bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Using a shoebox spectrograph to investigate the differences between reflection and emission
Authors: Grove Timothy T. , Millspaw Jacob , Tomek Eric , Manns Rebeca , Masters Mark
Published: July 2018

For various reasons, optics laboratories often become activities of following instructions and being told to look at one thing or another. This approach can prevent students from exploring optics on their own and diminishes opportunities for “play” and discovery, which are critical to learning. On the other hand, letting students simply explore with equipment that they are just learning to use can be risky and expensive. This is particularly true for spectroscopy with monochromators and spectrographs. To help students gain a better understanding of spectroscopy through inquiry-based discovery learning, we have designed a low-budget and durable spectrograph, which we call a “shoebox spectrograph” that students assemble themselves. Our spectrograph (less than $30 per unit, which includes a webcam to collect spectral images) can then be used in discovery-themed experiments enabling students to explore spectroscopic properties of light as it extends to vision without much fear of student destruction. In this report, we discuss how our spectrograph works, its construction, and explore a student experiment that explores reflected light versus fluorescence.
Congo rapidly curtails Ebola
Authors: Cohen Jon
Published: July 2018

No cases reported among thousands of vaccinated people.
Physics makes rules, evolution rolls the dice
The Equations of Life: How Physics Shapes Evolution
Charles S. Cockell
Basic Books, 2018, 348 pp.
Authors: Camargo Chico
Published: July 2018

An astrobiologist argues that alien life will likely look a lot like life on Earth
Identification of a novel pathogenic missense mutation inPRPF31using whole exome sequencing: a case report
Authors: Bryant Laura , Lozynska Olga , Marsh Anson , Papp Tyler E , van Gorder Lucas , Serrano Leona W , Gai Xiaowu , Maguire Albert M , Aleman Tomas S , Bennett Jean
Published: July 2018

Background

Variants inPRPF31, which encodes pre-mRNA processing factor 31 homolog, are known to cause autosomal-dominant retinitis pigmentosa (adRP) with incomplete penetrance. However, the majority of mutations cause null alleles, with only two proven pathogenic missense mutations. We identified a novel missense mutation inPRPF31in a family with adRP.

Methods

We performed whole exome sequencing to identify possible pathogenic mutations in the proband of a family with adRP. Available affected family members had a full ophthalmological evaluation including kinetic and two-colour dark adapted static perimetry, electroretinography and multimodal imaging of the retina. Two patients had evaluations covering nearly 20 years. We carried out segregation analysis of the probable mutation,PRPF31c.590T>C. We evaluated the cellular localisation of the PRPF31 variant (p.Leu197Pro) compared with the wildtype PRPF31 protein.

Results

PRPF31c.590T>C segregated with the disease in this four-generation autosomal dominant pedigree. There was intrafamilial variability in disease severity. Nyctalopia and mid-peripheral scotomas presented from the second to the fourth decade of life. There was severe rod >cone dysfunction. Visual acuity (VA) was relatively intact and was maintained until later in life, although with marked interocular asymmetries. Laboratory studies showed that the mutant PRPF31 protein (p.Leu197Pro) does not localise to the nucleus, unlike the wildtype PRPF31 protein. Instead, mutant protein resulted in punctate localisation to the cytoplasm.

Conclusions

c.590T>C is a novel pathogenic variant inPRPF31causing adRP with incomplete penetrance. Disease may be due to protein misfolding and associated abnormal protein trafficking to the nucleus.
Objective assessment of clinical, oncological and cosmetic outcomes following volume replacement in patients undergoing oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery: protocol for a systematic review
Authors: Hu Jesse , Rainsbury Richard M , Segaran Ashvina , Predescu Oana , Roy Pankaj G
Published: July 2018

Introduction

Oncoplastic breast surgery allows the excision of larger tumours without compromising cosmetic outcome and can be broadly divided into volume displacement and volume replacement techniques. Although oncoplastic surgery has rapidly gained acceptance and is now widely practised, evidence is still lacking especially in patients who underwent volume replacement techniques. As it is a relatively new technique that has been described in the literature in the recent years, a summary of evidence from this literature can help clinicians to understand the clinical, oncologicalandcosmetic outcomes of such procedures.

Methods and analysis

All original studies including randomised controlled trials, cohort studies, case–control studies and case series involving more than 10 women undergoing partial breast reconstruction using a volume replacement technique will be included. The primary objective is to evaluate the clinical, oncological and cosmetic outcomes following volume replacement in patients undergoing oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery. The secondary objective is to review the patient-reported outcomes (PROMs) associated with oncoplastic breast surgery to help identify any unmet needs and to consider refining the existing PROMs to suit women undergoing volume replacement surgery.

A comprehensive literature search, eligibility assessment and extraction of data will be conducted by two trained teams acting independently. Data will be extracted and stored in a database with standardised extraction fields to facilitate easy and consistent data entry. Heterogeneity will be assessed using the Cochrane tests.

