bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electrochemical nitrogen reduction to ammonia under mild conditions enabled by a polymer gel electrolyte
Authors: Sheets Benjamin L. , Botte Gerardine G.
Published: March 2018

A polymer gel electrolyte was implemented to enable the electrochemical reduction of nitrogen to ammonia at low temperature and pressure.
Mercury halide coordination polymers exhibiting reversible structural transformation
Authors: Mahat Chhetri Pradhumna , Yang Xiang-Kai , Chen Jhy-Der
Published: March 2018

The structural transformation in 1D helical and mesohelical Hg(ii) chains which demonstrate elastic stretching during the process is investigated.
Methanol-to-olefin conversion in ABC-6 zeolite cavities: unravelling the role of cavity shape and size from density functional theory calculations
Authors: Li Xu , Jiang Jianwen
Published: March 2018

The role of cavity shape and size in methanol-to-olefin conversion is explored by DFT.
BaBOF3: a new aurivillius-like borate containing two types of F atoms
Authors: Jiang Dequan , Wang Ying , Li Hao , Yang Zhihua , Pan Shilie
Published: March 2018

A new Aurivillius-like fluorine-containing borate, BaBOF3, featuring both structural characteristics of borate fluorides and fluorooxoborates has been synthesized.
Metal-free synthesis of alkynyl alkyl selenides via three-component coupling of terminal alkynes, Se, and epoxides
Authors: Wu Ge , Min Lin , Li Hongchen , Gao Wenxia , Ding Jinchang , Huang Xiaobo , Liu Miaochang , Wu Huayue
Published: March 2018

A metal-free three-component coupling reaction of alkynes, Se powder and epoxides is described, providing an efficient, straightforward route for the preparation of alkynyl alkyl selenides via a double C–Se bond formation process.
Sulfur film sandwiched between few-layered MoS2 electrocatalysts and conductive reduced graphene oxide as a robust cathode for advanced lithium–sulfur batteries
Authors: Wei Yanju , Kong Zhenkai , Pan Yankai , Cao Yueqiang , Long Donghui , Wang Jitong , Qiao Wenming , Ling Licheng
Published: March 2018

MoS2 electrocatalysts are introduced to construct a robust sandwich-type MoS2/S/rGO cathode with simultaneously improved reaction kinetics and capacity retention.
Highly efficient non-fullerene polymer solar cells enabled by novel non-conjugated small-molecule cathode interlayers
Authors: Peng Ruixiang , Liu Zhiyang , Guan Qian , Hong Ling , Song Wei , Wei Qiang , Gao Pingqi , Huang Jiaming , Fan Xi , Wang Mingtai , Ge Ziyi
Published: March 2018

Water/alcohol soluble small molecule electrolytes were successfully employed as cathode interlayers to improve the performance of non-fullerene polymer solar cells.
Structure engineering: extending the length of azaacene derivatives through quinone bridges
Authors: Wang Zilong , Wang Zongrui , Zhou Yecheng , Gu Peiyang , Liu Guangfeng , Zhao Kexiang , Nie Lina , Zeng Qingsheng , Zhang Jing , Li Yongxin , Ganguly Rakesh , Aratani Naoki , Huang Li , Liu Zheng , Yamada Hiroko , Hu Wenping , Zhang Qichun
Published: March 2018

A novel quinone bridged large azaacene exhibits an electron mobility of 0.22 cm2 V−1 s−1 through molecular stacking structure engineering.
Caspase-9 CARD : core domain interactions require a properly formed active site
Authors: Huber Kristen L. , Serrano Banyuhay P. , Hardy Jeanne A.
Published: March 2018

Caspase-9 is a critical factor in the initiation of apoptosis and as a result is tightly regulated by many mechanisms. Caspase-9 contains a Caspase Activation and Recruitment Domain (CARD), which enables caspase-9 to form a tight interaction with the apoptosome, a heptameric activating platform. The caspase-9 CARD has been thought to be principally involved in recruitment to the apoptosome, but its roles outside this interaction have yet to be uncovered. In this work, we show that the CARD is involved in physical interactions with the catalytic core of caspase-9 in the absence of the apoptosome; this interaction requires a properly formed caspase-9 active site. The active sites of caspases are composed of four extremely mobile loops. When the active-site loops are not properly ordered, the CARD and core domains of caspase-9 do not interact and behave independently, like loosely tethered beads. When the active-site loop bundle is properly ordered, the CARD domain interacts with the catalytic core, forming a single folding unit. Taken together, these findings provide mechanistic insights into a new level of caspase-9 regulation, prompting speculation that the CARD may also play a role in the recruitment or recognition of substrate.
Heme degradation enzyme biliverdin IXβ reductase is required for stem cell glutamine metabolism
Authors: Li Zongdong , Nesbitt Natasha M. , Malone Lisa E. , Gnatenko Dimitri V. , Wu Song , Wang Daifeng , Zhu Wei , Girnun Geoffrey D. , Bahou Wadie F.
Published: March 2018

