bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Genetic variations on SETD5 underlying autistic conditions
Authors: Fernandes Isabella R. , Cruz Ana C.P. , Ferrasa Adriano , Phan Dylan , Herai Roberto H. , Muotri Alysson R. 
Published: February 2018

ABSTRACTThe prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and the number of identified ASD‐related genes have increased in recent years. The SETD5 gene encodes a SET‐containing‐domain 5 protein, a likely reader enzyme. Genetic evidences suggest that SETD5 malfunction contributes to ASD phenotype, such as on intellectual disability (ID) and facial dysmorphism. In this review, we mapped the clinical phenotypes of individuals carrying mutations on the SETD5 gene that are associated with ASD and other chromatinopathies (mutation in epigenetic modifiers that leads to the development of neurodevelopmental disorders such as ASD). After a detailed systematic literature review and analysis of public disease‐related databank, we found so far 42 individuals carrying mutations on the SETD5 gene, with 23.8% presenting autistic‐like features. Furthermore, most of mutations occurred between positions 9,480,000–9,500,000 bp on chromosome 3 (3p25.3) at the SETD5 gene locus. In all males, mutations in SETD5 presented high penetrance, while in females the clinical phenotype seems more variable with two reported cases showing normal female carriers and not presenting ASD or any ID‐like symptoms. At the molecular level, SETD5 interacts with proteins of PAF1C and N‐CoR complexes, leading to a possible involvement with chromatin modification pathway, which plays important roles for brain development. Together, we propose that mutations on the SETD5 gene could lead to a new syndromic condition in males, which is linked to 3p25 syndrome, and can leads to ASD‐related intellectual disability and facial dysmorphism. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 78: 500–518, 2018
Smartphones & microfluidics: Marriage for the future
Authors: Hárendarčíková Lenka , Petr Jan 
Published: February 2018

AbstractSmartphones have become widely recognized as a very interesting detection and controlling tool in microfluidics. They are portable devices with built‐in cameras and internal microprocessors which carry out image processing. In this case, the external computers are not needed and phones can provide fast and accurate results. Moreover, the connectivity of smartphones gives the possibility to share and provide real‐time results when needed, whether in health diagnostics, environmental monitoring, immunoassays or food safety. Undoubtedly, the marriage of smartphones and microfluidics has a brilliant future in building low cost and easily operable systems for analysis in the field, realizing the idea of people's “smartlife”. The aim of this review is to present and summarize the main advantages and disadvantages of the use of smartphones as well as to take a closer look at some novel achievements published during the last couple of years. In the next paragraphs, readers will find specific uses of a combination of smartphones and microfluidics such as water analysis, health analysis (virus and bacteria detection), and measurement of physical properties or smartphone liquid control in polymer devices.
HIV risks and needs related to the Sustainable Development Goals among female sex workers who were commercially sexually exploited as children in Lesotho
Authors: Grosso Ashley , Busch Shianne , Mothopeng Tampose , Sweitzer Stephanie , Nkonyana John , Mpooa Nkomile , Taruberekera Noah , Baral Stefan 
Published: February 2018

