bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ethanol and cannabinoids interact to alter behavior in a zebrafish fetal alcohol spectrum disorder model
Authors: Boa‐Amponsem Oswald , Zhang Chengjin , Mukhopadhyay Somnath , Ardrey Iman , Cole Gregory J. 
Published: January 2019

BackgroundRecent work suggests that endocannabinoids (eCBs) may signal through the sonic hedgehog signaling pathway. We therefore hypothesized that combined ethanol and eCB exposure during defined stages of zebrafish embryogenesis will produce deficits comparable to human fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).MethodsZebrafish embryos were exposed to ethanol or cannabinoid agonists alone or in combination at defined developmental stages and assessed for changes in brain morphology or expression of marker genes such as pax6a. Juvenile fish were then assessed for risk‐taking/anxiety‐like behavior using the novel tank dive test.ResultsEither chronic or acute exposure to high doses of the CB1R agonist ACEA resulted in FASD phenotypes. However, acute subthreshold doses of CB1R agonist alone, or combined with 0.5% ethanol, did not induce morphological phenotypes, but did induce dysmorphogenesis when combined with acute 1% ethanol. Phenotypes were rescued using the CB1R antagonist SR141716A. In addition, JZL195, a dual inhibitor of FAAH and MAGL, two degradative enzymes for eCBs, induced FASD phenotypes in the presence of subthreshold ethanol, confirming the activation of common signaling pathways by ethanol and eCBs. We next analyzed the effects of ethanol and CB1R agonist on juvenile zebrafish behavior and show that ACEA or ethanol alone did not alter behavior, but combined ACEA and ethanol increased risk‐taking behavior.ConclusionsThese studies demonstrate that pathological and behavioral phenotypes associated with FASD are induced by exposure to CB1R agonists and suggest that combined exposure to lower levels of alcohol and marijuana may be capable of inducing FASD‐like morphological and behavioral impairments.
Epigenetic alterations in amniotic fluid mesenchymal stem cells derived from normal and fetus‐affected gestations: A focus on myogenic and neural differentiations
Authors: Gasiūnienė Monika , Zentelytė Aistė , Treigytė Gražina , Baronaitė Sandra , Savickienė Jūratė , Utkus Algirdas , Navakauskienė Rūta 
Published: January 2019

AbstractAmniotic fluid‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (AF‐MSCs) are autologous to the fetus and represent a potential alternative source for the regenerative medicine and treatment of perinatal disorders. To date, AF‐MSCs differentiation capacity to non‐mesodermal lineages and epigenetic regulation are still poorly characterized. The present study investigated the differentiation potential of AF‐MSCs toward neural‐like cells in comparison to the mesodermal myogenic lineage and assessed epigenetic factors involved in tissue‐specific differentiation. Myogenic and neural differentiation assays were performed by the incubation with specific induction media. Typical MSCs markers were determined by flow cytometry, the expression of lineage‐specific genes, microRNAs and chromatin modifying proteins were examined by RT‐qPCR and Western blot, respectively. AF‐MSCs of normal and fetus‐affected gestations had similar stem cells characteristics and two‐lineage potential, as characterized by cell morphology and the expression of myogenic and neural markers. Two‐lineage differentiation process was associated with the down‐regulation of miR‐17 and miR‐21, the up‐regulation of miR‐34a, miR‐146a and DNMT3a/DNMT3b along with the gradual decrease in the levels of DNMT1, HDAC1, active marks of chromatin (H4hyperAc, H3K9ac, H3K4me3) and the repressive H3K9me3 mark. Differentiation was accompanied by the down‐regulation of PRC1/2 proteins (BMI1/SUZ12, EZH2) and the retention of the repressive H3K27me3 mark. We report that both AF‐MSCs of normal and fetus‐affected gestations possess differentiation capacity toward myogenic and neural lineages through rather similar epigenetic mechanisms that may provide potential applications for further investigation of the molecular basis of prenatal diseases and for the future autologous therapy.
Parallel‐process trajectories of exposure to violence and psychological distress among justice‐involved youth
Authors: Reid Joan A. , Loughran Thomas A. 
Published: January 2019

