bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
TiO2-Mediated Photoelectrocatalytic Purification of Water
Authors: Candal Roberto J. , Zeltner Walter A. , Anderson Marc A.
Published: January 2017

Sol-gel processing methods were employed to coat thin, porous films of titania on metal plates, specifically on aluminum, 304 stainless steel, and titanium. After coating and firing, all of these materials displayed photocatalytic activity when tested with a solution of formic acid that contained dissolved sodium chloride. However, only the titanium-supported photoelectrodes were stable with repeated use. Activities of these titaniumsupported photoelectrodes increased, often by factors of two to three, when positive potentials were applied across the titania coatings. Electrode activities increased when multiple coatings of titania were applied to the electrodes, although electrode stability was problematic when multiple coatings were deposited. Photoelectrocatalytic activities were not inhibited significantly by the presence of sodium chloride in the test solutions, while copper could be deposited on platinum cathodes when the test solutions contained dissolved copper in addition to sodium chloride and formic acid.
Hypothetical, not Fictional Worlds
Authors: Weinert Friedel
Published: January 2017

This paper critically analyzes the fiction-view of scientific modeling, which exploits presumed analogies between literary fiction and model building in science. The basic idea is that in both fiction and scientific modeling fictional worlds are created. The paper argues that the fiction-view comes closest to certain scientific thought experiments, especially those involving demons in science and to literary movements like naturalism. But the paper concludes that the dissimilarities prevail over the similarities. The fiction-view fails to do justice to the plurality of model types used in science; it fails to realize that a function like idealization only makes sense in science because models, unlike works of fiction, can be de-idealized; it fails to distinguish sufficiently between the make-believe (fictional) worlds created in fiction and the hypothetical (as-if) worlds envisaged in models. Representation characterized in the fiction-view as a license to draw inferences does not sufficiently distinguish between inferences in fiction from inferences in scientific modeling. To highlight the contrast the paper proposes to explicate representation in terms of satisfaction of constraints.
Smart Grid Development: Multinational Demo Project Analysis
Authors: Oleinikova I. , Mutule A. , Obushevs A. , Antoskovs N.
Published: January 2017

This paper analyses demand side management (DSM) projects and stakeholders’ experience with the aim to develop, promote and adapt smart grid tehnologies in Latvia. The research aims at identifying possible system service posibilites, including demand response (DR) and determining the appropriate market design for such type of services to be implemented at the Baltic power system level, with the cooperation of distribution system operator (DSO) and transmission system operator (TSO). This paper is prepared as an extract from the global smart grid best practices, smart solutions and business models.
Lifecycle Analysis of Different Motors from the Standpoint of Environmental Impact
Authors: Orlova S. , Rassõlkin A. , Kallaste A. , Vaimann T. , Belahcen A.
Published: January 2017

Comparative analysis is performed for different motors from the standpoint of damage inflicted by them during their lifecycle. Three types of motors have been considered: the synchronous reluctance motor, the permanent magnet assisted synchronous reluctance motor and the induction motor. The assessment of lifecycle has been made in terms of its four stages: manufacturing, distribution, use and end of life. The results show that the production costs of synchronous reluctance motor are lower compared to that of permanent magnet assisted motors, but due to their low efficiency they exert the greatest environmental impact. The main conclusion is that the assessment made at the early designing stage for the related environmental impact enables its reduction.
Where can flood refugees go? Re-distribution of Corncrakes (Crex crex) due to floods and its consequences on grassland conservation in North-Eastern Hungary
Authors: Boldogh Sándor András , Visnyovszky Tamás , Szegedi Zsolt , Habarics Béla , Horváth Róbert , Krajnyák Cecília , Lengyel Szabolcs
Published: January 2017

The Corncrake is a threatened umbrella species for wet meadows, which mostly depends on managed grasslands. Therefore, effective conservation requires bird-friendly land management schemes and subsidies. Although the most important populations in Hungary usually breed in protected areas, some of these are regularly flooded, which forces Corncrakes to find breeding sites elsewhere. Such movements from protected/subsidised areas to suboptimal sites have risks for Corncrake populations and their conservation. Here, we describe a large-scale dynamic system of interlinked populations based on data from 4194 Corncrake territories found at four different sites (Aggtelek, Bodrogzug, Szatmár-Bereg and Zemplén regions) across eight years between 1997 and 2006 in NE Hungary (c. 1500 km2). The results showed that the total population fluctuated between 407 and 631 pairs and that the populations were more-or-less stable in the first four years (1997–2000). However, extended floods caused the disappearance of the species from the Bodrogzug region in 2005–2006, while in the other sites, the number of territories increased five-fold (Zemplén), three-fold (Aggtelek) and two-fold (Szatmár-Bereg). The correlation between the number of territories and maximum water level of river Tisza in April-May was negative in the Bodrogzug site and positive in the three other sites, indicating that interlinkages of the populations were associated with water levels. Our data thus support the hypothesis that many of the birds driven out by inundation of floodplain meadows moved to other sites in NE Hungary in flood years. These results suggest that even large, centrally located populations of Corncrake can be greatly exposed to risks of flooding and that it is highly important to maintain suitable alternative breeding sites for the species. The High Natural Value Areas programme may allow administrative and funding support to provide or extend protection and/or subsidies to maintain this large-scale dynamic system. To this end, the area managed in bird-friendly ways and subsidised under agri-environmental schemes was extended by 35,000 hectares in NE Hungary in 2009.
Cranial morphology of European passerine bird families (Aves, Passeriformes)
Authors: Ujhelyi Péter
Published: January 2017

