bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Secondary chain motion and mechanical properties of γ‐irradiated‐regenerated cellulose films
Authors: Tanvir Aisha , Al‐Maadeed Mariam A. , Hassan Mohammad K.
Published: January 2016

Regenerated cellulose films prepared using NaOH/urea solvent system were exposed to different doses of γ‐radiation, ranging from 5 to 50 kGy to modify their properties. Change in relative crystallinity as a function of absorbed dose was studied using XRD. The tensile and dynamic mechanical properties were tested and it was found that exposure to 10 kGy imparted maximum improvement in these properties, that is 10% improvement in tensile strength, 43% increase in Young's modulus, and 22% increase in storage modulus. Broadband dielectric spectroscopy technique was used to investigate effect of absorbed dose on the secondary chain motions of the regenerated cellulose and the results were in line with findings of the tensile and dynamic mechanical tests.
Additive noise reduction in natural images using second‐generation wavelet transform hidden Markov models
Authors: Khmag Asem , Ramli Abd Rahman , bin Hashim Shaiful Jahari , Al‐Haddad Syed Abdul Rahman
Published: January 2016

Noise reduction or denoising is required for visual improvement or as a preprocessing step for subsequent processing tasks, such as image compression and analysis. Therefore, denoising has become a highly desirable and essential process in multimedia applications. The aim of all denoising processes, especially in natural images, is to uncover the true image from the observed noisy image, ideally removing the additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) while producing a sharp, useful image without losing finer details. Generally, most of the noise obtained during acquisition and transmission of the natural images is assumed to be AWGN. In this study, we propose a new adaptive denoising framework based on second‐generation wavelet domain using hidden Markov models (SGWD‐HMMs) with some new local structure, utilizing the fact that the images are nonstationary with singularities and some smooth areas that can be considered as stationary. The dependencies among wavelet coefficients can be efficiently captured by HMMs since the dependence between two wavelet coefficients dies down quickly as their distance becomes big. Quite remarkably, experimental results verify the effectiveness of SGWD‐HMMs in benchmark images when compared with other state‐of‐the‐art denoising algorithms. It gives competitive results in the subjective and objective assessments, but it is computationally more expensive. © 2016 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
The regulation of transcriptome responses in zebrafish embryo exposure to triadimefon
Authors: Hsu Li‐Sung , Chiou Bin‐Hao , Hsu Tung‐Wei , Wang Chien‐Chia , Chen Ssu Ching
Published: January 2016

The residue of triadimefon (TDF) (a pesticide) has become the pollutant in water due to its intensive use in agriculture and medicine, and its stability in water leaching from soil and vegetation. In this study, RNA‐seq, a high‐throughput method was performed, to analyze the global expression of differential expressed genes (DEGs) in zebrafish embryos treated with TDF (10 μg/mL) from fertilization to 72 h post‐fertilization (hpf) as compared with that in the control group (without TDF treatment). Two cDNA libraries were generated from treated and non‐treated embryos, respectively. With the 79.4% and 78.8% of reads mapped to the reference, it was observed that many differential genes were expressed between the two libraries. The most 20 differentially expressed up‐regulated or down‐regulated genes were involving in the signaling transduction, the activation of many genes related to cytochrome P450 enzymes, and molecular metabolism. Validation of seven genes expression confirmed RNA‐seq results. The transcriptome sequences were further subjected to Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis and showed diverse biological functions and metabolic pathways. The data from this study contributed to a better understanding of the potential consequences of fish exposed to TDF, and to evaluate the potential threat of TDF to fish population in the aquatic environment. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 32: 217–226, 2017.
Making graphene nanoribbons: a theoretical exploration
Authors: Chen Qian , Ma Liang , Wang Jinlan
Published: January 2016

Graphene nanoribbons (GNRs), thin and long strips of single carbon layer, exhibit very charming electronic and magnetic properties, and show great promising applications in electronics and optoelectronics devices. Therefore, reliable and efficient techniques of making high‐quality GNRs have attracted enormous interests in recent years. Numerous methods of making GNRs, including both top‐down and bottom‐up schemes, have been developed, and among them, metal‐catalyzed and oxidative cutting of graphene and/or carbon nanotube as two most promising approaches have been widely used to fabricate GNRs with different widths, edges, and defects. However, precise control of mass production of narrow GNRs with well‐defined and smooth edges is still very challenging. To reach this goal, it is essential to well understand the underlying mechanisms of making GNRs in different conditions, such as the force that drives the cutting process, catalyst, and agent‐dependent cutting behavior, orientation‐selective cutting at the atomic level. Recently, theoretical investigations based on quantum chemical calculations have made great progress in this area. WIREs Comput Mol Sci 2016, 6:243–254. doi: 10.1002/wcms.1246

This article is categorized under:

Structure and Mechanism > Computational Materials Science
Atomistic molecular dynamics simulations of ATP‐binding cassette transporters
Authors: Liu Hui , Li Dan , Li Youyong , Hou Tingjun
Published: January 2016

