bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Conservation of Primula farinosa in Poland with respect to the genetic structure of populations
Authors: Gajewski Zbigniew , Boroń Piotr , Lenart-Boroń Anna , Nowak Barbara , Sitek Ewa , Mitka Józef
Published: June 2018

The bird’s-eye primrose (Primula farinosa L.) is an endangered species in Poland. The sole remaining, and critically endangered, population of approximately 300 flowering plants is located in the Beskid Sądecki Mountains (Jaworki, Poland). The genetic investigation was performed using highly variable microsatellite markers on a total of four populations: the Polish population and its three nearest known Slovak counterparts. We hypothesize that the Polish population is a relic of the previously much wider Central European mountain/lowland range and is thus genetically distinct from the rest of the Slovak stock. Clarification of this issue is needed before active protection interventions such as artificial supplementation can be carried out. Our results, particularly those from STRUCTURE Bayesian clustering, showed clear population structure within the dataset: all three Slovak populations were dominated by one genetic group, while the Polish population comprised mostly individuals dominated by the second genetic group. Only limited gene flow was observed between the Polish and Slovak populations. This demonstrates the distinct genetic makeup of the Jaworki population, which is probably the result of prolonged isolation from the rest of the P. farinosa range and admixture of genes from various lineages. Their origin could be determined by including plant material from the rest of the P. farinosa range, i.e., Scandinavian, Baltic, and Alpine/Carpathian locations, in a future study. The immediate practical application of our results is the recommendation that all supplementation interventions to the Jaworki population must be limited to plants produced from locally collected seeds.
Arendt’s Apology
Authors: Ure Michael ,   DePaul University
Published: June 2018

In 1967, Hannah Arendt published an essay with the deceptively simple title “Truth and Politics” (1967). Most scholarly discussions of her essay consider her distinction between a traditional political art of limited, deliberate, strategic lying and modern, organised, global lying and self-deception and then evaluate her qualified defence of the virtues of mendacity. This article suggests, however, that her essay has a much broader ambit: viz., to defend the political value of truth-telling. The main purpose of this article is to demonstrate that she formulates her essay as an apology of the truth-teller in politics and of her own truth-telling in her controversial report of the Eichmann trial. It first surveys the personal motives of Arendt’s political defence of frank speech. It shows that in developing this defence she significantly revises her scepticism about the value of truth-telling in politics. She does so by identifying three different types of truth-teller with distinctive political roles: philosophers who exemplify the truth in their own lives, citizens who see the world from other people’s perspectives, and poets and historians whose stories reconcile citizens to the past. Finally, it argues that the tragic political perspective Arendt sought to revive requires acknowledging value of the emotions in making political judgments.
Becoming more transparent: Collecting and presenting data on biomedical Ph.D. alumni
Authors: Pickett Christopher L , Tilghman Shirley
Published: June 2018

For more than 20 years, panels of experts have recommended that universities collect and publish data on the career outcomes of Ph.D. students. However, little progress has been made. Over the past few years, a handful of universities, including those in the National Institutes of Health’s Broadening Experiences in Scientific Training consortium, and organizations, including the Association of American Universities and the Association of American Medical Colleges, launched projects to collect and publish data on biomedical Ph.D. alumni. Here, we describe the outcome of a meeting, convened by Rescuing Biomedical Research, of universities and associations working to improve the transparency of career outcomes data. We were able to achieve consensus on a set of common methods for alumni data collection and a unified taxonomy to describe the career trajectories of biomedical Ph.D.s. These materials can be used by any institution, with little or no modification, to begin data collection efforts on their Ph.D. alumni. These efforts represent an important step forward in addressing a recommendation that has been made for decades that will improve the ability of trainees to better plan for their careers and for universities to better tailor their training programs.
Silencing of adaptor protein SH3BP2 reduces KIT/PDGFRA receptors expression and impairs gastrointestinal stromal tumors growth
Authors: Serrano‐Candelas Eva , Ainsua‐Enrich Erola , Navinés‐Ferrer Arnau , Rodrigues Paulo , García‐Valverde Alfonso , Bazzocco Sarah , Macaya Irati , Arribas Joaquín , Serrano César , Sayós Joan , Arango Diego , Martin Margarita
Published: June 2018

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) represent about 80% of the mesenchymal neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract. Most GISTs contain oncogenic KIT (85%) or PDGFRA (5%) receptors. The kinase inhibitor imatinib mesylate is the preferential treatment for these tumors; however, the development of drug resistance has highlighted the need for novel therapeutic strategies. Recently, we reported that the adaptor molecule SH3 Binding Protein 2 (SH3BP2) regulates KIT expression and signaling in human mast cells. Our current study shows that SH3BP2 is expressed in primary tumors and cell lines from GIST patients and that SH3BP2 silencing leads to a downregulation of oncogenic KIT and PDGFRA expression and an increase in apoptosis in imatinib‐sensitive and imatinib‐resistant GIST cells. The microphthalmia‐associated transcription factor (MITF), involved in KIT expression in mast cells and melanocytes, is expressed in GISTs. Interestingly, MITF is reduced after SH3BP2 silencing. Importantly, reconstitution of both SH3BP2 and MITF restores cell viability. Furthermore, SH3BP2 silencing significantly reduces cell migration and tumor growth of imatinib‐sensitive and imatinib‐resistant cells in vivo. Altogether, SH3BP2 regulates KIT and PDGFRA expression and cell viability, indicating a role as a potential target in imatinib‐sensitive and imatinib‐resistant GISTs.
Synthesis and Evaluation of a Magnetic Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Sorbent for Determination of Trace Trichlorfon Residue in Vegetables by Capillary Electrophoresis
Authors: Li Deqing , Qiao Xuguang , Lu Juxiu , Xu Zhixiang
Published: June 2018

