, unter anderem des Herzens und der Niere. Pathogenetisch liegt ein Mangel des lysosomalen Enzyms α‑Galaktosidase A (α-GAL A) vor. Unbehandelt ist die Lebenserwartung der Patienten besonders durch kardiale Komplikationen verkürzt. Aktuell zugelassene Therapieoptionen sind eine lebenslange Enzymersatztherapie und eine Chaperontherapie.
Understanding the dual-task costs of walking: a StartReact study
Authors: Nonnekes Jorik , Dibilio Valeria , Barthel Claudia , Solis-Escalante Teodoro , Bloem Bastiaan R. , Weerdesteyn Vivian
Published: April 2020

The need to perform multiple tasks more or less simultaneously is a common occurrence during walking in daily life. Performing tasks simultaneously typically impacts task performance negatively. Hypothetically, such dual-task costs may be explained by a lowered state of preparation due to competition for attentional resources, or alternatively, by a ‘bottleneck’ in response initiation. Here, we investigated both hypotheses by comparing ‘StartReact’ effects during a manual squeezing task under single-task (when seated) and dual-task (when walking) conditions. StartReact is the acceleration of reaction times by a startling stimulation (a startling acoustic stimulus was applied in 25% of trials), attributed to the startling stimulus directly releasing a pre-prepared movement. If dual-task costs are due to a lowered state of preparation, we expected trials both with and without an accompanying startling stimulus to be delayed compared to the single-task condition, whereas we expected only trials without a startling stimulus to be delayed if a bottleneck in response initiation would underlie dual-task costs. Reaction times of the manual squeezing task in the flexor digitorum superficialis and extensor carpi radialis muscle were significantly delayed (approx. 20 ms) when walking compared to the seated position. A startling acoustic stimulus significantly decreased reaction times of the squeezing task (approx. 60 ms) both when walking and sitting. Dual-task costs during walking are, therefore, likely the result of lowered task preparation because of competition for attentional resources.
Response of stratospheric water vapour to CO2 doubling in WACCM
Authors: Wang Tongmei , Zhang Qiong , Kuilman Maartje , Hannachi Abdel
Published: April 2020

Stratospheric water vapour (SWV), as a greenhouse gas, modulates the radiative energy budget of the climate system. It is sensitive to, and plays a significant role in the climate change. In this study, we investigate the SWV response to CO2increase with the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model (WACCM). In addition, we study its possible feedback on stratospheric temperature and relevant mechanisms. In our model experiments, the CO2concentration and sea surface temperature (SSTs) are changed at the same time, as well as separately, to enable separating the radiative-photochemical and dynamical response to CO2doubling scenarios. The model results show that the response of SWV to CO2doubling is dominated by the changes in the SSTs, with an increase of the SWV concentration by ~ 6 to 10% in most of the stratosphere and more than 10% in the lower stratosphere, except for winter pole in the lower stratosphere, where the CO2doubling decreases water vapour. The increase of SWV is mostly due to a dynamical response to the warm SSTs. Doubled CO2induces warm SSTs globally and further leads to moist troposphere and a warmer tropical and subtropical tropopause, resulting in more water vapour entering stratosphere from below. As a greenhouse gas, large increase of SWV in the lower stratosphere, in turn, affects the stratospheric temperature, resulting in a warming of the tropical and subtropical lower stratosphere, offsetting the cooling caused by CO2doubling.
The structural differences between patient-derived α-synuclein strains dictate characteristics of Parkinson’s disease, multiple system atrophy and dementia with Lewy bodies
Authors: Van der Perren Anke , Gelders Géraldine , Fenyi Alexis , Bousset Luc , Brito Filipa , Peelaerts Wouter , Van den Haute Chris , Gentleman Steve , Melki Ronald , Baekelandt Veerle
Published: April 2020

Synucleinopathies, such as Parkinson’s disease (PD), multiple system atrophy (MSA), and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), are defined by the presence of α-synuclein (αSYN) aggregates throughout the nervous system but diverge from one another with regard to their clinical and pathological phenotype. The recent generation of pure fibrillar αSYN polymorphs with noticeable differences in structural and phenotypic traits has led to the hypothesis that different αSYN strains may be in part responsible for the heterogeneous nature of synucleinopathies. To further characterize distinct αSYN strains in the human brain, and establish a structure-pathology relationship, we pursued a detailed comparison of αSYN assemblies derived from well-stratified patients with distinct synucleinopathies. We exploited the capacity of αSYN aggregates found in the brain of patients suffering from PD, MSA or DLB to seed and template monomeric human αSYN in vitro via a protein misfolding cyclic amplification assay. A careful comparison of the properties of total brain homogenates and pure in vitro amplified αSYN fibrillar assemblies upon inoculation in cells and in the rat brain demonstrates that the intrinsic structure of αSYN fibrils dictates synucleinopathies characteristics. We report that MSA strains show several similarities with PD strains, but are significantly more potent in inducing motor deficits, nigrostriatal neurodegeneration, αSYN pathology, spreading, and inflammation, reflecting the aggressive nature of this disease. In contrast, DLB strains display no or only very modest neuropathological features under our experimental conditions. Collectively, our data demonstrate a specific signature for PD, MSA, and DLB-derived strains that differs from previously described recombinant strains, with MSA strains provoking the most aggressive phenotype and more similarities with PD compared to DLB strains.
The effect of caffeine on cognitive performance is influenced by CYP1A2 but not ADORA2A genotype, yet neither genotype affects exercise performance in healthy adults
Authors: Carswell Alexander T. , Howland Kevin , Martinez-Gonzalez Borja , Baron Pauline , Davison Glen
Published: April 2020

Purpose

To determine the influence of two commonly occurring genetic polymorphisms on exercise, cognitive performance, and caffeine metabolism, after caffeine ingestion.

