bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Different Effects of Knockouts in ALDH2 and ACSS2 on Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation
Authors: Serio Ryan N. , Lu Changyuan , Gross Steven S. , Gudas Lorraine J. 
Published: July 2019

BackgroundEthanol (EtOH) is a teratogen that causes severe birth defects, but the mechanisms by which EtOH affects stem cell differentiation are unclear. Our goal here is to examine the effects of EtOH and its metabolites, acetaldehyde (AcH) and acetate, on embryonic stem cell (ESC) differentiation.MethodsWe designed ESC lines in which aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2, NCBI#11669) and acyl‐CoA synthetase short‐chain family member 2 (ACSS2, NCBI#60525) were knocked out by CRISPR‐Cas9 technology. We selected these genes because of their key roles in EtOH oxidation in order to dissect the effects of EtOH metabolism on differentiation.ResultsBy using kinetic assays, we confirmed that AcH is primarily oxidized by ALDH2 rather than ALDH1A2. We found increases in mRNAs of differentiation‐associated genes (Hoxa1, Cyp26a1, and RARβ2) upon EtOH treatment of WT and Acss2−/− ESCs, but not Aldh2−/− ESCs. The absence of ALDH2 reduced mRNAs of some pluripotency factors (Nanog, Sox2, and Klf4). Treatment of WT ESCs with AcH or 4‐hydroxynonenal (4‐HNE), another substrate of ALDH2, increased differentiation‐associated transcripts compared to levels in untreated cells. mRNAs of genes involved in retinoic acid (RA) synthesis (Stra6 and Rdh10) were also increased by EtOH, AcH, and 4‐HNE treatment. Retinoic acid receptor‐γ (RARγ) is required for both EtOH‐ and AcH‐mediated increases in Hoxa1 and Stra6, demonstrating the critical role of RA:RARγ signaling in AcH‐induced ESC differentiation.ConclusionsACSS2 knockouts showed no changes in differentiation phenotype, while pluripotency‐related transcripts were decreased in ALDH2 knockout ESCs. We demonstrate that AcH increases differentiation‐associated mRNAs in ESCs via RARγ.
Conditioned aversive memory associated with morphine withdrawal increases brain‐derived neurotrophic factor in dentate gyrus and basolateral amygdala
Authors: Martínez‐Laorden Elena , Navarro‐Zaragoza Javier , Milanés María‐Victoria , Laorden Maria‐Luisa , Almela Pilar 
Published: July 2019

AbstractMorphine has been shown to increase the expression of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the brain. However, little is known about the effect of conditioned naloxone‐precipitated morphine withdrawal on BDNF and its precursor protein, proBDNF. We used the conditioned place aversion (CPA) paradigm to evaluate the role of corticotropin‐releasing factor (CRF)/CRF1 receptor signaling on the BDNF expression and corticosterone plasma levels after CPA expression and extinction. Male mice were rendered dependent on morphine and injected acutely with naloxone before paired to confinement in a naloxone‐associated compartment. The expression of BDNF and proBDNF in the dentate gyrus (DG) and basolateral amygdala (BLA) was measured in parallel with the corticosterone plasma levels with and without CRF1 receptor blockade. Mice subjected to conditioned naloxone‐induced morphine withdrawal showed an increased expression of BDNF (in DG and BLA) in parallel with an enhancement of corticosterone plasma levels. These results demonstrated that BDNF expression together with the increased activity of hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenocortical (HPA) axis are critical to the acquisition of aversive memory. However, we have observed a decrease in corticosterone plasma levels and BDNF expression after CPA extinction reaffirming the importance of BDNF in the maintenance of aversive memory. In addition, the pre‐treatment with the CRF1 receptor antagonist CP‐154 526 before naloxone conditioning session impaired morphine withdrawal‐induced aversive memory acquisition, the increased corticosterone plasma levels, and the expression of BDNF observed after CPA expression in the DG and BLA. Altogether, present results are suggesting a clear connection between HPA axis and BDNF in the formation and extinction of aversive memory.
Poverty and Divine Rewards: The Electoral Advantage of Islamist Political Parties
Authors: Grewal Sharan , Jamal Amaney A. , Masoud Tarek , Nugent Elizabeth R. 
Published: July 2019

