bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Molecular evolution of the semenogelin 1 and 2 and mating system in gibbons
Authors: Isshiki Mariko , Ishida Takafumi 
Published: December 2018

AbstractObjectivesSemenogelin 1 and 2 (SEMG1 and SEMG2) are known as semen coagulating proteins in primates with a repetitive structure of 60‐amino acids. The number of repeats varies among species and is hypothesized to be related to the level of primate sperm competition. Gibbons until recently were thought to be monogamous primates, but it is now known that gibbon social structure is flexible. Thus, hypotheses of the relationship between the SEMGs evolution and mating systems were tested.Materials and methodsThe sequences of the exon 2 of the SEMG1 and SEMG2 were obtained from 50 captive gibbons comprising six species belonging to three genera (Hylobates, Symphalangus, and Nomascus). Then we quantified the levels of polymorphism and estimated rates of protein evolution by calculating d
N/d
S ratio.ResultsSeveral mutations that create a premature stop codon in the SEMG1 and a reduction in the repeats of the SEMG2 in the genus Hylobates were observed and may alter the coding properties for these proteins. We also found different level of nucleotide diversity in each gene and between genera. Strikingly, in Nomascus leucogenys we discovered a high d
N/d
S ratio in the SEMG1 and SEMG2. The Nomascus SEMG2 also showed significantly lower nucleotide diversity than the other two genera.DiscussionThese results are consistent with the presence of a strong positive selection in the Nomascus lineage even if the exact selective forces acting on these genes are not yet conclusively known. We were not able to demonstrate, among gibbons, unambiguous relationships between the SEMGs evolution and mating systems.
The social and economic impacts of drought
Authors: Edwards Ben , Gray Matthew , Hunter Boyd 
Published: December 2018

AbstractAlthough the environmental and economic impacts of drought have been widely studied, few large‐scale studies have examined the broader social impacts of drought. To fill this knowledge gap, the Australian Institute of Family Studies undertook the Regional and Rural Families Survey in 2007, when a significant part of Australia was experiencing a severe drought. This paper analyses that survey to measure the extent to which drought affects a range of economic, health and social outcomes. Drought is found to have a substantial negative economic and health impact on farmers and others employed in the agricultural sector. There is some evidence that groups that are not employed in agriculture are adversely affected, with a widespread loss of services in drought‐affected areas and some marginal labour market groups (e.g. carers) experiencing poor employment outcomes in a drought‐affected local economy. Policymakers need to take these impacts into account in designing effective responses to future droughts.
Double stereoselective coordination of chiral N,S ligands: Synthesis, coordination chemistry and utilization in Pd‐catalyzed allylic alkylation
Authors: Major Máté Miklós , Rövid Gergő , Balogh Szabolcs , Bényei Attila , Lendvay György , Frigyes Dávid , Bakos József , Farkas Gergely 
Published: December 2018

A series of chiral pentane‐2,4‐diyl‐based thioether‐amine ligands [4 and 5; (R,S)‐ and (S,S)‐R1SCH(CH3)CH2CH(CH3)NHR2, respectively, where 4a R1 = iPr, R2 = Ph; 4b R1 = tBu, R2 = Ph; 4c R1 = 1‐Ad, R2 = Ph; 5a R1 = iPr, R2 = Ph; 5b R1 = tBu, R2 = Ph; 5c R1 = 1‐Ad, R2 = Ph; 5d R1 = iPr, R2 = 4‐MeOC6H4; 5e R1 = iPr, R2 = 4‐MeC6H4; 5f R1 = iPr, R2 = 3,5‐Me2C6H3] with stereogenic S‐ and N‐donor atoms has been prepared starting from cyclic sulfates via optically pure γ‐aminoalcohol or 2,4‐dimethylazetidine intermediates. The synthesis of the novel diastereomerically related ligand sets 4 and 5 was accomplished starting from the same source of chirality. The modular ligand structure and the novel synthetic strategies developed for their synthesis allowed the easy modification of the ligands’ (i) S‐ and (ii) N‐substituents, as well as (iii) the relative stereochemistry within the ligand backbone. Six‐membered [Pd(N,S)Cl2]‐type chelate complexes of the diastereomerically related ligands 4a and 5a were synthesized and characterized by X‐ray crystallography in the solid phase, by density functional theory calculations and in solution by NMR spectroscopy. The coordination of 5a resulted in the formation of a single chair conformation by the stereospecific locking of both stereolabile (N and S) donor atoms. In contrast, compound 4a forms rapidly equilibrating palladium species due to the fast inversion of the sulfur donor. Ligands with stereochemically fixed donor atoms provided robust and efficient catalytic systems that can be effectively applied in alkylene carbonates as green reaction media. Remarkably, the phosphine‐free catalysts are air‐stable, and at room temperature in the presence of moisture gave excellent ee’s (up to 93%) in asymmetric allylation processes thanks to the double stereoselective coordination.
Effect of fire retardants on mechanical properties of a green bio‐epoxy composite
Authors: Budd Ryan , Cree Duncan 
Published: December 2018