In this study, a magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer (MMIP) based on Fe3O4@SiO2@CdTe (CdTe@MMIP) was synthesized using trichlorfon as template molecule, methacrylic acid (MAA) as the functional monomer, and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as the cross‐linker. The prepared MMIP was characterized, and the results showed that it exhibited good recognition and selective ability, offered a faster kinetics for the adsorption of trichlorfon. Scatchard analysis indicated that the binding sites in the CdTe@MMIP had two distinct groups (the high and low affinity binding sites). The saturated adsorption capacity (Qmax1) was 63.2 mg/g due to the low affinity binding sites, and another saturated adsorption capacity (Qmax2) was 71.4 mg/g due to the high affinity binding sites. Using it as sorbent, a method of molecularly imprinted magnetic solid‐phase extraction coupled with capillary electrophoresis (MIMSPE‐CE) for selective extraction, magnetic separation, and fast determination of trace trichlorfon in vegetable samples was developed. Under optimal conditions, appreciable sensitivity was achieved with a LOD of 30 μg/kg (S/N = 3) for the developed method. The relative standard deviation (RSD) for five replicate extractions of 0.05 mg/L trichlorfon standard solution was 4.2%. To evaluate the accuracy of this method, the blank cucumber and cauliflower samples spiked with trichlorfon were extracted and analyzed by this method with good recoveries ranging from 78.7% to 96.6%. Moreover, this method was applied to the quantitative detection of the trichlorfon residues in rape samples, and the results correlated well with that obtained from the gas chromatography method.
Control over Self‐Doping in High Band Gap Perovskite Films
Authors: Kulbak Michael , Levine Igal , Barak‐Kulbak Einav , Gupta Satyajit , Zohar Arava , Balberg Isaac , Hodes Gary , Cahen David
Published: June 2018

It is reported how differences in the composition of high bandgap Pb bromide‐based perovskites affect their carrier diffusion length and junction type. Pb‐based, APbX3, halide perovskite (HaP) films and devices are studied, where A can be a mixture of formamidinium, methylammonium (MA), and Cs, and X a mixture of Br and Cl, using a combination of dark‐ and photoconductivity and steady‐state photocarrier grating. The results show the cation and anion compositions affect both majority and minority carrier diffusion lengths. In particular, using electron beam‐induced current measurements, FTO\dTiO2mp‐TiO2HaP\PTAA (poly‐triarylamine)\Au devices are studied. The results enable identifying junction and built‐in voltage formation and track position and size of the space charge region width with changes in the HaP composition. As far as it is known, it is found for the first time that a mixed‐cation HaP forms a junction that has characteristics of a p‐i‐n one, with relatively long and comparable carrier diffusion lengths, while the single cation‐based bromide HaPs form clear p‐n junctions at the interface with the TiO2 [pure CsPbBr3 and MAPbBr3(Cl)] or a buried one (MAPbBr3) and shorter diffusion lengths. These differences are attributed to lower carrier density in MAPbBr3, and especially in the mixed cation HaP, which is comparable to iodide‐based HaP films.
Single vs multiple fraction palliative radiotherapy for uncomplicated painful bone metastases treated at University of Malaya Medical Centre: A single institutional Malaysian experience
Authors: Duraisamy Ina Shaliny , Saad Marniza , Alip Adlinda
Published: June 2018

Introduction

This study was conducted to compare pain response between single and multiple fraction palliative radiotherapy and to describe prognostic factors affecting treatment response in University of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC).

Methods

The case records of 162 patients with uncomplicated painful bone metastases treated with palliative radiotherapy from 2006 to 2014 were analyzed. Treatment outcomes were pain score response, analgesic score response, response according to International Consensus Endpoints (complete response and overall response) at 4, 12, and 24 weeks, retreatment rate, symptomatic skeletal events (SSEs), and prognostic factors.

Results

At 24 weeks, pain score response for single and multiple fraction group was 82.3% and 88.5%, analgesic score response was 54.8% and 61.5%, and overall response according to International Consensus Endpoint was 61.3% and 67.7%, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in treatment response between the 2 treatment groups for all endpoints. ECOG (<2 vs ≥2: aOR 3.405, 95% CI 1.708‐6.790, P = .001) and primary breast and prostate (breast vs others: aOR 5.231, 95% CI 1.973‐13.869, P = .001; prostate vs others: aOR 5.522, 95% CI 1.493‐20.420, P = .01) were significant variables on multivariate analysis.

Conclusion

Single fraction radiotherapy is as effective as multiple fraction radiotherapy for the palliation of uncomplicated bone metastases.
Fossil moonseeds from the Paleogene of West Gondwana (Patagonia, Argentina)
Authors: Jud Nathan A. , Iglesias Ari , Wilf Peter , Gandolfo Maria A.
Published: June 2018

Premise of the Study

The fossil record is critical for testing biogeographic hypotheses. Menispermaceae (moonseeds) are a widespread family with a rich fossil record and alternative hypotheses related to their origin and diversification. The family is well‐represented in Cenozoic deposits of the northern hemisphere, but the record in the southern hemisphere is sparse. Filling in the southern record of moonseeds will improve our ability to evaluate alternative biogeographic hypotheses.

