bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The fabrication and the use of immobilized cells as test organisms in a ferricyanide-based toxicity biosensor
Authors: Liu Chang , Xu Yingchao , Han Xiao , Chang Xiaojie 
Published: August 2017

Abstract

Cell immobilization is an effective method to prolong the lifetime of a microorganism and has proven feasibility in some other biosensors. Thus, we studied the use of Escherichia coli immobilized by agar, gelatin, an agar/gelatin mixture, chitosan, and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to screen toxicity electrochemically. The E. coli immobilized by PVA gel showed the highest apparent bioactivity and the longest storage time in pH 7.0 phosphate-buffered saline solution. Furthermore, the E. coli immobilized by different gels was applied in the toxicity determination via a reported ferricyanide-mediated electrochemical method, where 3,5-dichlorophenol (DCP) was used as a model toxin. The E. coli immobilized by PVA showed the highest sensitivity to DCP, and the corresponding value of 50% inhibition concentration was 9.62 mg L−1. Inhibition concentrations were in the range of 6.32 to 13.75% when the E. coli immobilized by PVA was challenged by wastewater, which were comparable with values obtained with the standard luminescent bacteria method (effective inhibition were in the range 7.96–25.42% for the same samples). Given the apparent bioactivity, storage ability, and sensitivity to toxin, PVA was the best polymer to confine cells among the polymers used in the present study. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:329–335. © 2017 SETAC
Grounds for Refusal of Recognition of (Quasi‐) Annex Judgements in the Recast European Insolvency Regulation
Authors: Fabok Zoltan 
Published: August 2017

AbstractInsolvency‐related (annex) actions and judgements fall within the scope of the Recast European Insolvency Regulation (‘Recast EIR’). That instrument both determines international jurisdiction regarding annex actions and sets up a simplified recognition system for annex judgements. However, tension between the Recast EIR's provisions on jurisdiction and recognition arises when a court of a state different from the state of insolvency erroneously assumes jurisdiction for annex actions. Such ‘quasi‐annex’ judgements rendered by foreign courts erroneously assuming jurisdiction threaten the integrity of the insolvency proceedings. Besides, the quasi‐annex judgements may violate the effectiveness and efficiency of the insolvency proceedings as well as the principle of legal certainty. In this article, it is argued that even the current legal framework may offer some ways to avoid the recognition of such quasi‐annex judgements. First, the scope of the public policy exception may be extended in order to protect the integrity of the insolvency proceedings from the quasi‐annex judgements rendered by foreign courts erroneously assuming jurisdiction. Second, it may be argued that quasi‐annex judgements do not equal real annex judgements and therefore do not enjoy the automatic recognition system provided by the Recast EIR. At the same time, their close connection to the insolvency proceedings – disregarded by the forum erroneously assuming jurisdiction – may exclude quasi‐annex judgements from the scope of the Brussels Ibis Regulation, as well. As a consequence, those quasi‐annex judgements may fall within the gap between the two regulations, meaning that no European instrument instructs the courts of the member state addressed to recognise quasi‐annex judgements. Copyright © 2017 INSOL International and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Real‐time respiratory phase matching between 2D fluoroscopic images and 3D CT images for precise percutaneous lung biopsy
Authors: Weon Chijun , Kim Mina , Park Chang Min , Ra Jong Beom 
Published: August 2017