The subject of this study focuses on the cranial morphology of 24 native European passerine bird families. In addition to the discussion of taxonomical questions regarding to the examination of beak, orbit, cranium and mandible, the author aims to provide guidance to the determination of raptors’ prey remains. Most of the studied bird families are well-distinguishable using the knowledge on the mentioned osteological traits except some less-specialised families.
Attempts to increase a scarce peripheral population of the Red-breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva) using a new type of nestbox
Authors: Deme Tamás
Published: January 2017

The Red-breasted Flycatcher has a large and stable global population widespread through much of the Western Palearctic. Contrarily, however, it is a very scarce breeding bird in the forested montane habitats of Hungary. The few pairs breeding here represent a peripheral population on the very edge of the species’ geographic area. This peripheral population declined considerably (from 3–500 to 100 pairs) during the past decades likely due to the degradation of suitable habitat patches including the loss of appropriate nesting sites. To reverse this trend, we applied a new type of artificial nestbox developed specifically for this species. Occupancy rate was very low and breeding success was also low unless applying a protective wire mesh to reduce predation pressure.
Detailed description of the Ócsa Bird Ringing Station, Hungary
Authors: Csörgő Tibor , Harnos Andrea , Rózsa Lajos , Karcza Zsolt , Fehérvári Péter
Published: January 2017

The present paper acts as an introduction to a series that will describe the exploratory analyses of migration phenology and morphometrics of the most common passerine species at the Ócsa Bird Ringing Station. This station is situated in the Ócsa Landscape Protection Area that belongs to the Duna–Ipoly National Park, Hungary. The area is somewhat cooler and more humid than the surrounding agricultural fields and tree plantations, covered by a mosaic of diverse hygrophilous vegetation patches. Bird trapping is mostly based on Japanese mist-net lines crossing different plant communities. During the period of 1984–2015, a total of 422,862 birds were trapped and ringed here, while 202,739 local, 1,235 within country, and 443 foreign recaptures were also recorded. Each bird is characterized by the following data: location and time of capture, species, age, sex, scores of fat, pectoral muscle, wing tip abrasion, and moult, length of wing, 3rd primary, and tail, and body mass. After subjected to a rigorous quality check, digital data are deposited in the archive of the Hungarian Bird Ringing Centre, and the EURING data base. From time to time, other research projects also utilized the accessibility of wild birds captured here, thus collection of blood samples, ecto- and endoparasites was carried out at the station. The relatively long time span, large number of species and individuals, and the readily available environmental (weather, vegetation, etc.) data makes the avian data collected here a suitable base for studies of various disciplines like capture methodology, habitat preferences, breeding, migration, and wintering, effects of weather and climate change, and epidemiology of viruses and parasites.
Exploratory analyses of migration timing and morphometrics of the Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca)
Authors: Harnos Andrea , Fehérvári Péter , Piross Imre Sándor , Karcza Zsolt , Ágh Nóra , Kovács Szilvia , Csörgő Tibor
Published: January 2017

Ornithological studies often rely on large temporal scale ringing datasets as source of information. However, basic descriptive statistics of collected data are rarely provided. In order to fill this gap, here we present the first item of a series of exploratory analyses of migration timing and body size measurements of the most frequent Passerine species at a ringing station located in Central Hungary (1984–2015). First, we give a concise description of foreign ring recoveries of the Pied Flycatcher in relation to Hungary. We then shift focus to data of 2860 individuals deriving from the ringing station, where birds have been trapped, handled and ringed with standardized methodology since 1984. Timing is described through annual and daily capture and recapture frequencies and their descriptive statistics. We show annual mean arrival dates within the study period and we present the cumulative distribution of first captures with stopover durations. We present the distributions of wing, third primary, tail length and body mass, and the annual means of these variables. Furthermore, we show the distribution of individual fat and muscle scores, and the distribution of body mass within each fat score category. We distinguish migration periods (spring and autumn), age (i.e. juveniles and adults) and sex groups. Our aim is to provide a comprehensive overview of the analysed variables. However, we do not aim to interpret the obtained results, merely draw attention to interesting patterns, that may be worth exploring in detail. Data used here are available upon request for further analyses.
Project ambidexterity: case of recovering schedule delay in a brownfield airport project in India
Authors: Iyer K. Chandrashekhar , Banerjee Partha S.
Published: January 2017

Planning deficiencies and consequent execution delays are likely to persist in infrastructure development projects. However, recovery of schedule delay is a less researched area. This case research, using a two-stage inquiry modeled on the grounded theory, studied the schedule delay recovery during the execution phase of a brownfield airport construction project. The analyses generated contextual evidence and ambidexterity was found to be the key underlying phenomenon for successful recovery measures. The empirical learning was validated with literature and can be used by practitioners looking to institute schedule recovery measures.
Optimization of social security contributions in health care
Authors: Szereda Kamil , Szymańska Jolanta
Published: January 2017