Methods

Fossils were collected from the Salamanca (early Paleocene, Danian) and the Huitrera (early Eocene, Ypresian) formations in Chubut Province, Argentina. We photographed them using light microscopy, epifluorescence, and scanning electron microscopy and compared the fossils with similar extant and fossil Menispermaceae using herbarium specimens and published literature.

Key Results

We describe fossil leaves and endocarps attributed to Menispermaceae from Argentinean Patagonia. The leaves are identified to the family, and the endocarps are further identified to the tribe Cissampelideae. The Salamancan endocarp is assigned to the extant genus Stephania. These fossils significantly expand the known range of Menispermaceae in South America, and they include the oldest (ca. 64 Ma) unequivocal evidence of the family worldwide.

Conclusions

Our findings highlight the importance of West Gondwana in the evolution of Menispermaceae during the Paleogene. Currently, the fossil record does not discern between a Laurasian or Gondwanan origin; however, it does demonstrate that Menispermaceae grew well outside the tropics by the early Paleocene. The endocarps’ affinity with Cissampelideae suggests that diversification of the family was well underway by the earliest Paleocene.
Efficacy of chemotherapy or chemo‐anti‐PD‐1 combination after failed anti‐PD‐1 therapy for relapsed and refractory hodgkin lymphoma: A series from lysa centers
Authors: Rossi Cédric , Gilhodes Julia , Maerevoet Marie , Herbaux Charles , Morschhauser Franck , Brice Pauline , Garciaz Sylvain , Borel Cécile , Ysebaert Loïc , Obéric Lucie , Lazarovici Julien , Deau Bénédicte , Dupuis Jehan , Chauchet Adrien , Abraham Julie , Bijou Fontanet , Stamatoullas‐Bastard Aspasia , Malfuson Jean‐Valère , Golfier Camille , Laurent Camille , Pericart Sarah , Traverse‐Glehen Alexandra , Kanoun Salim , Filleron Thomas , Casasnovas René‐Olivier , Ghesquières Hervé
Published: June 2018

Anti‐PD‐1 therapy provides high response rates in Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) patients who have relapsed or are refractory (R/R) to autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) and brentuximab vedotin (BV), but median progression free survival (PFS) is only one year. The efficacy of treatment following anti‐PD‐1 is not well known. We retrospectively investigated the efficacy of salvage therapies for unsatisfactory response to anti‐PD‐1 therapy, assessed by PET‐CT according to the Lugano criteria, in 30 R/R HL patients. Patients were highly pretreated before anti‐PD‐1 (70% received ASCT and 93% BV). Unsatisfactory responses to anti‐PD1 therapy were progressive disease (PD) (n = 24) and partial response (PR) (n = 6). For the 24 PD patients, median anti‐PD‐1 related PFS was 7.5 months (95%CI, 5.7‐11.6); 17 received subsequent CT alone (Group 1) and 7 received CT in addition to anti‐PD‐1 (Group 2). 16/24 patients (67%) obtained an objective response. In the 15 patients treated with the same CT, twelve obtained PR or complete response (CR). In Group 1, there were 7 CR (41%), 3 PR (18%), and 7 PD (41%). In Group 2, there were 4 CR (57%), 2 PR (29%), and 1 SD (14%). No unexpected toxicity was observed. Six patients who achieved response proceeded to allogeneic SCT. With a median follow‐up of 12.1 months (7‐14.7), the median PFS following the initiation of CT was 11 months (95% CI 6.3‐not reached) and the median of overall survival was not reached. These observations in highly pretreated HL patients suggest that anti‐PD‐1 therapy might re‐sensitize tumor cells to CT.
Simultaneous identification of reaction and inactivation kinetics of an enzyme‐catalyzed carboligation
Authors: Ohs Rüdiger , Leipnitz Martin , Schöpping Marie , Spiess Antje C.
Published: June 2018

Thiamine diphosphate (ThDP)‐dependent enzymes catalyze a broad range of reactions with excellent enantioselectivity. Among these reactions, carboligations of aldehydes are of particular interest since the products, chiral hydroxy ketones, are valuable building blocks in the pharmaceutical industry. However, the substrates, for example, benzaldehyde, inactivate the biocatalysts, for example the ThDP‐dependent benzaldehyde lyase from Pseudomonas fluorescens (PfBAL). Because only few mechanistic kinetic models for carboligation and simultaneous inactivation are available today, we quantitatively determined the reaction kinetics and inactivation of the self‐carboligation of benzaldehyde yielding the product (R)‐benzoin catalyzed by PfBAL directly from progress curves using model‐based experimental analysis. Discrimination of several inactivation models identified the substrate‐dependent inactivation by benzaldehyde to be significant. Sensitivity analysis and optimal experimental design improved parameter precision significantly, to between 4 and 26% relative standard deviation while maintaining the necessary number of 13 experiments moderate. The developed mechanistic kinetic model will enable to perform a model‐based process optimization to circumvent the substrate‐dependent enzyme inactivation. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2018 © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 34:1081–1092, 2018
Scale‐dependent manganese leaching from stainless steel impacts terminal galactosylation in monoclonal antibodies
Authors: Williamson Jenna , Miller Jennifer , McLaughlin Joseph , Combs Rodney , Chu Chia
Published: June 2018

