bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
RAPTOR‐UAV: Real‐time particle tracking in rivers using an unmanned aerial vehicle
Authors: Thumser Philipp , Haas Christian , Tuhtan Jeffrey A. , Fuentes‐Pérez Juan Francisco , Toming Gert
Published: July 2017

River system measurement and mapping using UAVs is both lean and agile, with the added advantage of increased safety for the surveying crew. A common parameter of fluvial geomorphological studies is the flow velocity, which is a major driver of sediment behavior. Advances in fluid mechanics now include metrics describing the presence and interaction of coherent structures within a flow field and along its boundaries. These metrics have proven to be useful in studying the complex turbulent flows but require time‐resolved flow field data, which is normally unavailable in geomorphological studies. Contactless UAV‐based velocity measurement provides a new source of velocity field data for measurements of extreme hydrological events at a safe distance, and could allow for measurements of inaccessible areas. Recent works have successfully applied large‐scale particle image velocimetry (LSPIV) using UAVs in rivers, focusing predominantly on surficial flow estimation by tracking intensity differences between georeferenced images. The objective of this work is to introduce a methodology for UAV based real‐time particle tracking in rivers (RAPTOR) in a case study along a short test reach of the Brigach River in the German Black Forest. This methodology allows for large‐scale particle tracking velocimetry (LSPTV) using a combination of floating, infrared light‐emitting particles and a programmable embedded color vision sensor in order to simultaneously detect and track the positions of objects. The main advantage of this approach is its ability to rapidly collect and process the position data, which can be done in real time. The disadvantages are that the method requires the use of specialized light‐emitting particles, which in some cases cannot be retrieved from the investigation area, and that the method returns velocity data in unscaled units of px/s. This work introduces the RAPTOR system with its hardware, data processing workflow, and provides an example of unscaled velocity field estimation using the proposed method. First experiences with the method show that the tracking rate of 50 Hz allows for position estimation with sub‐pixel accuracy, even considering UAV self‐motion. A comparison of the unscaled tracks after Savitzky–Golay filtering shows that although the time‐averaged velocities remain virtually the same, the filter reduces the standard deviation by more than 40% and the maxima by 20%. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Neural correlates of formal thought disorder: An activation likelihood estimation meta‐analysis
Authors: Wensing Tobias , Cieslik Edna C. , Müller Veronika I. , Hoffstaedter Felix , Eickhoff Simon B. , Nickl‐Jockschat Thomas
Published: June 2017

Formal thought disorder (FTD) refers to a psychopathological dimension characterized by disorganized and incoherent speech. Whether symptoms of FTD arise from aberrant processing in language‐related regions or more general cognitive networks, however, remains debated. Here, we addressed this question by a quantitative meta‐analysis of published functional neuroimaging studies on FTD. The revised Activation Likelihood Estimation (ALE) algorithm was used to test for convergent aberrant activation changes in 18 studies (30 experiments) investigating FTD, of which 17 studies comprised schizophrenia patients and one study healthy subjects administered to S‐ketamine. Additionally, we analyzed task‐dependent and task‐independent (resting‐state) functional connectivity (FC) of brain regions showing convergence in activation changes. Subsequent functional characterization was performed for the initial clusters and the delineated connectivity networks by reference to the BrainMap database. Consistent activation changes were found in the left superior temporal gyrus (STG) and two regions within the left posterior middle temporal gyrus (p‐MTG), ventrally (vp‐MTG) and dorsally (dp‐MTG). Functional characterization revealed a prominent functional association of ensuing clusters from our ALE meta‐analysis with language and speech processing, as well as auditory perception in STG and with social cognition in dp‐MTG. FC analysis identified task‐dependent and task‐independent networks for all three seed regions, which were mainly related to language and speech processing, but showed additional involvement in higher order cognitive functions. Our findings suggest that FTD is mainly characterized by abnormal activation in brain regions of the left hemisphere that are associated with language and speech processing, but also extend to higher order cognitive functions. Hum Brain Mapp 38:4946–4965, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Pericentral hepatocytes produce insulin‐like growth factor‐2 to promote liver regeneration during selected injuries in mice
Authors: Liu Junlai , Hu Xiao , Chen Jie , Li Xinqi , Wang Lu , Wang Binbin , Peng Wenbo , Yang Cuiwei , Li Zhijie , Chen Yan , Wang Yue J. , Li Chuanjiang , Li Xiajun , Yan Fang , Wang Yunfang , Shang Changzhen , Wang Xin , Chen Tao , Huang Pengyu
Published: June 2017