ABSTRACTTo improve fire retardant behavior of bio‐epoxy resin, composites were prepared with three fire retardants (FRs); ammonium polyphosphate, aluminum trihydrate, and magnesium hydroxide. Fractured surfaces of prepared composites were observed with the scanning electron microscope (SEM). Tensile strength and Charpy toughness were evaluated and analyzed statistically using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to determine the thermal stability. SEM analysis results revealed fractured surfaces were altered with addition of FRs. Adding FRs can be regarded as a decrease in tensile strength and toughness complemented by improved stiffness. ANOVA analysis showed FR/bio‐resin composites have a statistically significant loss in tensile strength, stiffness, elongation, and Charpy toughness. The DSC results showed the glass transition temperature was not affected significantly by adding FRs and ranged from 66 to 69 °C. TGA showed the initial, midway, and maximum decomposition temperatures for composites and their ability to form improved ash yields compared to pure resin. Aluminum trihydrate and Mg(OH)2 had higher T50 suggesting an increase in thermal stability compared to pure bio‐epoxy. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47398.
Wear, thermal, and physical properties of fluorine‐containing polyimide/silica hybrid nanocomposite coatings
Authors: Çakir Mustafa , Akin Emre 
Published: December 2018

ABSTRACTThis study prepared fluorine and SiO2 particles containing organic–inorganic hybrid polyimide nanocomposite coatings (PISFs) with inorganic content in the range of 5–20% in pure polyimide solutions via the sol–gel process. Polyimide hybrid structures containing fluorine and SiO2 particles were synthesized by using perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane and tetraethyl orthosilicate. These formulations were applied on aluminum sheets by using a 75 μm wire wound applicator, and the coatings were cured for 8 h at room temperature and then 24 h at 100 °C. Increased inorganic contents caused slight decreases in the initial decomposition temperatures, but the char yield values increased for PISF15 and PISF20. All samples exhibited hydrophobic properties. When all samples were compared, PISF5 and PISF10 exhibited hydrophobicity, high wear resistance and thermal properties. Additionally, PISF5 and PISF10 showed high adhesion, hardness, and methyl ethyl ketone solvent resistance. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47399.
Adults with autism spectrum disorder are sensitive to the kinematic features defining natural human motion
Authors: Edey Rosanna , Cook Jennifer , Brewer Rebecca , Bird Geoffrey , Press Clare 
Published: December 2018

It has been hypothesized that individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (hereafter “autism”) have problems perceiving biological motion, which contributes to their social difficulties. However, the ability to perceive the kinematic profile characteristic of biological motion has not been systematically examined in autism. To examine this basic perceptual ability we conducted two experiments comparing adults with autism with matched typical adults. In Experiment 1, participants indicated whether two movements—which differed in the quantity of formula‐generated biological motion—were the same or different. In Experiment 2, they judged which of two movements was “less natural,” where the stimuli varied in the degree to which they were a product of real movement data produced by autistic and typical models. There were no group differences in perceptual sensitivity in either experiment, with null effects supported by Bayesian analyses. The findings from these two experiments demonstrate that adults with autism are sensitive to the kinematic information defining biological motion to a typical degree—they are both able to detect the perceptual information in a same‐different judgment, and as inclined to categorize biological motion derived from real models as natural. These findings therefore provide evidence against the hypothesis that individuals with autism exhibit low‐level difficulties in perceiving the kinematics of others' actions, suggesting that atypicalities arise either when integrating this kinematic information with other perceptual input, or in the interpretation of kinematic information. Autism Res 2019, 12: 284–294 © 2018 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Lay SummaryIt has previously been suggested that autistic children and adults have problems perceiving the detailed manner in which others move—that is, the subtle changes in speed as we move from point to point—which may impact on their ability to learn from, and about, others in a typical fashion. However, the results from the present two studies demonstrate that adults with autism can perceive this information, suggesting that atypicalities in processing others' movement may arise mainly as a consequence of atypical interpretation rather than perception.
Adverse maternal environment leads to cardiac fibrosis in adult male mice
Authors: Spearman Andrew D. , Ke Xingrao , Fu Qi , Lane Robert H. , Majnik Amber 
Published: December 2018