Cost optimization in health care is based on starting enterprises that employ workers who, after full-time work, perform the same or similar activities for the employer. This violates the social security legislation and creates both legal and financial risks. Using the current regulations, as well as Supreme Court rulings and opinions contained in the publications, the present paper analyzes the legal aspects regarding the phenomenon observed in the labor market.
Meta-analysis of pain and stress in emergency department patients
Authors: Krzyszycha Renata , Goniewicz Mariusz , Goniewicz Krzysztof , Pawłowski Witold , Wańkowicz Piotr
Published: January 2017

Introduction. In Poland, among patients coming to hospital emergency departments (ED), one third require immediate surgical treatment. About one third are transferred to long-term intensive care. The remaining patients require a different type of care, e.g. consultation, healing wounds, observation in the emergency department. From there, they might either be referred to another hospital department or sent home after receiving outpatient help.

Aim. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of pain and stress in patients treated in the emergency department with particular emphasis on the factors that determine their level.

Material and methods. The study group consisted of 200 individuals treated in the emergency department of the Regional Hospital No. 2 in Rzeszów in 2013. The applied research method was a diagnostic survey that used a questionnaire as a research tool. The results were statistically analyzed using SPSS 20, whereas a statistically significant dependence was considered in those with level of significance p≤0.05.

Results. Most respondents reported pain and feelings of stress while staying in the ED. Women and the unemployed were significantly less likely to report pain. Factors like gender, age, education level, and the coexistence of chronic diseases significantly affected the degree of stress among patients in the ED.

Conclusion. Each patient treated at the emergency department should receive holistic care, so that the pain and stress of his injuries are reduced as soon as possible.
The preferences in selecting dietary supplements used in slimming
Authors: Cichocka Izabela , Krupa Jan
Published: January 2017

Introduction. The interest in weight loss supplements can be noticed in Poland at the moment. It is related to people’s trying to look good as fast as possible. The pharmaceutical market puts an emphasis only on the benefits and majority of the people purchasing the supplements do not regard doctor’s advice as necessary. Therefore, in order to learn about consumers’ awareness about the use of dietary supplements is gaining importance.

Aim. The objective of the study was to gain knowledge about choice preferences of dietary supplements used in weight loss, like also to learn about consumer’s awareness about the use of dietary supplements.

Material and methods. An anonymous survey was conducted in Mielec in 2015 among 112 women. The questionnaire included questions concerning their knowledge of dietary supplements, the type and amount of consumption, the reasons for using supplements, benefits and health risks of their use.

Results. 90.2% of women admitted that they are using or they used dietary supplements in order to reduce weight. Respondents most often derive the information about these preparations from the pharmacist (62.5%), television (46.4%), a doctor (36.6%), radio (30.4%), the Internet (29.5%). 72.4% of female respondents pay attention to the composition of dietary supplement, with the emphasis on the amount of the ingredients (64.3%), its dosage (55.4%), the origin of the ingredients (natural or synthetic) (37.5%). Female respondents prefer dietary supplements either in the form of tablets (83.9%) and capsules (54.7%), as well as in liquid (52.7%).

Conclusions. Respondents showed an increased interest in supplements used for weight loss and they usually use it in forms of tablets and capsules. As the role of the Internet increases, it is necessary to educate consumers about ability to search reliable sources of information about dietary supplements used for weight loss.
Awareness of knowledge about the problem of human papillomavirus infections and HPV vaccination in a group of female students beginning their studies at universities in Lublin
Authors: Chołubek Gustaw , Wiktor Krzysztof , Małek Karolina , Robak-Chołubek Dorota
Published: January 2017

Introduction. HPV infection is one of the most common type of sexually transmitted infections and it is a significant epidemiological problem all over the world. The risk of infection persistence and its progression to pathological, precancerous lesions depends on HPV type. Vaccinations against HPV virus are one of the elements of the prophylactic program and allow for early detection of cervical cancer.

Aim. Aim of the study was analysis of awareness of problems of human papillomavirus infections and cervical cancer prevention, including vaccinations against HPV among female students commencing studies in Lublin.

Material and methods. The research group included 400 women selected at random, all starting their studies at five universities in Lublin. The research group was supposed to show some general knowledge of the problem of cervical cancer among young women. It was also to define how many of them benefited from the prophylaxis of getting a vaccination against HPV. The scientific tool was individually elaborated survey questionnaire. Obtained study results were then subject to statistical analysis.

Results. The majority of respondents were not vaccinated against HPV – only 2.5% of the surveyed confirmed that they had been vaccinated. The surveyed students most frequently evaluated their knowledge on prevention of HPV cervical cancer as poor. The surveyed who admitted having information about HPV and cervical cancer prophylaxis during their classes at school significantly more frequently had high level of knowledge than women who claimed not to obtain such information at school (p=0.002).

