bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Charcot–Marie–Tooth Health Index: Evaluation of a Patient‐Reported Outcome
Authors: Johnson Nicholas E. , Heatwole Chad , Creigh Peter , McDermott Michael P. , Dilek Nuran , Hung Man , Bounsanga Jerry , Tang Wan , Shy Michael E. , Herrmann David N.
Published: July 2018

Objective

The development of a disease‐specific patient‐reported outcome for Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease is an important step in the preparation for therapeutic trials. This study describes the development of the Charcot–Marie–Tooth Health Index (CMTHI).

Methods

Inherited Neuropathy Consortium Contact Registry participants were queried on the symptoms that most impacted their lives. The CMTHI was developed based on these responses. Factor analysis, assessment of test–retest reliability, known group validity, and patient interviews were utilized to refine the instrument.

Results

The final CMTHI contains 18 themes that capture Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease (CMT) burden. The CMTHI has a high internal consistency and test–retest reliability. The CMTHI was able to discriminate between patient groups expected to have different disease burden. The CMTHI was able to discriminate levels of disability as measured by the CMT examination score and the mobility‐Disability Severity Index.

Interpretation

The CMTHI represents a valid and reliable outcome to assess patient‐reported disease burden in CMT. Ann Neurol 2018;84:225–233
Clinical validation of blood/brain glutamate grabbing in acute ischemic stroke
Authors: da Silva‐Candal Andrés , Pérez‐Díaz Amparo , Santamaría María , Correa‐Paz Clara , Rodríguez‐Yáñez Manuel , Ardá Ana , Pérez‐Mato María , Iglesias‐Rey Ramón , Brea José , Azuaje Jhonny , Sotelo Eddy , Sobrino Tomás , Loza M. Isabel , Castillo José , Campos Francisco
Published: July 2018

Objective

Blood/brain‐glutamate grabbing is an emerging concept in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke, where essentially the deleterious effects of glutamate after ischemia are ameliorated by coaxing glutamate to enter the bloodstream and thus reducing its concentration in the brain. Aiming to demonstrate the clinical efficacy of blood glutamate grabbers in patients with stroke, in this study, we resorted to a drug‐repositioning strategy for the discovery of new glutamate‐grabbing drugs.

Methods

The glutamate‐grabbing ability of 1,120 compounds (90% of which were drugs approved by the US Food and Drug Administration) was evaluated during an in vitro high‐throughput screening campaign. Subsequently, the protective efficacy of the selected drugs was probed in an ischemic animal model and finally tested in stroke patients.

Results

Riboflavin (vitamin B2) was identified as the main hit compound. In ischemic animal models treated with riboflavin (1mg/kg), it was confirmed that blood glutamate reduction was associated with a significant reduction of infarct size. These results led to a randomized, double‐blind, phase IIb clinical trial with patients with stroke. Fifty patients were randomized to 1 of the 2 study arms: the control group (placebo) and the experimental group (20mg of riboflavin [vitamin B2 Streuli@). Decrease in glutamate concentration was significantly greater (p < 0.029) in the treated group. Comparative analysis of the percentage improvement on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score at discharge was slightly higher in the riboflavin‐treated group than in the placebo group (33.7 ± 43.7 vs 48.9 ± 42.4%, p = 0.050).

Interpretation

This translational study represents the first human demonstration of the efficacy of blood glutamate grabbers in the treatment of patients with stroke, paving the way for the development of a promising novel protective therapy. Ann Neurol 2018;84:260–273
Natural History of Vanishing White Matter
Authors: Hamilton Eline M. C. , van der Lei Hannemieke D. W. , Vermeulen Gerre , Gerver Jan A. M. , Lourenço Charles M. , Naidu Sakkubai , Mierzewska Hanna , Gemke Reinoud J. B. J. , de Vet Henrica C. W. , Uitdehaag Bernard M. J. , Lissenberg‐Witte Birgit I. ,   VWM Research Group, van der Knaap Marjo S.
Published: July 2018

Objective

To comprehensively describe the natural history of vanishing white matter (VWM), aiming at improving counseling of patients/families and providing natural history data for future therapeutic trials.

Methods

We performed a longitudinal multicenter study among 296 genetically confirmed VWM patients. Clinical information was obtained via disease‐specific clinical questionnaire, Health Utilities Index and Guy's Neurological Disability Scale assessments, and chart review.

Results

First disease signs occurred at a median age of 3 years (mode = 2 years, range = before birth to 54 years); 60% of patients were symptomatic before the age of 4 years. The nature of the first signs varied for different ages of onset. Overall, motor problems were the most common presenting sign, especially in children. Adolescent and adult onset patients were more likely to exhibit cognitive problems early after disease onset. One hundred two patients were deceased. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed a positive relation between age at onset and both preservation of ambulation and survival. Absence of stress‐provoked episodes and absence of seizures predicted more favorable outcome. In patients with onset before 4 years, earlier onset was associated with more severe disability and higher mortality. For onset from 4 years on, disease course was generally milder, with a wide variation in severity. There were no significant differences for sex or for the 5 eIF2B gene groups. The results confirm the presence of a genotype–phenotype correlation.