Ethics and dissemination

This systematic review requires no ethical approval. It will be published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it will also be presented at nationalandinternational conferences.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42017075700; Pre-results.
Efficacy of oral administration of cystine and theanine in patients with colorectal cancer undergoing capecitabine-based adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery: study protocol for a multi-institutional, randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, phase II trial
Authors: Hamaguchi Reo , Tsuchiya Takashi , Miyata Go , Sato Toshihiko , Takahashi Kenichi , Ariyoshi Keisuke , Oyamada Shunsuke , Iwase Satoru
Published: July 2018

Introduction

Although adjuvant capecitabine therapy for patients with colorectal cancer after surgery often causes adverse events (AEs), such as diarrhoea, stomatitis, anorexia and hand-foot syndrome (HFS), there are no standard prevention therapies. Cystine and theanine were reported to attenuate some chemotherapy-associated AEs, and are also expected to attenuate the AEs caused by capecitabine treatment. Therefore, our present study aimed to determine the safety and efficacy of cystine/theanine therapy in patients with colorectal cancer undergoing capecitabine-based adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery.

Methods and analysis

A multi-institutional, prospective, randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, phase II trial is being planned. Patients with colorectal cancer treated with capecitabine as an adjuvant chemotherapy will be randomised into either the cystine/theanine group (n=50) or placebo group (n=50). Data will be collected during four courses of capecitabine therapy. The primary endpoint will be incidence rate of diarrhoea of grade 1 or higher in accordance with the Common Terminology Criteria for AEs (CTCAE) v.4.0, Japanese Clinical Oncology Group (JCOG) version. The secondary endpoints are incidence rates of other AEs (CTCAE v.4.0-JCOG), scores of the Japanese version of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire module for all patients with cancer (QLQ-C30) and for patients with colorectal cancer (QLQ-CR29), incidence rate of HFS according to the HFS grading scale, protocol adherence, completion rate of four courses of capecitabine therapy and the proportion of completion without delay or dose reduction, time to completion of four courses of capecitabine and total dose of capecitabine. A sample size of 100 patients will be analysed between November 2016 and April 2018.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval was obtained at all participating institutions. The results of this study will be submitted for publication in international peer-reviewed journals.

Trial registration number

UMIN000024784; Pre-results.
Interventions for subjective cognitive decline: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Bhome Rohan , Berry Alex J , Huntley Jonathan D , Howard Robert J
Published: July 2018

Objectives

This review provides a broad overview of the effectiveness of interventions for subjective cognitive decline (SCD) in improving psychological well-being, metacognition and objective cognitive performance.

Methods

Databases including PubMed, Web of Science and Cochrane Systematic Reviews were searched up to August 2017 to identify randomised controlled trials evaluating interventions for SCD. Interventions were categorised as psychological, cognitive, lifestyle or pharmacological. Outcomes of interest included psychological well-being, metacognitive ability and objective cognitive performance. To assess the risk of bias, three authors independently rated study validity using criteria based on the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme. Random-effects meta-analyses were undertaken where three or more studies investigated similar interventions and reported comparable outcomes.

Results

Twenty studies met inclusion criteria and 16 had sufficient data for inclusion in the meta-analyses. Of these, only seven were rated as being high quality. Group psychological interventions significantly improved psychological well-being (g=0.40, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.76; p=0.03) but the improvement they conferred on metacognitive ability was not statistically significant (g=0.26, 95% CI −0.22 to 0.73; p=0.28). Overall, cognitive training interventions led to a small, statistically significant improvement in objective cognitive performance (g=0.13, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.25; p=0.03). However, the pooled effect sizes of studies using active control groups (g=0.02, 95% CI −0.19 to 0.22; p=0.85) or reporting global cognitive measures (g=0.06, 95% CI –0.19 to 0.31; p=0.66) were non-significant.

Conclusions

There is a lack of high-quality research in this field. Group psychological interventions improve psychological well-being and may also improve metacognition. A large, high-quality study is indicated to investigate this further. There is no evidence to suggest that cognitive interventions improve global cognitive performance and the clinical utility of small improvements in specific cognitive domains is questionable. There is a lack of research considering lifestyle interventions and poor quality evidence for pharmacological interventions.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42017079391.
Lung volume indices predict morbidity in smokers with preserved spirometry
Authors: Zeng Siyang , Tham Andrea , Bos Bruce , Jin Joan , Giang Brian , Arjomandi Mehrdad
Published: July 2018

Background

Abnormal lung volumes that reflect air trapping are common in COPD. However, their significance in smokers with preserved spirometry (normal FEV1 to FVC ratio) is unclear.

Methods

Using the Veterans Administration Informatics and Computing Infrastructure database, we identified 7479 patients at risk for COPD (ever smokers >40 years of age without restrictive lung disease) who had preserved spirometry and concomitant lung volume measurements, and examined their subsequent health records for clinical diagnoses of COPD, healthcare utilisation, follow-up spirometry and mortality.

Results

Air trapping was prevalent, with 31% of patients having residual volume to total lung capacity ratio (RV:TLC) greater than the upper limit of normal (ULN). RV:TLC varied widely from 14% to 77% (51% to 204% of predicted) across the normal ranges of FEV1:FVC and FEV1. Patients with RV:TLC greater than the ULN were more likely to receive subsequent clinical diagnoses of COPD (HR (95% CI)=1.55 (1.42 to 1.70), p<0.001) and had higher all-cause mortality (HR (95% CI)=1.41 (1.29 to 1.54), p<0.001). They had higher rates of respiratory medication prescriptions and hospital and intensive care unit admissions. Other air trapping and static hyperinflation indices showed similar associations with health outcomes. Additionally, high-normal RV:TLC was associated with intermediate adverse health outcomes compared with low-normal and abnormal RV:TLC. Abnormal RV:TLC predicted higher likelihood of progression to spirometric COPD (OR (95% CI)=1.30 (1.03 to 1.65), p=0.027).

