bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Recommended practice for laboratory reporting of non‐invasive prenatal testing of trisomies 13, 18 and 21: a consensus opinion
Authors: Deans Zandra C. , Allen Stephanie , Jenkins Lucy , Khawaja Farrah , Hastings Ros J. , Mann Kathy , Patton Simon J. , Sistermans Erik A. , Chitty Lyn S. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractObjectiveNon‐invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) for trisomies 13, 18 and 21 is used worldwide. Laboratory reports should provide clear, concise results with test limitations indicated, yet no national or local guidelines are currently available. Here, we aim to present minimum best practice guidelines.MethodsAll laboratories registered in the three European quality assurance schemes for molecular and cytogenetics were invited to complete an online survey focused on services provided for NIPT and non‐invasive prenatal diagnosis. Laboratories delivering NIPT for aneuploidy were asked to submit two example reports; one high and one low risk result. Reports were reviewed for content and discussed at a meeting of laboratory providers and clinicians held at the ISPD 2016 conference in Berlin.ResultsOf the 122 laboratories that responded, 50 issued reports for NIPT and 43 of these submitted sample reports. Responses and reports were discussed by 72 attendees at the meeting. Consensus opinion was determined in several areas and used to develop best practice guidelines for reporting of NIPT results.ConclusionsAcross Europe, there is considerable variation in reporting NIPT results. Here, we describe minimum best practice guidelines, which will be distributed to European laboratories, and reports audited in subsequent external quality assurance cycles. © 2017 The Authors. Prenatal Diagnosis published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Semi‐global cooperative output regulation of a class of nonlinear uncertain multi‐agent systems under switching networks
Authors: Li Ranran , Hong Yiguang 
Published: May 2017

SummaryIn this paper, we consider the semi‐global cooperative output regulation problem for a class of nonlinear uncertain multi‐agent systems under switching networks. At first, we study the nonadaptive case when the exosystem has no parametric uncertainties and construct a common Lyapunov function to achieve the output regulation for general switching connected networks. Next, we study the case when the exosystem contains some parametric uncertainties. To solve the problem, we establish a stability result for a class of time‐varying system, which is then used in the design of distributed adaptive internal model‐based control. Then we construct multiple Lyapunov functions for the switching signal with its average dwell time lower bounded by a given constant. Throughout the paper, we treat the closed‐loop multi‐agent system from the viewpoint of singular perturbation. In fact, the singular perturbation‐based method provides an effective tool to handle the multi‐agent system under switching networks. Finally, we give numerical simulations based on Duffing systems and flexible manipulator systems to illustrate the effectiveness of our method. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of extreme floods on macroinvertebrate assemblages in tributaries to the Mohawk River, New York, USA
Authors: Calderon M. R. , Baldigo B. P. , Smith A. J. , Endreny T. A. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractClimate change is forecast to bring more frequent and intense precipitation to New York which has motivated research into the effects of floods on stream ecosystems. Macroinvertebrate assemblages were sampled at 13 sites in the Mohawk River basin during August 2011, and again in October 2011, following historic floods caused by remnants of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. The annual exceedance probabilities of floods at regional flow‐monitoring sites ranged from 0.5 to 0.001. Data from the first 2 surveys, and from additional surveys done during July and October 2014, were assessed to characterize the severity of flood impacts, effect of seasonality, and recovery. Indices of total taxa richness; Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (EPT) richness; Hilsenhoff's biotic index; per cent model affinity; and nutrient biotic index‐phosphorus were combined to calculate New York State Biological Assessment Profile scores. Analysis of variance tests were used to determine if the Biological Assessment Profile, its component metrics, relative abundance, and diversity differed significantly (p ≤ .05) among the four surveys. Only total taxa richness and Shannon–Wiener diversity increased significantly, and abundance decreased significantly, following the floods. No metrics differed significantly between the July and August 2014 surveys which indicates that the differences denoted between the August and October 2011 surveys were caused by the floods. Changes in taxa richness, EPT richness, and diversity were significantly correlated with flood annual exceedance probabilities. This study increased our understanding of the resistance and resilience of benthic macroinvertebrate communities by showing that their assemblages were relatively impervious to extreme floods across the region.
Recommendations for the design of grouped headed studs
Authors: Spremic Milan , Markovic Zlatko , Veljkovic Milan 
Published: May 2017

