bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Viral proteins as a potential driver of histone depletion in dinoflagellates
Authors: Irwin Nicholas A. T. , Martin Benjamin J. E. , Young Barry P. , Browne Martin J. G. , Flaus Andrew , Loewen Christopher J. R. , Keeling Patrick J. , Howe LeAnn J.
Published: April 2018

Within canonical eukaryotic nuclei, DNA is packaged with highly conserved histone proteins into nucleosomes, which facilitate DNA condensation and contribute to genomic regulation. Yet the dinoflagellates, a group of unicellular algae, are a striking exception to this otherwise universal feature as they have largely abandoned histones and acquired apparently viral-derived substitutes termed DVNPs (dinoflagellate-viral-nucleoproteins). Despite the magnitude of this transition, its evolutionary drivers remain unknown. Here, using Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model, we show that DVNP impairs growth and antagonizes chromatin by localizing to histone binding sites, displacing nucleosomes, and impairing transcription. Furthermore, DVNP toxicity can be relieved through histone depletion and cells diminish their histones in response to DVNP expression suggesting that histone reduction could have been an adaptive response to these viral proteins. These findings provide insights into eukaryotic chromatin evolution and highlight the potential for horizontal gene transfer to drive the divergence of cellular systems.
Stable representation of sounds in the posterior striatum during flexible auditory decisions
Authors: Guo Lan , Walker William I. , Ponvert Nicholas D. , Penix Phoebe L. , Jaramillo Santiago
Published: April 2018

The neuronal pathways that link sounds to rewarded actions remain elusive. For instance, it is unclear whether neurons in the posterior tail of the dorsal striatum (which receive direct input from the auditory system) mediate action selection, as other striatal circuits do. Here, we examine the role of posterior striatal neurons in auditory decisions in mice. We find that, in contrast to the anterior dorsal striatum, activation of the posterior striatum does not elicit systematic movement. However, activation of posterior striatal neurons during sound presentation in an auditory discrimination task biases the animals’ choices, and transient inactivation of these neurons largely impairs sound discrimination. Moreover, the activity of these neurons during sound presentation reliably encodes stimulus features, but is only minimally influenced by the animals’ choices. Our results suggest that posterior striatal neurons play an essential role in auditory decisions, and provides a stable representation of sounds during auditory tasks.
Anticoagulant mechanism, pharmacological activity, and assessment of preclinical safety of a novel fibrin(ogen)olytic serine protease from leaves of Leucas indica
Authors: Gogoi Debananda , Arora Neha , Kalita Bhargab , Sarma Rahul , Islam Taufikul , Ghosh Sidhhartha S. , Devi Rajlakshmi , Mukherjee Ashis K.
Published: April 2018

The harnessing of medicinal plants containing a plethora of bioactive molecules may lead to the discovery of novel, potent and safe therapeutic agents to treat thrombosis-associated cardiovascular diseases. A 35 kDa (m/z 34747.5230) serine protease (lunathrombase) showing fibrin(ogen)olytic activity and devoid of N- and O- linked oligosaccharides was purified from an extract of aqueous leaves from L. indica. The LC-MS/MS analysis, de novo sequencing, secondary structure, and amino acid composition determination suggested the enzyme’s novel characteristic. Lunathrombase is an αβ-fibrinogenase, demonstrating anticoagulant activity with its dual inhibition of thrombin and FXa by a non-enzymatic mechanism. Spectrofluorometric and isothermal calorimetric analyses revealed the binding of lunathrombase to fibrinogen, thrombin, and/or FXa with the generation of endothermic heat. It inhibited collagen/ADP/arachidonic acid-induced mammalian platelet aggregation, and demonstrated antiplatelet activity via COX-1 inhibition and the upregulation of the cAMP level. Lunathrombase showed in vitro thrombolytic activity and was not inhibited by endogenous protease inhibitors α2 macroglobulin and antiplasmin. Lunathrombase was non-cytotoxic to mammalian cells, non-hemolytic, and demonstrated dose-dependent (0.125–0.5 mg/kg) in vivo anticoagulant and plasma defibrinogenation activities in a rodent model. Lunathrombase (10 mg/kg) did not show toxicity or adverse pharmacological effects in treated animals.
Impaired photosynthesis and increased leaf construction costs may induce floral stress during episodes of global warming over macroevolutionary timescales
Authors: Haworth Matthew , Belcher Claire M. , Killi Dilek , Dewhirst Rebecca A. , Materassi Alessandro , Raschi Antonio , Centritto Mauro
Published: April 2018

Global warming events have coincided with turnover of plant species at intervals in Earth history. As mean global temperatures rise, the number, frequency and duration of heat-waves will increase.Ginkgo bilobawas grown under controlled climatic conditions at two different day/night temperature regimes (25/20 °C and 35/30 °C) to investigate the impact of heat stress. Photosynthetic CO2-uptake and electron transport were reduced at the higher temperature, while rates of respiration were greater; suggesting that the carbon balance of the leaves was adversely affected. Stomatal conductance and the potential for evaporative cooling of the leaves was reduced at the higher temperature. Furthermore, the capacity of the leaves to dissipate excess energy was also reduced at 35/30 °C, indicating that photo-protective mechanisms were no longer functioning effectively. Leaf economics were adversely affected by heat stress, exhibiting an increase in leaf mass per area and leaf construction costs. This may be consistent with the selective pressures experienced by fossil Ginkgoales during intervals of global warming such as the Triassic – Jurassic boundary or Early Eocene Climatic Optimum. The physiological and morphological responses of theG. bilobaleaves were closely interrelated; these relationships may be used to infer the leaf economics and photosynthetic/stress physiology of fossil plants.
Manipulating nanostructure to simultaneously improve the electrical conductivity and strength in microalloyed Al-Zr conductors
Authors: Jiang S. Y. , Wang R. H.
Published: April 2018