Bioenergetic requirements of hematopoietic stem cells and pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) vary with lineage fate, and cellular adaptations rely largely on substrate (glucose/glutamine) availability and mitochondrial function to balance tricarboxylic acid (TCA)-derived anabolic and redox-regulated antioxidant functions. Heme synthesis and degradation converge in a linear pathway that utilizes TCA cycle-derived carbon in cataplerotic reactions of tetrapyrrole biosynthesis, terminated by NAD(P)H-dependent biliverdin reductases (IXα, BLVRA and IXβ, BLVRB) that lead to bilirubin generation and cellular antioxidant functions. We now demonstrate that PSCs with targeted deletion of BLVRB display physiologically defective antioxidant activity and cellular viability, associated with a glutamine-restricted defect in TCA entry that was computationally predicted using gene/metabolite topological network analysis and subsequently validated by bioenergetic and isotopomeric studies. Defective BLVRB-regulated glutamine utilization was accompanied by exaggerated glycolytic accumulation of the rate-limiting hexokinase reaction product glucose-6-phosphate. BLVRB-deficient embryoid body formation (a critical size parameter of early lineage fate potential) demonstrated enhanced sensitivity to the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) inhibitor 6-aminonicotinamide with no differences in the glycolytic pathway inhibitor 2-deoxyglucose. These collective data place heme catabolism in a crucial pathway of glutamine-regulated bioenergetic metabolism and suggest that early stages of lineage fate potential require glutamine anaplerotic functions and an intact PPP, which are, in part, regulated by BLVRB activity. In principle, BLVRB inhibition represents an alternative strategy for modulating cellular glutamine utilization with consequences for cancer and hematopoietic metabolism.
The mechanism of a one-substrate transketolase reaction
Authors: Solovjeva Olga N. , Kovina Marina V. , Zavialova Maria G. , Zgoda Victor G. , Shcherbinin Dmitrii S. , Kochetov German A.
Published: March 2018

Transketolase catalyzes the transfer of a glycolaldehyde residue from ketose (the donor substrate) to aldose (the acceptor substrate). In the absence of aldose, transketolase catalyzes a one-substrate reaction that involves only ketose. The mechanism of this reaction is unknown. Here, we show that hydroxypyruvate serves as a substrate for the one-substrate reaction and, as well as with the xylulose-5-phosphate, the reaction product is erythrulose rather than glycolaldehyde. The amount of erythrulose released into the medium is equimolar to a double amount of the transformed substrate. This could only be the case if the glycol aldehyde formed by conversion of the first ketose molecule (the product of the first half reaction) remains bound to the enzyme, waiting for condensation with the second molecule of glycol aldehyde. Using mass spectrometry of catalytic intermediates and their subsequent fragmentation, we show here that interaction of the holotransketolase with hydroxypyruvate results in the equiprobable binding of the active glycolaldehyde to the thiazole ring of thiamine diphosphate and to the amino group of its aminopyrimidine ring. We also show that these two loci can accommodate simultaneously two glycolaldehyde molecules. It explains well their condensation without release into the medium, which we have shown earlier.
TLR2 and TLR4 play opposite role in autophagy associated with cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury
Authors: Andrade-Silva Magaiver , Cenedeze Marcos Antonio , Perandini Luiz Augusto , Felizardo Raphael José Ferreira , Watanabe Ingrid Kazue Mizuno , Agudelo Juan Sebastian Henao , Castoldi Angela , Gonçalves Giselle Martins , Origassa Clarice Silvia Taemi , Semedo Patricia , Hiyane Meire Ioshie , Foresto-Neto Orestes , Malheiros Denise Maria Avancini Costa , Reis Marlene Antonia , Fujihara Clarice Kazue , Zatz Roberto , Pacheco-Silva Alvaro , Câmara Niels Olsen Saraiva , de Almeida Danilo Candido
Published: March 2018

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is considered an inflammatory disease in which toll-like receptors (TLRs) signaling pathways play an important role. The activation of TLRs results in production of several inflammatory cytokines leading to further renal damage. In contrast, TLRs are key players on autophagy induction, which is associated with a protective function on cisplatin-induced AKI. Hence, the present study aimed to evaluate the specific participation of TLR2 and TLR4 molecules on the development of cisplatin-induced AKI. Complementarily, we also investigated the link between TLRs and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), a promisor cytoprotective molecule. First, we observed that only the absence of TLR2 but not TLR4 in mice exacerbated the renal dysfunction, tissue injury and mortality rate, even under an immunologically privileged microenvironment. Second, we demonstrated that TLR2 knockout (KO) mice presented lower expression of autophagy-associated markers when compared with TLR4 KO animals. Similar parameter was confirmed in vitro, using tubular epithelial cells derived from both KO mice. To test the cross-talking between HO-1 and TLRs, hemin (an HO-1 internal inducer) was administrated in cisplatin-treated TLR2 and TLR4 KO mice and it was detected an improvement in the global renal tissue parameters. However, this protection was less evident at TLR2 KO mice. In summary, we documented that TLR2 plays a protective role in cisplatin-induced AKI progression, in part, by a mechanism associated with autophagy up-regulation, considering that its interplay with HO-1 can promote renal tissue recover.
Protective effects of the angiotensin II AT2 receptor agonist compound 21 in ischemic stroke: a nose-to-brain delivery approach
Authors: Bennion Douglas M. , Jones Chad H. , Dang Alex N. , Isenberg Jacob , Graham Justin T. , Lindblad Lena , Domenig Oliver , Waters Michael F. , Poglitsch Marko , Sumners Colin , Steckelings Ulrike Muscha
Published: March 2018