AbstractIntroductionSustainable Development Goals (SDGs) about gender equality; decent work; and peace, justice, and strong institutions include a focus on eradicating trafficking and sexual exploitation of and violence against women and children. In Lesotho, 86% of women have experienced gender‐based violence. In addition, overall HIV prevalence is among the highest globally, and higher among adolescent girls than boys. Moreover, nearly three quarters of female sex workers (FSW) are estimated to be living with HIV in Lesotho. In this context, sexually exploited children may be particularly vulnerable to violence and HIV acquisition risks. This study's objective is to examine the prevalence and correlates of experiencing sexual exploitation as a child among FSW in Lesotho.MethodsFSW (≥18 years) recruited through respondent‐driven sampling in Maseru and Maputsoe from February to September 2014 completed HIV and syphilis testing and an interviewer‐administered survey, including a question about the age at which they started providing sex for money. This study examined correlates of experiencing sexual exploitation as a child (<18 years) through multivariable logistic regression analyses for each city, controlling for current age.ResultsAcross both cities, 20.0% (142/710) of participants were sexually exploited as children. Among them, 65.5% (93/142) tested positive for HIV and 31.0% (44/142) for syphilis, which was similar to those who started selling sex as adults, after adjusting for current age. Participants who experienced child sexual exploitation were more likely to have been forced to have sex before age 18 than those who started selling sex as adults (Maseru‐adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 3.52, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.61 to 7.66, p = 0.002; Maputsoe‐aOR: 4.39, 95% CI: 1.22 to 15.75, p = 0.023). In Maseru, participants who were sexually exploited as children were more likely to avoid carrying condoms to prevent trouble with police (aOR: 3.18, 95% CI: 1.50 to 6.75, p = 0.003).ConclusionsRisk determinants for HIV and violence among sexually exploited children can be studied retrospectively through research with adult FSW. Further research working directly with sexually exploited children will improve understanding of their needs. Preventing commercial sexual exploitation of children and addressing the social and healthcare needs of those who are exploited are necessary to fully achieve SDGs 5, 8 and 16 and an AIDS‐Free Generation.
The stuff that dreams are made of: HIV‐positive adolescents’ aspirations for development
Authors: Hodes Rebecca , Doubt Jenny , Toska Elona , Vale Beth , Zungu Nompumelelo , Cluver Lucie 
Published: February 2018

AbstractBackgroundThe Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) commit to strengthening collaborations between governments and civil society. Adolescents are among the key target populations for global development initiatives, but research studies and programmes rarely include their direct perspectives on how to promote health and wellbeing. This article explores how both the methods and the findings of participatory research provide insights into adolescents’ aspirations across the domains of health and social development. It investigates how adolescents conceive of health and social services as interconnected, and how this reflects the multisectoral objectives of the SDGs.MethodsThis research was conducted within a longitudinal, mixed‐methods study of HIV‐positive adolescents (n = 80 qualitative participants, n = 1060 quantitative interviews). Between November 2013 and February 2014, a participatory exercise – the “dream clinic” – was piloted with 25 adolescents in South Africa's Eastern Cape. Key themes were identified based on the insights shared by participants, and through visual and thematic analysis. These findings were explored through a second participatory exercise, “Yummy or crummy? You are the Mzantsi Wakho masterchef !,” conducted in January 2016. Findings are described in relation to emerging quantitative results.ResultsMixed methods explored associations between access to food, medicines, clean water and sanitation in HIV‐positive adolescents’ aspirations for development. The exercises produced practicable recommendations for innovations in development, based on associations between healthcare, food security, clean water and sanitation, while illustrating the value of partnership and collaboration (the objective of SDG17). Findings capture strong interlinkages between SDGs 2, 3 and 6 – confirming the importance of specific SDGs for HIV‐positive adolescents. Study results informed the objectives of South Africa's National and Adolescent and Youth Health Policy (2017).ConclusionsParticipatory research may be used to leverage the perspectives and experiences of adolescents. The methods described here provide potential for co‐design and implementation of developmental initiatives to fulfil the ambitious mandate of the SDGs. They may also create new opportunities to strengthen the engagement of adolescents in policy and programming.
Equity of child and adolescent treatment, continuity of care and mortality, according to age and gender among enrollees in a large HIV programme in Tanzania
Authors: Chaudhury Sumona , Hertzmark Ellen , Muya Aisa , Sando David , Ulenga Nzovu , Machumi Lameck , Spiegelman Donna , Fawzi Wafaie W 
Published: February 2018