To elude the strength-electrical conductivity trade-off dilemma, a nanostructuring strategy was achieved in microalloyed Al-0.1wt.% Zr conductor by optimizing the processing route, leading to enhanced strength and simultaneously improved electrical conductivity. The nanostructural design involved ultrafine grains with coherent Al3Zr nanoprecipitates dispersed within the grain interior. The key is to create intragranular coherent Al3Zr nanoprecipitates with size of ~6 nm, which not only produce the highest precipitate hardening but also minimize the local strain field to reduce the scattering of electron motion. According to the targeted nanostructures, the processing route was revised to be artificially aged before cold drawing, instead of the post-aging as traditionally employed. The underlying mechanisms for improvement in strength and electrical conductivity were respectively discussed especially in terms of the coherent Al3Zr nanoprecipitates. It was quantitatively revealed from a strengthening model that the intragranular Al3Zr precipitate hardening was the predominant strengthening mechanism. Experimental results from three-dimensional atom probe (3DAP) demonstrating the Zr atom distribution in matrix as well as the geometrical phase analysis (GPA) results of local strain fields around the precipitates provided evidences to rationalize the promotion in electrical conductivity. The nanostructuring strategy in conjunction with the revised processing route offer a general pathway for manufacturing high-performance Al conductors in large-scale industrial applications.
Distributions of four taste and odor compounds in the sediment and overlying water at different ecology environment in Taihu Lake
Authors: Huang Heyong , Xu Xiaoguang , Liu Xiansheng , Han Ruiming , Liu Jine , Wang Guoxiang
Published: April 2018

Organic matter-induced black blooms, such as cyanobacterial and vegetation blooms, are a serious ecosystem disasters that have occurred in Taihu Lake. After large-scale outbreaks of blooms in eutrophic water, a large number of cyanobacterial and vegetation residue accumulate in the coastal areas, and rapidly fermented into odorous compounds. In this study, four taste and odor compounds have been analyzed in sediments and overlying water of different ecology environment in Taihu Lake. High concentrations of DMDS (up to 7165.25 ngg−1 dw−1), DMTS (up to 50.93 ngg−1 dw−1), β-cyclocitral (up to 5441.69 ngg−1 dw−1), β-ionone (up to 1669.37 ngg−1 dw−1) were detected in sediments. Also, the spatial distributions of DMDS, DMTS, β-cyclocitral and β-ionone in the sediments were investigated. As the depth of sediment increases, nutrients and odorous compounds are greatly reduced. The results showed that during the degradation of cyanobacterial and vegetation residues, DMDS, DMTS, β-cyclocitral, β-ionone and nutrients are gradually released. In addition, when assessing the source of odorous compounds in overlying water, it should also be considered that it may be released from the sediment. This study shows that odorous compounds are ubiquitous in near-shore zones Taihu Lake, and may take potential hazard to aquatic ecosystems.
Broadband graphene-based photoacoustic microscopy with high sensitivity
Authors: Yang Fan , Song Wei , Zhang Chonglei , Min Changjun , Fang Hui , Du Luping , Wu Peng , Zheng Wei , Li Changhui , Zhu Siwei , Yuan Xiaocong
Published: April 2018

High-sensitivity and broadband graphene-based detector forin vivophotoacoustic microscopy.
Potential anti-cancer and anti-Candida activity of Zn-derived foams
Authors: Marques L. M. , Alves M. M. , Eugénio S. , Salazar S. B. , Pedro N. , Grenho L. , Mira N. P. , Fernandes M. H. , Montemor M. F.
Published: April 2018

Zinc (Zn)-derived foams have been prepared from an alkaline electrolyte solution by galvanostatic electrodeposition under different conditions. The resulting 316L stainless steel (SS) coated with two distinct Zn-derived foams was tested in the inhibition of osteoscarcoma cell proliferation and C. albicans colonization.
Potential application of an injectable hydrogel scaffold loaded with mesenchymal stem cells for treating traumatic brain injury
Authors: Zhang Kun , Shi Zhenqing , Zhou Jiankang , Xing Qu , Ma Shanshan , Li Qinghua , Zhang Yanting , Yao Minghao , Wang Xiaofeng , Li Qian , Li Jingan , Guan Fangxia
Published: April 2018

In this contribution, we developed an injectable hydrogel composed of sodium alginate and hyaluronic acid that acts as a tissue scaffold to create a more optimal microenvironment for the stem cells for potential application of traumatic brain injury implantation.
Stable unsaturated silicon clusters (siliconoids)
Authors: Heider Yannic , Scheschkewitz David
Published: April 2018

The emerging field of siliconoid clusters is reviewed and a parameter ϕ introduced that distinguishes hemispheroidal and regular coordination of vertices.
Unraveling the solvent induced welding of silver nanowires for high performance flexible transparent electrodes
Authors: Zhang Kui , Li Jia , Fang Yunsheng , Luo Beibei , Zhang Yanli , Li Yanqiu , Zhou Jun , Hu Bin
Published: April 2018