Liver regeneration (LR) happens after various types of injuries. Unlike the well‐studied LR caused by partial hepatectomy (PHx), there is accumulating evidence suggesting that LR during other injuries may result from unknown mechanisms. In this study, we found that insulin‐like growth factor 2 (IGF‐2) was drastically induced following the liver injuries caused by tyrosinemia or long‐term treatments of CCl4. However, this was not observed during the early phase of acute liver injuries after PHx or single treatment of CCl4. Remarkably, most IGF‐2‐expressing hepatocytes were located at the histological area around the central vein of the liver lobule after the liver injuries caused either in fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase–deficient mice or in CCl4 chronically treated mice. Hepatocyte proliferation in vivo was significantly promoted by induced IGF‐2 overexpression, which could be inhibited by adeno‐associated virus–delivered IGF‐2 short hairpin RNAs or linsitinib, an inhibitor of IGF‐2 signaling. Proliferating hepatocytes in vivo responded to IGF‐2 through both insulin receptor and IGF‐1 receptor. IGF‐2 also significantly promoted DNA synthesis of primary hepatocytes in vitro. More interestingly, the significantly induced IGF‐2 was also found to colocalize with glutamine synthetase in the region enriched with proliferating hepatocytes for the liver samples from patients with liver fibrosis. Conclusion: IGF‐2 is produced by pericentral hepatocytes to promote hepatocyte proliferation and repair tissue damage in the setting of chronic liver injury, which is distinct from the signaling that occurs post‐PHx. (Hepatology 2017;66:2002–2015)
A putative lysophosphatidylinositol receptor GPR55 modulates hippocampal synaptic plasticity
Authors: Hurst Katrina , Badgley Corinne , Ellsworth Tanner , Bell Spencer , Friend Lindsey , Prince Brad , Welch Jacob , Cowan Zack , Williamson Ryan , Lyon Chris , Anderson Brandon , Poole Brian , Christensen Michael , McNeil Michael , Call Jarrod , Edwards Jeffrey G.
Published: June 2017

GPR55, an orphan G‐protein coupled receptor, is activated by lysophosphatidylinositol (LPI) and the endocannabinoid anandamide, as well as by other compounds including THC. LPI is a potent endogenous ligand of GPR55 and neither GPR55 nor LPIs' functions in the brain are well understood. While endocannabinoids are well known to modulate brain synaptic plasticity, the potential role LPI could have on brain plasticity has never been demonstrated. Therefore, we examined not only GPR55 expression, but also the role its endogenous ligand could play in long‐term potentiation, a common form of synaptic plasticity. Using quantitative RT‐PCR, electrophysiology, and behavioral assays, we examined hippocampal GPR55 expression and function. qRT‐PCR results indicate that GPR55 is expressed in hippocampi of both rats and mice. Immunohistochemistry and single cell PCR demonstrates GPR55 protein in pyramidal cells of CA1 and CA3 layers in the hippocampus. Application of the GPR55 endogenous agonist LPI to hippocampal slices of GPR55+/+ mice significantly enhanced CA1 LTP. This effect was absent in GPR55−/− mice, and blocked by the GPR55 antagonist CID 16020046. We also examined paired‐pulse ratios of GPR55−/− and GPR55+/+ mice with or without LPI and noted significant enhancement in paired‐pulse ratios by LPI in GPR55+/+ mice. Behaviorally, GPR55−/− and GPR55+/+ mice did not differ in memory tasks including novel object recognition, radial arm maze, or Morris water maze. However, performance on radial arm maze and elevated plus maze task suggests GPR55−/− mice have a higher frequency of immobile behavior. This is the first demonstration of LPI involvement in hippocampal synaptic plasticity.
Significance of l‐carnitine for human health
Authors: Adeva‐Andany María M. , Calvo‐Castro Isabel , Fernández‐Fernández Carlos , Donapetry‐García Cristóbal , Pedre‐Piñeiro Ana María
Published: June 2017

Carnitine acyltransferases catalyze the reversible transfer of acyl groups from acyl‐coenzyme A esters to l‐carnitine, forming acyl‐carnitine esters that may be transported across cell membranes. l‐Carnitine is a wáter‐soluble compound that humans may obtain both by food ingestion and endogenous synthesis from trimethyl‐lysine. Most l‐carnitine is intracellular, being present predominantly in liver, skeletal muscle, heart and kidney. The organic cation transporter‐2 facilitates l‐carnitine uptake inside cells. Congenital dysfunction of this transporter causes primary l‐carnitine deficiency. Carnitine acetyltransferase is involved in the export of excess acetyl groups from the mitochondria and in acetylation reactions that regulate gene transcription and enzyme activity. Carnitine octanoyltransferase is a peroxysomal enzyme required for the complete oxidation of very long‐chain fatty acids and phytanic acid, a branched‐chain fatty acid. Carnitine palmitoyltransferase‐1 is a transmembrane protein located on the outer mitochondrial membrane where it catalyzes the conversion of acyl‐coenzyme A esters to acyl‐carnitine esters. Carnitine acyl‐carnitine translocase transports acyl‐carnitine esters across the inner mitochondrial membrane in exchange for free l‐carnitine that exits the mitochondrial matrix. Carnitine palmitoyltransferase‐2 is anchored on the matrix side of the inner mitochondrial membrane, where it converts acyl‐carnitine esters back to acyl‐coenzyme A esters, which may be used in metabolic pathways, such as mitochondrial β‐oxidation. l‐Carnitine enhances nonoxidative glucose disposal under euglycemic hyperinsulinemic conditions in both healthy individuals and patients with type 2 diabetes, suggesting that l‐carnitine strengthens insulin effect on glycogen storage. The plasma level of acyl‐carnitine esters, primarily acetyl‐carnitine, increases during diabetic ketoacidosis, fasting, and physical activity, particularly high‐intensity exercise. Plasma concentration of free l‐carnitine decreases simultaneously under these conditions. © 2017 IUBMB Life, 69(8):578–594, 2017
Critical updates in the 7th edition of the American Society for Apheresis guidelines
Authors: Ipe Tina S. , Pham Huy P. , Williams Lance A.
Published: June 2017