Conclusion

In this study of the Veterans Affairs electronic health records, air trapping was common in smokers with preserved spirometry and predicted adverse respiratory outcomes and progression to overt COPD.
Impact of removing point-of-sale tobacco displays on smoking behaviour among adolescents in Europe: a quasi-experimental study
Authors: Van Hurck Maureen M , Nuyts Paulien A W , Monshouwer Karin , Kunst Anton E , Kuipers Mirte A G
Published: July 2018

Background

An increasing number of European countries implemented a point-of-sale (PoS) display ban on tobacco products. This study assessed the association between PoS display bans in Europe and adolescent smoking and perceived accessibility of tobacco, 2–6 years after PoS display ban implementation.

Methods

In a quasi-experimental design, we compared individuals in countries that did and countries that did not implement a PoS display ban, before and after implementation. We used repeated cross-sectional data of 174 878 15-year-old and 16-year-old adolescents from 25 countries from the 2007, 2011 and 2015 European Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs surveys. Multilevel logistic regression models examined smoking behaviour (regular smoking vs other) and perceived access (easy vs difficult) as a function of display ban implementation and controlled for survey year, gender, parental education and implementation of other tobacco control policies. Interaction with gender was tested.

Results

The implementation of a PoS display ban was associated with a 15% larger drop in the odds of regular smoking (OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.79 to 0.91), but was not significantly associated with perceived accessibility of tobacco (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.892 to 1.03). Associations were similar in males and females (cross-level interactions of gender with display ban were not statistically significant for either outcome).

Conclusion

The implementation of PoS display bans in Europe was associated with a stronger decrease in regular smoking among adolescents. This decrease does not appear to be driven by a decreasing accessibility of tobacco, but might be caused by further de-normalisation of tobacco as a result of PoS display bans.
Samsung Electronics in India: Challenges of Multi-Channel Retailing
Authors: Abhishek  , Garg Harshit
Published: July 2018

On September 9, 2014, Samsung Electronics announced the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S5 Mini and stated that the model was to be retailed exclusively through flipkart.com, India’s leading online retailer. Retailing experts expected the Galaxy S5 Mini’s launch announcement to further hurt Samsung Electronics’ relationship with brick and mortar retailers who were not happy with the company’s policy of selling through e-tailers. This was followed by another announcement by Samsung on September 18, 2014, in which the company, due to mounting pressure from brick-and-mortar retailers, conveyed its decision to extend exclusivity on selling rights of 48 models, including its much-awaited Galaxy Alpha and Note 4, to offline retailers. This move was also criticized by experts who predicted e-tailing to be the future of retailing. This case traces the predicament of Samsung Electronics for selling its products using multiple channels.
Bridging the Cultural Gap: Hyundai Card and GE Capital
Authors: Lee Jee Hoon
Published: July 2018

In 2004 and 2005 GE invested about 1.3b USD in Hyundai Card and Hyundai Capital in a deal that saw them become the 2nd largest shareholder of each company. At that time, the two Hyundai-owned companies had been significantly affected by the credit card crisis in Korea and both were in dire need of capital in order to normalize their operations. After forming a joint venture with GE, Hyundai Card and Hyundai Capital experienced a cultural clash between GE’s principle-oriented culture and Hyundai’s speed-orientated culture. Nevertheless, Hyundai Card and Hyundai Capital overcame these difficulties and created synergetic processes in a way that sees it defined as being one of GE’s most successful foreign joint venture cases. The joint venture between GE and Hyundai is not just simply a combination of financial assets, it is a tight bond that reflects the chemical fusion that can exist between corporate culture and people.
The Role of Business Model Design in the Diffusion of Innovations: An Analysis of a Sample of Unicorn-Tech Companies
Authors: Urbinati Andrea , Chiaroni Davide , Chiesa Vittorio , Frattini Federico
Published: July 2018

Innovation scholars have long studied how and why new products and services diffuse into the market following trajectories such as the S-curve and in accordance with epidemic, social, and information cascade models. However, we see today many new products and services, especially those enabled by digital technologies, which do not seem to fit the above-mentioned trajectories and models due to the incredibly high speed and virulence at which they diffuse. Moreover, the diffusion of these innovations does not seem to depend, contrary to what the previous patterns of innovation diffusion argue, on their technological characteristics or on demand-side factors, such as the word-of-mouth effect or the feedback they receive from their early adopters. Rather, their diffusion seems to be affected by the characteristics of the business model adopted by the companies that have created and commercialized them into the market. Accordingly, our study analyzes through the historical research methodology the business model of a sample of 50 Unicorn tech-companies, which have experienced incredibly fast diffusion rates and business growth and are disrupting entire industries. The outcome of our study is a framework that maps two business model configurations that explain the role of different business model design and innovation choices in the diffusion of new products and services enabled by digital technologies.
Knowledge Pathways and Performance: An Empirical Study of the National Laboratories in a Technology Latecomer Country
Authors: Ploykitikoon Pattravadee , Weber Charles M.
Published: July 2018