Interpretation

The VWM disease spectrum consists of a continuum with extremely wide variability. Age at onset is a strong predictor for disease course. Ann Neurol 2018;84:274–288
Plasma urate and risk of Parkinson's disease: A mendelian randomization study
Authors: Kobylecki Camilla J. , Nordestgaard Børge G. , Afzal Shoaib
Published: July 2018

Objective

Urate is a potent antioxidant, and high plasma urate has been associated with lower incidence of Parkinson's disease (PD) in epidemiological studies. We tested the hypothesis that high concentrations of plasma urate are associated with low incidence of PD.

Methods

We performed observational and genetic analyses using plasma urate and the urate SLC2A9 rs7442295 and ABCG2 rs2231142 genotype in >102,000 individuals from the CGPS (Copenhagen General Population Study). Information on PD and mortality was from national patient and death registries. Incidences of PD were calculated using Cox regression, Fine and Gray competing‐risks regression, and instrumental variable analyses.

Results

In total, 398 individuals were diagnosed with PD, of which 285 were incident cases. The multivariable adjusted hazard ratio for PD was 0.56 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.41–0.77) for the highest versus the lowest tertile of plasma urate (p for trend across 3 groups, 8 × 10–5). Each one‐allele increase in the combined allele score was associated with 19μmol/l (95% CI, 18.5–19.9) higher plasma urate. In observational analyses, a 50μmol/l higher plasma urate was associated with a hazard ratio of 0.85 (0.77–0.92) for PD; in instrumental variable analyses, 50μmol/l higher plasma urate was associated with an odds ratio of 1.20 (0.85–1.71) for PD.

Interpretation

High plasma urate was associated with lower risk of PD in observational analyses; however, in instrumental variable analysis, high plasma urate was not associated with low risk of PD. Thus, our data do not support a causal relationship between high plasma urate and low risk of PD. Ann Neurol 2018;84:178–190
Structural signature of SCA3: From presymptomatic to late disease stages
Authors: Rezende Thiago Junqueira Ribeiro , de Paiva Jean Levi Ribeiro , Martinez Alberto Rolim Muro , Lopes‐Cendes Iscia , Pedroso José Luiz , Barsottini Orlando Graziani Povoas , Cendes Fernando , França Marcondes C.
Published: July 2018

Objective

Machado–Joseph disease (SCA3/MJD) is the most frequent spinocerebellar ataxia worldwide and characterized by brainstem, basal ganglia, and cerebellar damage. However, little is known about the natural history of the disease. This motivated us to determine the extension and progression of central nervous system involvement in SCA3/MJD using multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)‐based analyses in a large cohort of patients (n = 79) and presymptomatic subjects (n = 12).

Methods

All subjects underwent MRI in a 3T device to assess gray and white matter. To evaluate the cerebral and cerebellar cortices, we used measures from FreeSurfer and SUIT. T1‐multiatlas assessed deep gray matter. Diffusion tensor imaging multiatlas was used to investigate cerebral white matter (WM) and SpineSeg to assess the cervical spinal cord.

Results

There was widespread WM and cerebellar damage, in contrast to the restricted motor cortex involvement when all patients are compared to age‐ and sex‐matched controls. Presymtomatic patients showed WM microstructural abnormalities mainly in the cerebellar and cerebral peduncles and volumetric reduction of midbrain, spinal cord, and substantia nigra. To assess the disease progression, we divided patients into four subgroups defined by time from ataxia onset. There was a clear pattern of evolving structural compromise, starting in infratentorial structures and progressing up to the cerebral cortex.

Conclusion

Structural damage in SCA3/MJD begins in the spinal cord, cerebellar peduncles, as well as substantia nigra and progresses to cerebral areas in the long term. These structural differences reveal some insights into the pathogenesis of SCA3/MJD and suggest a staging scheme to map the progression of the disease. Ann Neurol 2018;84:401–408
NHC‐Catalyzed Electrophilic Trifluoromethylation: Efficient Synthesis of γ‐Trifluoromethyl α,β‐Unsaturated Esters
Authors: Yang Wen , Ma Dengke , Zhou Yu , Dong Xiuqin , Lin Zhenyang , Sun Jianwei
Published: July 2018

Described herein is a highly regioselective and efficient N‐heterocyclic‐carbene‐catalyzed γ‐trifluoromethylation of vinylogous enolates. Control experiments and DFT calculations provided important insight into the reaction mechanism.
Synthesis of a Structure‐Definite α‐Cyclodextrin‐Based Macromolecular [3]Rotaxane Using a Size‐Complementary Method
Authors: Akae Yosuke , Sogawa Hiromitsu , Takata Toshikazu
Published: July 2018

The challenging synthesis of an α‐cyclodextrin (CD)‐based macromolecular rotaxane with definite structure was fulfilled using a size‐complementary method. A new peracetylated (PAc) α‐CD‐based size‐complementary [3]rotaxane was prepared and its thermal dissociation kinetics studied. The de‐slippage mechanism was found to be different from that of the native α‐CD‐based system. PAcα‐CD‐based size‐complementary [3]rotaxanes were employed as initiators for a ring‐opening polymerization of ϵ‐caprolactone to obtain the macromolecular [3]rotaxanes. Detailed investigation of component dissociation showed the highly movable character of the wheel on the polymer main chain. A general method for controlling the movement of wheels in rotaxane frameworks, even in polymer systems, was established. This will enable the development of new supramolecular architectures and molecular machines.
The Hydrazine–O2 Redox Couple as a Platform for Organocatalytic Oxidation: Benzo[c]cinnoline‐Catalyzed Oxidation of Alkyl Halides to Aldehydes
Authors: Stone Ilana B. , Jermaks Janis , MacMillan Samantha N. , Lambert Tristan H.
Published: July 2018