The 7th edition of the American Society for Apheresis (ASFA) guidelines was composed by an international physicians committee, and includes 14 new diseases, and 2 new indications for diseases described in the former guidelines. Several indications have either changed names or were excluded from this edition. The guidelines are developed after taking into account documented evidence, either supporting or negating use of apheresis technology in the treatment of diseases. Based on this evidence, the committee revises, updates and includes or excludes disease entities/indications in the guidelines. This article describes the revisions to the 7th edition of the ASFA guidelines, in a comprehensive manner.
An interaction potential to study the thermal structure evolution of a thermoelectric material: β‐Cu2Se
Authors: Namsani Sadanandam , Gahtori Bhasker , Auluck Sushil , Singh Jayant K.
Published: July 2017

An interaction potential model has been developed, for the first time, for β‐Cu2Se using the ab initio derived data. The structure and elastic constants of β‐Cu2Se using the derived force‐field are within a few percent of DFT derived structure and elastic constants and reported experimental structure. The derived force‐field also shows remarkable ability to reproduce temperature dependent behavior of the specific heat and thermal expansion coefficient. The thermal structure evolution of the β‐Cu2Se is studied by performing the molecular dynamic simulations using the derived force‐field. The simulation results demonstrate that the Cu ions moves around the equilibrium lattice position within the temperature range of 500–800 K. However, at a temperature > 800 K, the Cu ions starts diffusing within the material, while the Se ions remains in their lattice position. The evaluated thermodynamic properties such as free energy and excess entropy, show that the increased Cu–Se interaction with the temperature makes the system more thermodynamically stable. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Molecular electrostatic potential and “atoms‐in‐molecules” analyses of the interplay between π‐hole and lone pair···π/X–H···π/metal···π interactions
Authors: Bauzá Antonio , Seth Saikat Kumar , Frontera Antonio
Published: July 2017

Usingab initiocalculations, we analyze the interplay between π‐hole interactions involving the nitro group of 1,4‐dinitrobenzene and lone pair···π (lp···π), C–H···π or metal(M)···π noncovalent interactions. Moreover, we have also used 1,4‐phenylenebis(phosphine dioxide) for comparison purposes. Interesting cooperativity effects are found when π‐hole (F···N,P) and lp···π/C–H···π/M···π interactions coexist in the same supramolecular assembly. These effects are studied theoretically in terms of energetic and geometric features of the complexes, which are computed byab initiomethods (RI‐MP2/def2‐TZVP). A charge density analysis using the Bader's theory of “atoms in molecules” is carried out to characterize the interactions and to analyze their strengthening or weakening depending on the variation of charge density at critical points. The importance of electrostatic effects on the mutual influence of the interaction is studied by means of molecular electrostatic potential calculations. By taking advantage of these computational tools, the present study examines interplay of these interactions. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A supplement‐free osteoclast–osteoblast co‐culture for pre‐clinical application
Authors: Schulze Sabine , Wehrum Diana , Dieter Peter , Hempel Ute
Published: July 2017

There is increasing demand for efficient and physiological in vitro cell culture systems suitable for testing new pharmaceutical drugs or for evaluating materials for tissue regeneration. In particular, co‐cultures of two or more tissue‐relevant cell types have the advantage to study the response of cells on diverse parameters in a more natural environment with respect to physiological complexity. We developed a direct bone cell co‐culture system using human peripheral blood monocytes (hPBMC) and human bone marrow stromal cells (hBMSC) as osteoclast/osteoblast precursor cells, respectively, strictly avoiding external supplements for the induction of differentiation. The sophisticated direct hPBMC/hBMSC co‐culture was characterized focusing on osteoclast function and was compared with two indirect approaches. Only in the direct co‐culture, hPBMC were triggered by hBMSC into osteoclastogenesis and became active resorbing osteoclasts. Bisphosphonates and sulfated glycosaminoglycans were used to examine the suitability of the co‐culture system for evaluating the influence of certain effectors on bone healing and bone regeneration and the contribution of each cell type thereby. The results show that the investigated substances had more pronounced effects on both osteoblasts and osteoclasts in the co‐culture system than in respective monocultures.
Radiomic analysis of soft tissues sarcomas can distinguish intermediate from high‐grade lesions
Authors: Corino Valentina D.A. , Montin Eros , Messina Antonella , Casali Paolo G. , Gronchi Alessandro , Marchianò Alfonso , Mainardi Luca T.
Published: June 2017

Purpose

To assess the feasibility of grading soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) using MRI features (radiomics).

Materials and Methods

MRI (echo planar SE, 1.5T) from 19 patients with STSs and a known histological grading, were retrospectively analyzed. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps, obtained by diffusion‐weighted imaging acquisitions, were analyzed through 65 radiomic features, intensity‐based (first order statistics, FOS) and texture (gray level co‐occurrence matrix, GLCM; and gray level run length matrix, GLRLM) features. Feature selection (sequential forward floating search) and classification (k‐nearest neighbor classifier) were performed to distinguish intermediate‐ from high‐grade STSs. Classification was performed using the three different sub‐groups of features separately as well as all the features together. The entire dataset was divided in three subsets: the training, validation and test set, containing, respectively, 60, 30, and 10% of the data.