Methods

Eighteen adults received caffeine or placebo (3 mg kg−1) in a randomised crossover study, with measures of endurance exercise (15-min cycling time trial; 70-min post-supplementation) and cognitive performance (psychomotor vigilance test; PVT; pre, 50 and 95-min post-supplementation). Serum caffeine and paraxanthine were measured (pre, 30 and 120-min post-supplementation), and polymorphisms in ADORA2A (rs5751876) and CYP1A2 (rs762551) genes analysed.

Results

Caffeine enhanced exercise performance (P < 0.001), but effects were not different between participants with ADORA2A ‘high’ (n = 11) vs. ‘low’ (n = 7) sensitivity genotype (+ 6.4 ± 5.8 vs. + 8.2 ± 6.8%), or CYP1A2 ‘fast’ (n = 10) vs. ‘slow’ (n = 8) metabolism genotype (+ 7.2 ± 5.9 vs. + 7.0 ± 6.7%, P > 0.05). Caffeine enhanced PVT performance (P < 0.01). The effect of caffeine was greater for CYP1A2 ‘fast’ vs. ‘slow’ metabolisers for reaction time during exercise (− 18 ± 9 vs. − 1.0 ± 11 ms); fastest 10% reaction time at rest (− 18 ± 11 vs. − 3 ± 15 ms) and lapses at rest (− 3.8 ± 2.7 vs. + 0.4 ± 0.9) (P < 0.05). There were no PVT differences between ADORA2A genotypes (P > 0.05). Serum caffeine and paraxanthine responses were not different between genotypes (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

Caffeine enhanced CYP1A2 ‘fast’ metabolisers’ cognitive performance more than ‘slow’ metabolisers. No other between-genotype differences emerged for the effect of caffeine on exercise or cognitive performance, or metabolism.
An efficient and adaptive test of auditory mental imagery
Authors: Gelding Rebecca W. , Harrison Peter M. C. , Silas Sebastian , Johnson Blake W. , Thompson William F. , Müllensiefen Daniel
Published: April 2020

The ability to silently hear music in the mind has been argued to be fundamental to musicality. Objective measurements of this subjective imagery experience are needed if this link between imagery ability and musicality is to be investigated. However, previous tests of musical imagery either rely on self-report, rely on melodic memory, or do not cater in range of abilities. The Pitch Imagery Arrow Task (PIAT) was designed to address these shortcomings; however, it is impractically long. In this paper, we shorten the PIAT using adaptive testing and automatic item generation. We interrogate the cognitive processes underlying the PIAT through item response modelling. The result is an efficient online test of auditory mental imagery ability (adaptive Pitch Imagery Arrow Task: aPIAT) that takes 8 min to complete, is adaptive to participant’s individual ability, and so can be used to test participants with a range of musical backgrounds. Performance on the aPIAT showed positive moderate-to-strong correlations with measures of non-musical and musical working memory, self-reported musical training, and general musical sophistication. Ability on the task was best predicted by the ability to maintain and manipulate tones in mental imagery, as well as to resist perceptual biases that can lead to incorrect responses. As such, the aPIAT is the ideal tool in which to investigate the relationship between pitch imagery ability and musicality.
Entire solutions to sublinear elliptic problems on harmonic NA groups and Euclidean spaces
Authors: Damek Ewa , Ghardallou Zeineb
Published: April 2020

We give necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of entire solutions bounded or large of the equation $${\mathcal {L}}u - p\psi (u) =0$$

L
u
-
p
ψ
(
u
)
=
0

, where $${\mathcal {L}}$$
L
is either the Laplace operator on $${\mathbb {R}} ^d$$

R

d

, $$d\ge 3$$

d
≥
3

or the Laplace–Beltrami operator on the harmonic NA group and p is a function whose oscillation tends to zero at infinity at a specified rate. The results apply to noncompact rank one symmetric spaces.
CYP4F2 and CYP3A5 gene polymorphisms and lung cancer in Chinese Han population
Authors: He Ruiqing , Li Meng , Li Anqi , Dang Wenhui , Yang Tian , Li Jing , Zhang Ning , Jin Tianbo , Chen Mingwei
Published: April 2020