An organocatalytic oxidation platform that capitalizes on the capacity of hydrazines to undergo rapid autoxidation to diazenes is described. Commercially available benzo[c]cinnoline is shown to catalyze the oxidation of alkyl halides to aldehydes in a novel mechanistic paradigm involving nucleophilic attack, prototropic shift, and hydrolysis. The hydrolysis and reoxidation events occur readily with only adventitious oxygen and water. A survey of the scope of viable substrates is shown along with mechanistic and computational studies that give insight into this mode of catalysis.
A Facile Synthesis of WS2/g‐C3N4 Composites with Improved Photocatalytic Activity
Authors: Tran Huu Ha , Truong Duy Huong , Truong Thanh Tam , Xuan Dieu Nguyen Thi , Jin Ying‐Shi , Kim Sung Jin , Vo Vien
Published: July 2018

Visible‐light‐driven photocatalysis has received considerable attention in the environmental treatment in recent years. In this paper, WS2/g‐C3N4 composite photocatalysts with various contents of WS2 and g‐C3N4 were synthesized by a facile method via heating the mixtures of tungstic acid and thiourea, and denoted as nWCN, where n is weight ratio of thiourea to tungstic acid. The composites were characterized by XRD, SEM, EDS, TEM, IR, Raman spectroscopy, XPS, TGA, and UV–vis DRS. The characterizations reveal that the composites contain WS2 nanosheets coated by g‐C3N4 and the relative content of WS2 in the composites decreases with increasing amount of thiourea in the reaction mixtures. All the composites exhibited the better photocatalytic activity in degradation of methylene blue in aqueous solution than the single components, WS2, and g‐C3N4. Among them, 7WCN sample performed the highest activity. A synergistic effect between WS2 and g‐C3N4 in photocatalytic activity for the composites was observed.
A semantic network model for measuring engagement and performance in online learning platforms
Authors: Lim Sunghoon , Tucker Conrad S. , Jablokow Kathryn , Pursel Bart
Published: July 2018

Due to the increasing global availability of the internet, online learning platforms such as Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), have become a new paradigm for distance learning in engineering education. While interactions between instructors and students are readily observable in a physical classroom environment, monitoring student engagement is challenging in MOOCs. Monitoring student engagement and measuring its impact on student performance are important for MOOC instructors, who are focused on improving the quality of their courses. The authors of this work present a semantic network model for measuring the different word associations between instructors and students in order to measure student engagement in MOOCs. Correlation analysis is then performed for identifying how student engagement in MOOCs affect student performance. Real‐world MOOC transcripts and MOOC discussion forum data are used to evaluate the effectiveness of this research.
Molecular Tweezers with Additional Recognition Sites
Authors: Heid Christian , Sowislok Andrea , Schaller Torsten , Niemeyer Felix , Klärner Frank‐Gerrit , Schrader Thomas
Published: July 2018

A new synthetic access to molecular tweezers with one or two aliphatic phosphate ester groups in the central benzene spacer‐unit is presented. Alkynyl ester groups offer the prospect to attach additional functional units by click chemistry and greatly broaden the scope of these tools for chemical biology. We present two alternative strategies: the trichloroacetonitrile method involves activation of only one OH group of each phosphoric acid substituent by way of trichloroacetimidate intermediates and subsequent introduction of an aliphatic ester alcohol moiety. The method is versatile, robust and combines simple workup with high yields. Mono‐ and disubstituted novel host structures are thus accessible in a convenient way. Alternatively, the phosphoramidite strategy activates the hydroquinone precursor by way of phosphoramidite intermediates and couples the desired ester alcohols followed by mild oxidation to the desired phosphate esters. Each step of the synthesis is carried out at very mild conditions and allows to combine sensitive host candidates and recognition elements. After neutralization of the phosphoric acids to water‐soluble tri‐ and tetra‐anions the cavities of the new tweezer derivatives are open to bind lysine and arginine as well as peptidic guests. The concept of introducing clickable alkynyl phosphates to free OH groups may be transferred to other major macrocyclic host classes to introduce additional recognition elements, biomolecules or fluorescence labels.
Alkali Metals‐Based Energetic Coordination Polymers as Promising Primary Explosives: Crystal Structures, Energetic Properties, and Environmental Impact
Authors: Sun Qi , Liu Yang , Li Xin , Lu Ming , Lin Qiuhan
Published: July 2018

Coordination polymers (CPs) consisting of alkali metals (Na, K, Rb, and Cs) and a powerful nitrogen‐ and oxygen‐rich energetic ligand (4,4′‐bis(dinitromethyl)‐3,3′‐bisnitramide‐methylene‐furazanate, DBMF2−) were developed. Molecular structures of these CPs, confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis, indicated that the same ligand takes on a U‐shaped state for Na and an N‐shaped state for K, Rb, and Cs. Explosion tests demonstrated that both Na2DBMF and K2DBMF efficiently detonated the secondary explosive RDX. This indicates that they are both effective primary explosives. K2DBMF exhibits better calculated detonation performance (D: 8227 m s−1; P: 32.5 GPa) than the primary explosive Pb(N3)2. In addition, toxicity tests and evaluation of their decomposition products reveal their low impact on the environment. Both experimental results and theoretical analyses indicate that the combination of alkali metals and a powerful energetic ligand can stimulate the development of primary explosives.
Hydrogen‐Bonded Donor–Acceptor Arrays at the Solution–Graphite Interface
Authors: Velpula Gangamallaiah , Li Mengmeng , Hu Yunbin , Zagranyarski Yulian , Pisula Wojciech , Müllen Klaus , Mali Kunal S. , De Feyter Steven
Published: July 2018