Conclusions. It might make sense to conduct planned comparative studies in the centers practicing population vaccinations among girls aged 12-13 and not practicing such primary prophylaxis with cytological follow-ups. It may allow to elaborate the effective model of cervical cancer prophylaxis based on early educational activities, both on primary and secondary prophylaxis.
The association between chronic pancreatitis and the iNOS-2087A>G polymorphism
Authors: Pădureanu Vlad , Enescu Anca Ştefania , Siloşi Isabela , Forţofoiu Maria , Enescu Aurelia , Bogdan Maria , Forţofoiu Mircea Cătălin , Dumitrescu Amelia Genunche , Tudoraşcu Diana Rodica , Mita Adrian , Streata Ioana , Ioana Mihai , Petrescu Florin , Săftoiu Adrian
Published: January 2017

Introduction. Chronic pancreatitis is morphologically characterized by ductal dysplasia, breeding grounds for the proliferation of the ductal cells, the degenerative changes in pancreatic acinar cells and fibrosis, and it is defined on the basis of the clinical, morphological and functional criteria.

Aim. The aim of our study is to examine the existence of a possible correlation between the iNOS-2087A>G polymorphism and chronic pancreatitis by means of the genetic analysis.

Material and method. We have conducted the study at the Gastroenterology Clinic and the Research Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Craiova, between March 2015 – September 2016. The study had a prospective character. Both for the 58 patients diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis and for the 132 patients in the witness group, the biological material was represented by blood, (around 2.5 – 5 milliliters of venous blood) let on EDTA and kept at 4°C up to the separation of the DNA molecule. All the patients were genotyped for the iNOS – 2087A>G polymorphism, by means of the Real Time PCR technique with TaqMan probes.

Results. Analysing the prevalence of the iNOS genotypes within the study group and witness group, we have noticed that, statistically speaking, there are no significant differences between the two groups.

Conclusion. As a conclusion, in the study lot we can sustain that the risk of developing chronic pancreatitis is not increased by the presence of the iNOS-2087A>G polymorphism.
Soluble IL-1 decoy receptor is associated with gastric adenocarcinoma
Authors: Cakir Isil , Kilic Eser , Ozel Coskun Banu Demet , Cakir Nuri
Published: January 2017

Background

In recent years, studies on gastric cancer include changes in cancer associated immune system activation and the levels of immune system markers. It has been demonstrated that TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor-alpha) and IL-6 (interleukin-6) play a role in inflammatory associated carcinogenesis.

Objective

Our aim was to investigate serum soluble IL-1 decoy receptor (sIL- 1RII), TNF-α and IL-6 levels in gastric adenocarcinoma patients.

Materials and methods

Male gastric adenocarcinoma patients and dyspeptic participants, in total 55 cases were included. Serum sIL-1RII, TNF-α and IL-6 concentrations were measured.

Results

The median sIL-1RII levels of the patients were statistically significantly lower than the median of the control group (3111 ng/mL; 3601 ng/mL, respectively) (p=0.003). But the median TNF-α and IL-6 levels (58.17 ng/mL; 10.22 ng/mL, respectively) were both numerically higher than those of control group levels (16.62 ng/mL; 5.74 ng/mL, respectively). Also, patients’ median TNF-α levels were found statistically significantly higher (p=0.034).

Conclusion

This study showed the increase of TNF-α, IL-6 levels and for the first time the decrease of sIL-1RII in gastric cancer patients. We propose that negative regulation of gastric cancer using sIL-1RII could be a new anti-cancer strategy.

General significance

Our study provides target pathways for further studies in the pathophysiology of gastric cancer.
Alkylation of tetrathiotungstate anions: crystal structures of the alkylthiolatotrithiotungstate complexes [PPh4]2[WS3(S
n
Pr)][WS3(S
n
Bu)]·½C6H6 and [PPh4][WS3(SCH2C6H4CH2Cl-4)]
Authors: Qian Ting-Ting , Hu Meng-Jie , Xin Zhifeng , Jia Ai-Quan , Zhang Qian-Feng
Published: January 2017

The reaction of [PPh4]2[WS4] in CH3CN with excess n-propylbromide or n-butylbromide gave alkylthiolatotrithiotungstate complexes, [PPh4][WS3(SR)] (1: R=n-propyl; 2: R=n-butyl). The analogous reaction with 1-bromomethyl-4-chloromethyl-benzene afforded a benzylthiolatotrithiotungstate complex, [PPh4][WS3(SCH2C6 H4CH2Cl-4)] (3), whereas the reaction with 1,4-bis-bromomethyl-benzene led to isolation of a dinuclear complex [PPh4]2[WS3(μ-SCH2C6H4CH2S)WS3] (4). Complexes 1–4 were characterized spectroscopically and the crystal structures of 1/2·½C6H6 and 3 have been determined by X-ray diffraction.
Amygdala Contributions to Stimulus–Reward Encoding in the Macaque Medial and Orbital Frontal Cortex during Learning
Authors: Rudebeck Peter H. , Ripple Joshua A. , Mitz Andrew R. , Averbeck Bruno B. , Murray Elisabeth A.
Published: January 2017

Orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), medial frontal cortex (MFC), and amygdala mediate stimulus–reward learning, but the mechanisms through which they interact are unclear. Here, we investigated how neurons in macaque OFC and MFC signaled rewards and the stimuli that predicted them during learning with and without amygdala input. Macaques performed a task that required them to evaluate two stimuli and then choose one to receive the reward associated with that option. Four main findings emerged. First, amygdala lesions slowed the acquisition and use of stimulus–reward associations. Further analyses indicated that this impairment was due, at least in part, to ineffective use of negative feedback to guide subsequent decisions. Second, the activity of neurons in OFC and MFC rapidly evolved to encode the amount of reward associated with each stimulus. Third, amygdalectomy reduced encoding of stimulus–reward associations during the evaluation of different stimuli. Reward encoding of anticipated and received reward after choices were made was not altered. Fourth, amygdala lesions led to an increase in the proportion of neurons in MFC, but not OFC, that encoded the instrumental response that monkeys made on each trial. These correlated changes in behavior and neural activity after amygdala lesions strongly suggest that the amygdala contributes to the ability to learn stimulus–reward associations rapidly by shaping encoding within OFC and MFC.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTAltered functional interactions among orbital frontal cortex (OFC), medial frontal cortex (MFC), and amygdala are thought to underlie several psychiatric conditions, many related to reward learning. Here, we investigated the causal contribution of the amygdala to the development of neuronal activity in macaque OFC and MFC related to rewards and the stimuli that predict them during learning. Without amygdala inputs, neurons in both OFC and MFC showed decreased encoding of stimulus–reward associations. MFC also showed increased encoding of the instrumental responses that monkeys made on each trial. Behaviorally, changes in neural activity were accompanied by slower stimulus–reward learning. The findings suggest that interactions among amygdala, OFC, and MFC contribute to learning about stimuli that predict rewards.
Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors Protect Against Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Dysfunction in Huntington's Disease
Authors: Naia Luana , Cunha-Oliveira Teresa , Rodrigues Joana , Rosenstock Tatiana R. , Oliveira Ana , Ribeiro Márcio , Carmo Catarina , Oliveira-Sousa Sofia I. , Duarte Ana I. , Hayden Michael R. , Rego A. Cristina
Published: January 2017

Transcriptional deregulation and changes in mitochondrial bioenergetics, including pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) dysfunction, have been described in Huntington's disease (HD). We showed previously that the histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) trichostatin A and sodium butyrate (SB) ameliorate mitochondrial function in cells expressing mutant huntingtin. In this work, we investigated the effect of HDACIs on the regulation of PDH activity in striatal cells derived from HD knock-in mice and YAC128 mice. Mutant cells exhibited decreased PDH activity and increased PDH E1alpha phosphorylation/inactivation, accompanied by enhanced protein levels of PDH kinases 1 and 3 (PDK1 and PDK3). Exposure to dichloroacetate, an inhibitor of PDKs, increased mitochondrial respiration and decreased production of reactive oxygen species in mutant cells, emphasizing PDH as an interesting therapeutic target in HD. Treatment with SB and sodium phenylbutyrate, another HDACI, recovered cell viability and overall mitochondrial metabolism in mutant cells. Exposure to SB also suppressed hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1α) stabilization and decreased the transcription of the two most abundant PDK isoforms, PDK2 and PDK3, culminating in increased PDH activation in mutant cells. Concordantly, PDK3 knockdown improved mitochondrial function, emphasizing the role of PDK3 inactivation on the positive effects achieved by SB treatment. YAC128 mouse brain presented higher mRNA levels of PDK1–3 and PDH phosphorylation and decreased energy levels that were significantly ameliorated after SB treatment. Furthermore, enhanced motor learning and coordination were observed in SB-treated YAC128 mice. These results suggest that HDACIs, particularly SB, promote the activity of PDH in the HD brain, helping to counteract HD-related deficits in mitochondrial bioenergetics and motor function.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTThe present work provides a better understanding of mitochondrial dysfunction in Huntington's disease (HD) by showing that the pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) complex is a promising therapeutic target. In particular, the histone deacetylase inhibitor sodium butyrate (SB) may indirectly (through reduced hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha stabilization) decrease the expression of the most abundant PDH kinase isoforms (e.g., PDK3), ameliorating PDH activity and mitochondrial metabolism and further affecting motor behavior in HD mice, thus constituting a promising agent for HD neuroprotective treatment.
Cortical Representation of Interaural Time Difference Is Impaired by Deafness in Development: Evidence from Children with Early Long-term Access to Sound through Bilateral Cochlear Implants Provided Simultaneously
Authors: Easwar Vijayalakshmi , Yamazaki Hiroshi , Deighton Michael , Papsin Blake , Gordon Karen
Published: January 2017