Significant neuroprotective effects of angiotensin II type 2 (AT2) receptor (AT2 receptor) agonists in ischemic stroke have been previously demonstrated in multiple studies. However, the routes of agonist application used in these pre-clinical studies, direct intracerebroventricular (ICV) and systemic administration, are unsuitable for translation into humans; in the latter case because AT2 receptor agonists are blood–brain barrier (BBB) impermeable. To circumvent this problem, in the current study we utilized the nose-to-brain (N2B) route of administration to bypass the BBB and deliver the selective AT2 receptor agonist Compound 21 (C21) to naïve rats or rats that had undergone endothelin 1 (ET-1)-induced ischemic stroke. The results obtained from the present study indicated that C21 applied N2B entered the cerebral cortex and striatum within 30 min in amounts that are therapeutically relevant (8.4–9 nM), regardless of whether BBB was intact or disintegrated. C21 was first applied N2B at 1.5 h after stroke indeed provided neuroprotection, as evidenced by a highly significant, 57% reduction in cerebral infarct size and significant improvements in Bederson and Garcia neurological scores. N2B-administered C21 did not affect blood pressure or heart rate. Thus, these data provide proof-of-principle for the idea that N2B application of an AT2 receptor agonist can exert neuroprotective actions when administered following ischemic stroke. Since N2B delivery of other agents has been shown to be effective in certain human central nervous system diseases, the N2B application of AT2 receptor agonists may become a viable mode of delivering these neuroprotective agents for human ischemic stroke patients.
The importance of vertical buildings in perception and memorising the city
Authors: Alihodzic Rifat , Zupančič Domen
Published: March 2018

Being aware of the surrounding we live in, among other things, means establishing of spatial relationships between oneself and the environment, equally important as relationship between oneself and others. Environment consists of facilities and space. Space, „gift by itself“, is defined by terrain topography, sky horizon, plants and animals. The architecture, as a profession, is interested in space created distinctively. Perception, as elementary process of consciousness and psychological life, deals with being conscious about something. In this case, physical structures that create a city. Psychological experience of urban environment is important factor having effect on perception, memorising and orientation in urban space. Gestalt psychology of perceiving is area applying to and significant for architecture either. The importance of vertical lies in its perceiving the gravitation, forming perceiving focus, landmark, for urban units and subunits to be memorised, creating spatial hierarchy and perception logics, remembering and orientation in space. This work analyses reasons for building upright with comparative analyses in their participation in space and on human psychology. This paper’s purpose is to, using fundamental facts, show the importance of vertical buildings, not as a spatial use phenomenon, but also as significant phenomenon.
Substrate temperature effects on infrared emissivity of TiNx films
Authors: Lu Linlin , Luo Fa , Huang Zhibin , Zhou Wancheng , Zhu Dongmei
Published: March 2018

TiN x films were deposited using direct current reactive magnetron sputtering on glass substrates, and the variation of resistivity and infrared emissivity of TiN x films deposited at different substrate temperatures was investigated. The N/Ti ratios of prepared films were off-stoichiometric, and reached the highest value 0.97 at 350°C. The results showed that substrate temperature had an important role in regulating the resistivity and infrared emissivity of TiN x films, and the change in resistivity of the films was consistent with their infrared emissivity. As the substrate temperature increased from 25 to 350°C, the resistivity of the films decreased from 15.7 × 103 to 0.9 × 103 μΩ cm. Infrared emissivity in the wavelength of 3–5 μm decreased from 0.55 to 0.29, and the value in the wavelength of 8–14 μm dropped from 0.54 to 0.27.
Annealing behaviour of electrodeposited Ni–Zr and Ni–Al composite coatings
Authors: Cai F. , Chen P. F. , Zhang S. H. , Jiang C.H.
Published: March 2018

The current research investigated the annealing behaviour of the electrodeposited Ni–Zr and Ni–Al composites from 475 to 675 K using an X-ray diffractometer line profile analysis (LPA) technique. The results showed that the grain size increased and microstrain decreased with an increase in the annealing temperatures and annealing times. The grain growth activation energies Q of 53.2 kJ mol−1 for Ni–Zr composite and 79.4 kJ mol−1 for Ni–Al composite were obtained based on the LPA technique. This smaller grain growth activation energy of the composite compared with the pure nickel could be ascribed to the higher microstrain and nanocrystalline crystallites. The residual tensile stress of the as-deposited composite changed to compressive stress state after annealing treatment and increased with annealing temperatures.
Analysis of the structure and activity of the promoter regions of the metallothionein genes of the freshwater pearl mussel Hyriopsis schlegelii
Authors: Wang Chengyuan , Shu Fuxing , Hong Yijiang , Wang Junhua , Peng Kou , Sheng Junqing , Wu Di , Hu Beijuan , Shi Jianwu , Jian Shaoqing
Published: March 2018