Membrane transporters are transmembrane proteins that facilitate the translocation of a broad range of substrates across biological membranes. These proteins play a pivotal role in drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion, as well as drug resistance in cancer and pathogenic microorganisms. Moreover, some of them are appealing therapeutic targets. Computational methods, especially atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, are now increasingly employed to investigate the structural and thermodynamic properties of these proteins. Computer simulations at an atomic resolution help to decipher the underlying mechanisms of these transporters and provide valuable insights into structure‐based drug discovery. Here, recent advances of the applications of MD simulations on the studies of a major class of membrane transporters, the ATP‐binding cassette (ABC) superfamily, are reviewed. The studies surveyed here are mainly focused on the working mechanisms of ABC transporters, including binding of substrates, conformational coupling between nucleotide‐binding domains (NBDs) and transmembrane domains, dynamics of NBDs, and global movement of complete transporters. In addition, structural and functional changes upon mutations are also discussed in some medically relevant cases. WIREs Comput Mol Sci 2016, 6:255–265. doi: 10.1002/wcms.1247

This article is categorized under:

Structure and Mechanism > Computational Biochemistry and Biophysics
The mammalian blastocyst
Authors: Frankenberg Stephen R. , de Barros Flavia R.O. , Rossant Janet , Renfree Marilyn B.
Published: January 2016

The blastocyst is a mammalian invention that carries the embryo from cleavage to gastrulation. For such a simple structure, it exhibits remarkable diversity in its mode of formation, morphology, longevity, and intimacy with the uterine endometrium. This review explores this diversity in the light of the evolution of viviparity, comparing the three main groups of mammals: monotremes, marsupials, and eutherians. The principal drivers in blastocyst evolution were loss of yolk coupled with evolution of the placenta. An important outcome of blastocyst development is differentiation of two extraembryonic lineages (trophoblast and hypoblast) that contribute to the placenta. While in many species trophoblast segregation is often coupled with blastocyst formation, in marsupials and at least some Afrotherians, these events do not coincide. Thus, many questions regarding the conservation of molecular mechanisms controlling these events are of great interest but currently unresolved. WIREs Dev Biol 2016, 5:210–232. doi: 10.1002/wdev.220

This article is categorized under:

Early Embryonic Development > Fertilization to Gastrulation

Comparative Development and Evolution > Model Systems

Comparative Development and Evolution > Evolutionary Novelties
Cyclodextrin‐based nanosponges: a versatile platform for cancer nanotherapeutics development
Authors: Swaminathan Shankar , Cavalli Roberta , Trotta Francesco
Published: January 2016

Nanosponges (NSs) are a new age branched cyclodextrin (CD) polymeric systems exhibiting tremendous potential in pharmaceutical, agro science, and biomedical applications. Over the past decade, different varieties of NS based on the type of CD and the crosslinker have been developed tailored for specific applications. NS technology has been instrumental in achieving solubilization, stabilization, sustained release, enhancement of activity, permeability enhancement, protein delivery, ocular delivery, stimuli sensitive drug release, enhancement of bioavailability, etc. There is a major explosion of research in the area of NS‐aided cancer therapeutics. A wide of anticancer molecules both from a pharmacological and physicochemical perspective have been developed as NS formulations by several groups including ours. Our objective in this review is to capture a systematic and comprehensive snapshot of the state‐of‐the‐art of NS‐aided cancer therapeutics reported so far. This review will provide an ideal platform for both the formulation scientists working on new polymeric/drug development and cancer biologists/scientists to understand the current nanotechnologies in CD‐based NS‐aided cancer therapeutics. The scope of the review is limited to small molecules and CD‐based NS. The review covers in detail the problems associated with anticancer small molecules, and the solution provided by CD‐based NS specifically for camptothecin, curcumin, paclitaxel, tamoxifen, resveratrol, quercetin, oxygen‐NS, temozolomide, doxorubicin, and 5‐Fluorouracil. WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2016, 8:579–601. doi: 10.1002/wnan.1384

This article is categorized under:

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease

Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology
The use of faeces counts to estimate relative densities of wild boar in a Mediterranean area
Authors: Ferretti Francesco , Fattorini Lorenzo , Sforzi Andrea , Pisani Caterina
Published: January 2016

The monitoring of population trends of wild ungulates is important to evaluate their population dynamics and to develop sound conservation/management plans. The wild boar Sus scrofa can impose heavy impacts on ecosytems and human activities, as well as be responsible for disease transmission. Estimating abundance of wild boars is a challenging issue, because of some peculiar biological and ecological traits of this ungulate. Indices of relative abundance could be used to evaluate its population trends. In a Mediterranean area we used faeces counts, through a two‐stage stratified sampling, to estimate relative densities of wild boars, between 2007 and 2014. Faeces density estimates increased not significantly between 2007 (151.5 faeces/100 ha) and 2010 (203.8 faeces/100 ha) and decreased significantly from 2010 to 2014 (95.5 faeces/100 ha). The decrease in faeces density estimates was consistent with the increased harvest effort (number of harvest days), performed from 2010 to 2013 to limit impact on ecosystems and reduce damages to crops. The variation of faeces density estimates was also consistent with that of harvest indices (total harvest to harvest effort), with significantly positive values of Pearson and rank correlation coefficients. Results suggest that faeces density estimates achieved with the adopted sampling strategies can be effectively used as indices of relative abundance.
Genomweite Assoziationsstudien zu Adipositas und was wir daraus lernen
Authors: Kronenberg Florian , Paulweber Bernhard , Lamina Claudia
Published: January 2016