BackgroundCardiac fibrosis is a cardinal feature of multiple types of cardiovascular disease, which lead to heart failure. Multiple studies connect adverse maternal environment (AME) with cardiac fibrosis. AME does not always result in fibrosis, though. An additional “insult”, such as an adult Western diet (WD), is frequently necessary. The additive effects of AME and adult WD on cardiac fibrosis is not well‐understood. AME can also alter DNA methylation. DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) and ten‐eleven translocation (TET) are methylation modifying genes that regulate DNA methylation, but it is unknown if AME changes cardiac gene expression of DNMT and TET. We sought to use a model of AME and adult WD to investigate the development of cardiac fibrosis and cardiac mRNA expression of DNMT and TET genes.MethodsWe exposed dams to WD or control diet (CD) 5 weeks before pregnancy and through lactation. We added environmental stressors during the last third of pregnancy to dams on WD to create AME. Dams on CD experienced no added stressors to create control maternal environment (CME). Male offspring were weaned at Postnatal Week 3 (W3) and placed on WD or CD to create four groups: CME‐CD, CME‐WD, AME‐CD, and AME‐WD.ResultsAME‐WD increased cardiac fibrosis in adulthood (p < .05), whereas AME‐CD and CME‐WD did not. TET1‐3 and DNMT3a mRNA levels decreased in AME versus CME offspring (p < .01).ConclusionAME increases susceptibility to cardiac fibrosis in adult male mice. Early‐life changes to TET expression may mediate susceptibility to fibrosis, but further testing is needed.
Evaluation of an in vitro mouse testis organ culture system for assessing male reproductive toxicity
Authors: Nakamura Noriko , Sloper Daniel T. , Del Valle Pedro L. 
Published: December 2018

BackgroundDevelopment of an in vitro system capable of producing mature sperm remains a challenging goal, with only few successes reported. Such a system, could be used to test agents for potential toxicity to the male reproductive system; to explore this, we exposed immature mouse testis fragments in culture to ethinylestradiol (EE), a well‐known testicular toxicant in vivo.MethodsTestis fragments from postnatal day 5 mice were cultured in Albumax I medium. After 24 hr of culture, fragments were treated with 0.01, 0.1 or 1 nM EE, then harvested after 20 days in culture and examined for histology or gene expression measures by quantitative PCR.ResultsThere was substantial variability between fragments in the degree of spermatogenesis observed. The percentage of seminiferous tubules containing any dead germ cells increased as a result of EE exposure in a dose dependent fashion. This was accompanied with a decreased percentage of tubules with round spermatids. Expression of estrogen receptor 1, cytochrome P450, family 11, subfamily a, and polypeptide 1 also was reduced, depending on the dose.ConclusionThese gene expression changes in the testis fragments are similar to those seen after animals have been exposed to EE. Gene expression changes in testis fragments are encouraging, but the variability across samples will need to be reduced for this in vitro system to become a generally applicable method for assessing testicular toxicants.
Green management, firm innovations, and environmental turbulence
Authors: Zhou Yunyue , Shu Chengli , Jiang Wei , Gao Shanxing 
Published: December 2018