Controlling the nanoscale morphology of organic thin films represents a critical challenge in the fabrication of organic (opto)electronic devices. The morphology of the (multicomponent) thin films in turn depends on the mutual orientation of the molecular components and their supramolecular packing on the surface. Here, it is shown how the surface co‐assembly of electron‐donating and ‐accepting building blocks can be controlled via (supra)molecular design. Hexa‐peri‐hexabenzocoronene (HBC) derivatives with multiple hydrogen‐bonding (H‐bonding) sites were synthesized and their co‐assembly with alkyl‐substituted perylene tetracarboxy diimide (PDI) was studied using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) at the solution–graphite interface. STM data shows that electron‐rich HBCs co‐assemble laterally with electron deficient PDIs via preprogrammed H‐bonding sites with high fidelity. The surface stoichiometry of the two components could be readily tuned by changing the number of H‐bonding sites on the HBC derivatives via organic synthesis. This model study highlights the utility of (supra)molecular design in co‐assembly of building blocks relevant for organic electronics.
Metal‐Organic Layers Catalyze Photoreactions without Pore Size and Diffusion Limitations
Authors: Xu Ruoyu , Drake Tasha , Lan Guangxu , Lin Wenbin
Published: July 2018

Metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as promising single‐site solid catalysts for organic reactions. However, MOF catalysts suffer from pore size limitation and slow diffusion, which are detrimental for photoreactions. Metal‐organic layers (MOLs) have unique ultrathin 2D monolayer structures and overcome pore size and diffusion limitations. Here, the synthesis of photoactive Zr‐RuBPY MOL based on Zr‐oxo clusters and [Ru(bpy)3]2+‐containing linkers is reported as well as its application in photocatalytic [2+2] cyclizations of enones and Meerwein addition reactions between aryl diazonium salts, styrenes, and nitriles.
Extensive somatosensory and motor corticospinal sprouting occurs following a central dorsal column lesion in monkeys
Authors: Fisher Karen M. , Lilak Alayna , Garner Joseph , Darian‐Smith Corinna
Published: July 2018

The corticospinal tract (CST) forms the major descending pathway mediating voluntary hand movements in primates, and originates from ∼nine cortical subdivisions in the macaque. While the terminals of spared motor CST axons are known to sprout locally within the cord in response to spinal injury, little is known about the response of the other CST subcomponents. We previously reported that following a cervical dorsal root lesion (DRL), the primary somatosensory (S1) CST terminal projection retracts to 60% of its original terminal domain, while the primary motor (M1) projection remains robust (Darian‐Smith et al., J. Neurosci., 2013). In contrast, when a dorsal column lesion (DCL) is added to the DRL, the S1 CST, in addition to the M1 CST, extends its terminal projections bilaterally and caudally, well beyond normal range (Darian‐Smith et al., J. Neurosci., 2014). Are these dramatic responses linked entirely to the inclusion of a CNS injury (i.e., DCL), or do the two components summate or interact? We addressed this directly, by comparing data from monkeys that received a unilateral DCL alone, with those that received either a DRL or a combined DRL/DCL. Approximately 4 months post‐lesion, the S1 hand region was mapped electrophysiologically, and anterograde tracers were injected bilaterally into the region deprived of normal input, to assess spinal terminal labeling. Using multifactorial analyses, we show that following a DCL alone (i.e., cuneate fasciculus lesion), the S1 and M1 CSTs also sprout significantly and bilaterally beyond normal range, with a termination pattern suggesting some interaction between the peripheral and central lesions.
Generic algorithms for scheduling applications on heterogeneous platforms
Authors: Amaris Marcos , Lucarelli Giorgio , Mommessin Clément , Trystram Denis
Published: July 2018

We study the problem of executing an application represented by a precedence task graph on a parallel machine composed of standard computing cores and accelerators. Both off‐line and on‐line settings are addressed by proposing generic scheduling approaches. In the first case, we establish strong lower bounds on the worst‐case performance of a known approach based on Linear Programming and replace the greedy List Scheduling policy used in this approach by a better task ordering. Although this modification leads to the same approximability guarantees, it performs much better in practice. We also extend this algorithm to more types of computing units, achieving an approximation ratio which depends on the number of different types. In the on‐line case, tasks arrive in any order which respects the precedence relations and the scheduler has to take irrevocable decisions about their allocation and execution. We propose the first on‐line scheduling algorithm taking into account precedences, which is based on adequate rules for selecting the type of processor where to allocate the tasks. Finally, all the previous algorithms have been experimented on a large number of simulations built on actual libraries, assessing their good practical behavior with respect to the state‐of‐the‐art solutions and baseline algorithms.
Working alliance and outcome effectiveness in videoconferencing psychotherapy: A systematic review and noninferiority meta‐analysis
Authors: Norwood Carl , Moghaddam Nima G. , Malins Sam , Sabin‐Farrell Rachel
Published: July 2018