PurposeA 3D CT image is used along with real‐time 2D fluoroscopic images in the state‐of‐the‐art cone‐beam CT system to guide percutaneous lung biopsy (PLB). To improve the guiding accuracy by compensating for respiratory motion, we propose an algorithm for real‐time matching of 2D fluoroscopic images to multiple 3D CT images of different respiratory phases that is robust to the small movement and deformation due to cardiac motion.MethodsBased on the transformations obtained from nonrigid registration between two 3D CT images acquired at expiratory and inspiratory phases, we first generate sequential 3D CT images (or a 4D CT image) and the corresponding 2D digitally reconstructed radiographs (DRRs) of vessels. We then determine 3D CT images corresponding to each real‐time 2D fluoroscopic image, by matching the 2D fluoroscopic image to a 2D DRR.ResultsQuantitative evaluations performed with 20 clinical datasets show that registration errors of anatomical features between a 2D fluoroscopic image and its matched 2D DRR are less than 3 mm on average. Registration errors of a target lesion are determined to be roughly 3 mm on average for 10 datasets.ConclusionsWe propose a real‐time matching algorithm to compensate for respiratory motion between a 2D fluoroscopic image and 3D CT images of the lung, regardless of cardiac motion, based on a newly improved matching measure. The proposed algorithm can improve the accuracy of a guiding system for the PLB by providing 3D images precisely registered to 2D fluoroscopic images in real‐time, without time‐consuming respiratory‐gated or cardiac‐gated CT images.
Competing risk analysis in a large cardiovascular clinical trial: An APEX substudy
Authors: Arbetter Douglas F. , Jain Purva , Yee Megan K. , Michalak Nathan , Hernandez Adrian F. , Hull Russell D. , Goldhaber Samuel Z. , Harrington Robert A. , Gold Alex , Cohen Alexander T. , Gibson C. Michael 
Published: August 2017

SummaryCompeting risk methods are time‐to‐event analyses that account for fatal and/or nonfatal events that may potentially alter or prevent a subject from experiencing the primary endpoint. Competing risk methods may provide a more accurate and less biased estimate of the incidence of an outcome but are rarely applied in cardiology trials. APEX investigated the efficacy of extended‐duration betrixaban versus standard‐duration enoxaparin to prevent a composite of symptomatic deep‐vein thrombosis (proximal or distal), nonfatal pulmonary embolism, or venous thromboembolism (VTE)–related death in acute medically ill patients (n = 7513). The aim of the current analysis was to determine the efficacy of betrixaban vs standard‐duration enoxaparin accounting for non‐VTE–related deaths using the Fine and Gray method for competing risks. The proportion of non‐VTE–related death was similar in both the betrixaban (133, 3.6%) and enoxaparin (136, 3.7%) arms, P = .85. Both the traditional Kaplan‐Meier method and the Fine and Gray method accounting for non‐VTE–related death as a competing risk showed equal reduction of VTE events when comparing betrixaban to enoxaparin (HR/SHR = 0.65, 95% 0.42‐0.99, P = 0.046). Due to the similar proportion of non‐VTE–related deaths in both treatment arms and the use of a univariate model, the Fine and Gray method provided identical results to the traditional Cox model. Using the Fine and Gray method in addition to the traditional Cox proportional hazards method can indicate whether the presence of a competing risk, which is dependent of the outcome, altered the risk estimate.
Purity analysis for JavaScript through abstract interpretation
Authors: Nicolay Jens , Stiévenart Quentin , De Meuter Wolfgang , De Roover Coen 
Published: August 2017

AbstractWe present a static analysis for determining whether and to what extent functions in JavaScript programs are pure. To this end, the analysis classifies functions as pure functions, observers, or procedures. A function is pure if none of its executions generate or depend upon externally observable side effects. A function is an observer as soon as one of its executions depends on an external side effect, but none of its executions generate observable side effects. Otherwise, the function is classified as a procedure. Function executions and associated callers are found by traversing all reachable function execution contexts on the call stack at the point where an effect occurs. Our approach is based on a flow analysis that, in addition to computing traditional control and value flow, keeps track of read and write effects. To increase the precision of our purity analysis, we combine it with an intraprocedural analysis that determines freshness of variables and objects. We formalize the core aspects of our technique and discuss its implementation and results on common JavaScript benchmarks. Results show that our approach is capable of determining function purity in the presence of higher‐order functions, dynamic property expressions, and prototypal inheritance. When compared with existing purity analyses, we find that our approach is as precise or more precise than the existing analyses.
Switching roles: a qualitative study of staff experiences of being dialectical behaviour therapists within the National Health Service in England
Authors: Hutton Rebecca , Hodge Suzanne , Tighe Martin 
Published: August 2017