Volatile solvent mists as a “zipper” to weld silver nanowires and fix them on a substrate tightly for transparent electrode application.
Mild synthesis of silyl ethers via potassium carbonate catalyzed reactions between alcohols and hydrosilanes
Authors: DeLucia Nicholas A. , Das Nivedita , Vannucci Aaron K.
Published: April 2018

A method has been developed for the silanolysis of alcohols using an abundant and non-corrosive base K2CO3 as a catalyst.
Synthesis and peptide functionalization of hyperbranched poly(arylene oxindole) towards versatile biomaterials
Authors: Soultan Al Halifa , Verheyen Thomas , Smet Mario , De Borggraeve Wim M. , Patterson Jennifer
Published: April 2018

An azide derivative of hyperbranched poly(arylene oxindole) is synthesized for postgrafting by CuAAC. RGDS functionalization promotes cell attachment and proliferation.
Retracted Article: Chrysin attenuates myocardial ischemia–reperfusion injury by inhibiting myocardial inflammation
Authors: Wu Jingguo , Xun Nan , Yang Yang , Zeng Lijin , Li Zhenyu , Yang Wen , Liang Yanbing , Tang Hao , Ma Zhongfu
Published: April 2018

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of chrysin (CH) on myocardial ischemia–reperfusion injury.
Nanodiamond-based layer-by-layer nanohybrids mediate targeted delivery of miR-34a for triple negative breast cancer therapy
Authors: Xia Yang , Deng Xiongwei , Cao Minjun , Liu Sha , Zhang Xiaofei , Xiao Xiangqian , Shen Sisi , Hu Qin , Sheng Wang
Published: April 2018

The construction of nanodiamond-based layer-by-layer nanohybrids.
Controlled self-assembly of glycoprotein complex in snail mucus from lubricating liquid to elastic fiber
Authors: Zhong Tianyi , Min Liu , Wang Zhiyuan , Zhang Feng , Zuo Baoqi
Published: April 2018

Terrestrial snail could intelligently employ elastic fibers clinging itself onto the inverted smooth plate.
Dynamic sessile micro-droplet evaporation monitored by electric impedance sensing
Authors: Xie Xinwu , Tian Feng , Hu Xiao , Chen Tongxin , Xu Xinxi
Published: April 2018

Studies of liquid evaporation on a surface are useful for wettability phenomena-related research & applications. This paper proposed an electric impedance-based sensor in small size to dynamic monitoring the evaporation of a sessile micro-droplet.
A short and efficient total synthesis of the bromotyrosine-derived alkaloid psammaplysene A
Authors: Xu Jingjing , Wang Kai , Wu Jinlong
Published: April 2018

A new concise and efficient total synthesis of psammaplysene A was accomplished in 50% overall yieldviaa 5-step sequence.
K2Nb8O21 nanotubes with superior electrochemical performance for ultrastable lithium storage
Authors: Cheng Xing , Zhu Haojie , Yu Haoxiang , Ye Wuquan , Zheng Runtian , Liu Tingting , Peng Na , Shui Miao , Shu Jie
Published: April 2018

Electrospun K2Nb8O21 nanotubes show superior lithium storage capability as anodes with outstanding capacity retention of 80.3% after 5000 cycles at 1000 mA g−1.
Near-infrared light triggered photothermal therapy and enhanced photodynamic therapy with a tumor-targeting hydrogen peroxide shuttle
Authors: Wang Bing , Lin Weiming , Mao Zhengwei , Gao Changyou
Published: April 2018

Tumor-targeting oxygen self-carrying nanoparticles are developed for PTT and enhanced PDT to completely eradicate tumors.
Chemical interactions in the atomic layer deposition of Ge–Sb–Se–Te films and their ovonic threshold switching behavior
Authors: Yoo Sijung , Yoo Chanyoung , Park Eui-Sang , Kim Woohyun , Lee Yoon Kyeung , Hwang Cheol Seong
Published: April 2018

Ge–Sb–Se–Te quaternary films were prepared through atomic layer deposition (ALD) for ovonic threshold switching (OTS) applications.
Flower classification using deep convolutional neural networks
Authors: Hiary Hazem , Saadeh Heba , Saadeh Maha , Yaqub Mohammad
Published: April 2018

Flower classification is a challenging task due to the wide range of flower species, which have a similar shape, appearance or surrounding objects such as leaves and grass. In this study, the authors propose a novel two‐step deep learning classifier to distinguish flowers of a wide range of species. First, the flower region is automatically segmented to allow localisation of the minimum bounding box around it. The proposed flower segmentation approach is modelled as a binary classifier in a fully convolutional network framework. Second, they build a robust convolutional neural network classifier to distinguish the different flower types. They propose novel steps during the training stage to ensure robust, accurate and real‐time classification. They evaluate their method on three well known flower datasets. Their classification results exceed 97% on all datasets, which are better than the state‐of‐the‐art in this domain.
AC–DC bridgeless buck converter with high PFC performance by inherently reduced dead zones
Authors: Lin Xiang , Wang Faqiang
Published: April 2018