Videoconferencing psychotherapy (VCP)—the remote delivery of psychotherapy via secure video link—is an innovative way of delivering psychotherapy, which has the potential to overcome many of the regularly cited barriers to accessing psychological treatment. However, some debate exists as to whether an adequate working alliance can be formed between therapist and client, when therapy is delivered through such a medium. The presented article is a systematic literature review and two meta‐analyses aimed at answering the questions: Is working alliance actually poorer in VCP? And is outcome equivalence possible between VCP and face‐to‐face delivery? Twelve studies were identified which met inclusion/exclusion criteria, all of which demonstrated good working alliance and outcome for VCP. Meta‐analyses showed that working alliance in VCP was inferior to face‐to‐face delivery (standardized mean difference [SMD] = −0.30; 95% confidence interval [CI] [−0.67, 0.07], p = 0.11; with the lower bound of the CI extending beyond the noninferiority margin [−0.50]), but that target symptom reduction was noninferior (SMD = −0.03; 95% CI [−0.45, 0.40], p = 0.90; CI within the noninferiority margin [0.50]). These results are discussed and directions for future research recommended.
Effects and mechanisms of cold atmospheric plasma on skin wound healing of rats
Authors: Zhang Jun‐Ping , Guo Ling , Chen Qi‐Liang , Zhang Ke‐Ying , Wang Tian , An Guang‐Zhou , Zhang Xiao‐Fei , Li He‐Ping , Ding Gui‐Rong
Published: July 2018

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has been reported as a novel potential way to promote skin wound healing. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of an atmospheric‐pressure plasma generated in helium gas through dielectric barrier discharge on skin wound healing in rats and its mechanism. A total of 44 adult male Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into the CAP group and the control group after a full‐thickness skin wound model was established. The animals in the CAP group received CAP treatment (driving frequency 17 kHz, root‐mean‐square [rms] values of the discharge voltage 1.33 kV, rms values of the discharge current 10.7 mA, helium flow rate 11 slpm [standard litres per minute]) for 1 min. After that, the size of the healed area of the wound, morphological changes in the wound, wound neovascularization, collagen deposition, and the level of inflammatory factors were recorded. The results showed that compared to that of the control group, the size of the wound area in the CAP group significantly decreased, the contraction and re‐epithelialization of the wounds were obviously speeded up, and the protein level of smooth muscle actin markedly increased. However, the levels of collagen type I A2, collagen type III, and the deposition of collagen bundles did not change. In addition, it was found that the level of inflammatory factors (such as tumour necrosis factor and interleukin‐1β) significantly increased at 24 hr after the creation of the wound. These results suggest that CAP treatment in this condition could promote skin wound healing by accelerating the contraction, re‐epithelialization, neovascularization, and inflammatory response.
Modeling and performance analysis of VI‐CRA: A congestion control algorithm for vehicular networks
Authors: Verma Poonam , Singh Neeta , Sharma Mohit
Published: July 2018

This study proposes a Vehicle ID‐based CAM Rate Adaptation (VI‐CRA) algorithm for beacon messages in the vehicular network. Foremost, an improved vehicle ID–based analytical model is proposed at the MAC layer of vehicular network. The model weighs the random back‐off number chosen by vehicles participating in the back‐off process, with the vehicle ID incorporated in their respective CAMs. This eventually leads to the selection of a vehicle ID–based random back‐off number, minimizing the probability of collision due to same back‐off number selection. It is worth noting that the improved analytical model outperforms the existing works in terms of average packet delay since only one fourth of the contention window size is used throughout the simulation. To enhance the performance of the analytical model, the paper incorporates a congestion control algorithm, by adapting the rate of CAM broadcast over the control channel. The algorithm is designed considering a wide range of scenarios, ranging from nonsaturated to extremely saturated network (in terms of collision probability) and sparsely distributed to teemed network (in terms of vehicular density). For better analyses of simulation results, the algorithm is applied over different vehicle ID–based back‐off numbers. Simulation results for all the back‐off numbers show that vehicle ID–based CAM rate adaptation algorithm performs better than the traditional fixed CAM rate IEEE 802.11p, even at high vehicular density.
Understand basics of financial aid to help keep students on track
Authors: Hope Joan
Published: July 2018

ORLANDO — “How many [students] can function with no financial aid eligibility?” asked Allene Begley Curto, associate director of financial aid services at Springfield College. The federal regulations are complex, but faculty, staff, and administrators outside the Financial Aid Office need some basic information about how aid works so they don't give students advice that can create problems with their aid. And compliance should not be the sole or primary motivation of campus officials understanding aid, Curto said. Campus officials need to have the shared goal of helping students complete their degrees or certificate programs.
Provide personalized experience to support students as they reinvent themselves
Authors: Hope Joan
Published: July 2018

When students decide to pursue M.B.A.s, they have typically been working for four or five years and enroll with the goal of reinventing themselves, said M. Eric Johnson, Ralph Owen Dean of the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University. They have tried a career and either liked it or didn't, but they realize there's something more, he added.
Decaying trees improve nesting opportunities for cavity‐nesting birds in temperate and boreal forests: A meta‐analysis and implications for retention forestry
Authors: Gutzat Fabian , Dormann Carsten F.
Published: July 2018