AbstractGrouped headed studs may be successfully utilized to achieve the longitudinal shear connection between prefabricated slabs and steel beams. The behaviour of the studs and the ultimate resistance of the group were analysed using the results of experimental push tests and by employing advanced FE analyses. Different arrangements of studs in the group were investigated, focusing on minimal distance between the studs. It is demonstrated that the full shear resistance of a group of headed studs is achieved even when the distances between the studs are less than the minimum requirement according to EN 1994‐1‐1. Concrete class C30/37 is the minimum that should be used. Furthermore, the paper presents a new model for calculating the shear resistance of grouped headed studs. The proposed design model is based on an equivalent stud diameter and can be used for various arrangements of headed studs in a group. The shear resistance formula and the requirements for ductility are consistent with the existing Eurocodes. Fatigue loading is not considered in this paper, so the proposed recommendations are valid for buildings including multi‐storey car parks.
Biomechanics of the human uterus
Authors: Myers Kristin M. , Elad David 
Published: May 2017

The appropriate biomechanical function of the uterus is required for the execution of human reproduction. These functions range from aiding the transport of the embryo to the implantation site, to remodeling its tissue walls to host the placenta, to protecting the fetus during gestation, to contracting forcefully for a safe parturition and postpartum, to remodeling back to its nonpregnant condition to renew the cycle of menstruation. To serve these remarkably diverse functions, the uterus is optimally geared with evolving and contractile muscle and tissue layers that are cued by chemical, hormonal, electrical, and mechanical signals. The relationship between these highly active biological signaling mechanisms and uterine biomechanical function is not completely understood for normal reproductive processes and pathological conditions such as adenomyosis, endometriosis, infertility and preterm labor. Animal studies have illuminated the rich structural function of the uterus, particularly in pregnancy. In humans, medical imaging techniques in ultrasound and magnetic resonance have been combined with computational engineering techniques to characterize the uterusin vivo, and advanced experimental techniques have explored uterine function usingex vivotissue samples. The collective evidence presented in this review gives an overall perspective on uterine biomechanics related to both its nonpregnant and pregnant function, highlighting open research topics in the field. Additionally, uterine disease and infertility are discussed in the context of tissue injury and repair processes and the role of computational modeling in uncovering etiologies of disease.WIREs Syst Biol Med2017, 9:e1388. doi: 10.1002/wsbm.1388This article is categorized under:Analytical and Computational Methods > Computational MethodsModels of Systems Properties and Processes > Organ, Tissue, and Physiological ModelsTranslational, Genomic, and Systems Medicine > Translational Medicine
History effects and near equilibrium in adverse-pressure-gradient turbulent boundary layers
Authors: Bobke A. , Vinuesa R. , Örlü R. , Schlatter P. 
Published: May 2017

