bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The use of the slope–area function to analyse process domains in complex badland landscapes
Authors: Vergari Francesca , Troiani Francesco , Faulkner Hazel , Del Monte Maurizio , Della Seta Marta , Ciccacci Sirio , Fredi Paola 
Published: August 2018

AbstractThis paper explores the effectiveness of the widely‐used functional relationship between drainage area (A in m2) and slope (S in m/m) to identify local process domains and aid interpretation of process interactions in a complex badland landscape. In order to perform this investigation, a series of sub‐basins tributary to the Formone River in the Orcia catchment (central Italy) were selected as a suitable study area within which to explore our questions, given these basins' general representativeness of local terrain, the availability of a high resolution digital terrain model and previous extensive geomorphological research. Eroding basins containing both calanchi and landslides are common in the sub‐humid badland landscape of central Italy, where field observation identifies a complex pattern of erosive processes associated with a history of uplift, despite which parts of the local landscape appear disconnected. Results reveal that the shape of all S–A curves (plotted using S data binned on log A) is comparable with that described in the literature, although sub‐basins containing calanchi generally plot with higher S values than non‐calanchi ones, except in the ‘fluvial’ section of the plots. Second, when viewed on total data (non‐binned) S–A plots, landslide source area domains and calanchi domains are entirely coincident in all basins, supporting a cause–effect relationship. Additional plotting of the frequency characteristics of the raw data in a new way supports the interpretation that calanchi frequently initiate in landslide scars.In general though, although the S–A plots can contribute to the disentanglement of geomorphological behaviour in some complex erosional landscapes, it became apparent that in this landscape, process domains do not separate out with clarity along the A axis as suggested by theory. Despite this, an alternative, broader‐scale morphoevolutive model can be proposed for the development of within‐landslide calanchi, driven by changes to basin connectivity to the base channel. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A robust method to estimate regional polygenic correlation under misspecified linkage disequilibrium structure
Authors: Paré Guillaume , Mao Shihong , Deng Wei Q. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractComplex traits can share a substantial proportion of their polygenic heritability. However, genome‐wide polygenic correlations between pairs of traits can mask heterogeneity in their shared polygenic effects across loci. We propose a novel method (weighted maximum likelihood‐regional polygenic correlation [RPC]) to evaluate polygenic correlation between two complex traits in small genomic regions using summary association statistics. Our method tests for evidence that the polygenic effect at a given region affects two traits concurrently. We show through simulations that our method is well calibrated, powerful, and more robust to misspecification of linkage disequilibrium than other methods under a polygenic model. As small genomic regions are more likely to harbor specific genetic effects, our method is ideal to identify heterogeneity in shared polygenic correlation across regions. We illustrate the usefulness of our method by addressing two questions related to cardiometabolic traits. First, we explored how RPC can inform on the strong epidemiological association between high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol and coronary artery disease (CAD), suggesting a key role for triglycerides metabolism. Second, we investigated the potential role of PPARγ activators in the prevention of CAD. Our results provide a compelling argument that shared heritability between complex traits is highly heterogeneous across loci.
Thermal state and structure of lithospheric mantle beneath the Xing'an Massif, northeast China: Constraints from mantle xenoliths entrained by Cenozoic basalts
Authors: Guo Peng , Xu Wen‐Liang , Wang Chun‐Guang , Zhang Yan‐Long 
Published: August 2018