AbstractMany National Health Service (NHS) Trusts in England have invested in dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT) for mental health service users. The experiences of NHS staff delivering DBT were explored using semi-structured interviews with six dialectical behaviour therapists working in secondary mental health services within the NHS. The aim was to consider the impact on staff of adding the DBT therapist role onto their existing job role. Interview data were analysed using thematic analysis. Six themes were inductively generated from the data: DBT as a useful framework; DBT as the most satisfying part of the job; ‘Worzel Gummidge heads’– conflicts in roles; ‘DBT buddies’– the importance of informal support; uncertainty about the future; and recursivity – using DBT skills personally. Interactions between themes, implications for the service and future research directions are discussed. Key findings suggest that the addition of the DBT therapist role, as well as the recursive nature of DBT, has a positive impact professionally and personally. However, the service context within which participants were working can lead this additional role to cause increased demands and therefore stress, reducing that positive impact.
Microbial functional trait of rRNA operon copy numbers increases with organic levels in anaerobic digesters
Authors: Wu Linwei , Yang Yunfeng , Chen Si , Jason Shi Zhou , Zhao Mengxin , Zhu Zhenwei , Yang Sihang , Qu Yuanyuan , Ma Qiao , He Zhili , Zhou Jizhong , He Qiang 
Published: August 2017

Abstract
The ecological concept of the r-K life history strategy is widely applied in macro-ecology to characterize functional traits of taxa. However, its adoption in microbial communities is limited, owing to the lack of a measureable, convenient functional trait for classification. In this study, we performed an experiment of stepwise organic amendments in triplicate anaerobic digesters. We found that high resource availability significantly favored microbial r-strategists such as Bacillus spp. Incremental resource availability heightened average rRNA operon copy number of microbial community, resulting in a strong, positive correlation (r&gt;0.74, P&lt;0.008). This study quantifies how resource availability manipulations influence microbial community composition and supports the idea that rRNA operon copy number is an ecologically meaningful trait which reflects resource availability.
Stability of gene expression in human T cells in different gravity environments is clustered in chromosomal region 11p15.4
Authors: Thiel Cora S. , Huge Andreas , Hauschild Swantje , Tauber Svantje , Lauber Beatrice A. , Polzer Jennifer , Paulsen Katrin , Lier Hartwin , Engelmann Frank , Schmitz Burkhard , Schütte Andreas , Layer Liliana E. , Ullrich Oliver 
Published: August 2017

AbstractIn the last decades, a plethora of in vitro studies with living human cells contributed a vast amount of knowledge about cellular and molecular effects of microgravity. Previous studies focused mostly on the identification of gravity-responsive genes, whereas a multi-platform analysis at an integrative level, which specifically evaluates the extent and robustness of transcriptional response to an altered gravity environment was not performed so far. Therefore, we investigated the stability of gene expression response in non-activated human Jurkat T lymphocytic cells in different gravity environments through the combination of parabolic flights with a suborbital ballistic rocket and 2D clinostat and centrifuge experiments, using strict controls for excluding all possible other factors of influence. We revealed an overall high stability of gene expression in microgravity and identified olfactory gene expression in the chromosomal region 11p15.4 as particularly robust to altered gravity. We identified that classical reference genesABCA5,GAPDH,HPRT1,PLA2G4A, andRPL13Awere stably expressed in all tested gravity conditions and platforms, whileABCA5andGAPDHwere also known to be stably expressed in U937 cells in all gravity conditions. In summary, 10–20% of all transcripts remained totally unchanged in any gravitational environment tested (between 10−4and 9 g), 20–40% remained unchanged in microgravity (between 10−4and 10−2 g) and 97–99% were not significantly altered in microgravity if strict exclusion criteria were applied. Therefore, we suppose a high stability of gene expression in microgravity. Comparison with other stressors suggests that microgravity alters gene expression homeostasis not stronger than other environmental factors.
Reduced age-associated brain changes in expert meditators: a multimodal neuroimaging pilot study
Authors: Chételat Gaël , Mézenge Florence , Tomadesso Clémence , Landeau Brigitte , Arenaza-Urquijo Eider , Rauchs Géraldine , André Claire , de Flores Robin , Egret Stéphanie , Gonneaud Julie , Poisnel Géraldine , Chocat Anne , Quillard Anne , Desgranges Béatrice , Bloch Jean-Gérard , Ricard Matthieu , Lutz Antoine 
Published: August 2017