AbstractPolitical life in many Muslim‐majority countries has been marked by the electoral dominance of Islamist parties. Recent attempts to explain why have highlighted their material and organizational factors, such as the provision of social services. In this article, we revive an older literature that emphasizes the appeal of these parties’ religious nature to voters experiencing economic hardship. Individuals suffering economic strain may vote for Islamists because they believe this to be an intrinsically virtuous act that will be met with divine rewards in the afterlife. We explore this hypothesis through a series of laboratory experiments in Tunisia. Individuals assigned to treatment conditions instilling feelings of economic strain exhibit greater support for Islamist parties, and this support is causally mediated by an expectation of divine compensation in the hereafter. The evidence suggests that the religious nature of Islamist parties may thus be an important factor in their electoral success.
Needlescopic surgery for very low rectal cancer with no abdominal skin incision
Authors: Fukuoka Hironori , Fukunaga Yosuke , Minami Hironori , Miyanari Shun , Suzuki Shinsuke , Nagasaki Toshiya , Akiyoshi Takashi , Konishi Tsuyoshi , Fujimoto Yoshiya , Nagayama Satoshi , Ueno Masashi 
Published: July 2019

AbstractIntroductionNeedlescopic surgery (NS) is a minimally invasive operation beyond traditional laparoscopic surgery. This study aimed to describe NS for intersphincteric resection (ISR) and abdominoperineal resection (APR) for low rectal cancer without a small abdominal skin incision for extracting the specimen and to evaluate the safety and feasibility of the operation.MethodsFrom January 2011 to April 2016, 36 patients underwent NS for either ISR or APR. By definition, NS for ISR or APR at our institution uses three 3‐mm ports and two 5‐mm ports at the umbilicus and in the right lower quadrant. The specimen was extracted through the anus or the perineal wound. The feasibility of this operation was determined based on short‐term outcomes and pathological findings.ResultsNo patients required conversion to open surgery. The mean operation time was 299 minutes, and the mean estimated blood loss was 30 mL. Postoperative complications higher than Clavien–Dindo grade III occurred in 2.8% of patients (n = 1). The median number of harvested lymph nodes was 16 (range, 0‐30), and in no case was there a positive circumferential resection margin.ConclusionsNeedlescopic surgery for ISR or APR is technically safe and feasible for low rectal cancer based on the short‐term outcomes and the oncological quality, particularly when compared to conventional laparoscopic surgery as described in previous reports.
Examining the link between democracy, social policy, and inclusive development in South‐East Asia
Authors: Putra Fadillah 
Published: July 2019

AbstractThis research investigates the impact of democracy on inclusive development and mainly addresses the question “Does democracy matter in the delivery of larger and more effective social policies that improve inclusive development?” The four cases selected to empirically analyze the relationship among three variables (democracy, social policy, and inclusive development) were Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines. The three main variables were modeled and analyzed by partial least squares–structural equation modeling technique. The finding revealed that social policy was one of the potential variables linking democracy and inclusive development, especially when the development of democratic institution runs stably.
Enhancing wayfinding in pre‐school children through robot and socio‐cognitive conflict
Authors: Benvenuti Martina , Mazzoni Elvis 
Published: July 2019

AbstractWayfinding is one of the most important skills that children have to learn in order to safely move in the environment. One problem that 5‐year‐old children encounter with wayfinding is changing their point of view to that of another person in different position in the same environment, such as that of a person opposite them whose perspective is turned 180° with respect to their own. Robots could help children in learning this skill, since children can instruct them to move in the environment, in predetermined paths, by starting from a rotated perspective. This study compares classic socio‐cognitive conflict with a human partner, but in this case with a robot partner, in order to evaluate how a specific activity (instructing a robot to perform a given route) enhances the wayfinding skills of 156 5‐year‐old children. Using two different robots (humanoid and non‐humanoid) and two different conditions (a child and the robot and two children and the robot), the study shows that children who performed the task with the humanoid robot improved their performance significantly better compared with those who used the non‐humanoid robot. Furthermore, children engaged in the Socio‐Cognitive Conflict situation with another child‐outperformed children in the Socio‐Cognitive Conflict with robots. Finally, children with low‐level performance in the pretest made the greatest improvement both in terms of moves made and time taken to complete the task in comparison with children in the High‐Level Group and of the Control Group.
Evaluative Audience Perception (EAP): How Children Come to Care About Reputation
Authors: Botto Sara Valencia , Rochat Philippe 
Published: July 2019