Turbulent boundary layers under adverse pressure gradients are studied using well-resolved large-eddy simulations (LES) with the goal of assessing the influence of the streamwise pressure-gradient development. Near-equilibrium boundary layers were characterized through the Clauser pressure-gradient parameter $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}$. In order to fulfil the near-equilibrium conditions, the free stream velocity was prescribed such that it followed a power-law distribution. The turbulence statistics pertaining to cases with a constant value of $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}$ (extending up to approximately 40 boundary-layer thicknesses) were compared with cases with non-constant $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}$ distributions at matched values of $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}$ and friction Reynolds number $Re_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D70F}}$. An additional case at matched Reynolds number based on displacement thickness $Re_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}^{\ast }}$ was also considered. It was noticed that non-constant $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}$ cases appear to approach the conditions of equivalent constant $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}$ cases after long streamwise distances (approximately 7 boundary-layer thicknesses). The relevance of the constant $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}$ cases lies in the fact that they define a ‘canonical’ state of the boundary layer, uniquely characterized by $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}$ and $Re$. The investigations on the flat plate were extended to the flow around a wing section overlapping in terms of $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}$ and $Re$. Comparisons with the flat-plate cases at matched values of $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}$ and $Re$ revealed that the different development history of the turbulent boundary layer on the wing section leads to a less pronounced wake in the mean velocity as well as a weaker second peak in the Reynolds stresses. This is due to the weaker accumulated effect of the $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}$ history. Furthermore, a scaling law suggested by Kitsios et al. (Intl J. Heat Fluid Flow, vol. 61, 2016, pp. 129–136), proposing the edge velocity and the displacement thickness as scaling parameters, was tested on two constant-pressure-gradient parameter cases. The mean velocity and Reynolds-stress profiles were found to be dependent on the downstream development. The present work is the first step towards assessing history effects in adverse-pressure-gradient turbulent boundary layers and highlights the fact that the values of the Clauser pressure-gradient parameter and the Reynolds number are not sufficient to characterize the state of the boundary layer.
Mild Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson’s Disease: Clustering and Switching Analyses in Verbal Fluency Test
Authors: Galtier Iván , Nieto Antonieta , Lorenzo Jesús N. , Barroso José 
Published: May 2017

AbstractObjectives: Mild cognitive impairment is common in non-demented Parkinson disease patients (PD-MCI) and is considered as a risk factor for dementia. Executive dysfunction has been widely described in PD and the Verbal Fluency Tests (VFT) are often used for executive function assessment in this pathology. The Movement Disorder Society (MDS) published guidelines for PD-MCI diagnosis in 2012. However, no investigation has focused on the qualitative analysis of VFT in PD-MCI. The aim of this work was to study the clustering and switching strategies in VFT in PD-MCI patients. Moreover, these variables are considered as predictors for PD-MCI diagnosis. Methods: Forty-three PD patients and twenty normal controls were evaluated with a neuropsychological protocol and the MDS criteria for PD-MCI were applied. Clustering and switching analysis were conducted for VFT. Results: The percentage of patients diagnosed with PD-MCI was 37.2%. The Mann-Whitney U test analysis showed that PD-MCI performed poorly in different cognitive measures (digit span, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, judgment of line orientation, and comprehension test), compared to PD patients without mild cognitive impairment (PD-nMCI). Phonemic fluency analyses showed that PD-MCI patients produced fewer words and switched significantly less, compared to controls and PD-nMCI. Concerning semantic fluency, the PD-MCI group differed significantly, compared to controls and PD-nMCI, in switches. Discriminant function analyses and logistic regression analyses revealed that switches predicted PD-MCI. Conclusions: PD-MCI patients showed poor performance in VFT related to the deficient use of production strategies. The number of switches is a useful predictor for incident PD-MCI. (JINS, 2017, 23, 511–520)
Imagining by feeling: a case for compassion in legal reasoning
Authors: Del Mar Maksymilian 
Published: May 2017

AbstractThis paper argues that feeling compassion (and other relational emotions) makes an important, beneficial difference in adjudication, as it improves the exercise of the perspectival imagination – that is, it helps a judge to better understand, and to better describe, a situation as another person experienced it. Even where a judge has a highly developed capacity for empathy and sympathy (these being cognitive and evaluative processes that are distinguishable from emotions), there is something to be gained by a judge actually feeling compassion. However, given the potential for the distortion of understanding as a consequence of feeling compassion, any such feeling has to be accompanied by the robust exercise of the perspectival imagination – that is, by imagining multiple perspectives (including sometimes constructing imaginary ones), so as to avoid privileging any one perspective over others. It is further argued that this ‘imagining by feeling’, as I call it in this paper, is not a threat to impartiality or the rule of law, but in fact a condition of it. It is part of the rule of law that people have a right to be heard, especially those whom we may otherwise find it difficult to understand. Imagining by feeling helps judges to better ‘hear’ a greater diversity of those who come before them, and thus helps the judiciary to improve the quality of the rule of law.
Analyse des orthorektischen Ernährungsverhaltens von Patienten mit Essstörungen und mit Zwangsstörungen
Authors: Barthels Friederike , Meyer Frank , Huber Thomas , Pietrowsky Reinhard 
Published: May 2017