Many studies have dealt with the habitat requirements of cavity‐nesting birds, but there is no meta‐analysis on the subject and individual study results remain vague or contradictory. We conducted a meta‐analysis to increase the available evidence for nest‐site selection of cavity‐nesting birds. Literature was searched in Web of Science and Google Scholar and included studies that provide data on the habitat requirements of cavity‐nesting birds in temperate and boreal forests of varying naturalness. To compare nest and non‐nest‐tree characteristics, the following data were collected from the literature: diameter at breast height (DBH) and its standard deviation (SD), sample size of trees with and without active nest, amount of nest and available trees described as dead or with a broken crown, and amount of nest and available trees that were lacking these characteristics. Further collected data included bird species nesting in the cavities and nest‐building type (nonexcavator/excavator), forest type (coniferous/deciduous/mixed), biome (temperate/boreal), and naturalness (managed/natural). From these data, three effect sizes were calculated that describe potential nest trees in terms ofDBH, vital status (dead/alive), and crown status (broken/intact). These tree characteristics can be easily recognized by foresters. The results show that on average large‐diameter trees, dead trees, and trees with broken crowns were selected for nesting. The magnitude of this effect varied depending primarily on bird species and the explanatory variables forest type and naturalness. Biome had lowest influence (indicated by ΔAIC). We conclude that diameter at breast height, vitality, and crown status can be used as tree characteristics for the selection of trees that should be retained in selectively harvested forests.
Annual flower strips support pollinators and potentially enhance red clover seed yield
Authors: Rundlöf Maj , Lundin Ola , Bommarco Riccardo
Published: July 2018

Ecological intensification provides opportunity to increase agricultural productivity while minimizing negative environmental impacts, by supporting ecosystem services such as crop pollination and biological pest control. For this we need to develop targeted management solutions that provide critical resources to service‐providing organisms at the right time and place. We tested whether annual strips of early flowering phacelia Phacelia tanacetifolia support pollinators and natural enemies of seed weevils Protapion spp., by attracting and offering nectar and pollen before the crop flowers. This was expected to increase yield of red clover Trifolium pratense seed. We monitored insect pollinators, pests, natural enemies and seed yields in a total of 50 clover fields along a landscape heterogeneity gradient, over 2 years and across two regions in southern Sweden. About half of the fields were sown with flower strips of 125–2,000 m2. The clover fields were pollinated by 60% bumble bees Bombus spp. and 40% honey bees Apis mellifera. The clover seed yield was negatively associated with weevil density, but was unrelated to bee species richness and density. Flower strips enhanced bumble bees species richness in the clover fields, with the strongest influence in heterogeneous landscapes. There were few detectable differences between crop fields with and without flower strips. However, long‐tongued bumble bees were redistributed toward field interiors and during phacelia bloom honey bees toward field edges. Clover seed yield also increased with increasing size of the flower strip. We conclude that annual flower strips of early flower resources can support bumble bee species richness and, if sufficiently large, possibly also increase crop yields. However, clover seed yield was mainly limited by weevil infestation, which was not influenced by the annual flower strips. A future goal should be to design targeted measures for pest control.
Phylogeography of two closely related species of Allium endemic to East Asia: Population evolution in response to climate oscillations
Authors: Yang Jingtian , Zhou Songdong , Huang Deqing , He Xingjin
Published: July 2018

This study investigated the effects of climate oscillations on the evolution of two closely related Allium species, A. neriniflorum and A. tubiflorum. We sequenced three cp DNA (cpDNA) fragments (rps16, rpl32‐trnL, and trnD‐trnT, together approximately 2,500 bp in length) of two closely related Allium species, with samples from 367 individuals in 47 populations distributed across the total range of these species. The interspecific and intraspecific divergence times of the two species were in the Quaternary glaciation. The population divergence was high for the cpDNA variation, suggesting a significant phylogeographic structure (NST = 0.844, GST = 0.798, p < 0.05). Remarkable ecological differentiation was also revealed by Niche models and statistical analyses. Our results suggest the speciation event of the two species was triggered by violent climatic changes during the Quaternary glaciation.
Stochastic procedure for the simulation of synthetic main shock‐aftershock ground motion sequences
Authors: Hu Sheng , Gardoni Paolo , Xu Longjun
Published: July 2018

According to the current seismic codes, structures are designed to resist the first damaging earthquake during their service life. However, after a strong main shock, a structure may still face damaging aftershocks. The main shock‐aftershock sequence may result in major damage and eventually the collapse of a structure. Current studies on seismic hazard mainly focus on the modeling and simulation of main shocks. This paper proposes a 3‐step procedure to generate main shock‐aftershock sequences of pairs of horizontal components of a ground motion at a site of interest. The first step generates ground motions for the main shock using either a source‐based or site‐based model. The second step generates sequences of aftershocks' magnitudes, locations, and times of occurrence using either a fault‐based or seismicity‐based model. The third step simulates pairs of ground motion components using a new empirical model proposed in this paper. We develop prediction equations for the controlling parameters of a ground motion model, where the predictors are the site condition and the aftershock characteristics from the second step. The coefficients in the prediction equations and the correlation between the model parameters (of the 2 horizontal components of 1 record and of several records in 1 sequence) are estimated using a database of aftershock accelerograms. A backward stepwise deletion method is used to simplify the initial candidate prediction equations and avoid overfitting the data. The procedure, based on easily identifiable engineering parameters, is a useful tool to incorporate effects of aftershocks into seismic analysis and design.
Convergent phenotypic evolution of the visual system via different molecular routes: How Neotropical cichlid fishes adapt to novel light environments
Authors: Härer Andreas , Meyer Axel , Torres-Dowdall Julián
Published: July 2018