AbstractDespite the fact that reputational concerns are central to human psychology, we know little about when and how children come to care about the evaluation of others. In this article, we review recent studies on reputational concerns in early childhood, and propose that evaluative audience perception (EAP) is necessary to understand the developmental origins of reputation. Specifically, we argue that EAP’s two defining components—the tendency to assume that others could evaluate one’s behavior and the default preference to elicit positive instead of negative evaluations—lay the foundation for the development of reputational concerns. We provide evidence suggesting that EAP would emerge by 24 months and conclude by suggesting possible developmental models of EAP.
Novel heterozygous variants in KMT2D associated with holoprosencephaly
Authors: Tekendo‐Ngongang Cedrik , Kruszka Paul , Martinez Ariel F. , Muenke Maximilian 
Published: July 2019

AbstractLysine methyltransferase 2D (KMT2D; OMIM 602113) encodes a histone methyltransferase involved in transcriptional regulation of the beta‐globin and estrogen receptor as part of a large protein complex known as activating signal cointegrator‐2‐containing complex (ASCOM). Heterozygous germline mutations in the KMT2D gene are known to cause Kabuki syndrome (OMIM 147920), a developmental multisystem disorder. Neither holoprosencephaly nor other defects in human forebrain development have been previously associated with Kabuki syndrome. Here we report two patients diagnosed with alobar holoprosencephaly in their antenatal period with de novo monoallelic KMT2D variants identified by trio‐based exome sequencing. The first patient was found to have a stop‐gain variant c.12565G>T (p.Gly4189*), while the second patient had a missense variant c.5A>G (p.Asp2Gly). Phenotyping of each patient did not reveal any age‐related feature of Kabuki syndrome. These two cases represent the first report on association between KMT2D and holoprosencephaly.
Kernel Functional Maps
Authors: Wang L. , Gehre A. , Bronstein M. M. , Solomon J. 
Published: July 2019

AbstractFunctional maps provide a means of extracting correspondences between surfaces using linear‐algebraic machinery. While the functional framework suggests efficient algorithms for map computation, the basic technique does not incorporate the intuition that pointwise modifications of a descriptor function (e.g. composition of a descriptor and a nonlinearity) should be preserved under the mapping; the end result is that the basic functional maps problem can be underdetermined without regularization or additional assumptions on the map. In this paper, we show how this problem can be addressed through kernelization, in which descriptors are lifted to higher‐dimensional vectors or even infinite‐length sequences of values. The key observation is that optimization problems for functional maps only depend on inner products between descriptors rather than descriptor values themselves. These inner products can be evaluated efficiently through use of kernel functions. In addition to deriving a kernelized version of functional maps including a recent extension in terms of pointwise multiplication operators, we provide an efficient conjugate gradient algorithm for optimizing our generalized problem as well as a strategy for low‐rank estimation of kernel matrices through the Nyström approximation.
An explicit structure‐preserving numerical scheme for EPDiff
Authors: Azencot Omri , Vantzos Orestis , Ben‐Chen Mirela 
Published: July 2019

AbstractWe present a new structure‐preserving numerical scheme for solving the Euler‐Poincaré Differential (EPDiff) equation on arbitrary triangle meshes. Unlike existing techniques, our method solves the difficult non‐linear EPDiff equation by constructing energy preserving, yet fully explicit, update rules. Our approach uses standard differential operators on triangle meshes, allowing for a simple and efficient implementation. Key to the structure‐preserving features that our method exhibits is a novel numerical splitting scheme. Namely, we break the integration into three steps which rely on linear solves with a fixed sparse matrix that is independent of the simulation and thus can be pre‐factored. We test our method in the context of simulating concentrated reconnecting wavefronts on flat and curved domains. In particular, EPDiff is known to generate geometrical fronts which exhibit wave‐like behavior when they interact with each other. In addition, we also show that at a small additional cost, we can produce globally‐supported periodic waves by using our simulated fronts with wavefronts tracking techniques. We provide quantitative graphs showing that our method exactly preserves the energy in practice. In addition, we demonstrate various interesting results including annihilation and recreation of a circular front, a wave splitting and merging when hitting an obstacle and two separate fronts propagating and bending due to the curvature of the domain.
Möbius Registration
Authors: Baden Alex , Crane Keenan , Kazhdan Misha 
Published: July 2019