In this study, a novel AC–DC bridgeless buck converter for power‐factor‐correction (PFC) applications with the inherent current‐shaping ability and high PFC performance is proposed. Under a certain operation condition, dead zones in the proposed converter are reduced inherently compared with its conventional buck PFC counterpart, which result in higher PF and lower total harmonic distortion significantly. Furthermore, two rectifier diodes are eliminated, which contributes to efficiency. The detailed operation principle and theoretical analysis of discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) are presented. The simulation comparison between the conventional and proposed bridgeless buck PFC converter is also described. Finally, an experimental lab‐made prototype operating in DCM is constructed to validate the feasibility of this proposed converter.
Recent evolution of automotive imaging radar and its information content
Authors: Brisken Stefan , Ruf Florian , Höhne Felix
Published: April 2018

Driven by the demand to develop self‐driving cars, automotive radars evolve rapidly at this time. Current high end radars therefore have very little in common with the radars that were developed just a few years ago and are being built into today's car series. Anyway, since at least two decades such sensors are referred to as imaging radars, although the set of possible applications has changed significantly. This study displays the leap in the evolution of automotive imaging radars on the example of the Astyx HiRes radar and elucidates the additional information that becomes available for autonomous driving functions like freespace modelling and target classification. In particular, it will be shown that the image quality of a modern high end radar suffices to apply computer vision techniques that were reserved for optical or light detection and ranging (LIDAR) images until now.
Exoplanet detection in angular differential imaging by statistical learning of the nonstationary patch covariances
Authors: Flasseur Olivier , Denis Loïc , Thiébaut Éric , Langlois Maud
Published: April 2018

Context. The detection of exoplanets by direct imaging is an active research topic in astronomy. Even with the coupling of an extreme adaptive-optics system with a coronagraph, it remains challenging due to the very high contrast between the host star and the exoplanets.

Aims. The purpose of this paper is to describe a method, named PACO, dedicated to source detection from angular differential imaging data. Given the complexity of the fluctuations of the background in the datasets, involving spatially variant correlations, we aim to show the potential of a processing method that learns the statistical model of the background from the data.

Methods. In contrast to existing approaches, the proposed method accounts for spatial correlations in the data. Those correlations and the average stellar speckles are learned locally and jointly to estimate the flux of the (potential) exoplanets. By preventing from subtracting images including the stellar speckles residuals, the photometry is intrinsically preserved. A nonstationary multi-variate Gaussian model of the background is learned. The decision in favor of the presence or the absence of an exoplanet is performed by a binary hypothesis test.

Results. The statistical accuracy of the model is assessed using VLT/SPHERE-IRDIS datasets. It is shown to capture the nonstationarity in the data so that a unique threshold can be applied to the detection maps to obtain consistent detection performance at all angular separations. This statistical model makes it possible to directly assess the false alarm rate, probability of detection, photometric and astrometric accuracies without resorting to Monte-Carlo methods.

Conclusions. PACO offers appealing characteristics: it is parameter-free and photometrically unbiased. The statistical performance in terms of detection capability, photometric and astrometric accuracies can be straightforwardly assessed. A fast approximate version of the method is also described that can be used to process large amounts of data from exoplanets search surveys.
Radiation dose from18F-FDG PET/CT procedures: influence of specific CT model and protocols
Authors: Adeleye B. , Chetty N.
Published: April 2018

The increasing use of the integrated18F-fluoro-deoxy-glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging modality in the management of tubercular lesions raises concerns about associated radiation exposure. This work aimed to study the effects of CT model and study protocols on the overall radiation dose from a PET/CT examination. Two PET/CT systems with five representative CT exposure protocols applied for clinical patients in PET/CT imaging following retrospective evaluation were studied. CT doses were calculated using the CT-Expo dosimetry software (version 2.4), while the PET component dose was estimated applying the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) 106 dose coefficients. The total effective dose ranged from 8.0 to 24.05 mSv for system I and 8.35 to 26.85 mSv for system II, resulting in differences of 4.3 to 15% for the low-dose scan and 4.1 to 11% for standard dose scans. The CT component contribution to the total dose was between 32 and 77% for system I, and 35 and 79% for system II. However, the contributions were not significantly different (p > 0.05) for all protocols. The observed variation in CT contribution represents a requisite pedestal on the need for a nation-wide dose assessment for further optimization of the imaging procedure to maximize benefit to patients.
Dose au cuir chevelu en neuroradiologie interventionnelle : évaluation de la technologie de dosimétrie MOSFET
Authors: Guersen J. , Méchin G. , Chassin V. , Gabrillargues J. , Jean B. , Chabert E. , Pereira B. , Boyer L. , Magnier F. , Cassagnes L.
Published: April 2018