Results

Intermediate‐grade lesions had a higher and less disperse ADC values compared with high‐grade ones: most of FOS related to intensity are higher for the intermediate‐grade STSs, while FOS related to signal variability were higher in the high grade (e.g., the feature variance is 2.6*105 ± 0.9*105 versus 3.3*105 ± 1.6*105, P = 0.3). The GLCM features related to entropy and dissimilarity were higher in the high‐grade. When performing classification, the best accuracy is obtained with a maximum of three features for each subgroup, FOS features being those leading to the best classification (validation set: FOS accuracy 0.90 ± 0.11, area under the curve [AUC] 0.85 ± 0.16; test set: FOS accuracy 0.88 ± 0.25, AUC 0.87 ± 0.34).

Conclusion

Good accuracy and AUC could be obtained using only few Radiomic features, belonging to the FOS class.

Level of Evidence: 4

Technical Efficacy: Stage 2

J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2018;47:829–840.
Human polyomavirus 9 in immunocompromised patients in the University Hospital in Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
Authors: Fajfr Miroslav , Pliskova Lenka , Kutova Radka , Matyskova‐Kubisova Michaela , Navratil Pavel , Radocha Jakub , Valenta Zbynek , Dusilova‐Sulkova Sylvie
Published: July 2017

Human polyomaviruses such as JC polyomavirus and BK polyomavirus have long been well known pathogens of immunocompromised patients. Several new members of this viral family have been described during the last decade. Human polyomavirus 9 seems to be a novel pathogen of transplanted patients according to some studies. The aim of our study was to determine the presence of human polyomavirus 9 in patients after kidney or stem cell transplantation (SCT) at the University Hospital in Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic. Overall 100 patients, 65 after kidney transplantation and 35 after SCT, were included into the study. At least three follow‐up samples from each patient were examined for human polyomavirus 9 DNA presentation with the two previously described in‐house PCR protocols. Despite the frequent reactivation of human CMV (14.3% in kidney transplantation and 63.3% after SCT) or BK polyomavirus in our patient group, there was no positivity for human polyomavirus 9 either in blood samples or urine samples. One of the possible reasons for this discrepancy versus previous published studies could be a relatively low proportion of patients treated by induction therapy before kidney transplantation in our study cohort.
Leader–member exchange (LMX) differentiation and work outcomes: Conceptual clarification and critical review
Authors: Martin Robin , Thomas Geoff , Legood Alison , Dello Russo Silvia
Published: June 2017

According to leader–member exchange (LMX) theory, leaders develop different quality relationships with followers in their team (termed LMX differentiation). An important theoretical question concerns how different LMX relationships within a team affect followers' work outcomes. This paper provides a critical review of the concept of LMX differentiation. We propose that the LMX differentiation process leads to patterns of LMX relationships that can be captured by 3 properties (central tendency, variation, and relative position). We describe a taxonomy illustrating the different ways these properties have been conceptualized and measured. We identify 2 approaches to LMX differentiation as being a “perspective of the team” (that are shared perceptions amongst team members) or a “perspective of the follower” (subjective perceptions unique to each follower). These perspectives lead to different types of measures that predict different outcomes at the individual and team levels. We describe theoretical models employed to explain the effects of LMX differentiation (justice, social comparison, and social identity theories). Generally, the lower the within‐team variation in LMX or the more a team member's LMX is higher than the mean team LMX, the better are the work outcomes, but many moderators condition these effects. Finally, we identify some key areas for future research.
Reduced bone loss in a murine model of postmenopausal osteoporosis lacking complement component 3
Authors: MacKay Danielle L. , Kean Thomas J. , Bernardi Kristina G. , Haeberle Heather S. , Ambrose Catherine G. , Lin Feng , Dennis James E.
Published: July 2017

The growing field of osteoimmunology seeks to unravel the complex interdependence of the skeletal and immune systems. Notably, we and others have demonstrated that complement signaling influences the differentiation of osteoblasts and osteoclasts, the two primary cell types responsible for maintaining bone homeostasis. However, the net effect of complement on bone homeostasis in vivo was unknown. Our published in vitro mechanistic work led us to hypothesize that absence of complement component 3 (C3), a central protein in the complement activation cascade, protects against bone loss in the ovariectomy‐based model of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Indeed, we report here that, when compared to their C57BL/6J (WT) counterparts, ovariectomized C3 deficient mice experienced reduced bone loss at multiple sites and increased stiffness at the femoral neck, the latter potentially improving mechanical function. WT and B6;129S4‐C3tm1Crr/J (C3‐/‐) mice were either ovariectomized or sham‐operated at 6 weeks of age and euthanized at 12 weeks. MicroCT on harvested bones revealed that the trabecular bone volume fraction in the metaphyses of both the proximal tibiae and distal femora of ovariectomized C3‐/‐ mice is significantly greater than that of their WT counterparts. Lumbar vertebrae showed significantly greater osteoid content and mineral apposition rates. Mechanical testing demonstrated significantly greater stiffness in the femoral necks of ovariectomized C3‐/‐ mice. These results demonstrate that C3 deficiency reduces bone loss at ovariectomy and may improve mechanical properties. © 2017 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 36:118–128, 2018.
Phytosterol‐based oleogels self‐assembled with monoglyceride for controlled volatile release
Authors: Yang Dan‐Xia , Chen Xiao‐Wei , Yang Xiao‐Quan
Published: June 2017

BACKGROUND

Oleogels have recently emerged as a subject of growing interest among industrial and academic researchers as an alternative to saturated/trans‐fat and delivery of functional ingredients. Phytosterols, comprising plant‐derived natural steroid compounds, are preferred for oleogel production because they are both natural and healthy. In the present study, phytosterol‐based oleogels self‐assembled with monoglyceride were studied with respect to tuning volatile release.