How predictable is evolution? This remains a fundamental but contested issue in evolutionary biology. When independent lineages colonize the same environment, we are presented with a natural experiment that allows us to ask if genetic and ecological differences promote species-specific evolutionary outcomes or whether species phenotypically evolve in a convergent manner in response to shared selection pressures. If so, are the molecular mechanisms underlying phenotypic convergence the same? In Nicaragua, seven species of cichlid fishes concurrently colonized two novel photic environments. Hence, their visual system represents a compelling model to address these questions, particularly since the adaptive value of phenotypic changes is well-understood. By analyzing retinal transcriptomes, we found that differential expression of genes responsible for color vision (cone opsins and cyp27c1) produced rapid and mostly convergent changes of predicted visual sensitivities. Notably, these changes occurred in the same direction in all species although there were differences in underlying gene expression patterns illustrating nonconvergence at the molecular level. Adaptive phenotypes evolved deterministically, even when species differ substantially in ecology and genetic variation. This provides strong evidence that phenotypic evolution of the visual system occurred in response to similar selective forces of the photic environment.
Adaptive radiation along a deeply conserved genetic line of least resistance inAnolislizards
Authors: McGlothlin Joel W. , Kobiela Megan E. , Wright Helen V. , Mahler D. Luke , Kolbe Jason J. , Losos Jonathan B. , Brodie Edmund D.
Published: July 2018

On microevolutionary timescales, adaptive evolution depends upon both natural selection and the underlying genetic architecture of traits under selection, which may constrain evolutionary outcomes. Whether such genetic constraints shape phenotypic diversity over macroevolutionary timescales is more controversial, however. One key prediction is that genetic constraints should bias the early stages of species divergence along “genetic lines of least resistance” defined by the genetic (co)variance matrix, G. This bias is expected to erode over time as species means and G matrices diverge, allowing phenotypes to evolve away from the major axis of variation. We tested for evidence of this signal in West Indian Anolis lizards, an iconic example of adaptive radiation. We found that the major axis of morphological evolution was well aligned with a major axis of genetic variance shared by all species despite separation times of 20–40 million years, suggesting that divergence occurred along a conserved genetic line of least resistance. Further, this signal persisted even as G itself evolved, apparently because the largest evolutionary changes in G were themselves aligned with the line of genetic least resistance. Our results demonstrate that the signature of genetic constraint may persist over much longer timescales than previously appreciated, even in the presence of evolving genetic architecture. This pattern may have arisen either because pervasive constraints have biased the course of adaptive evolution or because the G matrix itself has been shaped by selection to conform to the adaptive landscape.
Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans with a novel COL6A3‐PDGFD fusion gene and apparent predilection for breast
Authors: Dickson Brendan C. , Hornick Jason L. , Fletcher Christopher D. M. , Demicco Elizabeth G. , Howarth David J. , Swanson David , Zhang Lei , Sung Yun‐Shao , Antonescu Cristina R.
Published: July 2018

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans is a locally aggressive superficial mesenchymal neoplasm. It typically occurs in adulthood, and has been reported to have a slight male predilection. Tumors have a characteristic histopathologic appearance, including: storiform architecture, infiltrative “honeycomb” growth within subcutaneous adipose tissue, and immunoreactivity for CD34. Virtually all molecularly characterized cases to date have been found to harbor a COL1A1‐PDGFB fusion product. Following identification of an index patient with a novel COL6A3‐PDGFD fusion gene, we undertook a molecular investigation, using a combination of RNA sequencing and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), to assess the prevalence of PDGFD rearrangement in dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (N = 63). Three additional patients were found to have balanced PDGFD rearrangements. Interestingly, all 4 tumors arose on the breast of females. As a result, we subsequently examined 16 additional cases of primary breast dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, identifying 2 additional tumors with PDGFD rearrangement. The morphology and immunophenotype of all 6 cases was analogous to those with the canonical COL1A1‐PDGFB fusion; none of the cases showed fibrosarcomatous transformation. This study illustrates that the COL6A3‐PDGFD fusion product is rare in dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, and associated with an apparent predilection for breast. An awareness of this variant is important for pathologists, as it will not be detected using conventional reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction or FISH‐based diagnostic assays for dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans.
Older men with bipolar disorder: Clinical associations with early and late onset illness
Authors: Almeida Osvaldo P. , Hankey Graeme J. , Yeap Bu B. , Golledge Jonathan , Flicker Leon
Published: July 2018

Objectives

Older adults living with bipolar disorder (BD) include people with early and late onset of symptoms. This study aimed to clarify the cross‐sectional and longitudinal clinical associations of BD with early and late onset.