AbstractBackgroundResearchers have raised awareness of high levels of violence exposure among justice‐involved adolescents and its association with psychological distress, yet the relationship between the violence and psychological distress has rarely been studied longitudinally.AimThis study aimed to gain understanding of the relationship between long‐term exposure to violence and the development of psychological distress among justice‐involved adolescents.MethodsWe examined exposure to violence and emergent psychological distress among adolescents using latent growth model analyses with a sample of 1,336 young people—male and female—who completed 10 follow‐up interviews over 7 years as part of the Pathways to Desistance study. We tested four models: (a) changes in exposure to violence over time, (b) changes in psychological distress over time, (c) the contemporaneous, parallel processes of changes in exposure to violence and psychological distress over time, and (d) differences in the evolution of violence exposure and psychological distress across sex and race/ethnicity.ResultsFor the sample as a whole, exposure to violence decreased over time, as did psychological distress, but their relationship to each other was consistent. There were individual differences, however, and the subgroup of young African Americans did not experience the reduction in exposure to violence reported by the young Whites and Hispanics.Conclusions and implications for practiceTrajectories of exposure to violence and related psychological distress did not escalate over time as expected. In light of these findings, more research is needed on the heterogeneity of violence exposure and its negative psychological impacts.
Observing Single Hollow Porous Carbon Catalyst Collisions for Oxygen Reduction at Gold Nanoband Electrode
Authors: Zhang Yue , Feng Taotao , Xu Muzhen , Tang Qiao , Zhang Meining 
Published: January 2019

AbstractThe evaluation of single carbon particle catalysts is critical to better understand the relationship between structure and properties. Here, we use an electrochemical collision method to study the electrocatalytic behaviour of single hollow porous carbon catalyst on gold nanoband electrodes (AuNBE). We observed the catalytic current of oxygen reduction of single carbon particle and quantified the contribution of the porous structure to the catalytic performance. We find that the meso/microporous and hollow structures contribute to the electrocatalytic current. Our research provides direct evidence that the hollow/porous structures improve the electrocatalytic performance.
An investigation of indirect effects of personality features on anorexia nervosa severity through interoceptive dysfunction in individuals with lifetime anorexia nervosa diagnoses
Authors: Duffy Mary E. , Rogers Megan L. , Joiner Thomas E. , Bergen Andrew W. , Berrettini Wade , Bulik Cynthia M. , Brandt Harry , Crawford Steven , Crow Scott , Fichter Manfred , Halmi Katherine , Kaplan Allan S. , Klump Kelly L. , Lilenfeld Lisa , Magistretti Pierre J. , Mitchell James , Schork Nicholas J. , Strober Michael , Thornton Laura M. , Treasure Janet , Woodside Blake , Kaye Walter H. , Keel Pamela K. 
Published: January 2019

AbstractObjectiveThis study examined a hypothesized pathway by which interoceptive dysfunction accounted for associations between personality features (harm avoidance, self‐directedness, and perfectionism) and anorexia nervosa (AN) severity (indicated by drive for thinness, eating disorder‐related preoccupations and rituals, and body mass index).MethodThe study sample (n = 270, mean age = 28.47, 95.2% female, 98% White/Caucasian) consisted of probands and biological relatives who met DSM‐IV criteria for lifetime diagnoses of AN (omitting criterion D, amenorrhea) drawn from the Price Foundation Anorexia Nervosa Affected Relative Pairs Study (AN‐ARP). Participants completed measures assessing personality, interoceptive dysfunction, and eating pathology.ResultsAssociations between personality features of low self‐directedness and high perfectionism and indicators of AN severity (drive for thinness and eating disorder‐related preoccupations and rituals) were significant, as were the hypothesized indirect pathways through interoceptive dysfunction. Neither harm avoidance nor body mass index was significantly related to other study variables, and the proposed indirect pathways involving these variables were not significant.DiscussionFindings suggest that certain personality features may relate to AN severity, in part, through their associations with interoceptive dysfunction. Future research should examine prospective associations and the value of interventions targeting interoceptive dysfunction for interrupting the link between personality and AN severity.
The evaluation and application of node influence in dynamic networks based on evolving communities
Authors: Huang Yongfeng , Xi Haixu , Shah Sayed Chhattan , Ye Feiyue 
Published: January 2019