RESULTS

Microscopy images of the bicomponent oleogels of β‐sitosterol and monoglyceride showed the formation of a new three‐dimensional network of entangled crystals and a controllable microstructure. Our analysis from differential scanning calorimetry and small angle X‐ray scattering results suggests the self‐assembly of β‐sitosterol and monoglyceride via intermolecular hydrogen bonds into spherulitic microstructures. The results showed that the release rate (v0), maximum headspace concentrations (Cmax) and partition coefficients (ka/o) for oleogels showed a significantly controlled release and were tunable via the microstructure of phytosterol‐based oleogels under both dynamic and static conditions. In addition, the solid‐like oleogels had interesting thixotropic and thermoresponsive behaviors, probably as a result of intermolecular hydrogen bonding.

CONCLUSION

The self‐assembly of phytosterol‐based oleogels with monoglyceride was attributed to intermolecular hydrogen and is demonstrated to be a promising tunable and functional strategy for delivering flavor compounds. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Transcription factor‐microRNA associations and their impact on colorectal cancer survival
Authors: Mullany Lila E. , Herrick Jennifer S. , Wolff Roger K. , Stevens John R. , Samowitz Wade , Slattery Martha L.
Published: July 2017

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) and Transcription Factors (TFs) both influence messenger RNA (mRNA) expression, disrupting biological pathways involved in carcinogenesis and prognosis. As many miRNAs target multiple mRNAs, thus influencing a multitude of biological pathways, deciphering which miRNAs are important for cancer development and survival is difficult. In this study, we (i) determine associations between TF and survival (N = 168 colon cancer cases); (ii) identify miRNAs associated with TFs related to survival; and (iii) determine if factors derived from TF‐specific miRNA principal component analysis (PCA) influence survival. Cox Proportional hazard models were run for each PCA factor to determine Hazard Ratios (HR) and 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) adjusting for age, center, and AJCC stage. Thirty TFs improved survival when differential expression increased; 27 of these were associated significantly with normal colonic mucosa expression of 65 unique miRNAs when an FDRq‐value of <0.05 was applied. Five factors, comprising 21 miRNAs, altered survival in rectal cancer subjects; four of these five factors improved survival and one factor reduced survival. One factor comprising four miRNAs reduced survival in colon cancer subjects. In summary, our data suggest that expression of TFs and their related miRNAs influence survival after diagnosis with colorectal cancer.
The minimal criterion for the equivalence between local and global optimal solutions in nondifferentiable optimization problem
Authors: Arana‐Jiménez Manuel , Antczak Tadeusz
Published: June 2017

In the paper, a necessary and sufficient criterion it provided such that any local optimal solution is also global in a not necessarily differentiable constrained optimization problem. This criterion is compared to others earlier appeared in the literature, which are sufficient but not necessary for a local optimal solution to be global. The importance of the established criterion is illustrated by suitable examples of nonconvex optimization problems presented in the paper.
Maternal chromosome Xp deletion identified by prenatal cell‐free DNA screening
Authors: Ilagan Bernard J. , Maxwell Megan D. , Fisher Barbra M. , Milanovich Jeri , Owen Renius , Anderson Ben , Zhang Ke , Strom Charles M.
Published: June 2017

What's already known about this topic?

Prenatal cell‐free (cfDNA) screening has been validated to detect fetal copy number variations (CNVs), depending upon CNV size and sequencing depth. Emerging evidence suggests that it can also accurately detect maternal CNVs.

What does this study add?

This case report underscores the clinical significance of maternal CNVs detected incidentally during cfDNA screening.

© 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Container Chemistry: Manipulating excited state behavior of organic guests within cavitands that form capsules in water
Authors: Jagadesan Pradeepkumar , Samanta Shampa R. , Choudhury Rajib , Ramamurthy Vaidhyanathan
Published: June 2017

Two new cavitands substituted with acid and alcohol groups (tetra‐acid tetra‐alcohol [TATA] and inverted TATA [iTATA]) bearing the same molecular skeleton as octa acid (OA) have been synthesized and their use as photochemical reaction containers explored. Isothermal calorimetric titration experiments suggest that the inclusion of organic molecules within these cavitands is driven both by favorable ΔH and ΔS and the substituents at the portals have little role to play. Comparison of the 2 new cavitands with the previous results on OA reveals that the presence of benzoate anion at the top periphery is essential for the cavitand to be a triplet sensitizer. Polarity within the water‐soluble capsules, resulting from TATA and iTATA, was found to be close to that of ethylacetate and hydrocarbons, similar to that of OA. Photophysical studies with anthracene and camphorthione as guests disclose that the capsules made of 2 molecules of cavitands do not disassemble in the time scale of the excited states of the above guests (S1 in the case of anthracene and T1 in the case of camphorthione). Capsules ability to confine guests and the resulting photochemical intermediates has been tested by examining the photochemistry of 1‐phenyl‐3‐para‐tolyl‐2‐propanone. The radicals resulting from the Norrish type 1 cleavage of 1‐phenyl‐3‐para‐tolyl‐2‐propanone did not escape the cage and gave products, resulting from 100% cage effect. Availability of TATA and iTATA along with already reported similar cavitands expands the list of water‐soluble capsule forming cavitands that could be used as molecular containers.
On reachable set estimation of two‐dimensional systems described by the Roesser model with time‐varying delays
Authors: Trinh Hieu , Hien Le Van
Published: June 2017