AbstractAging is associated with progressive cerebral volume and glucose metabolism decreases. Conditions such as stress and sleep difficulties exacerbate these changes and are risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease. Meditation practice, aiming towards stress reduction and emotion regulation, can downregulate these adverse factors. In this pilot study, we explored the possibility that lifelong meditation practice might reduce age-related brain changes by comparing structural MRI and FDG-PET data in 6 elderly expert meditators versus 67 elderly controls. We found increased gray matter volume and/or FDG metabolism in elderly expert meditators compared to controls in the bilateral ventromedial prefrontal and anterior cingulate cortex, insula, temporo-parietal junction, and posterior cingulate cortex /precuneus. Most of these regions were also those exhibiting the strongest effects of age when assessed in a cohort of 186 controls aged 20 to 87 years. Moreover, complementary analyses showed that these changes were still observed when adjusting for lifestyle factors or using a smaller group of controls matched for education. Pending replication in a larger cohort of elderly expert meditators and longitudinal studies, these findings suggest that meditation practice could reduce age-associated structural and functional brain changes.
Indirect genetic effects: a key component of the genetic architecture of behaviour
Authors: Santostefano Francesca , Wilson Alastair J. , Niemelä Petri T. , Dingemanse Niels J. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractBehavioural ecology research increasingly focuses on why genetic behavioural variation can persist despite selection. Evolutionary theory predicts that directional selection leads to evolutionary change while depleting standing genetic variation. Nevertheless, evolutionary stasis may occur for traits involved in social interactions. This requires tight negative genetic correlations between direct genetic effects (DGEs) of an individual’s genes on its own phenotype and the indirect genetic effects (IGEs) it has on conspecifics, as this could diminish the amount of genetic variation available to selection to act upon. We tested this prediction using a pedigreed laboratory population of Mediterranean field crickets (Gryllus bimaculatus), in which both exploratory tendency and aggression are heritable. We found that genotypes predisposed to be aggressive (due to DGEs) strongly decreased aggressiveness in opponents (due to IGEs). As a consequence, the variance in total breeding values was reduced to almost zero, implying that IGEs indeed greatly contribute to the occurrence of evolutionary stasis. IGEs were further associated with genetic variation in a non-social behaviour: explorative genotypes elicited most aggression in opponents. These key findings imply that IGEs indeed represent an important overlooked mechanism that can impact evolutionary dynamics of traits under selection.
Bi-directional and shared epigenomic signatures following proton and 56Fe irradiation
Authors: Impey Soren , Jopson Timothy , Pelz Carl , Tafessu Amanuel , Fareh Fatema , Zuloaga Damian , Marzulla Tessa , Riparip Lara-Kirstie , Stewart Blair , Rosi Susanna , Turker Mitchell S. , Raber Jacob 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThe brain’s response to radiation exposure is an important concern for patients undergoing cancer therapy and astronauts on long missions in deep space. We assessed whether this response is specific and prolonged and is linked to epigenetic mechanisms. We focused on the response of the hippocampus at early (2-weeks) and late (20-week) time points following whole body proton irradiation. We examined two forms of DNA methylation, cytosine methylation (5mC) and hydroxymethylation (5hmC). Impairments in object recognition, spatial memory retention, and network stability following proton irradiation were observed at the two-week time point and correlated with altered gene expression and 5hmC profiles that mapped to specific gene ontology pathways. Significant overlap was observed between DNA methylation changes at the 2 and 20-week time points demonstrating specificity and retention of changes in response to radiation. Moreover, a novel class of DNA methylation change was observed following an environmental challenge (i.e. space irradiation), characterized by both increased and decreased 5hmC levels along the entire gene body. These changes were mapped to genes encoding neuronal functions including postsynaptic gene ontology categories. Thus, the brain’s response to proton irradiation is both specific and prolonged and involves novel remodeling of non-random regions of the epigenome.
Stable multi-GeV electron accelerator driven by waveform-controlled PW laser pulses
Authors: Kim Hyung Taek , Pathak V. B. , Hong Pae Ki , Lifschitz A. , Sylla F. , Shin Jung Hun , Hojbota C. , Lee Seong Ku , Sung Jae Hee , Lee Hwang Woon , Guillaume E. , Thaury C. , Nakajima Kazuhisa , Vieira J. , Silva L. O. , Malka V. , Nam Chang Hee 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThe achievable energy and the stability of accelerated electron beams have been the most critical issues in laser wakefield acceleration. As laser propagation, plasma wave formation and electron acceleration are highly nonlinear processes, the laser wakefield acceleration (LWFA) is extremely sensitive to initial experimental conditions. We propose a simple and elegant waveform control method for the LWFA process to enhance the performance of a laser electron accelerator by applying a fully optical and programmable technique to control the chirp of PW laser pulses. We found sensitive dependence of energy and stability of electron beams on the spectral phase of laser pulses and obtained stable 2-GeV electron beams from a 1-cm gas cell of helium. The waveform control technique for LWFA would prompt practical applications of centimeter-scale GeV-electron accelerators to a compact radiation sources in the x-ray and γ-ray regions.
Wfs1- deficient rats develop primary symptoms of Wolfram syndrome: insulin-dependent diabetes, optic nerve atrophy and medullary degeneration
Authors: Plaas Mario , Seppa Kadri , Reimets Riin , Jagomäe Toomas , Toots Maarja , Koppel Tuuliki , Vallisoo Tuuli , Nigul Mait , Heinla Indrek , Meier Riho , Kaasik Allen , Piirsoo Andres , Hickey Miriam A. , Terasmaa Anton , Vasar Eero 
Published: August 2017