AbstractIntroductionGlobal scale up of anti‐retroviral therapy (ART) has led to expansion of HIV treatment and prevention across sub‐Saharan Africa. However, age and gender‐specific disparities persist leading to failures in fulfillment of Sustainability Development Goals, including SDG3 (achieving healthy lives and wellbeing for all, at all ages) and SDG5 (gender equality). We assessed ART initiation and adherence, loss to follow‐up, all‐cause death and early death, according to SDG3 and SDG5 indicators among a cohort of HIV‐infected children and adolescents enrolled in care in Dar‐es‐Salaam, TanzaniaMethodsSDG3 indicators included young (<5 years) and older paediatric children (5 to <10 years), early adolescent (10 to <15 years) and late adolescent (15 to <20 years) age group divisions and the SDG5 indicator was gender. Associations of age group and gender with ART initiation, loss to follow‐up and all‐cause death, were analysed using Cox proportional hazards regression and with adherence, using generalized estimating equations (GEE) with the Poisson distribution. Associations of age group and gender with early death were analysed, using log‐Poisson regression with empirical variance.ResultsA total of 18,315 enrollees with at least one clinic visit were included in this cohort study. Of these 7238 (40%) were young paediatric , 4169 (23%) older paediatric, 2922 (16%) early adolescent and 3986 (22%) late adolescent patients at enrolment. Just over half of paediatric and early adolescents and around four fifths of the late adolescents were female. Young paediatric patients were at greater risk of early death, being almost twice as likely to die within 90 days. Males were at greater risk of early death once initiated on ART (HR 1.35, 95% CI 1.09, 1.66)), while females in late adolescence were at greatest risk of late death (HR 2.44 [1.60, 3.74] <0.01). Late adolescents demonstrated greater non‐engagement in care (RR 1.21 (95% CI 1.16, 1.26)). Among both males and females, early paediatric and late adolescent groups experienced significantly greater loss to follow‐up.ConclusionThese findings highlight equity concerns critical to the fulfillment of SDG3 and SDG5 within services for children and adolescents living with HIV in sub‐Saharan Africa. Young paediatric and late adolescent age groups were at increased risk of late diagnosis, early death, delayed treatment initiation and loss of continuity of care. Males were more likely to die earlier. Special attention to SDG3 and SDG5 disparities for children and adolescents living with HIV will be critical for fulfillment of the 2030 SDG agenda.
Micellar Properties of Surface Active Ionic Liquid Lauryl Isoquinolinium Bromide and Anionic Polyelectrolyte Poly(Acrylic Acid Sodium Salt) in Aqueous Solution
Authors: Pal Amalendu , Maan Ritu 
Published: February 2018

AbstractThe complex formation between anionic polyelectrolyte poly(acrylic acid sodium salt) [NaPAA] and surface active ionic liquid (SAIL) lauryl isoquinolinium bromide [C12iQuin][Br] in aqueous media has been investigated by surface tension, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), and conductance. The self‐assembled structures have been characterized using dynamic light scattering (DLS) and turbidity measurements. A range of surface parameters have been calculated from tensiometric measurements including critical micelle concentration (CMC), surface excess concentration (Γcmc), surface pressure at the interface (Πcmc), minimum area occupied at air–solvent interface (Amin), adsorption efficiency (pC20), and surface tension at the CMC (γcmc). The thermodynamic parameters, i.e., standard enthalpy of micellization , standard free energy of micellization (), and standard entropy of micellization () have also been evaluated. Four different stages of transitions, corresponding to the progressive formation of NaPAA–[C12iQuin][Br] complex (C1), critical aggregation concentration (CAC), critical saturation concentration (C3) and CMC have been observed owing to strong electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions. The results obtained from DLS and turbidity measurements show that size of the aggregates first decreases and then increases in the presence of polyelectrolyte. The binding isotherms obtained using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) show the concentration dependence as well as the highly cooperative nature of interactions corresponding to formation of polyelectrolyte–SAIL complexes.
Intelligent Monte Carlo: A New Paradigm for Inverse Polymerization Engineering
Authors: Mohammadi Yousef , Saeb Mohammad Reza , Penlidis Alexander , Jabbari Esmaiel , Zinck Philippe , Stadler Florian J. , Matyjaszewski Krzysztof 
Published: February 2018