N‐linked glycosylation profiles are routinely characterized on mammalian‐derived protein therapeutic products and achieving consistency in the product‐associated glycan attributes is an important indicator that the manufacturing process is under control. More importantly, meeting target glycan profile is a common criterion for ensuring product efficacy. During laboratory process development and subsequent scale up for pilot demonstration for a monoclonal antibody program, discrepancies in the molecule's terminal galactosylation level at 2‐L, 100‐L, and 6,000‐L scales were observed. Results from extensive investigations revealed the root cause as manganese leaching from the stainless steel components and that this leaching is dependent on exposed surface area and cultivation time. Although this metal impurity is only present at nanomolar concentrations and difficult to detect, a spike‐in study demonstrated that this low level was sufficient to impact the protein glycosylation profiles. Surprisingly, the 2‐L glass bioreactor setup exhibited the highest amount of exposure to stainless steel and resulted in both a greater degree of variability and higher overall levels of terminal galactosylation. The use of disposable vessels to minimize stainless steel surface exposure to the cell culture resulted in comparable terminal galactosylation levels to those measured in pilot and commercial bioreactors. The discovery of this leachable effect on the cell culture production process was an essential step in implementing appropriate process control. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2018 © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 34:1290–1297, 2018
Combined effect of attrition and ultrasound on the disruption of Pseudomonas putida for the efficient release of arginine deiminase
Authors: Patil Mahesh D. , Shinde Ashok S. , Dev Manoj J. , Patel Gopal , Bhilare Kiran D. , Banerjee Uttam Chand
Published: June 2018

Disruption of Pseudomonas putida KT2440 by ultrasound treatment in a bath sonicator, in presence of the glass beads, was carried out for the release of arginine deiminase (ADI) and the results were compared with that of by Dyno‐mill. The release of ADI depended mainly on the bead size and cellmass concentration being disrupted in bead mill. Nearly 23 U mL−1 ADI was released when slurry with a cell‐mass concentration of 250 g L−1 was disintegrated for 9 min with 80% bead loading (0.25 mm) in Dyno‐mill. Marginally higher amount of ADI (24.1 U mL−1) was released by the bath sonication of 250 g L−1 cellmass slurry for 30 min with the beads (0.1 mm) and a sonication power of 170 W. The glass beads, suspended along with the cellmass slurry in bath sonicator, efficiently disrupted the microbial cells to release ADI. Variation in the kinetic constants for the performance parameters implied that ADI release and cell disruption kinetics is a function of disruption technique used and the process variables thereof. Estimation of location factor suggested that selective release of ADI can be achieved. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2018 © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 34:1185–1194, 2018
Tyrosine kinase inhibitor‐induced IL‐6/STAT3 activation decreases sensitivity of EGFR‐mutant non‐small cell lung cancer to icotinib
Authors: Wang Jinyao , Wang Yizhe , Zheng Chunlei , Hou Kezuo , Zhang Tieqiong , Qu Xiujuan , Liu Yunpeng , Kang Jian , Hu Xuejun , Che Xiaofang
Published: June 2018

Tyrosine kinase Inhibitors (TKIs) of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has considerably benefited for non‐small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC) harbor mutations in EGFR. However, the factors attenuating EGFR‐TKI efficiency are obstacles to inhibit the proliferation of EGFR‐mutant NSCLC cells successfully. Clarifying the insensitivity mechanisms of EGFR‐TKI would help to develop new treatment strategy. In this study, the sensitivity of EGFR‐mutant NSCLC cell lines, PC9 and HCC827, to icotinib was detected. Similar with other EGFR‐TKIs such as gefitinib and erlortinib in previous research, the proliferation of two cell lines was apparently inhibited. However, we surprisingly found that contrast with the suppression of EGFR‐AKT/ERK pathway, STAT3 was significantly activated in PC9 cells with the treatment of icotinib, but not in HCC827 cells. Further study confirmed that icotinib concomitantly induced IL‐6 secretion and src activation in PC9 cells. Moreover, with the treatment of IL‐6 neutralizing antibody or src inhibitor, dasatinib, icotinib‐induced phosphorylation of STAT3 was reduced, as well as the sensitivity of PC9 to icotinib was also partially increased. Our results suggest that Src/IL‐6/STAT3 bypass pathway is activated to maintain cell survival when the EGFR pathway was inhibited by TKIs, even in some EGFR‐mutant NSCLC cells sensitive to TKIs. This finding provides a groundwork for potential combinatorial treatment with TKIs and Src or STAT3 inhibitor to improve icotinib sensitivity.
Genome‐wide identification, phylogenetic classification, and exon–intron structure characterization of the tubulin and actin genes in flax (Linum usitatissimum)
Authors: Pydiura Nikolay , Pirko Yaroslav , Galinousky Dmitry , Postovoitova Anastasiia , Yemets Alla , Kilchevsky Aleksandr , Blume Yaroslav
Published: June 2018

Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) is a valuable food and fiber crop cultivated for its quality fiber and seed oil. α‐, β‐, γ‐tubulins and actins are the main structural proteins of the cytoskeleton. α‐ and γ‐tubulin and actin genes have not been characterized yet in the flax genome. In this study, we have identified 6 α‐tubulin genes, 13 β‐tubulin genes, 2 γ‐tubulin genes, and 15 actin genes in the flax genome and analyzed the phylogenetic relationships between flax and Arabidopsis thaliana tubulin and actin genes. Six α‐tubulin genes are represented by three paralogous pairs, among 13 β‐tubulin genes 7 different isotypes can be distinguished, 6 of which are encoded by two paralogous genes each. γ‐tubulin is represented by a paralogous pair of genes one of which may be not functional. Fifteen actin genes represent seven paralogous pairs—seven actin isotypes and a sequentially duplicated copy of one of the genes of one of the isotypes. Exon–intron structure analysis has shown intron length polymorphism within the β‐tubulin genes and intron number variation among the α‐tubulin gene: three or four introns are found in two or four genes, respectively. Intron positioning occurs at conservative sites, as observed in numerous other plant species. Flax actin genes show both intron length polymorphisms and variation in the number of intron that may be two or three. These data will be useful to support further studies on the specificity, functioning, regulation, and evolution of the flax cytoskeleton proteins.
Multimodal 19F NMR Dopamine Detection and Imaging with a Nanoparticle‐Based Displacement Assay
Authors: Gabrielli Luca , Carril Monica , Padro Daniel , Mancin Fabrizio
Published: June 2018

Nanoconjugates composed of gold nanoparticles (core diameter=1.9 nm) coated with thioundecyl‐d‐glucopyranosides and fluorinated phenylboronic acids can detect diol‐containing derivatives by means of 19F NMR spectroscopic analysis. The spectra of nanoconjugate solutions display broad signals due to the fast relaxation of the 19F nuclei caused by nanoparticle grafting. When dopamine is added, the formation of a boronate ester between the analyte and the fluorinated boronic acid causes the release of the latter in solution and consequent sharpening of the NMR signals. Dopamine can be selectively detected through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and NMR spectroscopic analysis with respect to glucose and galactose with a detection limit of 20 μm. The chemical shift of the released ester is diagnostic of the recognized analyte. Consequently, the sensor also enables the simultaneous detection of different analytes.
Metal Free Mono‐ and 2,3‐Bis‐sulfenylation of Indoles in Water with Sodium Sulfinates as a Sulfur Source
Authors: Liu Changqing , Fan Jian , Wu Manyi , Chen Jiahui , Zhao Yiming , Xie Meihua
Published: June 2018

An iodine‐PPh3 mediated sulfenylation of indoles in water with stable and odorless sodium sulfinates as the sulfur source is described. The reaction could afford monosulfenylated indoles in moderate to excellent yields under metal free conditions. Moreover, double C—H sulfenylation of indoles at 2‐ and 3‐positions has also been achieved by using excess sodium sulfinates under the optimized reaction conditions.
Laser‐Mediated Photo‐High‐p,T Intensification of Vitamin D3 Synthesis in Continuous Flow
Authors: Escribà‐Gelonch Marc , Halpin Alexei , Noël Timothy , Hessel Volker
Published: June 2018

A new reactor design for photosynthesis in microflow is presented based on spatial overlap of a laser beam through a capillary tube. A conical Archimedean spiral facilitates exposure of the entire volume of the reaction solution to the irradiation beam. In this fashion, photo‐high‐p,T intensification of the photolysis of 7‐dehydrocholesterol is achieved using either a pulsed ultraviolet (UV) laser excitation (in the order of femtoseconds) alone or in tandem with a conventional UV lamp. The goal is to control the kinetics of the side photoreactions under pulsed photolysis, as well as to reduce the reaction time and enhance the vitamin D3 yield. Three kinds of effects are targeted: a) Utilizing a very large and spatially homogeneous photon flux inside the flowing solution; b) the novel process window of combining photo‐ with thermal intensification to promote the final, irreversible thermal step to vitamin D3; and c) the use of sub‐ps laser pulses to supply excitation energy on a timescale shorter than the formation of side photoproducts. Finally, photo‐processing with the laser alone is compared to the tandem irradiation by the laser‐UV lamp.
Mechanistic Studies of the Cu(OH)+‐Catalyzed Isomerization of Glucose into Fructose in Water
Authors: Mensah Joel B. , Delidovich Irina , Hausoul Peter J. C. , Weisgerber Laurent , Schrader Wolfgang , Palkovits Regina
Published: June 2018

The isomerization of glucose to fructose is a crucial interim step in the processing of biomass to renewable fuels and chemicals. This study investigates the copper‐catalyzed glucose–fructose isomerization in water, focusing on insights into the roles of the dissolved copper species. Depending on the pH, the thermodynamic equilibrium shifted towards one or a few copper species, namely Cu2+, Cu(OH)+, and Cu(OH)2. According to thermodynamics, the highest concentration of Cu(OH)+ is at pH 5.3, at which the highest fructose yield of 16 % is achieved. The obtained fructose yields strongly correlate with the concentration of Cu(OH)+. A pH decrease of 2–3 units was observed during the reaction, resulting in the deactivation of the catalyst through hydrolysis in acidic media. Based on the results of the catalytic experiments, as well as spectroscopic and spectrometric studies, we propose Cu(OH)+ as an active Lewis‐acidic species following an intramolecular 1,2‐hydride shift.
Squeezing out the last egg—annual fish increase reproductive efforts in response to a predation threat
Authors: Grégoir Arnout Francis , Thoré Eli Samuel Joachim , Philippe Charlotte , Pinceel Tom , Brendonck Luc , Vanschoenwinkel Bram
Published: June 2018