AbstractWolfram syndrome (WS) is a rare autosomal-recessive disorder that is caused by mutations in the WFS1 gene and is characterized by juvenile-onset diabetes, optic atrophy, hearing loss and a number of other complications. Here, we describe the creation and phenotype of Wfs1 mutant rats, in which exon 5 of the Wfs1 gene is deleted, resulting in a loss of 27 amino acids from the WFS1 protein sequence. These Wfs1-ex5-KO232 rats show progressive glucose intolerance, which culminates in the development of diabetes mellitus, glycosuria, hyperglycaemia and severe body weight loss by 12 months of age. Beta cell mass is reduced in older mutant rats, which is accompanied by decreased glucose-stimulated insulin secretion from 3 months of age. Medullary volume is decreased in older Wfs1-ex5-KO232 rats, with the largest decreases at the level of the inferior olive. Finally, older Wfs1-ex5-KO232 rats show retinal gliosis and optic nerve atrophy at 15 months of age. Electron microscopy revealed axonal degeneration and disorganization of the myelin in the optic nerves of older Wfs1-ex5-KO232 rats. The phenotype of Wfs1-ex5-KO232 rats indicates that they have the core symptoms of WS. Therefore, we present a novel rat model of WS.
Identification of pyrrolopyrimidine derivative PP-13 as a novel microtubule-destabilizing agent with promising anticancer properties
Authors: Gilson Pauline , Josa-Prado Fernando , Beauvineau Claire , Naud-Martin Delphine , Vanwonterghem Laetitia , Mahuteau-Betzer Florence , Moreno Alexis , Falson Pierre , Lafanechère Laurence , Frachet Véronique , Coll Jean-Luc , Fernando Díaz Jose , Hurbin Amandine , Busser Benoit 
Published: August 2017

AbstractDespite the emergence of targeted therapies and immunotherapy, chemotherapy remains the gold-standard for the treatment of most patients with solid malignancies. Spindle poisons that interfere with microtubule dynamics are commonly used in chemotherapy drug combinations. However, their troublesome side effects and the emergence of chemoresistance highlight the need for identifying alternative agents. We performed a high throughput cell-based screening and selected a pyrrolopyrimidine molecule (named PP-13). In the present study, we evaluated its anticancer properties in vitro and in vivo. We showed that PP-13 exerted cytotoxic effects on various cancer cells, including those resistant to current targeted therapies and chemotherapies. PP-13 induced a transient mitotic blockade by interfering with both mitotic spindle organization and microtubule dynamics and finally led to mitotic slippage, aneuploidy and direct apoptotic death. PP-13 was identified as a microtubule-targeting agent that binds directly to the colchicine site in β-tubulin. Interestingly, PP-13 overcame the multidrug-resistant cancer cell phenotype and significantly reduced tumour growth and metastatic invasiveness without any noticeable toxicity for the chicken embryo in vivo. Overall, PP-13 appears to be a novel synthetic microtubule inhibitor with interesting anticancer properties and could be further investigated as a potent alternative for the management of malignancies including chemoresistant ones.