Objectifs : Évaluer la technologie MOSFET en comparaison avec la technologie des films radiochromiques pour déterminer la dose cutanée maximale reçue par le patient au niveau du cuir chevelu lors d’embolisations vasculaires intra crâniennes. Sensibiliser les opérateurs à l’importance de la dose reçue par les patients avec la visualisation en temps réel de cette valeur que permet la technologie MOSFET. Matériel et méthode : Six patients traités pour un anévrysme intracrânien ont fait l’objet de 24 mesures comparatives de dose par film radiochromique et avec la technologie MOSFET. Résultats : Les dosimètres MOSFET mesuraient la dose ponctuelle au cuir chevelu du patient en temps réel et avec un niveau de précision suffisant, compte tenu du besoin (dose inférieure de 9 % à celle lue par les films dans 54 % des cas et supérieure de 12 % dans 45 % des cas). Néanmoins, il s’agissait de valeurs localisées au point de mesure de chaque dosimètre MOSFET, alors que les films radiochromiques permettaient d’accéder à une cartographie dosimétrique prenant en compte les recoupes et chevauchements des champs d’exposition. Conclusion : La dosimétrie MOSFET, actuellement plus onéreuse, nous apparaissait donc plus indiquée pour des mesures de dose ciblées (e.g. cristallin) ou sur des champs de dose uniforme que pour une recherche systématique de la dose cutanée maximale lors d’embolisations vasculaires intracrâniennes, pour laquelle nous persisterons à utiliser les films radiochromiques.
Gastric Perforation Following Dog Bite in a Child
Authors: Singh Shailendra , Verma Shashank , Singh Praveen , Pandey Anand
Published: April 2018

Dog bite in children leading to visceral injury is a very uncommon clinical scenario. We treated a 6-year-old child who had a history of dog bite over the abdomen. At laparotomy, one perforation was found on the anterior surface of the stomach. The perforations were repaired primarily. The child made an uneventful postoperative recovery.
A Five-Year Retrospective Cohort Study Analyzing Factors Influencing Complications after Nasal Trauma
Authors: Andrades Patricio , Pereira Nicolas , Rodriguez Diego , Borel Claudio , Hernández Rodrigo , Villalobos Rodrigo
Published: April 2018

The purpose of this study was to assess the outcomes of patients with nasal trauma during a long period of time and determine factors predisposing to complications after nasal trauma treatment. A retrospective cohort study was conducted that included all patients who were attended for a nasal trauma between January and December 2010. In 2015, the charts were retrospectively reviewed and the patients were prospectively followed up looking for outcomes after treatment of nasal trauma. A univariate analysis between complications and risk factors was performed and a logistic regression model was used to explore the prognostic role of the variables considered to have clinical relevance and to estimate the odds ratio for the occurrence of postoperative complications. A total of 220 consecutive patients with nasal trauma were included in the study. The mean follow-up was 44.3 ± 10.3 months (3–67) with 10% of lost patients. The most important factors determining complications after nasal trauma treatment were male gender, acute septal injury, chronic septal deviation, displaced or comminuted fractures in the radiologic study, and late nasal reduction surgery. A decision-making algorithm is proposed based on the fact that nasal bone fracture is not a minor problem and that closed nasal bone reduction is not the treatment of choice for all patients with nasal trauma.
(Early) Palliative Care in Rettungsdienst und Notaufnahme
Authors: Spickermann Maximilian , Lenz Philipp
Published: April 2018

At the end of life patients with a life-limiting disease are often admitted to emergency departments (ED). Mostly, in the setting of an ED there may not be enough time to meet the needs for palliative care (PC) of these patients. Therefore, integration of PC into the ED offers a solution to improve their treatment. In the outpatient setting a cooperation between prehospital emergency services, the patient’s general practitioner and specialized outpatient PC teams may allow the patient to die at home – this is what most patients prefer at the end of life. Furthermore, due to the earlier integration of PC after admission the hospital stay is shortened. Also the number of PC consultations may increase. Additionally, a screening of PC hneeds among all patients visiting the ED may be beneficial: to avoid not meeting existing PC needs and to standardize the need of PC consultation. An example for such a screening tool is the “Palliative Care and Rapid Emergency Screening” (P-CaRES).
Rocksalt nitride metal/semiconductor superlattices: A new class of artificially structured materials
Authors: Saha Bivas , Shakouri Ali , Sands Timothy D.
Published: April 2018

Artificially structured materials in the form of superlattice heterostructures enable the search for exotic new physics and novel device functionalities, and serve as tools to push the fundamentals of scientific and engineering knowledge. Semiconductor heterostructures are the most celebrated and widely studied artificially structured materials, having led to the development of quantum well lasers, quantum cascade lasers, measurements of the fractional quantum Hall effect, and numerous other scientific concepts and practical device technologies. However, combining metals with semiconductors at the atomic scale to develop metal/semiconductor superlattices and heterostructures has remained a profoundly difficult scientific and engineering challenge. Though the potential applications of metal/semiconductor heterostructures could range from energy conversion to photonic computing to high-temperature electronics, materials challenges primarily had severely limited progress in this pursuit until very recently. In this article, we detail the progress that has taken place over the last decade to overcome the materials engineering challenges to grow high quality epitaxial, nominally single crystalline metal/semiconductor superlattices based on transition metal nitrides (TMN). The epitaxial rocksalt TiN/(Al,Sc)N metamaterials are the first pseudomorphic metal/semiconductor superlattices to the best of our knowledge, and their physical properties promise a new era in superlattice physics and device engineering.
How to forensically identify specific styling products used on hair
Authors: Cockbill Louisa
Published: April 2018

A combination of techniques has enabled high-resolution imaging and chemical identification of specific cosmetic residues on the surface of, and inside, hair fibers.
Effect of strain and age on the thick-to-thin albumen ratio and egg composition traits in layer hens
Authors: Wan Yi , Jin Sihua , Ma Chendong , Wang Zhicheng , Fang Qi , Jiang Runshen
Published: April 2018