Accurate use of interaural time differences (ITDs) for spatial hearing may require access to bilateral auditory input during sensitive periods in human development. Providing bilateral cochlear implants (CIs) simultaneously promotes symmetrical development of bilateral auditory pathways but does not support normal ITD sensitivity. Thus, although binaural interactions are established by bilateral CIs in the auditory brainstem, potential deficits in cortical processing of ITDs remain. Cortical ITD processing in children with simultaneous bilateral CIs and normal hearing with similar time-in-sound was explored in the present study. Cortical activity evoked by bilateral stimuli with varying ITDs (0, ±0.4, ±1 ms) was recorded using multichannel electroencephalography. Source analyses indicated dominant activity in the right auditory cortex in both groups but limited ITD processing in children with bilateral CIs. In normal-hearing children, adult-like processing patterns were found underlying the immature P1 (∼100 ms) response peak with reduced activity in the auditory cortex ipsilateral to the leading ITD. Further, the left cortex showed a stronger preference than the right cortex for stimuli leading from the contralateral hemifield. By contrast, children with CIs demonstrated reduced ITD-related changes in both auditory cortices. Decreased parieto-occipital activity, possibly involved in spatial processing, was also revealed in children with CIs. Thus, simultaneous bilateral implantation in young children maintains right cortical dominance during binaural processing but does not fully overcome effects of deafness using present CI devices. Protection of bilateral pathways through simultaneous implantation might be capitalized for ITD processing with signal processing advances, which more consistently represent binaural timing cues.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTMultichannel electroencephalography demonstrated impairment of binaural processing in children who are deaf despite early access to bilateral auditory input by first finding that foundations for binaural hearing are normally established during early stages of cortical development. Although 4- to 7-year-old children with normal hearing had immature cortical responses, adult patterns in cortical coding of binaural timing cues were measured. Second, children receiving two cochlear implants in the same surgery maintained normal-like input from both ears, but this did not support significant effects of binaural timing cues in either auditory cortex. Deficits in parieto-occiptal areas further suggested impairment in spatial processing. Results indicate that cochlear implants working independently in each ear do not fully overcome deafness-related binaural processing deficits, even after long-term experience.
Perceiving Boundaries in Unfamiliar Turkish Makam Music
Authors: Mungan Esra , Yazıcı Z. Funda , Kaya Mustafa (Uğur)
Published: January 2017

Music segmentation is a widely researched topic within music perception. Even though there is extensive data on the role of surface structure features and music training (e.g., Deliège, 1987) in segmentation, not much is known yet about the influence of implicit knowledge-based features acquired through musical enculturation. The goal of our study was to fill this gap. Makam music-trained musicians, nonmusicians, and Western listeners marked their segmentations online as they listened to mostly 19th century, unfamiliar Turkish makam tunes, all recorded in a Qānūn timbre on MIDI with retained microtonal structure. In addition, two experts segmented the tunes in a free-time setting. We found considerable within- and across-group agreement, as well as good agreement with the expert segmentations. After transforming each participant’s segmentations into “hits” and “false alarms” based on their match or mismatch with expert segmentations, we observed that musicians overlapped significantly more with expert segmentations than do the other two groups. Segmentations in all three groups were strongly driven by mostly local surface features. Overall, our results are more supportive of a universality claim as proposed by the Gestalt school of psychology than an enculturation claim.
Effects of Interpersonal Movement Synchrony on Infant Helping Behaviors
Authors: Cirelli Laura K. , Wan Stephanie J. , Spinelli Christina , Trainor Laurel J.
Published: January 2017

Moving in synchrony with others encourages prosocial behavior. Adults who walk, sing, or tap together are later more likely to be cooperative, helpful, and rate each other as likeable. Our previous studies demonstrated that interpersonal synchrony encourages helpfulness even in 14-month-old infants. However, in those studies, infants always experienced interpersonal synchrony in a musical context. Here we investigated whether synchronous movement in a nonmusical context has similar effects on infant helpfulness. Fourteen-month-olds were bounced gently while the experimenter faced the infant and bounced with them either in- or out-of-synchrony. In contrast to our previous studies, instead of listening to music during this interpersonal movement phase while being bounced, infants listened to nonrhythmic nature sounds. We then tested infant prosociality directed toward the experimenter. Results showed that synchronous bouncing still encouraged more prosociality than asynchronous bouncing, despite the absence of music. However, helping was more delayed and fussiness rates were much higher than in our previous studies with music. Thus music may not be necessary for interpersonal synchrony to influence infant helpfulness, but the presence of music may act as a mood regulator or distractor to help keep infants happy and allow them to fully experience the effects of synchronous movement.
Protein abundance of AKT and ERK pathway components governs cell type‐specific regulation of proliferation
Authors: Adlung Lorenz , Kar Sandip , Wagner Marie‐Christine , She Bin , Chakraborty Sajib , Bao Jie , Lattermann Susen , Boerries Melanie , Busch Hauke , Wuchter Patrick , Ho Anthony D , Timmer Jens , Schilling Marcel , Höfer Thomas , Klingmüller Ursula
Published: January 2017