A broadly based, quantitative, empirical study of 208 R&D projects within the national laboratories (NLs) of a technology latecomer country (TLC) finds that the performance of R&D projects within the NLs of that TLC is highly dependent on the pathway by which knowledge enters the R&D project group that delivers the project or on how it is created therein. Performance also depends upon the mission of the NLs with which the project is aligned. These findings suggest that managers of R&D project groups within the NLs in this TLC can take a nuanced approach to organizational learning. They can improve the performance of individual R&D projects by emphasizing the knowledge pathways that have the greatest positive impact on the mission that is most important to the project. The study’s findings also provide theoretical insights that go beyond the context of NLs in TLCs. They explain why vicarious learning cannot be associated positively with team performance, and they suggest that contextual learning is positively correlated to team performance under specific circumstances, only. Moreover, the findings imply that extant theory on organizational learning is insufficiently granular to explain the apparently complex relationship between group knowledge and group performance.
The high-order optical nonlinearity of 2,11,20,29-tetrabromo-2,3-naphthalocyanine iron
Authors: Zhang Wang , He Chunying , Zhang Lining , Jiang Li , Yuan Yijun , Wang Bin
Published: July 2018

A novel naphthalocyanine 2,11,20,29-tetrabromo-2,3-naphthalocyanine iron was synthetized. Its optical nonlinearity was investigated using the Z-scan technique. Reverse saturable absorption and high-order optical nonlinear refraction were detected. The absorption cross sections of the ground state, the singlet first excited state and the triplet first excited state were fitted to be 3.2 × 10[Formula: see text] cm[Formula: see text], 6.2 × 10[Formula: see text] cm[Formula: see text] and 4.6 × 10[Formula: see text] cm[Formula: see text], respectively. Fits also gave 1.17 × 10[Formula: see text] cm[Formula: see text] for the refractive volume of the ground state, 0.6 for the ratio of the refractive volume of the singlet first excited state to the ground state and 2.7 for the ratio of refractive volume of the first triplet excited state to the ground state.
Quantifying the Impacts of Acoustic Target Detections Using a Range-Independent Model Versus Range-Dependent Model
Authors: Beech Talia , Jankowski Ernest
Published: July 2018

The purpose of this study is to identify and quantify the difference in detections of a subsurface target from a subsurface sensor source between range-independent and range-dependent versions of the same acoustic propagation model. Environmental data were pulled from open source databases to provide an application for the comparison and using novel measures of merit, the authors were able to quantify the difference in detection performance between models. This study suggests that provided multiple types of environments are considered, it is possible to use a range-independent model to give good approximations to the accuracy of detections, one would achieve using a full range-dependent sound propagation model.
Reverse Engineering Digital ICs through Geometric Embedding of Circuit Graphs
Authors: Cakir Burcin , Malik Sharad
Published: July 2018

Outsourcing of design and manufacturing processes makes integrated circuits (ICs) vulnerable to adversarial changes and raises concerns about their integrity. Reverse engineering the manufactured netlist helps identify malicious insertions. In this article, we present an automated approach that, given a reference design description with high-level blocks, infers these blocks in an untrusted gate-level (test) implementation. Using the graph connectivity of the netlists, we compute a geometric embedding for each wire in the circuits, which, then, is used to compute a bipartite matching between the nodes of the two designs and identify high-level blocks in the test circuit. Experiments to evaluate the efficacy of the proposed technique on various-sized designs, including the multi-core processor OpenSparc T1, show that it can correctly match over 90% of gates in the test circuit to their corresponding block in the reference model.
Measuring Investor Sentiment
Authors: Zhou Guofu
Published: July 2018

Investor sentiment indicates how far an asset value deviates from its economic fundamentals. In this article, we review various measures of investor sentiment based on market, survey, and text and media data. There is ample evidence that sentiment can explain returns on stocks that are difficult to value and costly to arbitrage, such as unprofitable stocks, non-dividend-paying stocks, extreme growth stocks, and distressed stocks. However, much remains to be done. We discuss three issues for future research: aggregating measures over various sources and various time horizons, linking investor sentiment to technical analysis, and statistically modeling the evolution of investor sentiment.
MicroRNA dysregulation in lung injury: the role of the miR-26a/EphA2 axis in regulation of endothelial permeability
Authors: Good Ryan J. , Hernandez-Lagunas Laura , Allawzi Ayed , Maltzahn Joanne K. , Vohwinkel Christine U. , Upadhyay Arun K. , Kompella Uday B. , Birukov Konstantin G. , Carpenter Todd C. , Sucharov Carmen C. , Nozik-Grayck Eva
Published: July 2018