The lithospheric mantle beneath the Xing'an Massif (XM), northeast China, was formed at the Paleoproterozoic or even earlier, but its thermal state and structure remain poorly understood. To address this issue, we calculate pressure–temperature (P–T) arrays for mantle xenoliths entrained by Cenozoic basalts from the XM, using major‐element‐based and rare earth element (REE)‐based two‐pyroxene thermometry as well as single clinopyroxene barometry. Samples (include spinel or garnet lherzolites and harzburgites, dunite and pyroxenite) come from the Keluo, Nuomin, and Aershan regions, which are located on either side of the North–South Gravity Lineament (NSGL). To the west of the NSGL, in the Nuomin and Aershan regions, mantle xenoliths yield consistent REE‐based and major‐element‐based temperatures, suggesting that these samples were derived from stable thermal conditions. Garnet peridotites from these regions yield pressures of 2.37–3.01 GPa and temperatures of 1066–1303°C, revealing a high geothermal gradient (corresponding to a surface heat flow of 70–80 mW/m2) and a crustal thicknesses of ~37 km. The lithosphere–asthenosphere boundary determined from the intersection of this geotherm with the mantle adiabat occurs at a depth of ~100 km, which is much shallower than the lithospheric thickness calculated by geophysical analyses (140–160 km). This discrepancy may have resulted from locally upwelling hot asthenosphere. Low‐temperature (800–900°C) peridotites from the Nuomin and Aershan are chemically fertile with low olivine Mg# values and high modal clinopyroxene contents. By contrast, high‐temperature (1050–1350°C) peridotites consist mainly of refractory harzburgites or clinopyroxene‐poor lherzolites. These facts reveal that the lithospheric mantle beneath the Nuomin and Aershan regions is characterized by juvenile mantle dominating shallow levels and ancient mantle occurring at greater depths. To the east of the NSGL, some Keluo mantle xenoliths yield higher REE‐based temperatures (839–863°C) than major‐element‐based temperatures (<800°C), indicating cooling by thermal relaxation. This cooling process produced a low geothermal gradient (~45 mW/m2) in the lithosphere beneath the Keluo region. The mantle xenoliths comprise both fertile lherzolites and refractory harzburgites without correlation between mineral compositions and temperatures, suggesting that the lithospheric mantle beneath the Keluo region is characterized by juvenile mantle mixed with ancient mantle at all depths. The results show contrasting thermal state and structure of the lithospheric mantle on either side of the NSGL within the XM, which are attributed to a previous cooling process in the Keluo region and local upwelling of hot asthenosphere beneath the Aershan and Nuomin regions.
Role of physical activity in ameliorating neuropsychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer disease: A narrative review
Authors: Veronese Nicola , Solmi Marco , Basso Cristina , Smith Lee , Soysal Pinar 
Published: August 2018

ObjectiveNeuropsychiatric symptoms (NPs) affect almost all patients with Alzheimer disease (AD). Because of the complications associated with the pharmacological treatment, nonpharmacological treatment (such as physical activity) can be considered as an additional complementary treatment option for NPs. The aim of this review is to evaluate the impact of physical activity on NPs in patients with AD.MethodsWe searched Pubmed and Google Scholar for potential eligible articles until March 1, 2018.ResultsAlthough there are contradictory results showing the impact of physical exercise on NPs, most of them reported that it had a significant effect on depression and sleep disturbances in patients with AD. The beneficial effects could be explained through several mechanisms, including modulated production of neurotransmitters; increasing neurotrophins, such as brain‐derived neurotrophic factor; reduction of oxidative stress and inflammation; elevation of cerebral blood flow; hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis regulation; and support of neurogenesis and synaptogenesis. Physical activity can also improve cardiovascular risk factors, which may exaggerate NPs. There is limited evidence for other NPs such as agitation, disinhibition, apathy, hallucinations, and anxiety.ConclusionPhysical activity may ameliorate depression and sleep disturbances in patients with AD. Therefore, physical activity can be a “potential” add‐on treatment to drugs to reduce or prevent these symptoms onset and recurrence in patients with AD. However, further studies are needed to focus on relationship between physical activity and other NPs.
Going beyond incentivizing formal health providers: Evidence from the Rwanda Community Performance‐Based Financing program
Authors: Shapira Gil , Kalisa Ina , Condo Jeanine , Humuza James , Mugeni Cathy , Nkunda Denis , Walldorf Jeanette 
Published: August 2018

AbstractPay‐for‐performance programs are introduced in an increasing number of low‐ and middle‐income countries with the goal of reducing maternal and child mortality and morbidity through increased health service utilization and quality. Although most programs incentivize formal health providers, some constraints to utilization might be better alleviated by incentivizing other actors in the health care system. This paper presents results from a randomized controlled trial set to evaluate the effects of two incentive schemes that were introduced on top of Rwanda's national Performance‐Based Financing program at the health facility level. One scheme rewarded community health worker cooperatives for the utilization of five services by their communities. The second scheme provided in‐kind transfers to users of three services. The analysis finds no impact of the cooperative performance payments on coverage of the targeted services, behaviors of community health workers, or outcomes at the cooperative level. Although health centers experienced frequent stock outs of the gifts, the demand‐side intervention significantly increased timely antenatal care by 9.3 percentage points and timely postnatal care by 8.6 percentage points. This study shows that demand‐side incentives can increase service utilization also when provided in addition to a supply‐side pay‐for‐performance scheme.
Remembering rewarding futures: A simulation‐selection model of the hippocampus
Authors: Jung Min Whan , Lee Hyunjung , Jeong Yeongseok , Lee Jong Won , Lee Inah 
Published: August 2018