To investigate the regulation of metallothionein genes (HsMTs) of Hyriopsis schlegelii, 1,121-bp and 1,270-bp regions of the HsMT1 and HsMT2 promoters were cloned and analyzed, respectively. The two promoters shared partially conserved features and possessed distinct characteristics such as the number or position of metal response elements (MREs). Further analysis of the HsMT1 and HsMT2 promoters was performed by the reporter assay using the luciferase gene. Both promoters were activated by various metals, and presented different levels of metal ions inducibility in human hepatoblastoma cells. Deletion mutant assays demonstrated that both the longest promoter regions achieved the maximum inducibility, and the metal inducibility was dependent on the presence of the MRE in HsMT1 and the distal MRE in HsMT2. In addition, we cloned a putative metal responsive transcription factor (hereby designated as HsMTF-like) and studied its effect on HsMTs expression in human hepatoblastoma cells. An in vivo assay demonstrated that HsMTF-like activates basal HsMTs transcription level, and the MRE in the HsMTs promoter mediates this activation process. Moreover, this basal transcription level can be further boosted by zinc treatment. In conclusion, the regulation mechanism for MT activation in H. schlegelii should be evolutionarily conserved.
Cha-Koji, comprising green tea leaves fermented withAspergillus luchuensis var kawachii kitahara, increases regulatory T cell production in mice and humans
Authors: Yamamoto Bunsei , Suzuki Yusuke , Yonezu Takahisa , Mizushima Nanami , Watanabe Nobuo , Sato Takehito , Inoue Shigeaki , Inokuchi Sadaki
Published: March 2018

Green tea leaves fermented with Aspergillus luchuensis var kawachii kitahara (Cha-Koji) are a health food containing live A. luchuensis. In this study, we examined the effects of Cha-Koji on the immune system and the enteric environment. First, we designed a clinical trial; after ingesting Cha-Koji daily for 28 days, blood parameters and the fecal composition of the participants were analyzed. Similarly, mice were administered (oral administration) with Cha-Koji suspension or its vehicle for 14 days. Thereafter, both humans and mice were examined by analyzing their immune cell phenotypes and intestinal microbiota. Regulatory T cell (Treg) numbers were significantly increased after administering Cha-Koji. An increase of Clostridium subcluster XIVa, that were known to be rich in butyrate-producing bacterium, was observed in human feces, but not in mice. These results suggest that Cha-Koji has the ability to increase Treg production in both humans and mice, irrespective of the presence of enteric butyrate.
Intracellular localization of sirtuin and cell length analysis of Lactobacillus paracasei suggest possible role of sirtuin in cell division and cell shape regulation
Authors: Torres-Barredo Glaezel Angelique , Atarashi Hotaka , Kajikawa Akinobu , Hirata Aiko , Endo Akihito , Nakagawa Junichi
Published: March 2018

Sirtuin has been associated in prolonging lifespan of different model organisms. It has been shown to have an enzymatic activity of NAD+-dependent protein deacetylation targeting acetylated proteins. To determine targets and possible roles of sirtuin (LpSirA) in the Lactobacillus paracasei BL23, deletion (ΔsirA), sirtuin overexpressor (highsirA) and GFP fusion (highsirA-Venus) strains were generated, and microscopic localization and cell length analysis were done. Microscopic analysis revealed localization of LpSirA at cell division plates, at cell poles and all throughout the cell length in a spiral manner. Cell length analysis revealed that 46.9% of the ΔsirA cells were observed to be shorter (<2 μm), whereas 12.6% of the highsirA cells were observed to be longer (>4 μm) in comparison with the wild-type with only 17.1% short cells and 5.3% long cells. Our results suggest that sirtuin may have an essential role in cell division and cell shape regulation.
Serum starvation induces abnormal spindle location, RhoA delocalization, and extension of intercellular bridge with the midbody
Authors: Nishimura Kazunori , Watanabe Sumiko , Kaku Tsunehisa , Sugishima Setsuo
Published: March 2018

Serum starvation induces binucleation in HeLa cells, but the effects of serum starvation on mitosis and the significance of binucleation remain unknown. We investigated the effect of serum starvation on mitosis and analyzed the growth of binucleated cells. The frequency of binucleation caused by cytokinesis failure in DMEM without FBS (0% medium) was higher than that in DMEM with FBS (10% medium). In 0% medium, the metaphase spindle location was off-center, and RhoA localization significantly lacked symmetry. The frequency of the extension of intercellular bridge with the midbody in 0% medium was significantly higher than that in 10% medium. Moreover, all mononucleated mitotic cells caused bipolar mitosis and produced only mononucleated daughter cells, but binucleated cells produced various nucleated cells by multipolar mitosis in 0% medium. These results suggest that serum starvation may have various effects on mitosis, and binucleated cells may be related to formation of aneuploidy.
Young, talented and injured: Injury perceptions, experiences and consequences in adolescent elite athletes
Authors: Von Rosen Philip , Kottorp Anders , Fridén Cecilia , Frohm Anna , Heijne Annette
Published: March 2018

Even though injury is common in elite sports, there is still a lack of knowledge of young athletes’ injury perception both during and after injury. The aim of this mixed‐method study was, therefore, to explore, in‐depth, data on injury consequences and adolescent elite athletes’ perceptions and experience of injury. Three hundred and forty adolescent elite athletes (age range 15–19), from 16 different sports, were bi‐weekly monitored over 52 weeks using a valid questionnaire. Twenty athletes from the same cohort were interviewed in focus groups about injury experience and perceptions. The results show that the average bi‐weekly prevalence of injury was 38.7% (95% CI 37.3–40.1), with 30.0% (n = 102) of the athletes injured for more than half of all reporting times. An overarching theme from the focus groups highlighted the risk among young athletes of a loss of identity while injured. The findings support several suggestions that may improve the rehabilitation process and enhance rehabilitation outcomes: (a) provide clear pathways to the medical team, (b) recognize the identity loss, (c) involve the injured athletes with the rest of the teammates and (d) educate athletes about how to interpret pain signals. Future research should explore and evaluate the effectiveness and generalization of such interventions.
Biomechanical behaviour – Anisotropy of eye cornea through experimental strip tests
Authors: Arsalan Khan Mohammad , Elsheikh Ahmed , Ahmad Khan Iqtedar
Published: March 2018