Both constitutive and inducible antipredator strategies are ubiquitous in nature and serve to maximize fitness under a predation threat. Inducible strategies may be favored over constitutive defenses depending on their relative cost and benefit and temporal variability in predator presence. In African temporary ponds, annual killifish of the genus Nothobranchius are variably exposed to predators, depending on whether larger fish invade their habitat from nearby rivers during floods. Nonetheless, potential plastic responses to predation risk are poorly known. Here, we studied whether Nothobranchius furzeri individuals adjust their life history in response to a predation threat. For this, we monitored key life history traits in response to cues that signal the presence of predatory pumpkinseed sunfish (Lepomis gibbosus). While growth rate, adult body size, age at maturation, and initial fecundity were not affected, peak and total fecundity were higher in the predation risk treatment. This contrasts with known life history strategies of killifish from permanent waters, which tend to reduce reproduction in the presence of predators. Although our results show that N. furzeri individuals are able to detect predators and respond to their presence by modulating their reproductive output, these responses only become evident after a few clutches have been deposited. Overall our findings suggest that, in the presence of a predation risk, it can be beneficial to increase the production of life stages that can persist until the predation risk has faded.
Life‐cycle responses of a Mediterranean non‐migratory cyprinid species, the Northern Iberian chub (Squalius carolitertii Doadrio, 1988), to streamflow regulation
Authors: Alexandre Carlos M. , Ferreira Maria T. , Almeida Pedro R.
Published: June 2018

Streamflow is considered a driver of interspecific and intraspecific life‐history differences among freshwater fish. Therefore, dams and related flow regulation can have deleterious impacts on their life cycles. The main objective of this study was to assess existing differences in the growth and reproduction patterns of a non‐migratory fish species (the Northern Iberian chub, Squalius carolitertii, Doadrio, 1988), between nonregulated and regulated watercourses. For 1 year, samples were collected from two populations of Iberian chub, inhabiting rivers with nonregulated and regulated flow regimes. Flow regulation for water storage promoted changes in chub's condition, duration of spawning, fecundity, and oocyte size. However, this non‐migratory species was less responsive to streamflow regulation than other native potamodromous species. Findings from this study are important to understand changes imposed by regulated rivers and can be used to support the implementation of suitable river management practices.
Proposal and evaluation of determination method for multiobjective output dispatch of frequency control generators to compensate for renewable energy system fluctuation in multiarea system operation
Authors: Kaneko Akihisa , Hayashi Yasuhiro , Nonaka Shunsuke
Published: June 2018

Recently, a multiarea system operation utilized a tie‐line has been verified to resolve a shortage of a control capacity of frequency control generators output due to a widespread penetration of renewable energy systems (RES). In order to determine the proper dispatch of the generators output to compensate RES fluctuation in the multiarea system operation, the power system operators should consider power flow constrains and indexes of power system conditions such as the speed of dispatch, the balance of reserved control capacity in each area, and the stability of power supply. In this paper, we propose a methodology to determine multiobjective dispatch candidates of frequency control generators output to compensate RES fluctuation in multiarea system operation considering three indexes, a speed of dispatch, a reserved control capacity, and a transient stability based on optimal power flow and multiobjective particle swarm optimization. The methods determine the dispatch based on Euclidean norm of the indexes in the calculated candidates in order to consider all indexes well‐balanced. The effectiveness of the proposed methodology is verified by a numerical simulation used IEEJ EAST 30‐Machine Grid Model with much RES, and the effectiveness of the dispatch minimized Euclidean norm is confirmed by comparison to single‐objective solution in each index among the calculated candidates.
Child and parental sleep in young children with epilepsy: A population‐based case‐control study
Authors: Reilly Colin , Atkinson Patricia , Memon Ayesha , Jones Chloe , Dabydeen Lyvia , Cross J. Helen , Das Krishna B. , Gillberg Christopher , Neville Brian G.R. , Scott Rod C.
Published: June 2018

Objective

To determine the prevalence of parent‐reported sleep problems in young children with epilepsy and their parents, and to compare findings with those in a non–epilepsy‐related neurodisability (neurodevelopmental/neurological difficulties) group.

Method

Parents of young children (1–7 years) with epilepsy (n = 48 [91% ascertainment]) completed the Child Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ). Parents (mothers and fathers) also completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Iowa Fatigue Scale (IFS) in relation to their own functioning. The responses of parents of children with epilepsy were compared with parents of developmental‐, age‐, and gender‐matched children with nonepilepsy‐related neurodisability (n = 48).

Results

There was not a significant difference in the proportion of children with epilepsy and the children with neurodisability scoring in the at‐risk range on the CSHQ (81% vs. 71% respectively) (p = 0.232). 62% of mothers and 44% of fathers of children with epilepsy had ‘poor quality sleep’ on the PSQI; there was not a significant difference between mothers of children with epilepsy and those of children with neurodisability (p = 0.526) or IFS (p = 0.245) total scores. However, mothers of children with epilepsy had significantly more difficulties on the productivity subscale of the IFS (p = 0.004). There were no significant differences between fathers’ scores on either measure. In the epilepsy group, child behavioral problems (p = 0.001) were independently associated with child sleep difficulties and maternal mental health problems were associated with parental sleep difficulties (p = 0.04) and fatigue (p = 0.018).