In this paper, the problem of reachable set estimation of two‐dimensional (2‐D) discrete‐time systems described by the Roesser model with interval time‐varying delays is considered for the first time. New 2‐D weighted summation inequalities, which provide a tighter lower bound than the commonly used Jensen summation inequality, are proposed. Based on the Lyapunov‐Krasovskii functional approach, and by using the 2‐D weighted summation inequalities presented in this paper, new delay‐dependent conditions are derived to ensure the existence of an ellipsoid that bounds the system states in the presence of bounded disturbances. The derived conditions are expressed in terms of linear matrix inequalities, which can be solved by various computational tools to determine a smallest possible ellipsoidal bound. Applications to exponential stability analysis of 2‐D systems with delays are also presented. The effectiveness of the obtained results are illustrated by numerical examples.
Long search intervals underestimate bird and bat fatalities caused by wind turbines
Authors: Smallwood Kenneth Shawn
Published: June 2017

Bird and bat fatality estimates based on scientific monitoring are used to assess and compare impacts among wind energy projects. Fatality estimates are influenced by multiple factors, including variation in methodology. Variation in the interval between fatality searches exemplifies a monitoring decision that can potentially confound comparison of fatality estimates. A study at the Sand Hill portion of the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area, California, USA, provided the first opportunity to compare fatality‐rate estimates derived from 2 independent, experienced monitoring teams searching the same wind turbines at 2 different periodic intervals. Over 30 months of monitoring the same wind turbines, April 2012–October 2014, searches averaging 5‐day intervals detected 308 additional fatalities (of 431 fatalities total) representing 20 additional species (of 32 species total) compared with the searches averaging 39‐day intervals. Body mass explained most of the variation in discrepant fatality detections between the 2 search intervals, with the 39‐day interval searches detecting only 10% of the bats and birds of 10–40 g that were found by the 5‐day interval searches. The 39‐day search interval produced an estimate of annual bird fatalities/MW that was 39% lower than the estimate produced from the 5‐day search interval. The 39‐day search interval also resulted in many more species identification errors and greater errors in estimated time since death. The average search interval used in fatality monitoring strongly influences fatality estimates; long intervals can contribute to false impressions that wind projects have small or negligible effects on small birds and bats. © 2017 The Wildlife Society.
Hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia: clinical, molecular and therapeutical novelties
Authors: Maiorana Arianna , Dionisi‐Vici Carlo
Published: June 2017

Hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia (HI) is the most common cause of hypoglycemia in children. Impairment of cellular pathways involved in insulin secretion from pancreatic β‐cells, broadly classified as channelopathies and metabolopathies, have been discovered in the past two decades. The increasing use of NGS target panels, combined with clinical, biochemical and imaging findings allows differentiating the diagnostic management of children with focal forms, surgically curable, from those with diffuse forms, more conservatively treated with pharmacological and nutritional interventions. Specific approaches according to the subtype of HI have been established and novel therapies are currently under investigation. Despite diagnostic and therapeutic advances, HI remains an important cause of morbidity in children, still accounting for 26–44% of permanent intellectual disabilities, especially in neonatal‐onset patients. Initial insult from recurrent hypoglycemia in early life greatly contributes to the poor outcomes. Therefore, patients need to be rapidly identified and treated aggressively, and require at follow‐up a complex and regular monitoring, managed by a multidisciplinary HI team. This review gives an overview on the more recent diagnostic and therapeutic tools, on the novel drug and nutritional therapies, and on the long‐term neurological outcomes.
The big‐fish‐little‐pond effect on mathematics self‐concept: Evidence from the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Areepattamannil Shaljan , Khine Myint Swe , Al Nuaimi Samira
Published: June 2017

This study examined the big‐fish‐little‐pond effect (BFLPE; Marsh, 1987) on mathematics self‐concept of 7404 adolescents (female = 3767 [51%], male = 3637 [49%]; Mage = 15.85 years, SD = 0.28) from 456 schools in the United Arab Emirates, one of the Arab states of the Persian Gulf. The results of multilevel regression analyses indicated good support for the BFLPE's theoretical predictions: the effect of individual student mathematics achievement on individual student mathematics self‐concept was positive and statistically significant, whereas the effect of school‐average mathematics achievement on individual student mathematics self‐concept was negative and statistically significant. Moreover, the interaction between school‐average mathematics achievement and individual student mathematics achievement was small and non‐significant. Implications of the findings for policy and practice are briefly discussed.
Lifetime use of psychiatric medications and cognition at 43 years of age in schizophrenia in the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966
Authors: Hulkko A.P. , Murray G.K. , Moilanen J. , Haapea M. , Rannikko I. , Jones P.B. , Barnett J.H. , Huhtaniska S. , Isohanni M.K. , Koponen H. , Jääskeläinen E. , Miettunen J.
Published: June 2017

Background:

Higher lifetime antipsychotic exposure has been associated with poorer cognition in schizophrenia. The cognitive effects of adjunctive psychiatric medications and lifetime trends of antipsychotic use remain largely unclear. We aimed to study how lifetime and current benzodiazepine and antidepressant medications, lifetime trends of antipsychotic use and antipsychotic polypharmacy are associated with cognitive performance in midlife schizophrenia.