With the advent of research it was identified that material properties are responsible for errors in tonometry pressure (referred to as Goldmann IOP or IOPG) with the stiffening of a composite structure of corneal tissue in particular. Strip tensile tests are conducted to determine their stress–strain relationship for the purpose to study the behaviour of material properties of cornea. Specimens are taken from the superior–inferior (vertical) and temporal– nasal (horizontal) directions. Testing is performed on an Instron machine, under different rate of loading conditions. First set of experiment, with single strain rate, is executed on eyes having random population. While the second set of experiment is executed on eyes of the same animal in both directions, and different strain rates are applied each specimen. Relatively, the first set of experiment is found to be slightly different and less accurate. In general, it is found that the vertical specimen is 34% on an average stiffer than the horizontal specimen compared to Kampmeier et al. of 20% (studied in 2000) and Defu Wang of 15% (studied in 2007). Curve fitting coefficients are also evaluated for 4–degree polynomial. The anisotropy is evident by plotting the ratio of E–tangent value of vertical Ev and horizontal Eh against stresses with individual strain rates. The value of Ev/Eh increases with slightly slow rate with stresses as compared to achieved through slow strain rates.
Performance evaluation of Mn and Fe doped SrCo0.9Nb0.1O3-δ cathode for IT-SOFC application
Authors: Bele Lokesh , Lenka R K , Patro P K , Muhmood L , Mahata T , Sinha P K
Published: March 2018

Cathode materials of Mn and Fe doped SrCo0.9Nb0.1O3-δ, are synthesized by solid state route for intermediate temperature fuel cell applications. Phase pure material is obtained after calcining the precursors at 1100 °C. Phase compatibility is observed between this novel cathode material with gadolinia doped ceria (GDC) electrolyte material as reflected in the diffraction pattern. The state of art YSZ electrolyte is not compatible with this cathode material. Average thermal expansion coefficient of the material varies between 17 to 22 X 10-6 K-1 on doping, from room temperature to 800 °C. Increase in thermal expansion coefficient is observed with Mn and Fe doping associated with the loss of oxygen from the crystal. The electrical conductivity of the cathode material decreases with Fe and Mn doping. Mn doped samples show lowest conductivity. From the symmetric cell measurement lower area specific resistance (0.16 Ω-cm2) is obtained for un-doped samples, at 850 °C. From the initial results it can be inferred that Mn/Fe doping improves neither the thermal expansion co-efficient nor the electrochemical activity.
The Impact of Cash and Food Transfers: Evidence from a Randomized Intervention in Niger
Authors: Hoddinott John , Sandström Susanna , Upton Joanna
Published: March 2018

We contribute to debates regarding the use of cash and in‐kind transfers by providing new evidence from a very low income setting, rural Niger. We motivate our findings through the use of a conceptual model that emphasizes that the impact of cash and food transfers on dimensions of food consumption—both quantity and quality—will differ by the income level of the household and whether or not the food transfer is extra‐marginal. Consistent with this model, households in localities randomized to receive the food basket experienced larger, positive impacts on measures of dietary diversity than those receiving the cash transfer. By contrast, households receiving cash were more likely to make bulk purchases of grains and spent more money on private transfers and debts. Despite the seasonal dimensions to food insecurity in Niger, the relative impact of food and cash transfers on our measures of dietary diversity did not vary markedly by season.
History, Prophecy and the Apocalypse in the Chronicles of Matthew Paris
Authors: Weiler Björn
Published: March 2018

The abstract for your paper is included below. This will appear online only.

This article offers the first comprehensive investigation into the role of prophecy in the writings of the English Benedictine artist, mapmaker and chronicler Matthew Paris (c.1200–1259). It takes his accounts of visions, dreams, prophetic texts and other prognostic incidents as the starting-point for an exploration of Matthew’s conception of truth and of his understanding of the relationship between the natural and the supernatural, and between history and prophecy. In the process, it challenges widely held assumptions about the role of eschatological thinking in Matthew’s approach to the past, and suggests implications for our understanding of ideas about prophecy and the Apocalypse in the intellectual, literary and religious culture of high medieval Europe.
Understanding Australian policies on public health using social and political science theories: reflections from an Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia Workshop
Authors: Baum Fran , Graycar Adam , Delany-Crowe Toni , de Leeuw Evelyne , Bacchi Carol , Popay Jennie , Orchard Lionel , Colebatch Hal , Friel Sharon , MacDougall Colin , Harris Elizabeth , Lawless Angela , McDermott Dennis , Fisher Matthew , Harris Patrick , Phillips Clare , Fitzgerald Jane
Published: March 2018