Significance

Young children with epilepsy and their parents have a high rate of sleep difficulties. There is a need to develop effective interventions for this population, taking into consideration of the role of child behavioral problems and parental mental health difficulties.
Accurate modeling of temporal correlations in rapidly sampled fMRI time series
Authors: Corbin Nadège , Todd Nick , Friston Karl J. , Callaghan Martina F.
Published: June 2018

Rapid imaging techniques are increasingly used in functional MRI studies because they allow a greater number of samples to be acquired per unit time, thereby increasing statistical power. However, temporal correlations limit the increase in functional sensitivity and must be accurately accounted for to control the false‐positive rate. A common approach to accounting for temporal correlations is to whiten the data prior to estimating fMRI model parameters. Models of white noise plus a first‐order autoregressive process have proven sufficient for conventional imaging studies, but more elaborate models are required for rapidly sampled data. Here we show that when the “FAST” model implemented in SPM is used with a well‐controlled number of parameters, it can successfully prewhiten 80% of grey matter voxels even with volume repetition times as short as 0.35 s. We further show that the temporal signal‐to‐noise ratio (tSNR), which has conventionally been used to assess the relative functional sensitivity of competing imaging approaches, can be augmented to account for the temporal correlations in the time series. This amounts to computing the t‐score testing for the mean signal. We show in a visual perception task that unlike the tSNR weighted by the number of samples, the t‐score measure is directly related to the t‐score testing for activation when the temporal correlations are correctly modeled. This score affords a more accurate means of evaluating the functional sensitivity of different data acquisition options.
Social interaction recruits mentalizing and reward systems in middle childhood
Authors: Alkire Diana , Levitas Daniel , Warnell Katherine Rice , Redcay Elizabeth
Published: June 2018

Social cognition develops in the context of reciprocal social interaction. However, most neuroimaging studies of mentalizing have used noninteractive tasks that may fail to capture important aspects of real‐world mentalizing. In adults, social‐interactive context modulates activity in regions linked to social cognition and reward, but few interactive studies have been done with children. The current fMRI study examines children aged 8–12 using a novel paradigm in which children believed they were interacting online with a peer. We compared mental and non‐mental state reasoning about a live partner (Peer) versus a story character (Character), testing the effects of mentalizing and social interaction in a 2 × 2 design. Mental versus Non‐Mental reasoning engaged regions identified in prior mentalizing studies, including the temporoparietal junction, superior temporal sulcus, and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex. Moreover, peer interaction, even in conditions without explicit mentalizing demands, activated many of the same mentalizing regions. Peer interaction also activated areas outside the traditional mentalizing network, including the reward system. Our results demonstrate that social interaction engages multiple neural systems during middle childhood and contribute further evidence that social‐interactive paradigms are needed to fully capture how the brain supports social processing in the real world.
Prospective motion correction improves the sensitivity of fMRI pattern decoding
Authors: Huang Pei , Carlin Johan D. , Alink Arjen , Kriegeskorte Nikolaus , Henson Richard N. , Correia Marta M.
Published: June 2018

We evaluated the effectiveness of prospective motion correction (PMC) on a simple visual task when no deliberate subject motion was present. The PMC system utilizes an in‐bore optical camera to track an external marker attached to the participant via a custom‐molded mouthpiece. The study was conducted at two resolutions (1.5 mm vs 3 mm) and under three conditions (PMC On and Mouthpiece On vs PMC Off and Mouthpiece On vs PMC Off and Mouthpiece Off). Multiple data analysis methods were conducted, including univariate and multivariate approaches, and we demonstrated that the benefit of PMC is most apparent for multi‐voxel pattern decoding at higher resolutions. Additional testing on two participants showed that our inexpensive, commercially available mouthpiece solution produced comparable results to a dentist‐molded mouthpiece. Our results showed that PMC is increasingly important at higher resolutions for analyses that require accurate voxel registration across time.
Down syndrome is accompanied by significantly reduced cortical grey–white matter tissue contrast
Authors: Bletsch Anke , Mann Caroline , Andrews Derek S. , Daly Eileen , Tan Giles M. Y. , Murphy Declan G. M. , Ecker Christine
Published: June 2018

Increased cortical thickness (CT) has been reported in Down syndrome (DS) during childhood and adolescence, but it remains unclear, which components of the neural architecture underpin these increases and if CT remains altered in adults. Among other factors, differences in CT measures could be driven by reduced tissue contrast between grey and white matter (GWC), which has been reported in neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease. Using structural magnetic resonance imaging, we therefore examined differences in CT and GWC in 26 adults with DS, and 23 controls, to (1) examine between‐group differences in CT in adulthood, (2) establish whether DS is associated with significant reductions in GWC, and (3) determine the influence of GWC variability on between‐group differences in CT. As hypothesized, we observed that DS was accompanied by wide‐spread increases in CT, and significantly reduced GWC in several large clusters distributed across the cortex. Out of all vertices with a significant between‐group difference in CT, 38.50% also displayed a significant reduction in GWC. This percentage of overlap was also statistically significant and extremely unlikely to be obtained by chance (p = .0002). Differences in GWC thus seem to explain some, although not all, of the differences in CT observed in DS. In addition, our study is the first to extend previousin vivoreports of altered CT in DS during childhood and adolescence to older adults, implying that the regional pattern of neuroanatomical differences associated with DS remains stable across the lifespan.
Increased resting perfusion of the hippocampus in high positive schizotypy: A pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeling study
Authors: Modinos Gemma , Egerton Alice , McMullen Katrina , McLaughlin Anna , Kumari Veena , Barker Gareth J. , Williams Steve C. R. , Zelaya Fernando
Published: June 2018