AbstractThe network connectivity in dynamic networks depends on a small number of highly mobile nodes. Identifying the influential nodes is one of the most engaging challenges for mobile applications, such as data offloading or worm propagation control. Reachability is an important metric to uncover node influence. Both TRGs (temporal reachability graphs) and CJEGs (critical journey evolving graphs) provide approaches to calculate reachability. Nevertheless, these approaches are only for epidemic scenarios. In practice, due to node privacy or limited battery life, message transmission is, to a certain extent, a probabilistic dissemination. Accordingly, reachability is difficult to exactly determine. As a structure of tight‐knit nodes, a community is born of a coarse‐grained estimation of reachability under a probabilistic propagation scenario. Based on an existing overlapping community detection framework, ie, AFOCS (an unsupervised machine learning algorithm), we propose an evolving overlapping community detection algorithm, ie, EFOCS, and further developed a metric, ie, OR_CEN, to estimate the reachability under the probabilistic propagation scenario. A content delivery experiment showed that OR_CEN accurately reveals the influence of nodes in dynamic networks. Based on OR_CEN, we also propose several target set selection algorithms and discuss their application in mobile data offloading. Analysis and simulation experiments indicated that CBS_OR, the target set selection algorithm based on OR_CEN centrality, has more advantages in scalability and distributed computing than CBS_AFOCS (an algorithm based on an aggregated AFOCS community), TRG_GREEDY (a greedy algorithm based on TRGs) and RANDOM (an algorithm based on a random selection strategy). Moreover, CBS_OR exhibited a significant better offloading effect than the algorithms mentioned earlier.
Constrained instruments and their application to Mendelian randomization with pleiotropy
Authors: Jiang Lai , Oualkacha Karim , Didelez Vanessa , Ciampi Antonio , Rosa‐Neto Pedro , Benedet Andrea L. , Mathotaarachchi Sulantha , Richards John Brent , Greenwood Celia M. T. ,   and for the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: January 2019

AbstractIn Mendelian randomization (MR), inference about causal relationship between a phenotype of interest and a response or disease outcome can be obtained by constructing instrumental variables from genetic variants. However, MR inference requires three assumptions, one of which is that the genetic variants only influence the outcome through phenotype of interest. Pleiotropy, that is, the situation in which some genetic variants affect more than one phenotype, can invalidate these genetic variants for use as instrumental variables; thus a naive analysis will give biased estimates of the causal relation. Here, we present new methods (constrained instrumental variable [CIV] methods) to construct valid instrumental variables and perform adjusted causal effect estimation when pleiotropy exists and when the pleiotropic phenotypes are available. We demonstrate that a smoothed version of CIV performs approximate selection of genetic variants that are valid instruments, and provides unbiased estimates of the causal effects. We provide details on a number of existing methods, together with a comparison of their performance in a large series of simulations. CIV performs robustly across different pleiotropic violations of the MR assumptions. We also analyzed the data from the Alzheimer’s disease (AD) neuroimaging initiative (ADNI; Mueller et al., 2005. Alzheimer's Dementia, 11(1), 55–66) to disentangle causal relationships of several biomarkers with AD progression.
Process enhancement in aqueous ammonia PCC using a direct contact condenser
Authors: Milani Dia , Yu Hai , Cottrell Aaron , Yang Chien‐Ying , Maher Dan , Green Phil , Wardhaugh Leigh 
Published: January 2019