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression in many diseases, although the contribution of miRNAs to the pathophysiology of lung injury remains obscure. We hypothesized that dysregulation of miRNA expression drives the changes in key genes implicated in the development of lung injury. To test our hypothesis, we utilized a model of lung injury induced early after administration of intratracheal bleomycin (0.1 U). Wild-type mice were treated with bleomycin or PBS, and lungs were collected at 4 or 7 days. A profile of lung miRNA was determined by miRNA array and confirmed by quantitative PCR and flow cytometry. Lung miR-26a was significantly decreased 7 days after bleomycin injury, and, on the basis of enrichment of predicted gene targets, it was identified as a putative regulator of cell adhesion, including the gene targets EphA2, KDR, and ROCK1, important in altered barrier function. Lung EphA2 mRNA, and protein increased in the bleomycin-injured lung. We further explored the miR-26a/EphA2 axis in vitro using human lung microvascular endothelial cells (HMVEC-L). Cells were transfected with miR-26a mimic and inhibitor, and expression of gene targets and permeability was measured. miR-26a regulated expression of EphA2 but not KDR or ROCK1. Additionally, miR-26a inhibition increased HMVEC-L permeability, and the disrupted barrier integrity due to miR-26a was blocked by EphA2 knockdown, shown by VE-cadherin staining. Our data suggest that miR-26a is an important epigenetic regulator of EphA2 expression in the pulmonary endothelium. As such, miR-26a may represent a novel therapeutic target in lung injury by mitigating EphA2-mediated changes in permeability.
Live Birth from the Transfer of a Severely Fragmented Embryo Observed by Morphokinetics
Authors: Lahav-Baratz S. , Blais I. , Koifman M. , Ishai D. , Wiener-Megnazi Z. , Peer G. , Dirnfeld M.
Published: July 2018

We report a live birth from a heavily fragmented embryo which continued cleavage to a fully expanded blastocyst. A 32-year-old patient underwent 2 IVF cycles without achieving pregnancy. In the first cycle, 2 embryos with fragmentation were transferred; in the second, all embryos were fragmented and no embryo transfer was performed. In a third cycle, 12 oocytes were retrieved and 11 of them were fertilized. On day 2, all 11 embryos started to unwind to fragments. By careful annotation, using the time-lapse EmbryoScope, we observed that one embryo continued division as expected, discarding all fragments aside. On day 5, this embryo showed promising annotation according to our lab model. The embryo was transferred into the uterus and resulted in the birth of a healthy baby at term. To our knowledge, this is the first case report assisted by EmbryoScope where a healthy baby was delivered from a fragmented embryo.
Patterns and Determinants of Attitudes towards Genetic Risk of Cancer: Case Study in a Malaysian Public University
Authors: Sim Edmund Ui-Hang , Ting Su-Hie
Published: July 2018

Genetic risk to cancer is a knowledge largely confined to experts and the more educated sectors of the developed western countries. The perception of genetic susceptibility to cancer among the masses is fragmented, particularly in developing countries. As cancer diseases affect developing countries as much as developed nations, it is imperative to study perception and reception of genetic risk to cancer in Southeast Asia. Here, we report on a novel case study to gauge the awareness and attitudes towards genetic determination of cancer among the undergraduates of a Malaysian public university. A total of 272 university undergraduate students completed an online questionnaire. On causes of cancer, the respondents believed that cancer is caused by lifestyle and environmental factors, but those with science background were more likely to associate it with genetic factors. The results on awareness of genetic profiling of cancer risk showed that there are significant differences between those with science and nonscience background but there are no significant differences for gender and socioeconomic background. As for attitudes towards cancer risk, female respondents, those from middle socioeconomic status and science background, are more likely to believe in genetic determinism of cancer. The findings have implications on target population segmentation in strategic health communication on cancer.
Association between Y-Maze Acquisition Learning and Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II Polymorphisms in Mice
Authors: Ru Ming , Liu Hui
Published: July 2018

Objective.To explore the association between the acquisition process in the Y-maze and H-2 class II polymorphisms in mice.Methods.Mice were trained for 5 consecutive days in the Y-maze. The value of the slope of the latent period was considered an indication for the acquisition process. A slope < 0 indicated learning during the training and a slope > 0 indicated no learning. The H-2 polymorphism was determined with PCR amplification, and the correlation between the alleles and the acquisition process was analyzed.Results.The overall percentage of mice that learned was 46.1%. The percentage of mice that had learned with MudoEb5 (37.9%) was significantly lower than that of mice without MudoEb5 (61.1%; P < 0.05). The percentage of mice that had learned with MudoEb7 (26.1%) was significantly lower than that of mice without MudoEb7 (51.9%; P < 0.05).Conclusions.The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and other alleles may be involved in the acquisition process. There may be a biological basis for learning in mice.
The Effect of Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9 Inhibitors on Nonfasting Remnant Cholesterol in a Real World Population
Authors: Morise Anthony P. , Tennant Jennifer , Holmes Sari D. , Tacker Danyel H.
Published: July 2018

Background. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors have demonstrated significant effects on low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and nonhigh density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. To date, there have been limited reports on the effect of PCSK9 inhibitors on remnant cholesterol. Objectives. Assess the effect of PCSK9 inhibitors on nonfasting remnant cholesterol in a real world population. Identify whether pretreatment triglyceride levels are associated with PCSK9 inhibition success as indicated by changes in remnant cholesterol levels. Methods. Patients in our adult lipid clinic (n = 109) receiving PCSK9 inhibition for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease or familial hypercholesterolemia who had available pre- and post-PCSK9 inhibition standard nonfasting lipid data were, retrospectively, selected for data analysis. Remnant cholesterol was the difference between non-HDL and LDL cholesterol. LDL cholesterol was measured directly and calculated from Friedewald and Martin/Hopkins methods. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and multivariable linear regression for differential effects on remnant and LDL cholesterol based upon pretreatment nonfasting triglyceride levels. Results. Remnant cholesterol as well as total, LDL, non-HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides decreased significantly (P<0.001) after PCSK9 inhibition. Patients with higher pretreatment triglyceride levels showed greater decrease in remnant cholesterol after PCSK9 inhibition (P<0.001) than those with lower pretreatment triglycerides. Conclusions. In patients receiving PCSK9 inhibitors, remnant cholesterol as determined from nonfasting blood was reduced in proportion to pretreatment triglycerides.
Development of QuEChERS Method for the Determination of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Smoked Meat Products Using GC-MS from Qatar
Authors: Al-Thaiban Hussain , Al-Tamimi Nada , Helaleh Murad
Published: July 2018