Die Einführung genomweiter Assoziationsstudien (GWAS) führte zu einem sprunghaften Anstieg der Anzahl von Genen, die mit Adipositas und zusammenhängenden Phänotypen wie Body-Mass-Index, Taillenumfang und Taille-Hüft-Quotient assoziiert sind. Dabei ist die Suche nach Genen, die für Übergewicht prädisponieren erst am Anfang, denn der Großteil des geschätzten vererbbaren Anteils von Übergewicht ist noch ungeklärt. Jedes einzelne der 97 bisher bekannten Gene für Body-Mass-Index und 49 Gene für Taille-Hüft-Quotient erklärt nur einen sehr kleinen Anteil der Varianz dieser Phänotypen. Geschlechtsspezifische Unterschiede kennen wir hauptsächlich nur für den Phänotyp Taille-Hüft-Quotient und ca. zwei Fünftel der dafür bekannten Genvarianten weist vor allem bei Frauen einen Effekt auf und keinen oder einen deutlich geringeren Effekt bei Männern. Die funktionelle Charakterisierung dieser Gene wird lange Zeit in Anspruch nehmen. Ob und wie schnell sich aus den Ergebnissen therapeutische Konsequenzen ergeben, lässt sich schwer abschätzen. Das Verständnis involvierter Regelkreise ist aber unabdingbare Voraussetzung für die Entwicklung neuer Therapien.
A Linear Diffusion Model of Adsorption Kinetics at Fluid/Fluid Interfaces
Authors: Staszak Maciej
Published: January 2016

The paper presents a new model for kinetically controlled adsorption at the fluid/fluid interface. The main purpose of the presented approach is to relate easy to estimate bulk surfactant concentration with Gibbs surface excess. Two adsorption isotherms are involved in the new model development: Frumkin and Szyszkowski isotherms. Additionally the Johannsen time profile of concentration in the adsorption layer is assumed and estimated in the model derivation. The proposed approach assumes the near interface, adsorptive layer which is described based on Fick's transient diffusion law. The solution to the model contains the estimation of effective diffusivities with adsorptive layer thickness as well. The experimental results of toluene/water + sodium dodecyl sulfate are presented and used for model verification.
A cluster-analytical approach toward real-world outcome in outpatients with stable schizophrenia
Authors: Rocca P. , Montemagni C. , Mingrone C. , Crivelli B. , Sigaudo M. , Bogetto F.
Published: January 2016

Background

This study aims to empirically identify profiles of functioning, and the correlates of those profiles in a sample of patients with stable schizophrenia in a real-world setting. The second aim was to assess factors associated with best profile membership.

Methods

Three hundred and twenty-three outpatients were enrolled in a cross-sectional study. A two-step cluster analysis was used to define groups of patients by using baseline values for the Heinrichs-Carpenter Quality of Life Scale (QLS) total score. Logistic regression was used to construct models of class membership.

Results

Our study identified three distinct clusters: 50.4% of patients were classified in the “moderate” cluster, 27.9% in the “poor” cluster, 21.7% in the “good” cluster. Membership in the “good” cluster versus the “poor” cluster was characterized by less severe negative (OR = .832) and depressive symptoms (OR = .848), being employed (OR = 2.414), having a long-term relationship (OR = .256), and treatment with second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) (OR = 3.831). Nagelkerke R2 for this model was .777.

Conclusions

Understanding which factors are associated with better outcomes may direct specific and additional therapeutic interventions, such as treatment with SGAs and supported employment, in order to enhance benefits for patients, as well as to improve the delivery of care in the community.
Clinical applications of circulating tumor DNA and circulating tumor cells in pancreatic cancer
Authors: Riva Francesca , Dronov Oleksii I. , Khomenko Dmytro I. , Huguet Florence , Louvet Christophe , Mariani Pascale , Stern Marc-Henri , Lantz Olivier , Proudhon Charlotte , Pierga Jean-Yves , Bidard Francois-Clement
Published: January 2016

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most frequent pancreatic cancer type and is characterized by a dismal prognosis due to late diagnosis, local tumor invasion, frequent distant metastases and poor sensitivity to current therapy. In this context, circulating tumor cells and circulating tumor DNA constitute easily accessible blood‐borne tumor biomarkers that may prove their clinical interest for screening, early diagnosis and metastatic risk assessment of PDAC. Moreover these markers represent a tool to assess PDAC mutational landscape. In this review, together with key biological findings, we summarize the clinical results obtained using “liquid biopsies” at the different stages of the disease, for early and metastatic diagnosis as well as monitoring during therapy.
The Relationship Among Neuromuscular Impairments, Chronic Back Pain, and Mobility in Older Adults
Authors: Makris Una E. , Paul Tracy M. , Holt Nicole E. , Latham Nancy K. , Ni Pengsheng , Jette Alan , Leveille Suzanne G. , Bean Jonathan F.
Published: January 2016

Background

For older adults with mobility problems, one focus of rehabilitation is treating the underlying neuromuscular impairment(s) that lead to functional decline and disability. Knowing which neuromuscular impairments contribute to basic mobility tasks among older adults with back pain will fill an important knowledge gap and is a critical step towards developing mechanistically based rehabilitative interventions.