Methods:

Sixty participants with DSM-IV schizophrenia from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 were examined at 43 years of age with an extensive cognitive test battery. Cumulative lifetime and current use of psychiatric medications were collected from medical records and interviews. The associations between medication and principal component analysis-based cognitive composite score were analysed using linear regression.

Results:

Lifetime cumulative DDD years of benzodiazepine and antidepressant medications were not significantly associated with global cognition. Being without antipsychotic medication (for minimum 11 months) before the cognitive examination was associated with better cognitive performance (P= 0.007) and higher lifetime cumulative DDD years of antipsychotics with poorer cognition (P= 0.020), when adjusted for gender, onset age and lifetime hospital treatment days. Other lifetime trends of antipsychotic use, such as a long antipsychotic-free period earlier in the treatment history, and antipsychotic polypharmacy, were not significantly associated with cognition.

Conclusions:

Based on these naturalistic data, low exposure to adjunctive benzodiazepine and antidepressant medications does not seem to affect cognition nor explain the possible negative effects of high dose long-term antipsychotic medication on cognition in schizophrenia.
Acceleration of skin wound healing by low‐dose indirect ionizing radiation in male rats
Authors: Jabbari Nasrollah , Farjah Gholam Hossein , Ghadimi Behnam , Zanjani Hajar , Heshmatian Behnam
Published: July 2017

A recent hypothesis has revealed that low‐dose irradiation (LDI) with ionizing radiation might have a promoting effect on fracture healing. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of direct (electron beam) and indirect (gamma‐ray) low‐dose ionizing irradiations on the wound healing process in male rats. In 72 male rats, a full‐thickness wound was incised. The animals were randomly assigned to three groups, each with 24 rats. The first two groups were named IG–I and IG–II and respectively exposed to electron and gamma‐radiations (75 cGy) immediately after the surgical procedure. The third group was considered as the control (CG) and remained untreated. Skin biopsies from the subgroups were collected on days 3, 7, 15, and 21 after the operation and evaluated using histological and biomechanical methods. Data were analyzed by one‐way ANOVA, followed by Tukey's post hoc test using SPSS 20 software. Histological studies of tissues showed that the mean number of fibroblasts, macrophages, blood vessel sections, and neutrophils on the third and seventh days after the surgery in the gamma‐treated group was higher than that in both other groups. In contrast, on day 21, the mean number of mentioned cells in the gamma‐treated group was lower than in the other two groups. In addition, the mean maximum stress value was significantly greater in the gamma‐treated group. Results of this study showed that gamma‐ray irradiation is effective in the acceleration of wound healing.
Measuring Physical and Cognitive Fatigue in People With Post‐Polio Syndrome: Development of the Neurological Fatigue Index for Post‐Polio Syndrome (NFI‐PP)
Authors: Young Carolyn A. , Wong Samantha M. , Quincey Anne‐Marie C. , Tennant Alan
Published: June 2017

Background

Fatigue in post‐polio syndrome (PPS) has been shown to affect quality of life adversely. There is currently no disease‐specific measure of fatigue for PPS.

Objective

To develop a scale to measure fatigue in PPS that meets rigorous psychometric standards.

Design

Qualitative followed by validation and test‐retest studies.

Setting

Polio clinic followed by national questionnaire studies.

Participants

A total of 45 participants from polio clinic for qualitative; 319 participants from clinic or self‐referral for validation study, of whom 87 completed the retest questionnaire.

Methods

Draft questionnaire items on PPS fatigue were derived from transcripts of qualitative interviews. After cognitive debriefing, the draft measure was administered by mail along with comparator questionnaires to a new sample.

Main Outcome Measurements

Draft PPS fatigue measure, Fatigue Severity Scale, and visual analog scale for fatigue.

Results

Analysis of 271 of 319 (85%) questionnaires identified a 2‐factor solution (RMSEA 0.058). For the physical subscale, a 20‐item scale showed good fit (χ2 P = .189), strict unidimensionality (t‐test 5.17%), and reliability 0.91. For the cognitive subscale, a 7‐item scale showed excellent fit (χ2 P = .917), strict unidimensionality (t‐test 5.2%), and reliability 0.89. Evidence of a “difficulty factor” emerged also supporting a total score that showed good fit (χ2 P = .151), strict unidimensionality (t‐test 0.4%), and reliability consistent with group use at 0.73. Test‐retest correlations for all scales were greater than 0.85. Standard error of measurement on metric ranges was 5.4 for total, 2.9 for physical, and 1.69 for cognitive domains. With the latent estimate of the total score transformed to a 0‐100 scale, the mean score was 49.5 (SD 6.9). Spearman correlations with the Fatigue Severity Scale and visual analog scale were 0.60 and 0.55, respectively.