A simple and fast method for the determination of PAHs in smoked meat samples was described. The QuEChERS (Z-Sep) procedure was used for sample preparation. Gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer with electron ionization (EI) was used to separate and detect the PAHs. All 16 common PAHs were analyzed successfully. Matrix-matched calibration was applied. Spiked samples were performed at 1 ng/g (n=10) and 10 ng/g (n=10) for two days. Overall recoveries of PAHs were within 74 to 117%, with RSDs within 1.15 to 37.57% and 1 and 10 ng/g wet weight for first and second day, respectively. In most of the analyzed smoked meat samples, there were no exceeded levels compared to the maximum levels declared by Commission Regulation (EU) number 835/2011. The method can be recommended for routine analysis for laboratories having a large number of samples.
Select Biomarkers on the Day of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Predict Poor Patient-Reported Outcomes at 2-Year Follow-Up: A Pilot Study
Authors: Lattermann Christian , Conley Caitlin E.-W. , Johnson Darren L. , Reinke Emily K. , Huston Laura J. , Huebner Janet L. , Chou Ching-Heng , Kraus Virginia B. , Spindler Kurt P. , Jacobs Cale A.
Published: July 2018

Background. The majority of patients develop posttraumatic osteoarthritis within 15 years of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Inflammatory and chondrodegenerative biomarkers have been associated with both pain and the progression of osteoarthritis; however, it remains unclear if preoperative biomarkers differ for patients with inferior postoperative outcomes. Hypothesis/Purpose. The purpose of this pilot study was to compare biomarkers collected on the day of ACL reconstruction between patients with “good” or “poor” 2-year postoperative outcomes. We hypothesized that inflammatory cytokines and chondrodegenerative biomarker concentrations would be significantly greater in patients with poorer outcomes. Study Design. Prospective cohort design. Methods. 22 patients (9 females, 13 males; age = 19.5±4.1 years; BMI = 24.1±3.6 kg/m2) previously enrolled in a randomized trial evaluating early anti-inflammatory treatment after ACL injury. Biomarkers of chondrodegeneration and inflammation were assessed from synovial fluid (sf) samples collected on the day of ACL reconstruction. Participants completed Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) questionnaires two years following surgery. Patients were then categorized based on whether their KOOS Quality of Life (QOL) score surpassed the Patient Acceptable Symptom State (PASS) threshold of 62.5 points or the IKDC PASS threshold of 75.9 points. Results. Patients that failed to reach the QOL PASS threshold after surgery (n = 6, 27%) had significantly greater sf interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1α; p = 0.004), IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra; p = 0.03), and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9; p = 0.01) concentrations on the day of surgery. Patients that failed to reach the IKDC PASS threshold (n = 9, 41%) had significantly greater sf IL-1α (p = 0.02). Conclusion. These pilot data suggest that initial biochemical changes after injury may be an indicator of poor outcomes that are not mitigated by surgical stabilization alone. Biological adjuvant treatment in addition to ACL reconstruction may be beneficial; however, these data should be used for hypothesis generation and more definitive randomized clinical trials are necessary.
Host Directed Therapies for Tuberculosis: Futures Strategies for an Ancient Disease
Authors: Palucci Ivana , Delogu Giovanni
Published: July 2018

The emergence and spread of drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is worsening the global threat of tuberculosis (TB). There is a need and urgency for the development of new treatments for TB, for the management of drug resistant TB (MDR-TB) and for improved regimens against drug-susceptible TB, with the goal of reducing toxicity and length of therapy that will boost patience compliance. The paucity of new drugs is a major obstacle to design new regimens while host-directed therapies (HDTs) are emerging as a promising area of research and are opening new avenues to fight TB. In this review, we discuss examples of potentially promising strategies aimed at improving the host response to M. tuberculosis, and argue how a better understanding of TB pathogenesis, with the fine characterization of the immunological mediators involved, may pave the way for the design of new therapies, the identification of new drugs or the repurposing of some already in use for other diseases. We emphasize that any HDTs shall be included as adjunct therapy to the drug-combination regimens already in use for TB, with the goal to reduce tissue damage and immunopathology and enhance bacterial clearance. We anticipate that the benefits of HDTs against TB will be highest against MDR-TB, where the activity of current regimens is poor and the cost high.
Function of SLC7A7 in T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Authors: Ji Xiaohui , Yang Xiaoyun , Wang Nan , Kang Meiyun , Wang Yaping , Rong Liucheng , Fang Yongjun , Xue Yao
Published: July 2018