Objective

To evaluate the relationship of neuromuscular impairments with performance of mobility tasks among older adults with and without back pain.

Design

Cross‐sectional analysis of baseline data from the Boston Rehabilitative Impairment Study of the Elderly.

Setting

Primary care−based population.

Patients

Participants (N = 430) were older primary care patients who completed assessments of neuromuscular impairments and mobility tasks.

Methods

Back pain was assessed by the use of an established comorbidity questionnaire. Neuromuscular impairments included trunk extensor muscle endurance, kyphosis, leg strength, leg strength asymmetry, leg speed, mean reaction time, leg coordination, and knee and ankle range of motion.

Main Outcome Measurements

Mobility tasks included gait speed, standing balance, chair stand, and patient‐reported functional status. Analysis of covariance was used to generate adjusted means for neuromuscular impairments that differed significantly by back pain status. Separate multivariable regression models evaluated the association between neuromuscular impairments and mobility based on back pain status after we adjusted for sociodemographic factors and physiologic impairments.

Results

Participants had an average age of 77 years, 68% were female, and 31% reported back pain. Trunk extensor muscle endurance, leg strength, and rapid leg coordination were significantly lower among those with back pain compared to those without (P < .01, P = .01, P = .04, respectively). Patterns of neuromuscular impairments that were associated with mobility tasks differed according to back pain status.

Conclusions

The neuromuscular impairment profiles associated with mobility function among older adults with back pain vary compared with older adults without back pain.
Quality of Life, Cognition and Mood in Adults with Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Krysko Kristen M. , O’Connor Paul
Published: January 2016

Background: Pediatric onset multiple sclerosis (MS) negatively affects cognitive function, mood and health related quality of life (HRQOL). We aimed to explore the cognitive, psychological and HRQOL impacts of pediatric MS on young adults and to explore the relationships between disability, disease duration, cognition, mood and HRQOL in this hypotheses generating study. Methods: Thirty-four young adults with pediatric onset MS at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto were included in this cross-sectional study (mean age 21.3 years, 56% female). Participants completed assessments of physical disability (Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS)), cognitive function (Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT)), mood (Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II)), and HRQOL (Short Form Health Survey (SF-36v2)). Findings were compared to age- and gender- matched normative data. Results: Individuals with pediatric MS performed worse on the SDMT compared to normative data, with 53% demonstrating cognitive impairment. There was no difference in BDI-II scores from normative data, but 21% showed at least mild depression. There was a non-significant impairment in physical HRQOL compared to normative data. Decreased physical HRQOL was related to disability (EDSS), while mental HRQOL was related to depression (BDI-II). Conclusions: Young adults with pediatric MS have reduced cognitive function. Non-significant reductions in HRQOL may be partly attributed to physical disability and depression. These factors should be addressed in the care of adults with pediatric MS. Further studies including control groups and longitudinal design are needed to confirm these findings.
Disaster Preparedness in Rural Families of Children With Special Health Care Needs
Authors: Hamann Cara J. , Mello Elizabeth , Wu Hongqian , Yang Jingzhen , Debra Waldron  , Ramirez Marizen
Published: January 2016

Objective

The purpose of this study was to describe disaster preparedness strategies and behaviors among rural families who have children with special health care needs and to examine the effect of self-efficacy and response-efficacy on disaster preparedness.

Methods

Data for this study were drawn from the baseline surveys of 287 rural families with children with special health care needs who were part of a randomized controlled trial examining the impact of an intervention on disaster preparedness. Distributions of child, parent, and family characteristics were examined by preparedness. Linear regression models were built to examine the impact of self-efficacy and response-efficacy on level of disaster preparedness.

Results

Disaster preparedness (overall, emergency plan, discussion/practice, and supplies) was low (40.9-69.7%) among study families. Disaster preparedness was found to increase with each unit increase in the level of self-efficacy and family resilience sources across all 4 categories of preparedness.

Conclusions

Disaster preparedness among rural families with children with special health care needs is low, which is concerning because these children may have increased vulnerability to adverse outcomes compared to the general population. Results suggest that increasing the levels of self-efficacy and family resilience sources may increase disaster preparedness. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;10:225–232)
Acquisition of Clostridium difficile on Hands of Healthcare Personnel Caring for Patients with Resolved C. difficile Infection
Authors: Shrestha Subarna K. , Sunkesula Venkata C.K. , Kundrapu Sirisha , Tomas Myreen E. , Nerandzic Michelle M. , Donskey Curtis J.
Published: January 2016

In an observational study, we found that healthcare personnel frequently acquired Clostridium difficile on their hands when caring for patients with recently resolved C. difficile infection (CDI) (<6 weeks after treatment) who were no longer under contact precautions. Continuing contact precautions after diarrhea resolves may be useful to reduce transmission.