There is strong, and growing, evidence documenting health inequities across the world. However, most governments do not prioritize policies to encourage action on the social determinants of health and health equity. Furthermore, despite evidence concerning the benefits of joined-up, intersectoral policy to promote health and health equity, it is rare for such policy approaches to be applied systematically. To examine the usefulness of political and social science theory in understanding the reasons for this disjuncture between evidence and practice, researchers and public servants gathered in Adelaide for an Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia (ASSA) Workshop. This paper draws together the learnings that emerged from the Workshop, including key messages about the usefulness of various theories as well as insights drawn from policy practice. Discussions during the Workshop highlighted that applying multiple theories is particularly helpful in directing attention to, and understanding, the influence of all stages of the policy process; from the construction and framing of policy problems, to the implementation of policy and evaluation of outcomes, including those outcomes that may be unintended. In addition, the Workshop emphasized the value of collaborations among public health researchers, political and social scientists and public servants to open up critical discussion about the intersections between theory, research evidence and practice. Such critique is vital to render visible the processes through which particular sources of knowledge may be privileged over others and to examine how political and bureaucratic environments shape policy proposals and implementation action.
Atlantic mackerel daily spawning dynamics and implications for batch fecundity estimations
Authors: Ganias K , Marmara D , Solla A , Garabana D , Dominguez-Petit R
Published: March 2018

The present study contributes to a better understanding of the daily spawning dynamics of southern NEA mackerel (Scomber scombrus) with implications for the estimation of batch fecundity. It shows that there is a time window during the day, mainly in the afternoon, during which the advanced oocyte mode in imminent spawners separates from the remaining, smaller oocytes. This synchronicity in the separation of the spawning batch amongst imminent spawners corroborates evidence for the existence of daily spawning synchronicity in the population. This is particularly important for applications of the daily egg production method, DEPM, because such pattern facilitates both the ageing of eggs for the estimation of the daily egg production at sea and the ageing of postovulatory follicles for the estimation of spawning frequency. For NEA mackerel, batch fecundity could only be measured when a clear hiatus was established between the spawning batch and the smaller oocytes. Hydrated females that do not show such hiatus would not be valid for batch fecundity measurements suggesting that the “hydrated oocytes method” is not fully applicable for this stock. Knowing the time of day at which the batch is separated, will facilitate the sampling of valid females for the estimation of batch fecundity.
The Impact of Interviewer Effects on Regression Coefficients
Authors: Fischer Micha , West Brady T , Elliott Michael R , Kreuter Frauke
Published: March 2018

This article examines the influence of interviewers on the estimation of regression coefficients from survey data. First, we present theoretical considerations with a focus on measurement errors and nonresponse errors due to interviewers. Then, we show via simulation which of several nonresponse and measurement error scenarios has the biggest impact on the estimate of a slope parameter from a simple linear regression model. When response propensity depends on the dependent variable in a linear regression model, bias in the estimated slope parameter is introduced. We find no evidence that interviewer effects on the response propensity have a large impact on the estimated regression parameters. We do find, however, that interviewer effects on the predictor variable of interest explain a large portion of the bias in the estimated regression parameter. Simulation studies suggest that standard measurement error adjustments using the reliability ratio (i.e., the ratio of the measurement-error-free variance to the observed variance with measurement error) can correct most of the bias introduced by these interviewer effects in a variety of complex settings, suggesting that more routine adjustment for such effects should be considered in regression analysis using survey data.
Precision inhibitory stimulation of individual-specific cortical hubs disrupts information processing in humans
Authors: Lynch Charles J. , Breeden Andrew L. , Gordon Evan M. , Cherry Joseph B. C. , Turkeltaub Peter E. , Vaidya Chandan J.
Published: March 2018

Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) is a promising treatment for psychiatric and neurologic conditions, but outcomes are variable across treated individuals. This variability may be due in part to uncertainty in the selection of the stimulation site – a challenge complicated further by the variable organization of individual human brains. In principle, precise targeting of individual-specific brain areas serving outsized roles in cognition could improve the efficacy of NIBS. Network theory predicts that the importance of a node in network can be inferred from its connections; as such, we hypothesized that targeting individual-specific “hub” brain areas with NIBS would impact cognition more than non-hub brain areas. We first demonstrate that the spatial positioning of hubs is variable across individuals, but highly-reproducible when mapped with sufficient per-individual rsfMRI data. We then tested our hypothesis in healthy individuals using a prospective, within-subject, double-blind design. We found that inhibiting a hub with NIBS disrupted information processing during working-memory to a greater extent than inhibiting a non-hub area of the same gyrus. Furthermore, inhibition of hubs linking specific control networks and sensorimotor systems was retrospectively found to be most impactful. Based on these findings, we propose that precise mapping of individual-specific brain network features could inform future interventions in patients.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

The network organization of every person’s brain is different, but non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) interventions do not take this variation into account. Here we demonstrate that the spatial positions of brain areas theoretically serving important roles in cognition, called hubs, differs across individual humans, but are stable within an individual upon repeated neuroimaging. We found that administering NIBS to these individual-specific hub brain areas impacted cognition more than stimulation of non-hub areas. This finding indicates that future NIBS interventions can target individual-specific, but cognitively-relevant features of human brains.
Fluorescence-based detection of natural transformation in drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii
Authors: Godeux Anne-Sophie , Lupo Agnese , Haenni Marisa , Guette-Marquet Simon , Wilharm Gottfried , Laaberki Maria-Halima , Charpentier Xavier
Published: March 2018