Signaling through the AKT and ERK pathways controls cell proliferation. However, the integrated regulation of this multistep process, involving signal processing, cell growth and cell cycle progression, is poorly understood. Here, we study different hematopoietic cell types, in which AKT and ERK signaling is triggered by erythropoietin (Epo). Although these cell types share the molecular network topology for pro‐proliferative Epo signaling, they exhibit distinct proliferative responses. Iterating quantitative experiments and mathematical modeling, we identify two molecular sources for cell type‐specific proliferation. First, cell type‐specific protein abundance patterns cause differential signal flow along the AKT and ERK pathways. Second, downstream regulators of both pathways have differential effects on proliferation, suggesting that protein synthesis is rate‐limiting for faster cycling cells while slower cell cycles are controlled at the G1‐S progression. The integrated mathematical model of Epo‐driven proliferation explains cell type‐specific effects of targeted AKT and ERK inhibitors and faithfully predicts, based on the protein abundance, anti‐proliferative effects of inhibitors in primary human erythroid progenitor cells. Our findings suggest that the effectiveness of targeted cancer therapy might become predictable from protein abundance.
Visual anticipation time differences between athletes in open and closed skills sports
Authors: Omar Rokiah Haji , Meng Kuan Yau , Knight Victor Feizal , Manan Faudziah Abd , Ahmad Padri Mohd Nizar
Published: January 2017

The ability to anticipation accurately and consistently plays a vital role to excel in sports performance. The present study was designed to determine the differences of visual anticipation time between dynamic and static sports. A total of 95 junior athletes, aged 13 to 16 years old (=14.84±1.04 years) from Bukit Jalil Sports School participated in the study. Participants were distributed to dynamic (n=47) and static (n=48) sports according to their sports participation. Visual anticipation time was tested using Bassin Anticipation Timer in response to stimuli at the speed of 5, 10, and 15 mph, measuring absolute and variable error. Absolute error measured the accuracy of responses while variable error focused on the consistency of responses. The results of this investigation showed that in general dynamic sport are not superior over anticipation ability in relations to accuracy and consistency as compared to static sports across all speeds (p < 0.05). The evidence from this study suggested more emphasis on training related to eye and hand coordination would be imperative for dynamic sports athletes to enhance in on-field sports performance. This study could serve as a base for future studies focusing on visual and hand coordination related to speed as anticipation has been proven to be the key leading to superior performance and for talent identification purposes. Future research concentrating on elite athletes as well as focused sports group would provide further insights on anticipation ability of athletes.
Prevention of Soccer-Related Ankle Injuries in Youth Amateur Players: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Farhan Ahmed Fadhil , J. Stephany Maria , K. Mahammed Shamil
Published: January 2017

Background: In lower levels of play, the lateral ankle sprain is the most common time loss injury, especially amongst male youth soccer players.Purpose: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of an injury prevention program on the incidence of ankle injuries in male youth amateur players.Study Design: Randomized controlled trial study.Methods: Fifty boys (mean ±SD: age 13.3±0.4 yr; body mass index of 20.9 ± 1.5 kg/m2; stature: 1.6 ± 0.1 m) from two sport schools, with 4.4 ± 0.5 years playing experience, participated. Players were randomly assigned to either an experimental (EXP, n = 25) or a control (CON, n = 25) group. A physical exercise program designed exclusively for youth male soccer players was combined with education of athletes and coaches to increase awareness of injury risk. Over 1 year all injuries were documented monthly by physiotherapist. Complete monthly injury reports were available for 50 players.Results: Nine ankle injuries occurred in the EXP group and 20 injuries occurred in the CON group, corresponding to incidence rates of 0.96 and 2.16, respectively, per 1000 player hours, which equates to 55% fewer injuries in the EXP group.Conclusions: The incidence of ankle injuries among youth male soccer players can be reduced by implementation of a multifaceted, soccer-specific physical exercise program. Coaches and players need better education regarding injury prevention strategies and should include such interventions as part of their regular training.
Effects of G6pc2 deletion on body weight and cholesterol in mice
Authors: Boortz Kayla A , Syring Kristen E , Pound Lynley D , Mo Huan , Bastarache Lisa , Oeser James K , McGuinness Owen P , Denny Joshua C , O’Brien Richard M
Published: January 2017

Genome-wide association study (GWAS) data have linked the G6PC2 gene to variations in fasting blood glucose (FBG). G6PC2 encodes an islet-specific glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit that forms a substrate cycle with the beta cell glucose sensor glucokinase. This cycle modulates the glucose sensitivity of insulin secretion and hence FBG. GWAS data have not linked G6PC2 to variations in body weight but we previously reported that female C57BL/6J G6pc2-knockout (KO) mice were lighter than wild-type littermates on both a chow and high-fat diet. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of G6pc2 deletion on FBG and body weight in both chow-fed and high-fat-fed mice on two other genetic backgrounds. FBG was reduced in G6pc2 KO mice largely independent of gender, genetic background or diet. In contrast, the effect of G6pc2 deletion on body weight was markedly influenced by these variables. Deletion of G6pc2 conferred a marked protection against diet-induced obesity in male mixed genetic background mice, whereas in 129SvEv mice deletion of G6pc2 had no effect on body weight. G6pc2 deletion also reduced plasma cholesterol levels in a manner dependent on gender, genetic background and diet. An association between G6PC2 and plasma cholesterol was also observed in humans through electronic health record-derived phenotype analyses. These observations suggest that the action of G6PC2 on FBG is largely independent of the influences of environment, modifier genes or epigenetic events, whereas the action of G6PC2 on body weight and cholesterol are influenced by unknown variables.
Identification of Unannotated Small Genes in Salmonella
Authors: Baek Jonghwan , Lee Jiyoung , Yoon Kihoon , Lee Hyunwoo
Published: January 2017