This study aimed to explore whether the polymorphisms of CYP4F2 and CYP3A5 are correlated with the risk of lung cancer development. A case–control study was conducted among 510 patients with pathologically confirmed lung cancer as the case group and 504 healthy individuals as the control group. Four single-nucleotide polymorphisms of the CYP4F2 and CYP3A5 genes were genotyped, and their correlations with the risk of lung cancer were examined using Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis. Stratified analysis found that the rs3093105 and rs3093106 loci of CYP4F2 gene were significantly associated with lower risk of lung cancer (P = 0.012, OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.45–0.91). The correlation was related to patients’ age and sex and pathological type of lung cancer. Similarly, the rs10242455 loci of CYP3A5 gene showed a statistical significance between the case group and the control group (P = 0.018, OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.53–0.94), which also was associated with reduced risk of squamous cell lung cancer in the dominant and additive models (dominant: OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.46–0.94, P = 0.021; additive: OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.53–0.95, P = 0.023). CYP4F2 and CYP3A5 gene polymorphisms are associated with the reduced risk of non-small cell lung cancer, and its correlation is related to patients’ age and sex and pathological type of lung cancer.
Phronesis in Medical Ethics: Courage and Motivation to Keep on the Track of Rightness in Decision-Making
Authors: Malik Aisha , Conroy Mervyn , Turner Chris
Published: April 2020

Ethical decision making in medicine has recently seen calls to move towards less prescriptive- based approaches that consider the particularities of each case. The main alternative call from the literature is for better understanding ofphronesis(practical wisdom) concepts applied to decision making. A well-citedphronesis-based approach is Kaldjian’s five-stage theoretical framework: goals, concrete circumstances, virtues, deliberation and motivation to act. We build on Kaldjian’s theory after using his framework to analyse data collected from a three-year empirical study ofphronesisand the medical community. The data are a set of narratives collected in response to asking a medical community (131 doctors at various stages of their careers) what making ethically wise decisions means to them. We found that Kaldjian’s five concepts are present in the accounts to some extent but that one of the elements, motivation, is constructed as playing a different, though still crucial role. Rather than being an end-stage of the process as Kaldjian’s framework suggests, motivation was constructed as initiating the process and maintaining the momentum of taking aphronesis-based approach. The implications for medical ethics decision-making education are significant as motivation itself is a highly complex concept. We therefore theorise that motivation is required for leading in, continuing and completing the actions of the ethical decision taken. Appreciating the central importance of motivation through the whole of Kaldjian’s framework has implications for cultivating the virtues ofphronesisand courage to take the right course of action.
Motivational Interviewing and Return to Work for People with Musculoskeletal Disorders: A Systematic Mapping Review
Authors: Aanesen Fiona , Berg Rigmor , Løchting Ida , Tingulstad Alexander , Eik Hedda , Storheim Kjersti , Grotle Margreth , Øiestad Britt Elin
Published: April 2020

Purpose There is limited knowledge about motivational interviewing (MI) for people on sick leave with musculoskeletal disorders. Hence, our objective was to investigate what research on MI as a method to facilitate return to work for individuals who are on sick leave due to musculoskeletal disorders exists, and what are the results of the research? Methods We systematically searched MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Web of Science, Sociological Abstracts, Epistemonikos, SveMed + and DARE & HTA (covering 1983 to August 2019). We also searched the MINT bulletin and relevant web pages. Eligibility criteria: empirical studies investigating MI and return to work for people with musculoskeletal disorders. Two authors independently screened the records, critically appraised the studies and charted the data using a data extraction form. Results The searches identified 1264 records of which two studies were included. One randomized controlled trial (RCT) found no effect of MI on return to work for disability pensioner with back pain (n = 89, high risk of bias), while a cluster RCT found that MI increased return to work for claimants with chronic musculoskeletal disorders (n = 728, low risk of bias). Conclusions This mapping review identified a huge gap in research on MI to increase return to work for individuals with musculoskeletal disorders. Registration Current Research Information System in Norway, project id: 635823 (https://app.cristin.no/projects/show.jsf?id=635823).
Kalman-based Spectro-Temporal ECG Analysis using Deep Convolutional Networks for Atrial Fibrillation Detection
Authors: Zhao Zheng , Särkkä Simo , Rad Ali Bahrami
Published: April 2020

In this article, we propose a novel ECG classification framework for atrial fibrillation (AF) detection using spectro-temporal representation (i.e., time varying spectrum) and deep convolutional networks. In the first step we use a Bayesian spectro-temporal representation based on the estimation of time-varying coefficients of Fourier series using Kalman filter and smoother. Next, we derive an alternative model based on a stochastic oscillator differential equation to accelerate the estimation of the spectro-temporal representation in lengthy signals. Finally, after comparative evaluations of different convolutional architectures, we propose an efficient deep convolutional neural network to classify the 2D spectro-temporal ECG data. The ECG spectro-temporal data are classified into four different classes: AF, non-AF normal rhythm (Normal), non-AF abnormal rhythm (Other), and noisy segments (Noisy). The performance of the proposed methods is evaluated and scored with the PhysioNet/Computing in Cardiology (CinC) 2017 dataset. The experimental results show that the proposed method achieves the overall F1 score of 80.2%, which is in line with the state-of-the-art algorithms.