Acinetobacter baumannii is a nosocomial agent with a high propensity for developing resistance to antibiotics. This ability relies on horizontal gene transfer mechanisms occurring in the Acinetobacter genus, including natural transformation. To study natural transformation in bacteria, the most prevalent method uses selection for the acquisition of an antibiotic resistance marker in a target chromosomal locus by the recipient cell. Most clinical isolates of A. baumannii are resistant to multiple antibiotics limiting the use of such selection-based method. Here we report the development of a phenotypic and selection-free method based on flow cytometry to detect transformation events in multidrug resistant (MDR) clinical A. baumannii isolates. To this end, we engineered a translational fusion between the abundant and conserved A. baumannii nucleoprotein (HU) and the superfolder green fluorescent protein (sfGFP). The new method was benchmarked against the conventional antibiotic selection-based method. Using this new method, we investigated several parameters affecting transformation efficiencies and identified conditions of transformability one hundred times higher than those previously reported. Using optimized transformation conditions, we probed natural transformation in a set of MDR clinical and non-clinical animal A. baumannii isolates. Regardless of their origin, the majority of the isolates displayed natural transformability, indicative of a conserved trait in the species. Overall, this new method and optimized protocol will greatly facilitate the study of natural transformation in the opportunistic pathogen A. baumannii.
Fallopian tube precursor lesions of serous ovarian carcinoma require L1CAM for dissemination and metastasis
Authors: Doberstein Kai , Spivak Rebecca , Feng Yi , Stuckelberger Sarah , Mills Gordon B , Devins Kyle M , Schwartz Lauren E , Iwanicki Marcin P , Fogel Mina , Altevogt Peter , Drapkin Ronny
Published: March 2018

Most high grade serous ovarian carcinomas (HGSC) arise from Serous Tubal Intraepithelial Carcinoma (STIC) lesions in the distal end of the fallopian tube (FT). FT secretory cells become malignant by accumulating genomic aberrations over 6 to 7 years before seeding of the ovarian surface, with rapid tumor dissemination to other abdominal structures thereafter. It remains unclear how nascent malignant cells leave the FT to colonize the ovary. This report provides evidence that the L1 cell adhesion molecule (L1CAM) contributes to the ability of transformed FT secretory cells (FTSEC) to detach from the tube, survive under anchorage-independent conditions, and seed the ovarian surface. L1CAM was highly expressed on the apical surface of STIC lesions and contributed to ovarian colonization by upregulating integrin and fibronectin in malignant cells and activating the AKT and ERK pathways. These changes increased cell survival under ultralow attachment conditions that mimic transit from the FT to the ovary. To study metastasis to the ovary, we developed a tumor ovary coculture model. We showed that L1CAM expression was important for FT cells to invade the ovary as a cohesive group. Our results indicate that in the early stages of HGSC development, transformed FTSECs disseminate from the FT to the ovary in L1CAM dependent manner.
Development and Validation of a Nomogram Prognostic Model for Small-Cell Lung Cancer Patients
Authors: Wang Shidan , Yang Lin , Maclean Matthew , Gerber David E. , Xiao Guanghua , Xie Yang
Published: March 2018

Background

Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for almost 15% of lung cancer cases in the United States. Nomogram prognostic models could greatly facilitate risk stratification and treatment planning, as well as more refined enrollment criteria for clinical trials. We developed and validated a new nomogram prognostic model for SCLC patients using a large SCLC patient cohort from the National Cancer Database (NCDB).

Methods

Clinical data of 24,680 SCLC patients diagnosed from 2004 to 2011 were used to develop the nomogram prognostic model. The model was then validated using an independent cohort of 9,700 SCLC patients diagnosed from 2012 to 2013. The prognostic performance was evaluated using p value, concordance index and integrated Area Under the (time dependent Receiver Operating Characteristic) Curve.

Results

The following variables were contained in the final prognostic model: age, gender, race, ethnicity, Charlson/Deyo Score, TNM Stage (assigned according to the AJCC 8th edition), treatment type (combination of surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy), and laterality. The model was validated in an independent testing group with a concordance index of 0.722 ± 0.004 and an integrated AUC of 0.79. The nomogram model has a significantly higher prognostic accuracy than previously developed models, including the AJCC 8th edition TNM-staging system. We implemented the proposed nomogram and two previously published nomograms in an online webserver.

Conclusions

We developed a nomogram prognostic model for SCLC patients, and validated the model using an independent patient cohort. The nomogram performs better than earlier models, including AJCC staging.
Unsupervised discovery of temporal sequences in high-dimensional datasets, with applications to neuroscience
Authors: Mackevicius Emily L. , Bahle Andrew H. , Williams Alex H. , Gu Shijie , Denissenko Natalia I. , Goldman Mark S. , Fee Michale S.
Published: March 2018

Identifying low-dimensional features that describe large-scale neural recordings is a major challenge in neuroscience. Repeated temporal patterns (sequences) are thought to be a salient feature of neural dynamics, but are not succinctly captured by traditional dimensionality reduction techniques. Here we describe a software toolbox—called seqNMF—with new methods for extracting informative, non-redundant, sequences from high-dimensional neural data, testing the significance of these extracted patterns, and assessing the prevalence of sequential structure in data. We test these methods on simulated data under multiple noise conditions, and on several real neural and behavioral data sets. In hippocampal data, seqNMF identifies neural sequences that match those calculated manually by reference to behavioral events. In songbird data, seqNMF discovers neural sequences in untutored birds that lack stereotyped songs. Thus, by identifying temporal structure directly from neural data, seqNMF enables dissection of complex neural circuits without relying on temporal references from stimuli or behavioral outputs.
Variability and reliability of effective connectivity within the core default mode network: A longitudinal spectral DCM study
Authors: Almgren Hannes , de Steen Frederik Van , Kühn Simone , Razi Adeel , Friston Karl , Marinazzo Daniele
Published: March 2018