Conclusions

A patient‐derived Neurological Fatigue Index for PPS, with physical and cognitive subscales and a total score, has demonstrated good reliability, appropriate concurrent validity, and satisfies the Rasch measurement model. A raw‐score to interval scale transformation is available for parametric applications and the calculation of change scores.

Level of Evidence

III
Epidemiology of electrical and lightning-related injuries among Canadian children and youth, 1997-2010: A Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program (CHIRPP) study
Authors: Böhrer Madeleine , Stewart Samuel A. , Hurley Katrina F.
Published: June 2017

Introduction

Although death due to electrical injury and lightning are rare in children, these injuries are often preventable. Twenty years ago, most injuries occurred at home, precipitated by oral contact with electrical cords, contact with wall sockets and faulty electrical equipment. We sought to assess the epidemiology of electrical injuries in children presenting to Emergency Departments (EDs) that participate in the Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program (CHIRPP).

Methods

This study is a retrospective review of electrical and lightning injury data from CHIRPP. The study population included children and youth aged 0-19 presenting to participating CHIRPP EDs from 1997-2010. Age, sex, year, setting, circumstance and disposition were extracted. Variables were tested using Fisher’s exact test and simple linear regression.

Results

The dataset included 1183 electrical injuries, with 84 (7%) resulting in hospitalization. Most events occurred at home in the 2-5 year age group and affected the hands. Since 1997 there has been a gradual decrease in the number of electrical injuries per year (p<0.01) and there is an annual surge in electrical injuries over the summer (p<0.01). Forty-six percent of injuries involved electrical outlets, 65% of injuries involved some sort of electrical equipment. Injuries due to lightning were rare (n=19). No deaths were recorded in the database.

Conclusion

Despite the decrease in the number of electrical injuries per year, a large portion of injuries still appear to be preventable. Further research should focus on effective injury prevention strategies.
Firearm “Rights” in Canada: Law and History in the Debates over Gun Control
Authors: Brown R. Blake
Published: June 2017

This article explains why and how some Canadians have asserted a right to possess firearms from the late nineteenth century to the early twenty-first century. It demonstrates that several late-nineteenth-century politicians asserted a right to arms for self-defence purposes based on the English Bill of Rights. This “right” was forgotten until opponents of gun control dusted it off in the late twentieth century. Firearm owners began to assert such a right based upon the English Bill of Rights, William Blackstone, and the English common law. Their claims remained judicially untested until recent cases finally undermined such arguments.
Concomitant imaging and genetic findings in children with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss
Authors: Gruber M , Brown C , Mahadevan M , Neeff M
Published: June 2017

Objective:

To describe the concomitant imaging and genetic findings in children diagnosed with non-syndromic unilateral sensorineural hearing loss.

Methods:

A retrospective cohort study was conducted of 60 children diagnosed between January 2005 and December 2015 in a tertiary-level paediatric institution.

Results:

Average age at diagnosis was 4.3 years. All children were considered non-syndromic. Hearing loss was categorised as mild (17 children), moderate (17 children), severe (7 children) or profound (19 children). Imaging was performed in 43 children (71.66 per cent). Nineteen patients (44.2 per cent) had positive computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging findings. Genetic testing was performed in 51 children (85 per cent). Sixteen children (31 per cent) tested positive to connexin 26 (GJB2); 1 patient (2 per cent) had a homozygous mutation of GJB2 and 15 were heterozygous carriers. Amongst children who tested positive as heterozygous carriers of a GJB2 mutation, there was a high rate of positive imaging findings (47 per cent compared to 37.2 per cent in the total cohort). A genetic abnormality was confirmed in 50 per cent of children with positive imaging findings who underwent genetic testing.

Conclusion:

Rates of concomitant imaging and genetic findings suggest that both investigations are of value in the study of these patients.
The threat of road expansion in the Peruvian Amazon
Authors: Gallice Geoffrey R. , Larrea-Gallegos Gustavo , Vázquez-Rowe Ian
Published: June 2017

The construction of roads and other large-scale infrastructure projects, and the secondary impacts they precipitate, are among the key drivers of change in tropical forests. The proposed expansion of a road in the buffer zones of Peru's Manu National Park and Amarakaeri Communal Reserve, in the country's Amazon region, threatens biodiversity and indigenous communities in one of the world's most species-rich and environmentally sensitive rainforest areas. In particular, road expansion is likely to result in uncontrolled colonization, deforestation, and the illicit extraction of timber and other natural resources, as well as an increase in social conflict between resource extractors and indigenous communities. Furthermore, the development of infrastructure in the Manu region puts at risk Peru's international commitments regarding climate change by promoting, rather than avoiding, forest loss. A number of viable alternatives to further road expansion are available to achieve economic development and improved mobility in Manu, including agricultural intensification, improved land-use planning, and a less invasive transportation infrastructure. Given the growth in the global road network expected in the coming decades, as well as the common factors underlying the expansion of such infrastructure across tropical, developing countries, the issues surrounding road expansion in Manu and the compromise solutions that we propose are broadly applicable to efforts to achieve sustainable development in other remote, tropical regions.