Infect. Control Hosp. Epidemiol. 2016;37(4):475–477
GROUPS OF MORLEY RANK 4
Authors: WISCONS JOSHUA
Published: January 2016

We show that any simple group of Morley rank 4 must be a bad group with no proper definable subgroups of rank larger than 1. We also give an application to groups acting on sets of Morley rank 2.
The impact of focus particles on the recognition and rejection of contrastive alternatives
Authors: GOTZNER NICOLE , WARTENBURGER ISABELL , SPALEK KATHARINA
Published: January 2016

abstract

The semantics of focus particles likeonlyrequires a set of alternatives (Rooth, 1992). In two experiments, we investigated the impact of such particles on the retrieval of alternatives that are mentioned in the prior context or unmentioned. The first experiment used a probe recognition task and showed that focus particles interfere with the recognition of mentioned alternatives and the rejection of unmentioned alternatives relative to a condition without a particle. A second lexical decision experiment demonstrated priming effects for mentioned and unmentioned alternatives (compared with an unrelated condition) while focus particles caused additional interference effects. Overall, our results indicate that focus particles trigger an active search for alternatives and lead to a competition between mentioned alternatives, unmentioned alternatives, and the focused element.
THE QUENCHING OF SOLUTIONS OF A REACTION–DIFFUSION EQUATION WITH FREE BOUNDARIES
Authors: SUN NINGKUI
Published: January 2016

This paper concerns the quenching phenomena of a reaction–diffusion equation $u_{t}=u_{xx}+1/(1-u)$ in a one dimensional varying domain $[g(t),h(t)]$, where $g(t)$ and $h(t)$ are two free boundaries evolving by a Stefan condition. We prove that all solutions will quench regardless of the choice of initial data, and we also show that the quenching set is a compact subset of the initial occupying domain and that the two free boundaries remain bounded.
The effect of diet on the physical and mental development of children: views of parents and teachers in four European countries
Authors: Egan Bernadette , Gage Heather , Williams Peter , Brands Brigitte , Györei Eszter , López-Robles Juan-Carlos , Campoy Cristina , Decsi Tamas , Koletzko Berthold , Raats Monique
Published: January 2016

Although the impact of diet on physical health is an important public health issue, less attention has been devoted to the relationship between nutrition and children’s mental development. The views of parents and teachers about the extent to which diet affects physical and mental development of children were compared in four European countries. An online questionnaire (developed in English and translated) was circulated through a market research agency. Participants were parents or teachers of children aged 4–10 years without learning or behavioural issues. Questionnaires were returned by 1606 parents (401 in England, Germany and Hungary; 403 in Spain) and 403 teachers (100 in each country, except for 103 in Hungary). Teachers were older than parents (35·3 % v. 18·3 % over 45 years; P<0·001) and less likely to smoke (15·9 % v. 26·3 %, P<0·001). There was no difference between the proportions of parents and teachers who felt that a child’s physical development depended very much/extremely (v. moderately/slightly/not at all) on diet (overall 79·8 %). Lower proportions of both groups thought that mental development was very much/extremely influenced by diet (67·4 %). In the regression modelling, believing that physical and mental performance was greatly influenced by diet was significantly and positively associated with living in Hungary, scoring higher on a measure of General Health Interest and (parents only) level of education attained. Differences existed among countries in most views. Lower levels of awareness of the importance of diet for brain development and cognition (compared with physical health outcomes) indicate the potential for educating consumers, especially parents with lower educational attainment.
Prenatal folate, homocysteine and vitamin B12 levels and child brain volumes, cognitive development and psychological functioning: the Generation R Study
Authors: Ars Charlotte L. , Nijs Ilse M. , Marroun Hanan E. , Muetzel Ryan , Schmidt Marcus , Steenweg-de Graaff Jolien , van der Lugt Aad , Jaddoe Vincent W. , Hofman Albert , Steegers Eric A. , Verhulst Frank C. , Tiemeier Henning , White Tonya
Published: January 2016

Previous studies have suggested that prenatal maternal folate deficiency is associated with reduced prenatal brain growth and psychological problems in offspring. However, little is known about the longer-term impact. The aims of this study were to investigate whether prenatal maternal folate insufficiency, high total homocysteine levels and low vitamin B12 levels are associated with altered brain morphology, cognitive and/or psychological problems in school-aged children. This study was embedded in Generation R, a prospective population-based cohort study. The study sample consisted of 256 Dutch children aged between 6 and 8 years from whom structural brain scans were collected using MRI. The mothers of sixty-two children had insufficient (<8 nmol/l) plasma folate concentrations in early pregnancy. Cognitive development was assessed by the Snijders-Oomen Niet-verbale intelligentietest – Revisie and the NEPSY-II-NL. Psychological problems were assessed at age 6 years using the parent report of the Child Behavior Checklist. Low prenatal folate levels were associated with a smaller total brain volume (B –33·34; 95 % CI –66·7, 0·02; P=050) and predicted poorer performance on the language (B –0·28; 95 % CI –0·52, –0·04; P=0·020) and visuo-spatial domains (B –0·27; 95 % CI –0·50, –0·04; P=0·021). High homocysteine levels (>9·1 µmol/l) predicted poorer performance on the language (B –0·31; 95 % CI –0·56, –0·06; P=0·014) and visuo-spatial domains (B –0·36; 95 % CI –0·60, –0·11; P=0·004). No associations with psychological problems were found. Our findings suggest that folate insufficiency in early pregnancy has a long-lasting, global effect on brain development and is, together with homocysteine levels, associated with poorer cognitive performance.
Political Competition, Partisanship and Interpersonal Trust in Electoral Democracies
Authors: Carlin Ryan E. , Love Gregory J.
Published: January 2016