AbstractDespite tremendous progress, the neural circuit dynamics underlying hippocampal mnemonic processing remain poorly understood. We propose a new model for hippocampal function—the simulation‐selection model—based on recent experimental findings and neuroecological considerations. Under this model, the mammalian hippocampus evolved to simulate and evaluate arbitrary navigation sequences. Specifically, we suggest that CA3 simulates unexperienced navigation sequences in addition to remembering experienced ones, and CA1 selects from among these CA3‐generated sequences, reinforcing those that are likely to maximize reward during offline idling states. High‐value sequences reinforced in CA1 may allow flexible navigation toward a potential rewarding location during subsequent navigation. We argue that the simulation‐selection functions of the hippocampus have evolved in mammals mostly because of the unique navigational needs of land mammals. Our model may account for why the mammalian hippocampus has evolved not only to remember, but also to imagine episodes, and how this might be implemented in its neural circuits.
Stakeholders analysis of merging social health insurance funds in Iran: what kind of interests they may gain or lose?
Authors: Bazyar Mohammad , Rashidian Arash , Sakha Minoo Alipouri , Doshmangir Leila , Rahimi Nouroddin , Ranjbar Mohammad , Sagha Abolfazl Seyyedeh Fatemeh , Tabatabaei Lotfi Seyed Moussa , Olyaeemanesh Alireza 
Published: August 2018

SummaryIran passed a Law in 2010 to merge all existing health insurance funds physically together. This stakeholder analysis aimed at revealing that what benefits the stakeholders might lose or gain as a result of merging health insurance schemes in Iran, which make them to oppose or support it. This was a qualitative study conducted in 2014. Sixty semi‐structured face‐to‐face interviews were conducted. Purposive and snowball samplings with maximum heterogeneity samples were used for selecting interviewees. Government is not willing to undertake more financial commitment. Existing health insurance schemes like Social Security Organization and minor well‐resourced health insurance funds and also worker unions are unwilling to lose their financial and organizational autonomy, to share their benefits with other less privileged groups, or face likely financial challenges in running their health facilities like hospitals. Top managers and workforces are worried to lose their job, salary, or organizational positions. Ministry of Cooperation, Labour, and Social Welfare does not want to lose its control on health insurance schemes. Ministry of Health and Medical Education and Iran Health Insurance Organization are among actors that support the insurance funds merging policy. Successful implementing of consolidation requires taking into account the interests of different stakeholders.
Opinions and evaluations of stakeholders in the implementation of the public‐private partnership (PPP) model in integrated health campuses (city hospitals) in Turkey
Authors: Top Mehmet , Sungur Cuma 
Published: August 2018

SummaryPurposeThis study aimed to define the public‐private partnership (PPP) model, eliciting the views and assessments of stakeholders and identifying associated health policies and planning issues.MethodIt uses qualitative research methods to examine the extent to which PPPs promote or interfere with the provision of health services, equality, efficiency, quality, health tourism, and initiatives to strengthen the national economy. Having selected an appropriate sample, researchers approached bureaucrats and experts from the Ministry of Health, Social Security Institution, Ministry of Development, Ministry of Finance, NGOs, and other state institutions and organizations. A total of 83 people were asked to complete a semi‐structured questionnaire. The qualitative research data were analyzed using a descriptive‐analysis method; a content analysis was carried out using a computer‐based qualitative research program, MAXQDA Versions 11.ResultsThe majority of participants expressed positive opinions about PPPs, their applicability in Turkey, and the financial viability and scope of PPPs in the health sector. They also commented on the aims, advantages, and disadvantages of such partnerships. The majority of participants believed that a PPP was an appropriate finance model for the integrated health‐campus substructure of Turkey's health sector. The most positive views were expressed by public and private sector‐stakeholders, while some negative views were voiced by NGO representatives.ConclusionThis study identified and assessed integrated health‐campus projects to determine the aim, suitability, advantages, and disadvantages of the model in the health sector, particularly in relation to the cost, quality, and availability of health services. This study discusses the current positive and negative effects of integrated health‐campus implementation.
Study on the dominant causes of streamflow alteration and effects of the current water diversion in the Tarim River Basin, China
Authors: Yang Fan , Xue Lianqing , Wei Guanghui , Chi Yixia , Yang Guang 
Published: August 2018