Much attention has been paid to the proportion of thick albumen of eggs in layer production in recent decades, owing to economics, appearance and consumption. In this study, we investigated the effect of strain and age on the ratio of thick-to-thin white and relative egg composition traits in two different layer populations with 770 birds in total at 30, 40 and 50 weeks of age. Eggs were collected from the D3 and R2 strains to measure egg composition traits for 3 successive days at each experimental week. The results showed that the egg weight, albumen height and Haugh unit of eggs in the D3 strain were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those in the R2 strain at every experimental week, whereas the yolk percentage and the thick-to-thin white ratio of eggs were significantly (P < 0.05) lower in D3 as compared with R2. Furthermore, the albumen height and Haugh unit significantly decreased (P < 0.05) from 30 to 50 weeks of age in the D3 and R2 strains. Additionally, positive correlations were found between the thick-to-thin white ratio and egg weight in the two strains at 50 weeks of age. Significant (P < 0.05) correlations of the thick-to-thin albumen ratio were also found at 30, 40 and 50 weeks of age in both two strains. The results indicated that the thick-to-thin white ratio was a relatively stable trait and might be used as a promising index for evaluating egg composition in future chicken breeding.
Effect of wheat adaptation strategies on rumen parameters and dry matter intake of late lactation dairy cows
Authors: Russo V. M. , Leury B. J. , Kennedy E. , Hannah M. C. , Auldist M. J. , Wales W. J.
Published: April 2018

The effects of a major dietary change on ruminal fluid pH, volatile fatty acid (VFA), lactate and ammonia concentrations, dry matter intake (DMI) and milk yield were measured in 32 dairy cows in late lactation. All cows were initially fed 100% lucerne hay cubes and were then gradually introduced to a diet with wheat comprising 40% of total dry matter (DM) and lucerne hay cubes, the remainder. Wheat was gradually substituted for lucerne via one of four strategies, (1) in six small increments (each 6.7% of total DM) over 6 days; (2) in six small increments (each 6.7% of total DM) over 11 days; (3) in three large increments (each 13.3% of total DM) over 6 days; or (4) in three large increments (each 13.3% of total DM) over 11 days. The introduction of wheat in six small increments resulted in a lower daily minimum ruminal fluid pH (pH 5.95) when compared with using three large increments (pH 6.05). Despite this difference none of the treatments exhibited a ruminal fluid pH that would have compromised ruminal function, nor were there differences in DMI (19.7 kg DM/cow.day) or milk yield (16.0 kg/cow.day). Additionally, there were no differences between ruminal fluid VFA, lactate or ammonia concentrations. It is speculated that the properties of the lucerne cubes, including a high buffering capacity, helped the ruminal contents resist the pronounced declines in pH often seen with the fermentation of large amounts of wheat. Under the conditions of this experiment the wheat adaptation strategies used did not lead to any critical differences in rumen parameters. These results suggest that changes to rumen function are driven not only by the characteristics of the concentrate being introduced but also by those of the forage.
GARFIELD-NGS: Genomic vARiants FIltering by dEep Learning moDels in NGS
Authors: Ravasio Viola , Ritelli Marco , Legati Andrea , Giacopuzzi Edoardo
Published: April 2018

Exome sequencing approach is extensively used in research and diagnostic laboratories to discover pathological variants and study genetic architecture of human diseases. However, a significant proportion of identified genetic variants are actually false positive calls, and this pose serious challenge for variants interpretation. Here, we propose a new tool named Genomic vARiants FIltering by dEep Learning moDels in NGS (GARFIELD-NGS), which rely on deep learning models to dissect false and true variants in exome sequencing experiments performed with Illumina or ION platforms. GARFIELD-NGS showed strong performances for both SNP and INDEL variants (AUC 0.71–0.98) and outperformed established hard filters. The method is robust also at low coverage down to 30X and can be applied on data generated with the recent Illumina two-colour chemistry. GARFIELD-NGS processes standard VCF file and produces a regular VCF output. Thus, it can be easily integrated in existing analysis pipeline, allowing application of different thresholds based on desired level of sensitivity and specificity.

Availability and implementation

GARFIELD-NGS available at https://github.com/gedoardo83/GARFIELD-NGS.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Seasonal Patterns of Protoschinia scutosa (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Migration Across China’s Bohai Strait
Authors: Zhao Shengyuan , Fu Xiaowei , Guo Jianglong , Zhou Yan , Wyckhuys Kris A G , Wu Kongming
Published: April 2018

The spotted clover moth, Protoschinia scutosa (Denis & Schiffermüller) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is an important polyphagous pest that is widely distributed in the world. P. scutosa overwinters as pupae in agricultural soils in Northern China. Yet, it is unclear whether P. scutosa also engages in seasonal migration over mid- to long-range distances. In this study, we employ light trapping, field surveys, and ovarian dissection of captured adults over a 2003–2015 time period to assess P. scutosa migration in Northern China. Our work shows that P. scutosa migrates across the Bohai Strait seasonally; the mean duration of its windborne migration period was 121.6 d, and the mean trapping number was 1053.6 moths. Nightly catches of P. scutosa were significantly different between months, but the differences between years were not significant. During 2009–2011 and 2013, the monthly proportion of migrating females (65.5%) was significantly higher than that of males and showed no difference between months. In May to June, the majority of females (May: 63.0%; June: 61.1%) were mated individuals with relatively high level of ovarian development; however, in August and September, most females were unmated. The mean proportion of mated females was significantly different across months but did not differ between years. The results of long-term searchlight trapping and ovarian dissection indicate that P. scutosa exhibits a seasonal characteristic of typical population dynamics and reproductive development of migratory insects. Our work sheds light upon key facets of P. scutosa ecology and facilitates the future development of pest forecasting systems and pest management schemes.
The Effects of Useful Field of View Training on Brain Activity and Connectivity
Authors: Ross Lesley A , Webb Christina E , Whitaker Christine , Hicks Jarrod M , Schmidt Erica L , Samimy Shaadee , Dennis Nancy A , Visscher Kristina M
Published: April 2018