AbstractAqueous ammonia‐based post‐combustion carbon capture (PCC) is a well recognized and leading technology for the reduction of CO2 emissions from coal‐fired power stations. Despite its many techno‐economic advantages over its counterparts, there are still a few major challenges that could prevent its large‐scale adoption. This model‐based study addresses the most common problems of solid precipitation at the stripper overhead and ammonia slipping with the product CO2. We propose using a direct contact condenser (DCC) to replace the conventional gas / liquid heat exchanger (HX) at the stripper overhead. Three scenarios were proposed and assessed for DCC configuration: open, closed, and combined DCC circuits. It was found that combined‐circuit DCC could better enhance the CO2 product's purity, bringing its temperature to the nominal target, and producing less condensate, which is diluted and easier for downstream integration. Most important, this configuration can effectively eliminate ammonia slipping in the product line and solid precipitation at the stripper overhead. Validating these improvements at our current pilot plant would bring tremendous benefits for the commercialization of this technology. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Quantitative neuroimaging measures of myelin in the healthy brain and in multiple sclerosis
Authors: O'Muircheartaigh Jonathan , Vavasour Irene , Ljungberg Emil , Li David K. B. , Rauscher Alexander , Levesque Victoria , Garren Hideki , Clayton David , Tam Roger , Traboulsee Anthony , Kolind Shannon 
Published: January 2019

AbstractQuantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques have been developed as imaging biomarkers, aiming to improve the specificity of MRI to underlying pathology compared to conventional weighted MRI. For assessing the integrity of white matter (WM), myelin, in particular, several techniques have been proposed and investigated individually. However, comparisons between these methods are lacking. In this study, we compared four established myelin‐sensitive MRI techniques in 56 patients with relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) and 38 healthy controls. We used T2‐relaxation with combined GRadient And Spin Echoes (GRASE) to measure myelin water fraction (MWF‐G), multi‐component driven equilibrium single pulse observation of T1 and T2 (mcDESPOT) to measure MWF‐D, magnetization‐transfer imaging to measure magnetization‐transfer ratio (MTR), and T1 relaxation to measure quantitative T1 (qT1). Using voxelwise Spearman correlations, we tested the correspondence of methods throughout the brain. All four methods showed associations that varied across tissue types; the highest correlations were found between MWF‐D and qT1 (median ρ across tissue classes 0.8) and MWF‐G and MWF‐D (median ρ = 0.59). In eight WM tracts, all measures showed differences (p < 0.05) between MS normal‐appearing WM and healthy control WM, with qT1 showing the highest number of different regions (8), followed by MWF‐D and MTR (6), and MWF‐G (n = 4). Comparing the methods in terms of their statistical sensitivity to MS lesions in WM, MWF‐D demonstrated the best accuracy (p < 0.05, after multiple comparison correction). To aid future power analysis, we provide the average and standard deviation volumes of the four techniques, estimated from the healthy control sample.
Characterization of brain network supporting episodic memory in the absence of one medial temporal lobe
Authors: Jeong Woorim , Lee Hyeongrae , Kim June Sic , Chung Chun Kee 
Published: January 2019

AbstractHow the brain supports normal episodic memory function without medial temporal lobe (MTL) structures has not been well characterized, which could provide clues for new therapeutic targets for people with MTL dysfunction‐related memory impairment. To characterize brain network supporting effective episodic memory function in the absence of unilateral MTL, we investigated the whole‐brain cortical interactions during functional magnetic resonance imaging memory encoding paradigms of words and figures in patients who showed a normal range of memory capacity following unilateral MTL resection and healthy controls (HC). Compared to the HC, the patients showed less activation in the left inferior frontal areas and right thalamus together with greater activation in the many cortical areas including the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Task‐based functional connectivity (FC) analysis revealed that the mPFC showed stronger interactions with widespread brain areas in both patient groups, including the hippocampus contralateral to the resection. Moreover, the strength of the mPFC FC predicts the individual memory capacity of the patients. Our data suggest that hyperconnectivity of distributed brain areas, especially the mPFC, is a neural mechanism for memory function in the absence of one MTL.
International validation of the revised European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Head and Neck Cancer Module, the EORTC QLQ‐HN43: Phase IV
Authors: Singer Susanne , Amdal Cecilie Delphin , Hammerlid Eva , Tomaszewska Iwona M. , Castro Silva Joaquim , Mehanna Hisham , Santos Marcos , Inhestern Johanna , Brannan Christine , Yarom Noam , Fullerton Amy , Pinto Monica , Arraras Juan I. , Kiyota Naomi , Bonomo Pierluigi , Sherman Allen C. , Baumann Ingo , Galalae Razvan , Fernandez Gonzalez Loreto , Nicolatou‐Galitis Ourania , Abdel‐Hafeez Zeinab , Raber‐Durlacher Judith , Schmalz Claudia , Zotti Paola , Boehm Andreas , Hofmeister Dirk , Krejovic Trivic Sanja , Loo Suat , Chie Wei‐Chu , Bjordal Kristin , Brokstad Herlofson Bente , Grégoire Vincent , Licitra Lisa ,   on behalf of the EORTC Quality of Life and the EORTC Head and Neck Cancer Groups
Published: January 2019