Dynamic causal modelling (DCM) for resting state fMRI – namely spectral DCM – is a recently developed and widely adopted method for inferring effective connectivity in intrinsic brain networks. Most research applying spectral DCM has focused on group-averaged connectivity within large-scale intrinsic brain networks; however, the consistency of subject- and session-specific estimates of effective connectivity has not been evaluated. Establishing reliability (within subjects) is crucial for its clinical use; e.g., as a neurophysiological phenotype of disease progression. Effective connectivity during rest is likely to vary due to changes in cognitive, behavioural, and physical states. Determining the sources of fluctuations in effective connectivity may yield greater understanding of brain processes and inform clinical applications about potential confounds. In the present study, we investigated the consistency of effective connectivity within and between subjects, as well as potential sources of variability (e.g., hemispheric asymmetry). We further investigated how standard procedures for data processing and signal extraction affect this consistency. DCM analyses were applied to four longitudinal resting state fMRI datasets. Our sample consisted of 20 subjects with 653 resting state fMRI sessions in total. These data allowed to quantify the robustness of connectivity estimates for each subject, and to draw conclusions beyond specific data features. We found that subjects contributing to all datasets showed systematic and reliable patterns of hemispheric asymmetry. When asymmetry was taken into account, subjects showed very similar connectivity patterns. We also found that various processing procedures (e.g. global signal regression and ROI size) had little effect on inference and reliability of connectivity for the majority of subjects. Bayesian model reduction increased reliability (within-subjects) and stability (between-subjects) of connectivity patterns.
Attention and Emotion-Enhanced Memory: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Behavioural and Neuroimaging Evidence
Authors: Cross Zachariah R. , Santamaria Amanda , Kohler Mark J.
Published: March 2018

The interaction between attention and emotion is posited to influence long-term memory consolidation. We systematically reviewed experiments investigating the influence of attention on emotional memory to determine: (i) the reported effect of attention on memory for emotional stimuli, and (ii) whether there is homogeneity between behavioural and neuroimaging based effects. Over half of the 47 included experiments found a moderate-to-large effect of attention on emotional memory as measured behaviourally. However, eye-tracking research provide mixed support for the role of attention-related processes in facilitating emotional information into long-term memory. Similarly, modulations in sensory-related components at encoding were not predictive of long-term memory formation, whereas later components appear to differentially reflect the allocation of attention to heterogeneous emotional stimuli. This dissociation in neurophysiology is paralleled by the activation of distinct neural networks under full- and divided-attention conditions. We quantified the effects of the behavioural, eye-tracking and neuroimaging findings via meta-analysis to show that the neural substrates of attention-related emotional memory enhancement may be sensitive to specific methodological parameters.
SoS Notebook: An Interactive Multi-Language Data Analysis Environment
Authors: Peng Bo , Wang Gao , Ma Jun , Leong Man Chong , Wakefield Chris , James Melott , Chiu Yulun , Du Di , Weinstein John N.
Published: March 2018

Motivation

Complex bioinformatic data analysis workflows involving multiple scripts in different languages can be difficult to consolidate, share, and reproduce. An environment that streamlines the entire processes of data collection, analysis, visualization and reporting of such multi-language analyses is currently lacking.

Results

We developed Script of Scripts (SoS) Notebook, a web-based notebook environment that allows the use of multiple scripting language in a single notebook, with data flowing freely within and across languages. SoS Notebook enables researchers to perform sophisticated bioinformatic analysis using the most suitable tools for different parts of the workflow, without the limitations of a particular language or complications of cross-language communications.

Availability

SoS Notebook is hosted at http://vatlab.github.io/SoS/ and is distributed under a BSD license.

Contact

bpeng@mdanderson.org
Clustering trees: a visualisation for evaluating clusterings at multiple resolutions
Authors: Zappia Luke , Oshlack Alicia
Published: March 2018

Clustering techniques are widely used in the analysis of large data sets to group together samples with similar properties. For example, clustering is often used in the field of single-cell RNA-sequencing in order to identify different cell types present in a tissue sample. There are many algorithms for performing clustering and the results can vary substantially. In particular, the number of groups present in a data set is often unknown and the number of clusters identified by an algorithm can change based on the parameters used. To explore and examine the impact of varying clustering resolution we present clustering trees. This visualisation shows the relationships between clusters at multiple resolutions allowing researchers to see how samples move as the number of clusters increases. In addition, meta-information can be overlaid on the tree to inform the choice of resolution and guide in identification of clusters. We illustrate the features of clustering trees using a series of simulations as well as two real examples, the classical iris dataset and a complex single-cell RNA-sequencing dataset. Clustering trees can be produced using the clustree R package available from CRAN (https://CRAN.R-project.org/package=clustree) and developed on GitHub (https://github.com/lazappi/clustree).