Background/Aims: Y+LAT1 protein, encoded by the SLC7A7 gene (a member of the SLC7 family), forms the cationic amino acid transport system y+L (system y+L). This system transports cationic amino acids such as arginine and lysine out of the cell. Arginine, in particular, is critical for T-cell activation and function in the immune response. Methods: We analyzed the role of the SLC7A7 gene in the cellular activities of Jurkat cells, specifically the cell cycle and cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion. Cell proliferation was assessed using the Cell Counting Kit-8. Apoptosis and the cell cycle were determined with a FACSCalibur flow cytometer. A Transwell chamber was used to measure cell invasion and migration. Results: The proliferative ability of Jurkat cells was not significantly altered by transfection with SLC7A7 overexpression vectors. However, SLC7A7 overexpression significantly decreased the percentage of apoptotic Jurkat cells (P = 0.007) but significantly increased the proportion of G1 phase cells (P = 0.029) and cell migration (P < 0.001) and invasion (P < 0.001). Knockdown of SLC7A7 increased the cell apoptosis rate (P = 0.006) but decreased the G1 phase ratio (P = 0.002) and cell migration (P < 0.001) and invasion (P < 0.001). Conclusions: SLC7A7 plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Avances en México a la mitad del Decenio de Acción para la Seguridad Vial 2011–2020
Authors: Híjar Martha , Pérez-Núñez Ricardo , Salinas-Rodríguez Aarón
Published: July 2018

OBJETIVO: Analizar el avance de la meta esperada a mitad del Decenio de Acción para la Seguridad Vial 2011–2020 en México y sus entidades federativas. MÉTODOS: Análisis secundario de las muertes por accidentes de tránsito en México para el 1999–2015. Se proyectó la tendencia para el periodo 2011–2020 utilizando análisis de series de tiempo (modelos autorregresivos integrados de medias móviles). Se utilizó el valor del Criterio de Información de Aikaike para determinar el mejor modelo para el nivel nacional y sus 32 entidades federativas. RESULTADOS: México va avanzando cercano a la meta propuesta, lo que se ha traducido en 10,856 defunciones potencialmente prevenidas en el quinquenio 2011 a 2015. Esto ha sido a expensas de una disminución en el número de muertes de ocupantes de vehículos de motor; ya que las muertes en peatones y motociclistas han ido por arriba de lo que se esperaba. Al menos una tercera parte de las entidades federativas tuvo el número de defunciones por debajo de su meta; aunque en cinco de ellas la tasa de mortalidad continúa inaceptablemente alta. Se identificaron cuatro entidades con más muertes que las proyectadas originalmente y otras con tendencia al incremento donde se requiere, para ambos casos, fortalecer las acciones de prevención. CONCLUSIONES: El análisis realizado permite observar los avances del país a mitad del Decenio de Acción, así como identificar los retos en materia de prevención de lesiones causadas por el tránsito en usuarios vulnerables. Aporta elementos para soportar la necesidad de replantear tanto la meta nacional como la de las distintas entidades federativas.
miR-34a Promotes Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Calcification by Downregulating SIRT1 (Sirtuin 1) and Axl (AXL Receptor Tyrosine Kinase)
Authors: Badi Ileana , Mancinelli Luigi , Polizzotto Andrea , Ferri Debora , Zeni Filippo , Burba Ilaria , Milano Giuseppina , Brambilla Francesca , Saccu Claudio , Bianchi Marco E. , Pompilio Giulio , Capogrossi Maurizio C. , Raucci Angela
Published: July 2018

Objective—

Vascular calcification (VC) is age dependent and a risk factor for cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. VC involves the senescence-induced transdifferentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) toward an osteochondrogenic lineage resulting in arterial wall mineralization. miR-34a increases with age in aortas and induces vascular SMC senescence through the modulation of its target SIRT1 (sirtuin 1). In this study, we aimed to investigate whether miR-34a regulates VC.

Approach and Results—

We found that miR-34a and Runx2 (Runt-related transcription factor 2) expression correlates in young and old mice.
Mir34a
+/+
and
Mir34a
−/−
mice were treated with vitamin D, and calcium quantification revealed that
Mir34a
deficiency reduces soft tissue and aorta medial calcification and the upregulation of the VC Sox9 (SRY [sex-determining region Y]-box 9) and Runx2 and the senescence p16 and p21 markers. In this model, miR-34a upregulation was transient and preceded aorta mineralization.
Mir34a
−/−
SMCs were less prone to undergo senescence and under osteogenic conditions deposited less calcium compared with
Mir34a
+/+
cells. Furthermore, unlike in
Mir34a
+/+
SMC, the known VC inhibitors SIRT1 and Axl (AXL receptor tyrosine kinase) were only partially downregulated in calcifying
Mir34a
−/−
SMC. Strikingly, constitutive miR-34a overexpression to senescence-like levels in human aortic SMCs increased calcium deposition and enhanced Axl and SIRT1 decrease during calcification. Notably, we also showed that miR-34a directly decreased Axl expression in human aortic SMC, and restoration of its levels partially rescued miR-34a-dependent growth arrest.