AbstractThe multifaceted nature of firm innovation has prevented researchers from fully explaining the relationship between firm innovation and green management. This study, building on the Schumpeterian theory of innovation, explores this relationship by examining three major types of firm innovation—strategic innovation, managerial innovation, and product innovation—and their respective relationships with green management, considering several dimensions of environmental turbulence as distinctive boundary conditions. We propose that both strategic innovation and managerial innovation facilitate green management, which in turn mediates these effects on new product performance. The results of a survey of 303 Chinese firms provide strong support for this mediating logic. Moreover, we find that market turbulence weakens the effect of strategic innovation on green management whereas technological turbulence strengthens such effect but the effect of managerial innovation on green management is not influenced by environmental turbulence. Our research contributes to the innovation as well as green management and sustainability literatures by offering a framework in which to analyze firm innovation and green management and by showing how firms pursue sustainability and prosperity under specific environmental conditions.
Primary cardiac sarcomas: A multi‐national retrospective review
Authors: Chen Tom Wei‐Wu , Loong Herbert H. , Srikanthan Amirrtha , Zer Alona , Barua Reeta , Butany Jagdish , Cusimano Robert J. , Liang Yun‐Chieh , Chang Chin‐Hao , Iakobishvili Zaza , Razak Albiruni R. Abdul , Lewin Jeremy 
Published: December 2018

AbstractBackgroundPrimary cardiac sarcoma (PCS) is a rare but often fatal disease. The current study aimed to analyze the impact of baseline demographics, local and systemic therapies in a contemporary cohort.MethodsClinical records of PCS across six institutions in three continents were reviewed. Kaplan‐Meier method was used to estimate survival. Cox proportional hazard model was used to determine variables impacting progression‐free survival (PFS) or overall survival (OS).ResultsSixty‐one patients with PCS (1996‐2016) were identified. The median age at diagnosis was 46 (range 18‐79); 36% (n = 22) presented with metastatic disease. The most common histology was angiosarcoma (n = 24, 39%). A total of 46 patients received surgery (75%) but only 5 (8%) patients achieved R0 resection. Multi‐modality treatment to the primary tumor was given to 28 patients (46%; localized disease 23/39 (59%); metastatic disease 5/22 (23%)). The median OS for the entire cohort was 17.5 months (95% CI 9.5‐20.6), with seven (11%) patients surviving longer than 36 months. On multi‐variate analysis, age <65 (P = 0.01) was the only significant favorable prognostic factor. For first‐line palliative chemotherapy, the median PFS was 4.4 months (95% CI 2.9‐7.7 months). The best response for first‐line chemotherapy was 32% (CR = 1, PR = 9). No significant improvement in OS was identified in patients presenting throughout the 20‐year period of this review.ConclusionYounger age at diagnosis was associated with improved outcome although the prognosis of PCS remains poor. Given the lack of improvement in survival, further dedicated research is required.
Fabrication of Zinc Anodes for Aqueous Lithium‐Ion Batteries by Supersonic Cold Spraying
Authors: Ahmed Moin , Yazdi Alireza Z. , Dayani Siavash B. , Jahed Hamid , Chen P. 
Published: December 2018

AbstractSupersonic cold spraying technique is successfully employed for the first time to fabricate the zinc anode of an electrochemical energy storage system. The anode demonstrates 40 % higher surface area than that of a zinc plate. The supersonic sprayed zinc anode in an aqueous lithium‐ion battery shows significant improvement in initial discharge capacity (149.3 mAhg−1), cycle life (90 % retention after 100 cycles at 1 C), rate performance and open circuit potential. Higher surface area and suppression of dendritic growth of the zinc anode are proposed to be responsible for the improved performance. The fabrication technique is fully scalable from small battery systems (1.15 mAh) to large ones (7 mAh), indicating the potential for large‐scale manufacturing processes.
Multimodality imaging‐guided local injection of eccentric magnetic microcapsules with electromagnetically controlled drug release
Authors: Huang Wenwei , Chen Yin , Chen Lanxi , Zhong Jinshuang , Johri Amer M. , Zhou Jianhua 
Published: December 2018