AbstractTraditional computational methods simulate the microstructure of polymer chains from input reaction conditions, but a need exists for predicting optimum reaction conditions in a computationally demanding multivariable space leading to the synthesis of predesigned microstructures and architectures. Herein, the intelligent Monte Carlo (IMC) approach, able to predict optimum reaction conditions for synthesizing copolymers with predefined, complex microstructures as input is introduced. This is rendered possible by a combination of kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) simulation with artificial intelligence concepts, which enables a reasonably enhanced convergence to optimum reactions conditions. Chain shuttling polymerization is chosen as a first test case due to its complexity and the intricate multiblock microstructures that are formed; whose tailoring requires multiple parameters. The IMC approach locates optimum reaction conditions for the synthesis of olefinic multiblock copolymers with specific microstructures. This approach provides a new platform for identifying complex reaction conditions to “produce” and “tailor‐make” materials with precisely predefined microstructures and facilitates the development of meaningful structure‐property relationships.
Quantifying intracellular Mycobacterium tuberculosis: An essential issue for in vitro assays
Authors: Rodriguez Deisy Carolina , Ocampo Marisol , Salazar Luz Mary , Patarroyo Manuel Alfonso 
Published: February 2018

AbstractMany studies about intracellular microorganisms which are important regarding diseases affecting public health have been focused on the recognition of host–pathogen interactions, thereby ascertaining the mechanisms by which the pathogen invades a cell and makes it become its host. Such knowledge enables understanding the immunological response triggered by these interactions for obtaining useful information for developing vaccines and drugs. Quantitative cell infection assay protocols are indispensable regarding studies involving Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which takes the lives of more than 2 million people worldwide every year; however, sometimes these are limited by the pathogen's slow growth. Concerning such limitation, a detailed review is presented here regarding the different methods for quantifying and differentiating an intracellular pathogen, the importance of mycobacteria aggregate dissociation and multiplicity of infection (MOI) in infection assays. The methods’ differences, advantages, and disadvantages are discussed regarding intra and extracellular bacteria (on cell surface) differentiation, current problems are outlined, as are the solutions provided using fluorophores and projections made concerning quantitative infection assays.
A closer look at the antibiotic‐resistant bacterial community found in urban wastewater treatment systems
Authors: Tehrani Amir H. , Gilbride Kimberley A. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractThe conventional biological treatment process can provide a favorable environment for the maintenance and dissemination of antibiotic‐resistant bacteria and the antibiotic resistance genes (ARG) they carry. This study investigated the occurrence of antibiotic resistance in three wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) to determine the role they play in the dissemination of ARGs. Bacterial isolates resistant to tetracycline were collected, and tested against eight antibiotics to determine their resistance profiles and the prevalence of multiple antibiotic resistance. It was found that bacteria resistant to tetracycline were more likely to display resistance to multiple antibiotics compared to those isolates that were not tetracycline resistant. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to identify the tetracycline resistance determinants present within the bacterial communities of the WWTPs and receiving waters, and it was found that ARGs may not be released from the treatment process. Identification of isolates showed that there was a large diversity of species in both the tetracycline‐resistant and tetracycline‐sensitive populations and that the two groups were significantly different in composition. Antibiotic resistance profiles of each population showed that a large diversity of resistance patterns existed within genera suggesting that transmission of ARG may progress by both horizontal gene and vertical proliferation.
Fishermen's Historical Knowledge Leads to a Re-Evaluation of Redfish Catch
Authors: Duplisea Daniel E. 
Published: February 2018