AbstractConformal parameterizations over the sphere provide high‐quality maps between genus zero surfaces, and are essential for applications such as data transfer and comparative shape analysis. However, such maps are not unique: to define correspondence between two surfaces, one must find the Möbius transformation that best aligns two parameterizations—akin to picking a translation and rotation in rigid registration problems. We describe a simple procedure that canonically centers and rotationally aligns two spherical maps. Centering is implemented via elementary operations on triangle meshes in ℝ3, and minimizes area distortion. Alignment is achieved using the FFT over the group of rotations. We examine this procedure in the context of spherical conformal parameterization, orbifold maps, non‐rigid symmetry detection, and dense point‐to‐point surface correspondence.
Costs are not necessarily correlated with threats in conservation landscapes
Authors: Sacre Edmond , Pressey Robert L. , Bode Michael 
Published: July 2019

AbstractThe priority of an area for conservation is determined by three primary factors: its biodiversity value, the level of threat it is facing, and its cost. Although much attention has been paid to the spatial relationship between biodiversity value and threats, and between biodiversity value and costs, little is known about how costs and threats are spatially correlated. The orthodox assumption in conservation science is that costs and threats are positively correlated. Here, we adapt a classic economic theory of land use to explain how conservation scientists came to expect a positive correlation between costs and threats. We then use high‐resolution, ground‐truthed datasets of land sales and habitat clearance to show that this assumption is false in the state of Queensland, Australia. Our results provide an empirical counterargument to a widespread assumption in conservation science, and illustrate why spatial prioritization needs to include independent measures of costs and threats.
Kidney donor outcomes ≥ 50 years after donation
Authors: Keys Daniel O. , Jackson Scott , Berglund Danielle , Matas Arthur J. 
Published: July 2019

AbstractMany living kidney donors (LDs) are young at donation; yet there are little data on long‐term LD follow‐up. We report on 66 LDs who donated ≥50 years ago: 22 (33.3%) are still alive (current age, 78.5 ± 7.25 years); 39 (59%) died (mean age at death, 74.2 ± 12.3 years); and 5 are lost to follow‐up (mean age at last contact, 68.7 ± 4.6 years). Those who died were older at donation (P < .001). Causes of death included 12 (30.8% of deaths) cardiovascular diseases, 9 (23.0%) respiratory failures, 5 (12.8%) malignancies and 4 (10.3%) infections, and 9 (23%) were unknown or miscellaneous. Forty‐nine living donors (74%) developed hypertension at a mean age of 59.9 ± 14.0 years; 12 (18%) developed diabetes at a mean age of 62 ± 19.4 years; and 11 (16.7%) developed proteinuria at a mean age of 60.6 ± 18.2 years—each at a similar incidence as seen in the age‐matched general population. At last follow‐up, the eGFR by CKD‐EPI (mean ± SD) for donors currently alive was 60.2 ± 13.4 mL/min/1.73 m2; for those that died, 54.0 ± 21.5 mL/min/1.73 m2; for those lost to follow‐up, 55.6 ± 7.5 mL/min/1.73 m2. ESRD developed in 2 (3.3%). SF‐36 quality of life health survey scores (n = 21) were similar to the age‐matched general population.
Generalized congenital epithelioid blue nevi (pigmented epithelioid melanocytomas) in an infant: Report of case and review of the literature
Authors: Blebea Catherine , Li Dong , Castelo‐Soccio Leslie , Chu Emily Y. 
Published: July 2019

AbstractThe epithelioid blue nevus (EBN) is a variant of the blue nevus characterized by heavily pigmented epithelioid melanocytes and lightly or nonpigmented spindle cells. It may be associated with Carney complex, a multiple neoplasia syndrome. Congenital cases of EBN not associated with Carney complex are rarely reported. We herein describe an infant who presented with multiple blue‐gray nodules and papules involving the head, trunk, and extremities at birth, the corresponding histopathologic findings, and genetic testing results.
Cutaneous metastases of papillary renal cell carcinoma: A case report and review of the literature
Authors: Cardwell Leah A. , Bender Nicole R. , Sokumbi Olayemi 
Published: July 2019