How does democratic politics inform the interdisciplinary debate on the evolution of human co-operation and the social preferences (for example, trust, altruism and reciprocity) that support it? This article advances a theory of partisan trust discrimination in electoral democracies based on social identity, cognitive heuristics and interparty competition. Evidence from behavioral experiments in eight democracies show ‘trust gaps’ between co- and rival partisans are ubiquitous, and larger than trust gaps based on the social identities that undergird the party system. A natural experiment found that partisan trust gaps in the United States disappeared immediately following the killing of Osama bin Laden. But observational data indicate that partisan trust gaps track with perceptions of party polarization in all eight cases. Finally, the effects of partisanship on trust outstrip minimal group treatments, yet minimal-group effects are on par with the effects of most treatments for ascriptive characteristics in the literature. In sum, these findings suggest political competition dramatically shapes the salience of partisanship in interpersonal trust, the foundation of co-operation.
Basement-involved thin-skinned and thick-skinned tectonics in the Alps
Authors: PFIFFNER O. ADRIAN
Published: January 2016

The deformation of continental crust during continental collision by folding and thrusting follows three types of structural styles: (1) in a true thin-skinned style only cover rocks are involved; (2) in the case of a thin-skinned basement-involved style, thin slabs of crystalline basement rocks are piled up into a nappe stack; (3) in a true thick-skinned style, the entire upper crust is involved in the deformation. In the Alps all three styles can be recognized. The Helvetic nappes and parts of the Penninic nappes exhibit true thin-skinned style tectonics. Triassic evaporites, Jurassic shales and Cretaceous marls acted as detachment horizons. Basement-involved thin-skinned tectonics is typical for the Penninic nappes in the core of the orogen. The thickness of the basement thrust sheets is controlled by the effects of Mesozoic rifting, by deep burial and heating of the subducting crust and by the presence of Late Palaeozoic structures. Thick-skinned style is observed in the more external parts of the orogen, the external massifs and the Southalpine nappe system. It occurred in the late phase of collision and involved the entire upper crust. The basal detachment occurred possibly along phyllonites generated by the breakdown of load-bearing feldspar. Considering the Alpine orogen as a whole, the lower crust deformed seemingly independently from the upper crust. The detachment of the cover units by thin-skinned tectonics occurred prior to thrusting related to basement-involved thin-skinned tectonics. Thrust faults of both types were overprinted by ‘post-nappe folding’.
Special Issue Mass Extinctions–Preface
Authors: VAN DE SCHOOTBRUGGE BAS , WIGNALL PAUL B.
Published: January 2016

This thematic volume arose from a desire to acknowledge the pioneering contributions to mass extinction studies made by Professor Tony Hallam over the past 50 years and includes papers from several theme sessions held at the annual meeting of the Geological Society of America held in Denver in October 2013 along with other solicited contributions. They provide both a breadth of temporal coverage and also reflect the broad spectrum of earth scientists currently involved in studying these ancient crises, ranging from palaeontologists to volcanologists to earth system modellers.
THE ELECTORAL DYNAMICS OF CONSERVATISM, 1885–1910: ‘NEGATIVE UNIONISM’ RECONSIDERED
Authors: BLAXILL LUKE , SALEH TAYM
Published: January 2016

This article takes a fresh look at the long-running debate on whether the Unionist party owed its electoral success between the Third Reform Act and the Great War predominantly to ‘negative’ factors: principally, low turnout; poor Liberal organization; and a reliable and consistent middle-class vote. Taking advantage of recently digitized election datasets, it conducts the most extensive statistical study thus far attempted, to argue that recent revisionist historians have dismissed too readily the traditional ‘negative Unionism’ thesis associated with J. P. Cornford. It conducts an extensive analysis of the relationship between turnout and Unionist support on national, constituency, and regional levels, and finds that the much-disputed traditional interpretation that Conservatives benefited from low polls in the late Victorian period is broadly borne out in England. Additionally, this article also investigates the wider impact of uncontested constituencies in this period, arguing that the large number of seats left unfought by the Liberals was even more electorally grievous than the raw numbers imply. Both these findings suggest that the Unionists benefited from a still more substantial structural advantage in the late Victorian period than historians have previously assumed. While important aspects of Unionist language and strategy were undoubtedly positive, they were nonetheless underpinned by negative electoral foundations.
THE DYNAMICS AND DETERMINANTS OF SLAVE PRICES IN AN URBAN SETTING: SANTIAGO DE CHILE,c. 1773-1822
Authors: Cussen Celia , Llorca-Jaña Manuel , Droller Federico
Published: January 2016

This paper provides the first survey of slave prices for Santiago de Chile,c. 1773-1822. It also establishes the main determinants of slave prices during this period. We gathered and analysed over 3,800 sale operations. Our series confirm the usual inverted U-shape when prices are plotted against age, and that age was a very important determinant of slave prices. We also found that: female slaves were systematically priced over male slaves, quite contrary to what happened in most other markets; the prime age of Santiago slaves was 16-34, a younger range than for most other places; male slave prices moved in the same direction as real wages of unskilled workers; and the impact of the free womb law on market prices in 1811 was dramatic.
Objective predictors of outcome in forensic mental health services—a systematic review
Authors: Sedgwick Ottilie , Young Susan , Das Mrigendra , Kumari Veena
Published: January 2016