Abstract
A series of interviews with Canadian redfish Sebastes spp. fishing industry participants active in the 1980s and 1990s was conducted to determine how fish were caught, how much was caught (reported landings, unreported landings, and discards), and the sizes of fish caught during that time. Indicators of total fish catch derived from these interviews showed that reported catch may have underestimated catch by a factor of 2 or more. The proportion of small fish landed may also have been underestimated by a factor of 150–200. The re-examination of catches from interviews with fishermen can provide a useful context for interpreting population model abundance estimates for this stock. This interpretation can have implications for present-day stock assessment and fishery advice.
Efficacy of Otoliths and First Dorsal Spines for Preliminary Age and Growth Determination in Atlantic Tripletails
Authors: Parr Russell T. , Bringolf Robert B. , Jennings Cecil A. 
Published: February 2018

Abstract
The Atlantic Tripletail Lobotes surinamensis is a popular sport fish for which age and growth data are scarce in general and nonexistent for Georgia (GA), USA, waters. These data are necessary to ensure that management regulations are adequate to protect this species, especially given its popularity as a sport fish. We evaluated whether otoliths and spines were suitable for determining the estimated age (hereafter, “age”) and growth rates of Atlantic Tripletails, and we ascertained whether one method was more accurate than the other. Atlantic Tripletails were sampled by angling and trawling during March 30–August 10, 2009, and March 14–August 6, 2010, in nearshore GA waters of the Atlantic Ocean. During the study, 243 Atlantic Tripletails were captured and sampled for aging structures. Sagittal otoliths and the first dorsal spine were removed from each fish and used to estimate the age and growth rate. Mean differences in TL at age for spine and otolith data were evaluated with ANOVA. Estimated ages for males and females ranged from 1 to 5 years based on otoliths and spines. Both otolith and spine mean TLs at ages 1 and 2 were significantly different from each other as well as all other age-classes, whereas mean TLs for ages 3–5 were not significantly different. Differences in Atlantic Tripletail TL among the otolith- and spine-derived age-classes were not significant. Each method used to age Atlantic Tripletails had advantages and disadvantages. Otoliths had higher initial reader agreement than spines, although agreement between the structures was 84.1%. However, otoliths require sacrifice of the fish, whereas a spine can be taken without sacrificing the fish. The lack of concrete life history data and population estimates suggests that when feasible, nonlethal aging methods would be preferred over lethal methods to ensure the survival of Atlantic Tripletail populations.
Limited accuracy of transurethral and periurethral intrasphincteric injections of cellular suspension
Authors: Burdzinska Anna , Dybowski Bartosz , Zarychta‐Wiśniewska Weronika , Kulesza Agnieszka , Hawryluk Jakub , Graczyk‐Jarzynka Agnieszka , Kaupa Patryk , Gajewski Zdzislaw , Paczek Leszek 
Published: February 2018

AimsThe efficacy of cell therapy in patients with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is lower than expected. The aim of this study was to determine the injection accuracy rate both with transurethral and periurethral route.MethodsAutologous intraurethral cell transplantation was performed in female goats. The cells were injected either periurethrally (PERI group, two depots/animal, n = 8) or transurethrally (TRANS group, eight depots/animal, n = 11). Transurethral injections were performed under endoscopic guidance. The number and distribution of cell depots in urethras were analyzed in the three‐step protocol: 1) screening of whole explants by in vivo imaging system; 2) systematic microscopic analysis of raw 10 μm cross‐sections; 3) immunohistochemistry. As control, four urethras collected 1 day after transurethral transplantation were used. Episodes of cell suspension leakages after needle withdrawal were noted.ResultsIn all experimental animals depots were identified in the urethral wall 28 days after transplantation. The mean percentage of depots located in the urethral wall in relation to all performed injections amounted to 68.7% and 67.0% for PERI and TRANS groups, respectively. The mean proportions of depots which were identified in external urethral sphincter (EUS) amounted 18.8% and 17.1%, respectively. Suspension leakage was observed in 19% of transurethral injections.ConclusionsAlthough majority of cell depots were administrated accurately into the urethral wall, the precise delivery of cells into EUS is limited regardless of injection method. The insufficient accuracy of cell delivery into EUS and cell suspension leakage can contribute to the low efficacy of cell therapy in human patients with SUI.