Objectives

Useful Field of View training (UFOVt) is an adaptive computerized cognitive intervention that improves visual attention and transfers to maintained health and everyday functioning in older adults. Although its efficacy is well established, the neural mechanisms underlying this intervention are unknown. This pilot study used functional MRI (fMRI) to explore neural changes following UFOVt.

Method

Task-driven and resting-state fMRI were used to examine changes in brain activity and connectivity in healthy older adults randomized to 10 hr of UFOVt (n = 13), 10 hr of cognitively stimulating activities (CSA; n = 11), or a no-contact control (NC; n = 10).

Results

UFOVt resulted in reduced task-driven activity in the majority of regions of interest (ROIs) associated with task performance, CSA resulted in reduced activity in one ROI, and there were no changes within the NC group. Relative to NC, UFOVt reduced activity in ROIs involved in effortful information processing. There were no other significant between-group task-based differences. Resting-state functional connectivity between ROIs involved in executive function and visual attention was strengthened following UFOVt compared with CSA and NC.

Discussion

UFOVt enhances connections needed for visual attention. Together with prior work, this study provides evidence that improvement of the brain’s visual attention efficiency is one mechanism underlying UFOVt.
Retrospective Attention in Short-Term Memory Has a Lasting Effect on Long-Term Memory Across Age
Authors: Strunk Jonathan , Morgan Lauren , Reaves Sarah , Verhaeghen Paul , Duarte Audrey
Published: April 2018

Objectives

Declines in both short- and long-term memory are typical of healthy aging. Recent findings suggest that retrodictive attentional cues (“retro-cues”) that indicate the location of to-be-probed items in short-term memory (STM) have a lasting impact on long-term memory (LTM) performance in young adults. Whether older adults can also use retro-cues to facilitate both STM and LTM is unknown.

Method

Young and older adults performed a visual STM task in which spatially informative retro-cues or noninformative neutral-cues were presented during STM maintenance of real-world objects. We tested participants’ memory at both STM and LTM delays for objects that were previously cued with retrodictive or neutral-cues during STM order to measure the lasting impact of retrospective attention on LTM.

Results

Older adults showed reduced STM and LTM capacity compared to young adults. However, they showed similar magnitude retro-cue memory benefits as young adults at both STM and LTM delays.

Discussion

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate whether retro-cues in STM facilitate the encoding of objects into LTM such that they are more likely to be subsequently retrieved by older adults. Our results support the idea that retrospective attention can be an effective means by which older adults can improve their STM and LTM performance, even in the context of reduced memory capacity.
Conformally Covariant Bi-differential Operators on a Simple Real Jordan Algebra
Authors: Ben Saïd Salem , Clerc Jean-Louis , Koufany Khalid
Published: April 2018

For a simple real Jordan algebra V, a family of bi-differential operators from $\mathcal{C}^\infty (V\times V)$ to $\mathcal{C}^\infty (V)$ is constructed. These operators are covariant under the rational action of the conformal group of V. They generalize the classical Rankin–Cohen brackets (case $V=\mathbb{R}$).
Minimally Invasive Exposure of the Maxillary Artery at the Anteromedial Infratemporal Fossa
Authors: Rodriguez Rubio Roberto , Kola Olivia , Tayebi Meybodi Ali , Tabani Halima , Feng Xuequan , Burkhardt Jan-Karl , Yousef Sonia , Lawton Michael T , Benet Arnau
Published: April 2018

BACKGROUND

The maxillary artery (MA) has been described as a reliable donor for extracranial-intracranial high-flow bypass. Existing techniques to harvest MA require brain retraction and drilling of the middle fossa (with or without a zygomatic osteotomy), carrying the potential risks of venous bleeding, injury to the branches of the maxillary or mandibular nerves, muscular transection, or temporomandibular junction disorders.

OBJECTIVE

To describe a novel technique to expose the MA without bony drilling and with minimal impact to surrounding structures.

METHODS

A conventional curvilinear incision was performed in 10 cadaveric specimens, prior to elevating the scalp to expose the zygomatic root and lateral orbital rim. The sphenozygomatic suture was followed to the anterolateral edge of the inferior orbital fissure (IOF) to locate and harvest the pterygoid segment of the MA. Topographic anatomy was assessed using surrounding landmarks and 3D Cartesian coordinates to define the surgical area. The number of visible MA branches and their lengths were recorded.

RESULTS

The MA was successfully exposed in all specimens. This approach allowed 6 branches of MA to be exposed. The average length of exposure was 23.3 ± 8.3 mm and the average surgical area was 2.8 ± 0.9 cm2. The IOF was 11.5 ± 4.2 mm from the MA.