AbstractBackgroundIn the past decade, trackable smart drug delivery systems have played important roles in the treatment of many diseases such as cancer because the drug carriers can be visualized through their distinct physical properties. However, it is still difficult to achieve precise drug delivery because such systems usually rely on a single imaging system.AimThis study aimed to present a novel type of multimodality imaging‐guided strategy to visualize the drug carriers of eccentric magnetic microcapsule (EMM) designed for potential treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Method and resultsThe EMMs were prepared by using a three‐phase microfluidic device. The as‐prepared EMMs embedded with Fe3O4 nanoparticles are magnetic, with high density and acoustic impedance, allowing for visualization by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and ultrasound (US) imaging during local injection. The release of drug from these EMMs can be further controlled by an external electromagnetic field (EMF). As a proof of concept, we demonstrated the process of multimodality imaging to guide local injection and the controlled release of doxorubicin (DOX) from the EMMs in a phantom. We showed that the release rate of DOX was directly correlated to the strength of the EMF. In addition, we cocultured green fluorescent protein (GFP)‐transfected HeLa cancer cells with the DOX‐loaded EMMs and documented their apoptosis by DOX following the release triggered by EMF.ConclusionThe results suggest that these EMMs serve both as contrast agents that can be visualized by multimodality imaging techniques and as smart drug delivery systems, with great potential for precision medicine.
Adequate at rapid on‐site evaluation (ROSE), but inadequate on final cytologic diagnosis: Analysis of 606 cases of endobronchial ultrasound‐guided trans bronchial needle aspirations (EBUS‐TBNA)
Authors: Gupta Neha , Klein Melissa , Chau Karen , Vadalia Bhumika , Khutti Seema , Gimenez Cecilia , Das Kasturi 
Published: December 2018

BackgroundEBUS‐TBNA is a minimally invasive, reliable technique with high sensitivity and accuracy. ROSE plays a crucial role in triaging specimens to guide management. This study analyzes aspirates that were deemed “adequate” on ROSE, but inconclusive upon final cytologic interpretation.DesignEBUS‐TBNAs from 2015 and 2016 were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed for ROSE adequacy versus final cytologic diagnosis. Concurrent and subsequent procedures were evaluated to determine the outcome of ROSE‐adequate cases with inconclusive final cytologic diagnosis of non‐diagnostic (ND), atypical (ATY), and suspicious for malignancy (SUS). Interpretation at ROSE was determined to be “appropriate” if published criteria for lymph node adequacy were met.ResultsA total of 606 cases of EBUS‐FNA with ROSE were obtained of which 61% were deemed adequate. 5% of cases deemed “adequate” at ROSE resulted in inconclusive final interpretation with 4 ND, 7 ATY, and 6 SUS. Their distribution, anatomic location, presence or absence of diagnostic aspirate, appropriateness of ROSE adequacy statement, and any concurrent or subsequent procedures on the same or different site as well as any impact on management was reviewed. Cytotechnologist (CT) experience ranged from 1 to 25 years.ConclusionsROSE and final cytology discrepant cases formed a very small fraction of total number of EBUS‐TBNA cases with onsite evaluation. None of these discordant cases had any major clinical impact. There will remain a small fraction of cases that will be inappropriately deemed as “adequate” at ROSE due to the challenging nature of the procedure.
Prenatal stress enhances postnatal plasticity: The role of microbiota
Authors: Hartman Sarah , Sayler Kristina , Belsky Jay 
Published: December 2018

AbstractSeparate fields of inquiry indicate (a) that prenatal stress is associated with heightened behavioral and physiological reactivity and (b) that these postnatal phenotypes are themselves associated with increased susceptibility to both positive and negative environmental influences. Collectively, this work supports Pluess and Belsky's (Psychopathology, 2011, 23, 29) claim that prenatal stress fosters, promotes or “programs” postnatal developmental plasticity. Herein, we review animal and human evidence consistent with this hypothesis before advancing the novel idea that infant intestinal microbiota may be one candidate mechanism for instantiating developmental plasticity as a result of prenatal stress. We then review research indicating that prenatal stress predicts differences in infant intestinal microbiota; that infant intestinal microbiota is associated with behavioral and physiological reactivity phenotypes; and, thus, that prenatal stress may influence infant intestinal microbiota in a way that results in heightened physiological and behavioral reactivity and, thereby, postnatal developmental plasticity. Finally, we offer ideas for testing this claim and consider implications for intervention and use of probiotics during early infancy.