AbstractBackgroundWe validated the new European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Head and Neck Module (EORTC QLQ‐HN43).MethodsWe enrolled 812 patients with head and neck cancer from 18 countries. Group 1 completed the questionnaire before therapy, and 3 and 6 months later. In group 2 (survivors), we determined test–retest reliability using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's Alpha, the scale structure with confirmatory factor analysis, and discriminant validity with known‐group comparisons.ResultsCronbach's alpha was >0.70 in 10 of the 12 multi‐item scales. All standardized factor loadings exceeded 0.40. The ICC was >0.70 in all but two scales. Differences in scale scores between known‐groups were >10 points in 17 of the 19 scales. Sensitivity to change was found to be sufficient in 18 scales.ConclusionsEvidence supports the reliability and validity of the EORTC QLQ‐HN43 as a measure of quality of life.
Thermal radiation and variable electrical conductivity effects on MHD peristaltic motion of Carreau nanofluids: Radiotherapy and thermotherapy of oncology treatment
Authors: Hasona W. M. , Almalki N. H. , ElShekhipy A. A. , Ibrahim M. G. 
Published: January 2019

AbstractThis study intends to investigate the influences of thermal radiation and variable electrical conductivity on the MHD peristaltic flow of Carreau nanofluids as the radiotherapy and thermotherapy are required for cancer treatment. Formulation of temperature‐dependent electrical conductivity is introduced for the first time in the peristaltic literature. The related equations of momentum, mass, and concentration are reformulated using lubrication approximations (ie, tiny or zero Reynolds number and long wavelength). These simplified equations are solved numerically with the aid of Parameteric‐NDSolve. Results for velocity, temperature, and concentration distributions are obtained in three‐dimensional analytical forms. The streamline graphs are offered in the terminus, which elucidate the trapping bolus phenomenon. A “special case” of our results offered to get the solutions over certain contours for the behaviors of velocity, temperature, and nanoparticle concentration. It is found that the magnetic nanoparticles acquire more energy at high temperature, enabling them to destroy and damage tumors tissues (thermotherapy of oncology). Radiation is the reason for spreading the energy, that is, the energy of all the fluid nanoparticles does not continue with the same value. Therefore, in cancer treatment, doctors use high doses of radiation to cure cancer cells and prevent it from returning (radiotherapy of oncology).
Computational study of heat transfer in solar collectors with different radiative flux models
Authors: Kuharat Sireetorn , Anwar Bég O. , Kadir Ali , Shamshuddin MD. 
Published: January 2019

AbstractTwo‐dimensional steady incompressible laminar Newtonian viscous convection‐radiative heat transfer in a rectangular solar collector geometry is considered. The ANSYS FLUENT finite volume code (version 17.2) is used to simulate the thermo‐fluid characteristics. Extensive details of computational methodology are given to provide engineers with a framework for simulating radiative‐convection in enclosures. Mesh‐independence tests and validation are conducted. The influence of aspect ratio, Prandtl number (
Pr), Rayleigh number (
Ra) and radiative flux model on temperature, isotherms, velocity, and pressure is evaluated and visualized in colour plots. In addition, local convective heat flux is computed, and solutions are compared with the MAC solver for various buoyancy effects achieving excellent agreement. The P1 model is shown to better predict the actual influence of solar radiative flux on thermal fluid behaviour compared with the limited Rosseland model. With increasing Ra, the hot zone emanating from the base of the collector is found to penetrate deeper into the collector and rises symmetrically dividing into two vortex regions with very high buoyancy effect. With increasing Pr there is a progressive incursion of the hot zone at the solar collector base higher into the solar collector space and simultaneously a greater asymmetric behaviour of the dual isothermal zones.