Conclusions—

miR-34a promotes VC via vascular SMC mineralization by inhibiting cell proliferation and inducing senescence through direct Axl and SIRT1 downregulation, respectively. This miRNA could be a good therapeutic target for the treatment of VC.
Description of Crassolabium costaricense sp. n. (Nematoda: Dorylaimida: Dorylaimidae) from Costa Rica
Authors: Varela-Benavides Ingrid , Peña-Santiago Reyes
Published: July 2018

A new species of Crassolabium, C. costaricense sp. n., collected from natural habitats in Costa Rica, is described and illustrated. The new species is characterised by its body length of 1.26 (1.22-1.30) mm in the female and 1.28 (1.16-1.37) mm in the male, lip region nearly continuous and 13.5 (12.5-14.5) μm broad in the female and 13.1 (12.5-14.0) μm broad in the male, odontostyle 17.3 (15.5-19.0) μm long in the female and 18.1 (17.0-19.0) μm long in the male with the aperture occupying 33-42% its length, neck 302-334 μm long, pharyngeal expansion 120-142 μm long or occupying 40-45% of total neck length, uterus tripartite and 163 (134-176) μm long or 2.6-3.1 times the corresponding body diam., pars refringens vaginae well developed, vulva transverse (V = 57.1 (56.0-58.0)), tail short and rounded in female (17.9 (17.0-19.0 μm) long; c = 70.3 (67.0-72.0); c′ = 0.56 (0.50-0.60)) and more conoid in males (21.6 (17.0-23.0) μm long; c = 60.4 (56.0-77.0); c′ = 0.65 (0.50-0.70)), spicules 47 (44-49) μm long, and presence of 8-10 closely spaced ventromedian supplements with an hiatus. Its molecular (LSU D2-D3) characterisation supports an evolutionary relationship with members of the Dorylaimidae.
Phylogenetic Analysis of the New World Family Heterothripidae (Thysanoptera, Terebrantia) based on Morphological and Molecular Evidence
Authors: Pereyra Veronica , Cavalleri Adriano , Szumik Claudia , Weirauch Christiane
Published: July 2018

The New World family Heterothripidae (~90 spp., four genera) comprises flower-feeding and ectoparasitic thrips. The monophyly of the group has remained untested and species-level relationships were unknown. Morphological (123 characters) and molecular (28S rDNA D2 and D3-D5, H3, and partial COI) data were compiled to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships of this group. The ingroup was represented by 65 species of the four recognized Heterothripidae genera (Aulacothrips Hood, Heterothrips Hood, Lenkothrips De Santis & Sureda, and Scutothrips Stannard). The monophyly of Heterothripidae was recovered in the total evidence and molecular data only analyses with the ectoparasitic Aulacothrips placed as the sister group of the remaining Heterothripidae. The large genus Heterothrips (>80% of the species-level diversity), which was thoroughly sampled in our analyses (56 species), was recovered as paraphyletic with respect to Scutothrips and Lenkothrips. We conclude that additional morphological and molecular data would be desirable before revising the classification of Heterothripidae
Six new species of Miconia (Miconieae, Melastomataceae) from the Andes
Authors: BURKE JANELLE M. , MICHELANGELI FABIAN A.
Published: July 2018

The eastern slopes of the Andes harbor some of the greatest amount of biodiversity, much of which remains undescribed in the scientific literature. Here, we describe six new species of Miconia from the Andes, encompassing the southernmost extent of the mountain range from Peru to Bolivia. The new species include Miconia cernuiflora, Miconia cinnabarina, Miconia dimorphotheca, Miconia dulcis, Miconia farfanii, and Miconia paucartambensis. Each species is compared with similar species. For each species, we include a diagnostic illustration, conservation assessment and range map. The number of species described underscores the continued need for exploration and field studies, especially as many of these species have extremely restricted distributions.
A study of the Iranian species of Choeras Mason (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Microgastrinae), with the description of a new species
Authors: MOGHADDAM MOSTAFA GHAFOURI , RAKHSHANI EHSAN , VAN ACHTERBERG CORNELIS , MOKHTARI AZIZOLLAH
Published: July 2018

Sampling surveys were conducted in various regions of SE to West of Iran to collect the Microgastrinae specimens during 2013–2016. Reliable diagnostic morphological characters were used for comparing and identification of variable specimens. Four species of Choeras Mason, 1981 (Braconidae: Microgastrinae) from Iran are revised; three are illustrated, of which one is described as new species from SE and W Iran: C. taftanensis Ghafouri Moghaddam & van Achterberg sp. n. Occurrence of C. dorsalis in Egypt, Jordan and Malta, C. tedellae in Bulgaria and C. tiro in Israel and Spain are also first recorded.
New species, redescriptions, and new records on Mexican and Central American Cerambycidae (Coleoptera)
Authors: HEFFERN DANIEL , SANTOS-SILVA ANTONIO , NASCIMENTO FRANCISCO E. DE L.
Published: July 2018

Three new species are described: Compsibidion vandenberghei (Cerambycinae, Neoibidionini), from Nicaragua; Heterachthes zapopana (Cerambycinae, Neoibidionini), from Mexico; and Phaea lingafelteri (Lamiinae, Tetraopini), from Nicaragua. Phaea beierli Chemsak, 1999, and P. kellyae Chemsak, 1999 are redescribed. Pirangoclytus latithorax (Martins & Galileo, 2008) (Cerambycinae, Clytini), and Euryestola cribrata (Bates, 1881) (Lamiinae, Calliini) are newly recorded for Nicaragua.