Methods

Cohort study of 38 173 men aged 65–85 years followed for up to 17.6 years. We used the Western Australian Data Linkage System to establish the presence of BD, as well as diabetes, cardiovascular and renal diseases, cancer, respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases, alcohol use disorder, dementia, and mortality. The causes of death were recorded according to the International Classification of Diseases. We defined late onset BD using 2 different cut‐points: 50 and 60 years.

Results

The prevalence of medical morbidities was greater among participants with than without BD, and cardiovascular diseases were more frequent among those with onset before than after 50 years (odds ratio = 1.72, 95% confidence interval = 1.01, 2.94). Bipolar disorder was associated with increased hazard ratio of dementia and death, but there was no difference between early and late onset participants. Death by suicide or accidents occurred exclusively among BD participants with illness onset <60 years, whereas death associated with strokes and neurodegenerative diseases was more frequent among those with illness onset ≥60 years than in the general population (HR = 2.28, 95% confidence interval = 1.34, 3.88).

Conclusions

Our results indicate that the clinical associations and outcomes of older adults living with BD are not markedly influenced by age of onset. However, mortality data suggest that differences between older adults with BD onset before and after age 60 years should continue to be explored.
Model for MHD viscoelastic nanofluid flow with prominence effects of radiation
Authors: Hussain Azad , Sarwar Lubna , Akbar Sobia , Malik M. Y. , Ghafoor Saadia
Published: July 2018

Present phenomenon is dedicated to analyze the problem of steady state flow of an incompressible fluid model pertained to as magnetohydrodynamics viscoelastic nanofluid through a permeable plate. Continuity, momentum, energy, and concentration expressions are elaborated to comprehend nature of the fluid flow. Numerical solutions are presented. The arising mathematical problem is governed by interesting parameters which include viscoelastic parameter, magnetic field parameter, nanofluid parameter, radiation parameter, skin friction, Prandtle number, and Sherwood number. Solutions for the dimensionless velocity, temperature, and concentration fields and the corresponding skin friction, Nusselt number, and Sherwood number are determined and canvassed with the help of graphs for the distinct values of pertinent parameters.
Drying‐Off Periods for Irrigated Sugarcane to Maximize Sucrose Yields Under Brazilian Conditions
Authors: Dias Henrique Boriolo , Sentelhas Paulo Cesar
Published: July 2018

The natural ripening process in sugarcane plants is influenced by several factors, including water stress. In irrigated sugarcane areas, water application is often withheld prior to harvest, a process called drying‐off, which is done to increase the sucrose content and yield, and to provide suitable conditions of soil moisture for mechanical harvesting. Based on this, the objective of this study was to determine the drying‐off periods for irrigated sugarcane in different Brazilian regions to maximize sucrose yields. The APSIM‐Sugarcane model was used to simulate 12‐month plant cane in 12 Brazilian sites for a long‐term period. Three soil types with different water‐holding capacities (low, medium and high) were adopted. The drying‐off periods were determined based on the relationship between relative stalk dry mass yield (dried‐off and fully irrigated) and days in which water was withheld prior to harvest, considering yield reduction up to 4% as a target. As expected, the drying‐off periods varied considerably according to locations, soil types and harvest dates, with the median ranging from 15 to 115 days. In general, more drying‐off days are required at the beginning and end of the harvesting season, when higher interannual variability is also observed. The results obtained are useful for planning and decision‐making in irrigated sugarcane areas, since they allow evaluation of the best strategy to maximize sucrose yield. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Computational and biochemical studies of isothiocyanates as inhibitors of proteasomal cysteine deubiquitinases in human cancer cells
Authors: Ahmed Zainab Sabry Othman , Li Xin , Li Feng , Cheaito Hassan Ali , Patel Kush , Mosallam El‐Sayed Mohammed , Elbargeesy Gehad Abd El‐Fattah Hassan , Dou Q Ping
Published: July 2018

Isothiocyanates (ITCs) are natural chemoprotective products found abundantly in cruciferous vegetables. However, the cancer‐relevant targets and molecular mechanisms of ITCs remain unclear. We hypothesize that ITCs, as electrophiles, can interact with the catalytic triads (CYS, HIS, and ASP) of the proteasomal cysteine deubiquitinases USP14 and UCHL5, ultimately inhibiting their activities. In the current study, we exploited this possibility by performing both computational docking and biochemical validation assays using human breast and prostate cancer cell models. Docking results suggest that benzyl isothiocyanate, phenethyl isothiocyanate, and DL‐sulforaphane are more potent inhibitors of UCHL5 than USP14, and these ITCs could interact with the catalytic triads of UCHL5 and USP14. Indeed, ubiquitin vinyl sulfone assay confirmed the inhibitory activity of each ITC on the ubiquitin‐binding activity of UCHL5 and USP14. We also found that inhibition of USP‐14 and UCHL5 activities by the ITCs caused increased levels of USP14 and UCHL5 proteins, but not the third 19S‐deubiquitinating enzyme (DUB), POH1/RPN11, suggesting feedback loop activation and further supporting that ITCs are inhibitors of proteasomal cysteine DUBs. Associated with DUB inhibition by ITCs, ubiquitinated proteins were significantly increased, accompanied with induction of apoptosis, inhibition of proliferation and suppression of cell invasion. Our findings of ITCs as proteasomal cysteine DUB inhibitors should provide insightful information for designing, discovering and developing potent, specific 19S‐DUB inhibitors for cancer therapies.