CONCLUSION

Our technique provides landmarks to identify the distal pterygoid segment of MA as a donor for extracranial-intracranial bypasses without the need for additional craniectomies. Clear anatomical landmarks, including the sphenozygomatic suture, anterolateral edge of IOF, infraorbital artery, and the pterygomaxillary fissure defined a trajectory to efficiently localize the MA with minimal risk to surrounding structures.
Side-to-Side and End-to-Side Double Anastomosis Using the Parietal-Branch of the Superficial Temporal Artery—A Novel Technique for Extracranial to Intracranial Bypass Surgery: 3-Dimensional Operative Video
Authors: Arnone Gregory D , Hage Ziad A , Charbel Fady T
Published: April 2018

In this 3-dimensional video, we perform a side-to-side and end-to-side double anastomosis using the parietal-branch of the superficial temporal artery (STA) to provide flow augmentation in a symptomatic 59-yr-old male with bilateral internal carotid artery occlusion at the origin, and left M1 segment occlusion. The patient suffered multiple left hemispheric strokes despite maximal medical therapy and was found to have poor hemodynamic reserve in the left hemisphere during evaluation with regional and global blood oxygenation level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging with CO2-challenge as well as quantitative magnetic resonance angiography and noninvasive optimal vessel analysis pre- and post-acetazolamide challenge. Postoperatively, the patient did very well and his hemodynamic studies improved significantly.

 The importance of this technique relies on the fact that we are using a single donor vessel to perform 2 anastomoses, and carries the following advantages: (1) the frontal STA branch remains intact and therefore can still be used at a later time if further revascularization is needed; (2) wound complications related to devascularizing the scalp from harvesting both STA branches are reduced; (3) 2 vascular territories are augmented (frontal and temporal) while using a single donor; (4) we are maximizing donor potential and optimizing cut flow index (CFI; total bypass flow postanastomosis divided by bypass cut flow) by flow augmenting 2 separate vascular beds therefore increasing demand. To explain that fourth point further: if the STA donor is able to carry a maximum 100 mL/min when cut, and after performing the first anastomosis bypass flow is only 37 mL/min, CFI will be 37/100 = 0.37, reflecting low demand, a poor indicator of graft patency, as previously published.
1,2
By adding a second anastomosis which demands an additional 60 mL/min from the same STA donor, CFI (60 + 37)/100 improves to 1.

 Institutional Review Board approval was obtained for the review of patient chart and video files. Informed consent was obtained directly from the patient via telephone regarding use of media for educational and publication purposes.
Effectiveness of Chinese Martial Arts and Philosophy to Reduce Reactive and Proactive Aggression in Schoolchildren
Authors: Fung Annis Lai Chu , Lee Toney Ka Hung
Published: April 2018

Objective:

This study examined the effectiveness of Chinese martial arts in reducing reactive and proactive aggressive behavior among schoolchildren with a cluster-randomized trial.

Methods:

A screening questionnaire was completed by 3511 schoolchildren of Grades 2 to 5 from 13 sites in Hong Kong. We shortlisted 298 children who scored z ≥ 1 on the total score of the Reactive-Proactive Aggression Questionnaire in their respective sites to participate in the experiment. They were divided into 31 clusters that were blinded and randomly assigned to one of the 4 conditions: skills only, philosophy only, skills and philosophy, and physical fitness (placebo). Subjects were assessed at baseline, posttraining, and 6 months after training using aggression scales.

Results:

Results from the linear mixed model indicated that the time × training interaction effects were significant for aggressive behavior (reactive and proactive), delinquent behavior, anxiety/depression, and attention problems. Although all measures declined in all conditions over time, only the skills-and-philosophy condition showed a significant reduction at posttraining and/or 6-month follow-up compared with the placebo.

Conclusion:

The results provided a theoretical proof for the relationship between aggression and sport involvement combined with children's moral reasoning. This study gives practical implications to intervention that solely playing sports or teaching moral lessons is not effective enough for high-risk schoolchildren with aggressive behavior. However, combined traditional Chinese martial arts skills and moral philosophy training could be considered in the school curriculum to reduce school violence and facilitate creation of harmonious schools.
A Descriptive Analysis of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Presidents
Authors: MacArthur Kelly M. , Hruza George J.
Published: April 2018

BACKGROUND

The American Society of Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) is the major educational organization for dermatologic surgery in the United States. Presidents are elected annually from among their members.

OBJECTIVE

The authors investigated the demographics, training, and achievements of the ASDS presidents.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All ASDS presidents (1970–2017) were included. Data were gathered using publicly available information from websites, curriculum vitae, and PubMed. Living presidents were contacted by email (if available) to verify the collected data.

RESULTS

Of 46 ASDS presidents, 87% are male, with the first female president elected in 1994. Fifty-nine percent are members of the American College of Mohs Surgery. Seven presidents received dual fellowship training. Four presidents received a second graduate degree. Mean duration from residency to presidency was 22 years, with the mean age being 53 years. PubMed publication average was 34. All presidents have been affiliated with academic institutions, with 26% appointed as department chair and 30% serving as academic dermatologic surgery director.

CONCLUSION

The authors report that most of the ASDS presidents have been male with over half receiving Mohs surgery fellowship training. All have had academic affiliations at some point in their careers, with some named department chairs and/or elected as presidents of other national dermatologic societies.