AbstractUnderstanding the dominant causes of streamflow alteration and effects of the current water diversion scheme is beneficial for sustainable management of water resources in an arid area. This study presents a quantitative attribution of the run‐off changes between headstreams and mainstream from 1960 to 2015 using the Choudhury–Yang equation and evaluates the effects of 18 times of ecological water conveyance in the lower reaches of the Tarim River Basin (TRB). Our results suggest that climate change was the primary determinant of increase of the streamflow in the headstreams from 2000 to 2015. While in the mainstream, human activities played a dominant role in deduction in the streamflow with the contribution of 54.8–355.6%. Eighteen episodes of ecological water conveyance have a positive effect on rising groundwater level and are highly related to seed falling time of Shrub and Perennial herbaceous and Annual herbaceous except for Arbor. It indicates that restoring the long‐term drying of the lower reaches through continuous water conveyance is feasible, although the existing programme has not restored the entire riparian system. Our study suggests that it is necessary to adopt an integrated approach for water resources allocation rather than relying on a single tributary contribution in the TRB.
Understanding the Role of Escherichia coli Hydrogenases and Formate Dehydrogenases in the FOF1‐ATPase Activity during the Mixed Acid Fermentation of Mixture of Carbon Sources
Authors: Gevorgyan Heghine , Trchounian Armen , Trchounian Karen 
Published: August 2018

SummaryDuring fermentation Escherichia coli produces di‐hydrogen (H2) via reversible membrane‐bound [Ni‐Fe]‐hydrogenases (Hyd). This study describes the total and N,N′‐dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD) inhibited ATPase activity and H2 production at various pHs in E. coli wild type and mutants encoding Hyd enzymes and formate dehydrogenases (FDH) on fermentation of glucose, glycerol, and formate. The highest total ATPase activity was detected at pH 7.5 in hyaB hybC selC (lacking large subunits of Hyd‐1 and Hyd‐2 and FDH, respectively) triple mutant. This ATPase activity was mainly due to the proton‐translocating ATPase but in FDH mutant the DCCD inhibition was less compared to wild type. Potassium ions stimulated total ATPase activity at pH 5.5 ~50% and ~35% in wild type and hypF (lacking all Hyd enzymes) mutant, respectively. Moreover, K+ also stimulated DCCD inhibited ATPase activity ~1.7‐fold–2‐fold in strains where FDH was absent only at pH 5.5. DCCD inhibited H2 production only at pH 5.5 in all assays. Taken together it is suggested that at low pH, FDH, and Hyd enzymes are linked with the FOF1‐ATPase for regulating and maintaining the cytoplasmatic pH and thus proton motive force generation. FDH and Hyd enzymes have impact on the FOF1‐ATPase activity depending on external pH and potassium ions. © 2018 IUBMB Life, 70(10):1040–1047, 2018
miR‐381‐3p restrains cervical cancer progression by downregulating FGF7
Authors: Shang Anquan , Zhou Cheng , Bian Ganxia , Chen Wei , Lu Wenying , Wang Weiwei , Li Dong 
Published: August 2018