Arterial spin labeling (ASL) provides absolute quantification of resting tissue cerebral blood flow (CBF) as an entirely noninvasive approach with good reproducibility. As a result of neurovascular coupling, ASL provides a useful marker of resting neuronal activity. Recent ASL studies in individuals at clinical high risk of psychosis (CHR) have reported increased resting hippocampal perfusion compared with healthy controls. Schizotypy refers to the presence of subclinical psychotic‐like experiences in healthy individuals and represents a robust framework to study neurobiological mechanisms involved in the extended psychosis phenotype while avoiding potentially confounding effects of antipsychotic medications or disease comorbidity. Here we applied pseudo‐continuous ASL to examine differences in resting CBF in 21 subjects with high positive schizotypy (HS) relative to 22 subjects with low positive schizotypy (LS), as determined by the Oxford and Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experiences. Based on preclinical evidence that hippocampal hyperactivity leads to increased activity in mesostriatal dopamine projections, CBF in hippocampus, midbrain, and striatum was assessed. Participants with HS showed higher CBF of the right hippocampus compared to those with LS (p = .031, family‐wise error corrected). No differences were detected in the striatum or midbrain. The association between increased hippocampal CBF and HS supports the notion that hippocampal hyperactivity might be a central characteristic of the extended psychosis phenotype, while hyperactivity in subcortical dopamine pathways may only emerge at a higher intensity of psychotic experiences.
Durable clinical remission of a skull metastasis under intralesional Viscum album extract therapy: Case report
Authors: Werthmann Paul Georg , Huber Roman , Kienle Gunver Sophia
Published: June 2018

Background

Skull metastases are rare, they can eventually cause pain, and can invade the brain. Viscum album extracts (VAEs) are used as an adjuvant treatment in cancer.

Methods and Results

A 68‐year‐old patient with rectal cancer presented with lung metastases, and metastases to multiple bone sites, the chest wall, and the liver were later identified. Histological examination of one of the bone lesions revealed an additional thyroid carcinoma. An osteolytic parietal bone lesion progressed to a painful metastasis of the skull despite radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The VAEs were applied weekly into the metastasis, followed by pain relief and softening of the lesion. The lesion partially regressed (>50%) after 8 months of continued VAE treatment and remained stable for 2 years.

Conclusion

This case shows a durable clinical remission of a skull metastasis under VAE. Further investigations of intratumoral VAE treatment seem worthwhile—especially in symptomatic skull metastases not responding to radiotherapy or systemic therapies.
The role of two‐component systems in the physiology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Kundu Manikuntala
Published: June 2018

Tuberculosis is a global health problem, with a third of the world's population infected with the bacillus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The problem is exacerbated by the emergence of multidrug resistant and extensively drug resistant strains. The search for new drug targets is therefore a priority for researchers in the field. The two‐component systems (TCSs) are central to the ability of the bacterium to sense and to respond appropriately to its environment. Here we summarize current knowledge on the paired TCSs of M. tuberculosis. We discuss what is currently understood regarding the signals to which each of the sensor kinases responds, and the regulons of each of the cognate response regulators. We also discuss what is known regarding attempts to inhibit the TCSs by small molecules and project their potential as pharmacological targets for the development of novel antimycobacterial agents. © 2018 IUBMB Life, 70(8):710–717, 2018
Comparison of thiocyanate and selenocyanate for potentiation of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy
Authors: Huang Liyi , Xuan Weijun , Sarna Tadeusz , Hamblin Michael R.
Published: June 2018

We have previously shown that antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) mediated by different photosensitizers (PS) can be potentiated by a variety of inorganic salts. Potassium thiocyanate (KSCN) potentiated aPDT mediated by methylene blue (MB), while potassium selenocyanate (KSeCN) potentiated aPDT mediated by MB, Rose Bengal and the anionic porphyrin 5,10,15,20‐tetrakis(4‐sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin dihydrochloride. However, the mechanisms of action that were proposed were fundamentally different. In the present study, we compare these two salts (KSCN and KSeCN) with different light‐activated PS and different oxidative reactions for killing gram‐positive and gram‐negative bacteria. Overall KSeCN was more powerful than KSCN, and worked with a wider range of PS, while KSCN only worked with phenothiazinium salts. KSeCN produced killing when cells were added after light suggesting production of a semistable species called selenocyanogen (SeCN)2. We tested three different oxidative reactions that can all potentially kill bacteria: lead tetraacetate (Pb[OAc]4); Fenton reagent (hydrogen peroxide [H2O2] and ferrous sulfate) H2O2and horseradish peroxidase (HRP). In every case, KSeCN was substantially more effective (several logs) than KSCN in potentiating the bacterial killing. We conclude that (SeCN)2 is the mediator for aPDT using KSeCN, while sulfur trioxide radical anion is the mediator for KSCN using phenothiaziums. For H2O2/HRP with KSCN, hypothiocyanite is proposed to be the antibacterial agent in the literature, while hyposelenocyanite is said not to exist. Pb[OAc]4 is known to produce (SeCN)2 from KSeCN as well as the analogous (SCN)2 from KSCN. The mediators from Fenton reaction are unclear (pseudohalogen radical ions?) Both KSCN (which occurs naturally in the human body) and KSeCN may be clinically applicable.