AbstractPapillary renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is an uncommon subtype of RCC that is typically encountered at early stages and has a high survival rate. Histopathology typically shows well‐defined papillary architecture with tumor cells lining fibrovascular cores and can be further subdivided into type 1 and type 2 tumors based on cytology and genetic basis. Type 1 tumors have a single layer of basophilic cells and low nuclear atypia, while type 2 tumors have a pseudostratified layer of eosinophilic cells and high nuclear atypia. Some tumors have overlapping features of both types. We present a unique case of cutaneous metastases of papillary RCC with typical papillary architecture in the dermis and review the literature on this rare entity.
Phytophthora species associated with dieback of sweet chestnut in Western Turkey
Authors: Akilli Şimşek Seçil , Katircioğlu Yakup Zekai , Ulubaş Serçe Çiğdem , Çakar Deniz , Rigling Daniel , Maden Salih 
Published: July 2019

AbstractSweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) is an important tree species in the Marmara and Aegean regions of Turkey as these two regions produce the great majority of edible nuts, especially those used for marron glacé production. Chestnut forests and orchards in these regions showing severe dieback symptoms not associated with chestnut blight were investigated to determine the role of Phytophthora spp. in the decline syndrome. Soil samples were collected from around 108 symptomatic chestnut trees at 29 sites and Phytophthora spp. isolated using soil baiting technique and selective medium. Species isolated were identified by cultural characteristics and ITS sequencing. Phytophthora x cambivora was the dominant species detected in 13 sites, followed by P. cinnamomi (5 sites), P. plurivora (3 sites) and P. cryptogea (1 site). Phytophthora x cambivora was present in both regions, while P. cinnamomi was found only in the Marmara region in coastal areas around Istanbul. When inoculated at the stem bases of 3‐year‐old chestnut saplings, P. cinnamomi produced significantly longer necrotic lesions (7.8–12.0 cm) than P. x cambivora (2.6–6.3 cm) by 12 days after inoculation. Phytophthora plurivora was the least aggressive species causing only small lesions. Phytophthora cryptogea, which represents the first record on chestnut in Turkey, produced intermediate sized lesions in between P. x cambivora and P. plurivora. These results indicate that P. x cambivora and in some areas P. cinnamomi play major roles in the observed dieback of sweet chestnut in western Turkey.
An integrative study of Sakia sisanganensis n. sp. (Rhabditida: Tylenchidae) from Sisangan forest, Iran, and new morphological observations for the genus
Authors: Panahandeh Yousef , Reza Atighi Mohammad , De Ley Irma Tandingan , Pourjam Ebrahim , Mundo‐Ocampo Manuel , Abolafia Joaquín , Koolivand Davoud , Jahanshahi Afshar Farahnaz , Pedram Majid 
Published: July 2019

AbstractFurther data on the morphology (the lip region characters) and phylogeny of the genus Sakia are presented. The new observations were based on scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light microscopy (LM). A new species, Sakia sisanganensis n. sp., was recovered from rotten wood of a dead beech tree (Fagus orientalis) in northern Iran, herein described and illustrated based on an integrative approach, that is morphological, morphometric and molecular characters. The new species is characterized by a combination of the following features: fine transverse striae and vestigial single band in the lateral field in SEM. Labial area dorso‐ventrally flattened. Oral region with two concentric hexagonal plates, the inner one apparently elevated. Amphidial openings short, slit‐like. Stylet delicate. Median bulb fusiform to spindle‐shaped with weak valvular apparatus. Spermatheca functional. Tail filiform with faintly pointed tip and males common. The new species was morphologically compared with four known species of the genus, viz., S. alii, S. arboris, S. castori and S. indica, all having indistinct lateral fields. Molecular phylogenetic analyses were performed based on the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene (SSU rDNA). In the Bayesian inference (BI), S. sisanganensis n. sp. with two isolates was strongly supported as a sister taxon of a clade harbouring S. arboris + Lelenchus species. However, in the maximum likelihood (ML) analysis, the new species formed a clade with S. arboris, thus supporting the reciprocal monophyly of the genera Sakia and Lelenchus. Accordingly, the test of monophyly was performed (using Bayes factor) and the results did not reject the monophyly of sakia (i.e., S. sisanganensis n. sp. and S. arboris as sister taxa) based on the currently available data.