This systematic review aimed to examine whether neurobiological methods, or other methods independent of clinical judgment, have been investigated to assist decision making in forensic mental health services and, if so, whether this may be a useful strategy for predicting outcomes. OVID-Medline, Embase, and PsychInfo (inception–January 2015) were searched, limiting to English and human studies, using terms relating to “predict,” “outcome,” “psychiatry,” and “forensic” to identify primary research articles reporting on predictors of outcome in forensic mental health services not reliant on clinical judgment/self-report. Fifty studies investigating demographic, neuropsychological/neurophysiological, and biological predictors were identified, reporting on 3 broad outcomes: (i) inpatient violence, (ii) length of stay, (iii) reoffending. Factors associated positively, negatively, and showing no relationship with each outcome were extracted and compiled across studies. Of various demographic predictors examined, the most consistent associations were between previous psychiatric admissions and inpatient violence; a more “severe” offense and a longer length of stay; and young age and reoffending. Poor performance on tests of cognitive control and social cognition predicted inpatient violence while a neurophysiological measure of impulsivity showed utility predicting reoffending. Serum cholesterol and creatine kinase emerged as biological factors with potential to predict future inpatient violence. Research in this field is in its infancy, but investigations conducted to date indicate that using objective markers is a promising strategy to predict clinically significant outcomes.
Neuropsychological Practice Effects in the Context of Cognitive Decline: Contributions from Learning and Task Novelty
Authors: Thorgusen Sommer R. , Suchy Yana , Chelune Gordon J. , Baucom Brian R.
Published: January 2016

Although cognitive decline is typically associated with decreasing practice effects (PEs) (presumably due to declining memory), some studies show increased PEs with declines in cognition. One explanation for these inconsistencies is that PEs reflect not only memory, but also rebounds from adapting to task novelty (i.e., novelty effect), leading to increased PEs. We examined a theoretical model of relationships among novelty effects, memory, cognitive decline, and within-session PEs. Sixty-six older adults ranging from normal to severely impaired completed measures of memory, novelty effects, and two trials each of Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, 4thEdition Symbol Search and Coding. Interrelationships among variables were examined using regression analyses. PEs for Symbol Search and Coding (a) were related to different proposed PE components (i.e., memory and novelty effects), such that novelty effect predicted Symbol Search PE (R2=.239, p<.001) and memory predicted Coding PE (R2=.089, p=.015), and (b) showed different patterns across stages of cognitive decline, such that the greatest cognitive decline was associated with smallest Coding PE (R2=.125, p=.004), whereas intermediate cognitive decline was associated with the greatest Symbol Search PE (R2=.097, p=.040). The relationship between cognitive decline and PE for Symbol Search was partially mediated by novelty effect among older adults with abnormal cognitive decline (model R2=.286, p<.001). These findings (a) suggest that PE is not a unitary construct, (b) offer an explanation for contradictory findings in the literature, and (c) highlight the need for a better understanding of component processes of PE across different neuropsychological measures. (JINS, 2016, 22, 453–466)
World knowledge and novel information integration during L2 speech comprehension
Authors: ROMERO-RIVAS CARLOS , COREY JOANNA D. , GARCIA XAVIER , THIERRY GUILLAUME , MARTIN CLARA D. , COSTA ALBERT
Published: January 2016

In this study we explore whether world knowledge (WK) processing differs between individuals listening to their native (L1) or their non-native (L2) language. We recorded event-related brain potentials in L1 and L2 speakers of Spanish while they listened to sentences uttered by native speakers of Spanish. Sentences were either congruent or incongruent with participants’ WK. In addition, participants also listened to sentences in which upcoming words could not be anticipated on the basis of WK. WK violations elicited a late negativity of greater magnitude and duration in the L2 than the L1 group. However, sentences in which WK was not helpful regarding word anticipation elicited similar N400 modulations in both groups. These results suggest that WK processing requires a deeper lexical search in L2 comprehension than in L1 comprehension.
The Impact of African Dust on Air Quality in the Caribbean Basin
Authors: Prospero Joseph , Diaz Henry
Published: January 2016

Symposium on Airborne Dust, Climate Change, and Human Health; Miami, Florida, 19–21 May 2015
Human Activities Account for Less Than a Third of Ocean Nitrogen
Authors: Kelleher Shannon
Published: January 2016

Researchers found that humans contribute far less nitrogen to the open ocean than previously thought.
Resveratrol and STAT inhibitor enhance autophagy in ovarian cancer cells
Authors: Zhong L-X , Zhang Y , Wu M-L , Liu Y-N , Zhang P , Chen X-Y , Kong Q-Y , Liu J , Li H
Published: January 2016