AbstractThis study aimed at elucidating the molecular mechanism of miR‐381‐3p in cervical cancer progression, which may provide a novel therapeutic target for patients with cervical cancer. The expression of miR‐381‐3p was confirmed by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Microarray analysis was conducted to screen out differentially expressed genes, and the target gene of microRNA (miRNA) was predicted on TargetScan. Dual‐luciferase reporter assay then verified the targeting relationship between miR‐381‐3p and FGF7. The protein expression of FGF7 was examined via Western blot assay. Colony formation assay was used to detect the cell proliferation, while flow cytometry was used to analyze cell cycle and apoptosis. The influence of miR‐381‐3p and FGF7 on cell migration and invasion was confirmed by transwell migration/invasion assay. Finally, we demonstrated that miR‐381‐3p was lowly expressed, while FGF7 was highly expressed in cervical cancer cells. There was a direct target relationship and a negative correlation between miR‐381‐3p and FGF7. miR‐381‐3p could downregulate FGF7 expression, inhibiting cell proliferation and metastasis, and inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in cervical cancer.
Computational optimization of in vitro parameters for di‐(2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate production from Anabaena circinalis
Authors: Sarkar Aratrika , Bagavananthem Andavan Gowri shankar 
Published: August 2018

AbstractDi‐(2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a ubiquitous environmental toxicant, and finds extensive commercial application as a plasticizer to reduce the rigidity of polyvinyl chloride. Besides numerous negative impacts on environment and public health, the compound exhibits acute bioactivity against microbes and has therapeutic value too. Considering this biochemical significance, searching of its new biogenic sources has become an active area of research. Here, DEHP is identified from the biomass of a toxic strain of Anabaena circinalis, which is quite unobvious, and simultaneously, the in vitro physical conditions are optimized by using a swarm‐based multiparameter optimization technique. A purified fraction collected from column chromatography is subjected to gas chromatography (GC) to fetch the compound peak and then subsequent mass analysis for its identification. The mass spectrum describes the molecular weight along with the structure of DEHP with 99.9% experimental accuracy. An experimental observation table has been used to frame a fitness function using the curve fitting approach when temperature (T), light and dark period (LD), and duration of subculture cycle (DSC) are considered as the target parameters to be optimized. The optimum values obtained for T, LD, and DSC are 20°C, 14:10 hour light and dark ratio approximately, and 40 days, respectively. This experimental finding of A. circinalis FSS 124 as a novel source of DEHP and subsequent optimization using soft computing tools might be a benchmark for process optimization in biological research.
ETS1 induces transforming growth factor β signaling and promotes epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition in prostate cancer cells
Authors: Rodgers Jamie J. , McClure Robert , Epis Michael R. , Cohen Ronald J. , Leedman Peter J. , Harvey Jennet M. ,   Australian Prostate Cancer BioResource, Thomas Marc A. , Bentel Jacqueline M. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractExpression of the transcriptional regulator, E26 transformation‐specific 1 (ETS1), is elevated in human prostate cancers, and this is associated with more aggressive tumor behavior and a rapid progression to castrate‐resistant disease. Multiple ETS1 isoforms with distinct biological activities have been characterized and in 44 matched nonmalignant and malignant human prostate specimens, messenger RNAs for two ETS1 isoforms, ETS1p51 and ETS1p42, were detected, with ETS1p51 levels significantly lower in prostate tumor compared to matched nonmalignant prostate tissues. In contrast, ETS1p51 protein, the only ETS1 isoform detected, was expressed at significantly higher levels in malignant prostate. Analysis of epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EMT)–associated genes regulated following overexpression of ETS1p51 in the LNCaP prostate cancer cell line predicted promotion of transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) signaling and of EMT. ETS1p51 overexpression upregulated cellular levels of the EMT transcriptional regulators, ZEB1 and SNAIL1, resulted in reduced expression of the mesenchymal marker vimentin with concomitantly elevated levels of claudin 1, an epithelial tight junction protein, and increased prostate cancer cell migration and invasion. ETS1p51‐induced activation of the pro‐EMT TGFβ signaling pathway that was predicted in polymerase chain reaction arrays was verified by demonstration of elevated SMAD2 phosphorylation following ETS1p51 overexpression. Attenuation of ETS1p51 effects on prostate cancer cell migration and invasion by inhibition of TGFβ pathway signaling indicated that ETS1p51 effects were in part mediated by induction of TGFβ signaling. Thus, overexpression of ETS1p51, the predominant ETS1 isoform expressed in prostate tumors, promotes an EMT program in prostate cancer cells in part via activation of TGFβ signaling, potentially accounting for the poor prognosis of ETS1‐overexpressing prostate tumors.