Increasing evidence indicates that many, if not all, small genes encoding proteins ≤100 aa are missing in annotations of bacterial genomes currently available. To uncover unannotated small genes in the model bacterium Salmonella enterica Typhimurium 14028s, we used the genomic technique ribosome profiling, which provides a snapshot of all mRNAs being translated (translatome) in a given growth condition. For comprehensive identification of unannotated small genes, we obtained Salmonella translatomes from four different growth conditions: LB, MOPS rich defined medium, and two infection-relevant conditions low Mg2+ (10 µM) and low pH (5.8). To facilitate the identification of small genes, ribosome profiling data were analyzed in combination with in silico predicted putative open reading frames and transcriptome profiles. As a result, we uncovered 130 unannotated ORFs. Of them, 98% were small ORFs putatively encoding peptides/proteins ≤100 aa, and some of them were only expressed in the infection-relevant low Mg2+ and/or low pH condition. We validated the expression of 25 of these ORFs by western blot, including the smallest, which encodes a peptide of 7 aa residues. Our results suggest that many sequenced bacterial genomes are underannotated with regard to small genes and their gene annotations need to be revised.
Endogenous RNAi Pathways Are Required in Neurons for Dauer Formation in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Bharadwaj Pallavi S , Hall Sarah E
Published: January 2017

Animals can adapt to unfavorable environments through changes in physiology or behavior. In the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, environmental conditions perceived early in development determine whether the animal enters either the reproductive cycle, or enters into an alternative diapause stage named dauer. Here, we show that endogenous RNAi pathways play a role in dauer formation in crowding (high pheromone), starvation, and high temperature conditions. Disruption of the Mutator proteins or the nuclear Argonaute CSR-1 result in differential dauer-deficient phenotypes that are dependent upon the experienced environmental stress. We provide evidence that the RNAi pathways function in chemosensory neurons for dauer formation, upstream of the TGF-β and insulin signaling pathways. In addition, we show that Mutator  MUT-16 expression in a subset of individual pheromone-sensing neurons is sufficient for dauer formation in high pheromone conditions, but not in starvation or high temperature conditions. Furthermore, we also show that MUT-16 and CSR-1 are required for expression of a subset of G proteins with functions in the detection of pheromone components. Together, our data suggest a model where Mutator-amplified siRNAs that associate with the CSR-1 pathway promote expression of genes required for the detection and signaling of environmental conditions to regulate development and behavior in C. elegans. This study highlights a mechanism whereby RNAi pathways mediate the link between environmental stress and adaptive phenotypic plasticity in animals.
The Predicted Cross Value for Genetic Introgression of Multiple Alleles
Authors: Han Ye , Cameron John N , Wang Lizhi , Beavis William D
Published: January 2017

Han et al. introduce a new metric, the Predicted Cross Value (PCV), for selecting breeding parents. Unlike estimated breeding values, which represent...

We consider the plant genetic improvement challenge of introgressing multiple alleles from a homozygous donor to a recipient. First, we frame the project as an algorithmic process that can be mathematically formulated. We then introduce a novel metric for selecting breeding parents that we refer to as the predicted cross value (PCV). Unlike estimated breeding values, which represent predictions of general combining ability, the PCV predicts specific combining ability. The PCV takes estimates of recombination frequencies as an input vector and calculates the probability that a pair of parents will produce a gamete with desirable alleles at all specified loci. We compared the PCV approach with existing estimated-breeding-value approaches in two simulation experiments, in which 7 and 20 desirable alleles were to be introgressed from a donor line into a recipient line. Results suggest that the PCV is more efficient and effective for multi-allelic trait introgression. We also discuss how operations research can be used for other crop genetic improvement projects and suggest several future research directions.
A Crowdsourcing-based Air Pollution Measurement System Using DIY Atomic Force Microscopes
Authors: Lopez Martinez Daniel , Lombraña Daniel , Grey Francois , Hwu En-te
Published: January 2017

Air pollutants have become the major problem of many cities, causing millions of human deaths worldwide every year. Among all the noxious pollutants in air, particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less (PM2.5) are the most hazardous because they are small enough to penetrate to the lungs and invade the smallest airways. Since the presence of dangerous levels of PM2.5, commonly reported in newspapers and on TV, is intertwined with the global pattern of production and consumption, there is a need for citizen science projects that engage the young generations in efforts toward reducing air pollution as they will become the future leaders of society. With this goal, and to enable the geo-temporal characterization of PM2.5, we present a crowdsourcing-based air pollution measurement system that uses affordable DIY atomic force microscopes to measure and characterize PM2.5, exploiting the power of human computation through an online crowdsourcing platform to study how PM2.5 varies over time and across geographical locations. Our system is intended as both a scientific platform and a teaching tool for children to engage in environmental policy.