Autophagic activity reflects cellular response to drug treatment and can be regulated by STAT3 signaling. Resveratrol inhibits STAT3 activation and causes remarkable growth arrest and cell death of ovarian cancer (OC) cells. However, the autophagic status and its relevance with resveratrol’s anti-OC effects remain unclear. We analyzed the states of autophagic activities, the nature of autophagosomes and the levels of autophagy-related proteins (LC-3, Beclin 1 and STAT3) in resveratrol-treated CAOV-3 and OVCAR-3 OC cells using multiple approaches. We elucidated the correlation of STAT3 inhibition with autophagic activity by treating OC cells with an upstream inhibitor of STAT proteins, AG490. Resveratrol efficiently suppressed growth, induced apoptosis and inactivated STAT3 signaling of the two OC cell lines. We found enhanced autophagic activity accompanied with Beclin-1 upregulation and LC3 enzymatic cleavage in resveratrol-treated OC cells. Immunofluorescent (IF) microscopic and IF-based confocal examinations demonstrated the accumulation of cytoplasmic granules co-labeled with LC3 and cytochrome C in resveratrol- or AG490-treated OC cells. Using electron microscopy, we confirmed an increase in autophagosomes and mitochondrial spheroids in either resveratrol- or AG490-treated OC cells. This study demonstrates the abilities of resveratrol to enhance apoptotic and autophagic activities in OC cells, presumably via inactivating STAT3 signaling. Resveratrol or the selective JAK2 inhibitor also leads to mitochondrial turnover, which would be unfavorable for OC cell survival and sensitize OC cells to resveratrol.
Genetic basis for glandular trichome formation in cotton
Authors: Ma Dan , Hu Yan , Yang Changqing , Liu Bingliang , Fang Lei , Wan Qun , Liang Wenhua , Mei Gaofu , Wang Lingjian , Wang Haiping , Ding Linyun , Dong Chenguang , Pan Mengqiao , Chen Jiedan , Wang Sen , Chen Shuqi , Cai Caiping , Zhu Xiefei , Guan Xueying , Zhou Baoliang , Zhu Shuijin , Wang Jiawei , Guo Wangzhen , Chen Xiaoya , Zhang Tianzhen
Published: January 2016

Trichomes originate from epidermal cells and can be classified as either glandular or non-glandular. Gossypium species are characterized by the presence of small and darkly pigmented lysigenous glands that contain large amounts of gossypol. Here, using a dominant glandless mutant, we characterize GoPGF, which encodes a basic helix-loop-helix domain-containing transcription factor, that we propose is a positive regulator of gland formation. Silencing GoPGF leads to a completely glandless phenotype. A single nucleotide insertion in GoPGF, introducing a premature stop codon is found in the duplicate recessive glandless mutant (gl2gl3). The characterization of GoPGF helps to unravel the regulatory network of glandular structure biogenesis, and has implications for understanding the production of secondary metabolites in glands. It also provides a potential molecular basis to generate glandless seed and glanded cotton to not only supply fibre and oil but also provide a source of protein for human consumption.
Complex disease and phenotype mapping in the domestic dog
Authors: Hayward Jessica J. , Castelhano Marta G. , Oliveira Kyle C. , Corey Elizabeth , Balkman Cheryl , Baxter Tara L. , Casal Margret L. , Center Sharon A. , Fang Meiying , Garrison Susan J. , Kalla Sara E. , Korniliev Pavel , Kotlikoff Michael I. , Moise N. S. , Shannon Laura M. , Simpson Kenneth W. , Sutter Nathan B. , Todhunter Rory J. , Boyko Adam R.
Published: January 2016

The domestic dog is becoming an increasingly valuable model species in medical genetics, showing particular promise to advance our understanding of cancer and orthopaedic disease. Here we undertake the largest canine genome-wide association study to date, with a panel of over 4,200 dogs genotyped at 180,000 markers, to accelerate mapping efforts. For complex diseases, we identify loci significantly associated with hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, idiopathic epilepsy, lymphoma, mast cell tumour and granulomatous colitis; for morphological traits, we report three novel quantitative trait loci that influence body size and one that influences fur length and shedding. Using simulation studies, we show that modestly larger sample sizes and denser marker sets will be sufficient to identify most moderate- to large-effect complex disease loci. This proposed design will enable efficient mapping of canine complex diseases, most of which have human homologues, using far fewer samples than required in human studies.
Msp40 effector of root-knot nematode manipulates plant immunity to facilitate parasitism
Authors: Niu Junhai , Liu Pei , Liu Qian , Chen Changlong , Guo Quanxin , Yin Junmei , Yang Guangsui , Jian Heng
Published: January 2016

Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) are obligate biotrophic parasites that invade plant roots and engage in prolonged and intimate relationships with their hosts. Nematode secretions, some of which have immunosuppressing activity, play essential roles in successful parasitism; however, their mechanisms of action remain largely unknown. Here, we show that the RKN-specific geneMiMsp40, cloned fromMeloidogyne incognita, is expressed exclusively in subventral oesophageal gland cells and is strongly upregulated during early parasitic stages.Arabidopsisplants overexpressingMiMsp40were more susceptible to nematode infection than were wild type plants. Conversely, the host-derivedMiMsp40RNAi suppressed nematode parasitism and/or reproduction. Moreover, overexpression ofMiMsp40in plants suppressed the deposition of callose and the expression of marker genes for bacterial elicitor elf18-triggered immunity. Transient expression ofMiMsp40prevented Bax-triggered defence-related programmed cell death. Co-agroinfiltration assays indicated that MiMsp40 also suppressed macroscopic cell death triggered by MAPK cascades or by the ETI cognate elicitors R3a/Avr3a. Together, these results demonstrate that MiMsp40 is a novelMeloidogyne-specific effector that is injected into plant cells by early parasitic stages of the nematode and that plays a role in suppressing PTI and/or ETI signals to facilitate RKN parasitism.