Zusammenfassung. Theoretischer Hintergrund: Orthorexie bezeichnet eine Fixierung auf den ausschließlichen Verzehr von Lebensmitteln, die nach subjektiven Kriterien als gesund gelten. Fragestellung: Ziel der Studie war die Analyse der strukturellen psychopathologischen Merkmale orthorektischen Ernährungsverhaltens, um Hinweise zur nosologischen Einordnung zu erhalten. Methode: 40 Essstörungspatientinnen, 30 Zwangsstörungspatienten und zwei gematchte Kontrollgruppen (n = 33, n = 30) wurden hinsichtlich Orthorexie, Essstörungs- und Zwangsstörungssymptomatik untersucht. Ergebnisse: Die Orthorexie-Prävalenz ist bei Essgestörten mit 30 % deutlich erhöht, in der Zwangsstörungsstichprobe liegt sie im Normbereich. Es zeigen sich deutliche Zusammenhänge zwischen Orthorexie und Essstörungssymptomatik, nicht aber mit ich-dystonem Zwangsverhalten. Schlussfolgerungen: Die Orthorexie weist eine deutliche Nähe zu typischer Essstörungssymptomatik auf und kann demnach als weitere Variante der bisher bekannten Essstörungen verstanden werden.
Charcoal evidence that rising atmospheric oxygen terminated Early Jurassic ocean anoxia
Authors: Baker Sarah J. , Hesselbo Stephen P. , Lenton Timothy M. , Duarte Luís V. , Belcher Claire M. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractThe Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event (T-OAE) was characterized by a major disturbance to the global carbon(C)-cycle, and depleted oxygen in Earth’s oceans resulting in marine mass extinction. Numerical models predict that increased organic carbon burial should drive a rise in atmospheric oxygen (pO2) leading to termination of an OAE after ∼1 Myr. Wildfire is highly responsive to changes in pO2 implying that fire-activity should vary across OAEs. Here we test this hypothesis by tracing variations in the abundance of fossil charcoal across the T-OAE. We report a sustained ∼800 kyr enhancement of fire-activity beginning ∼1 Myr after the onset of the T-OAE and peaking during its termination. This major enhancement of fire occurred across the timescale of predicted pO2 variations, and we argue this was primarily driven by increased pO2. Our study provides the first fossil-based evidence suggesting that fire-feedbacks to rising pO2 may have aided in terminating the T-OAE.
BLISS is a versatile and quantitative method for genome-wide profiling of DNA double-strand breaks
Authors: Yan Winston X. , Mirzazadeh Reza , Garnerone Silvano , Scott David , Schneider Martin W. , Kallas Tomasz , Custodio Joaquin , Wernersson Erik , Li Yinqing , Gao Linyi , Federova Yana , Zetsche Bernd , Zhang Feng , Bienko Magda , Crosetto Nicola 
Published: May 2017

AbstractPrecisely measuring the location and frequency of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) along the genome is instrumental to understanding genomic fragility, but current methods are limited in versatility, sensitivity or practicality. Here we present Breaks Labeling In Situ and Sequencing (BLISS), featuring the following: (1) direct labelling of DSBs in fixed cells or tissue sections on a solid surface; (2) low-input requirement by linear amplification of tagged DSBs by in vitro transcription; (3) quantification of DSBs through unique molecular identifiers; and (4) easy scalability and multiplexing. We apply BLISS to profile endogenous and exogenous DSBs in low-input samples of cancer cells, embryonic stem cells and liver tissue. We demonstrate the sensitivity of BLISS by assessing the genome-wide off-target activity of two CRISPR-associated RNA-guided endonucleases, Cas9 and Cpf1, observing that Cpf1 has higher specificity than Cas9. Our results establish BLISS as a versatile, sensitive and efficient method for genome-wide DSB mapping in many applications.
Structural heterogeneity in the intrinsically disordered RNA polymerase II C-terminal domain
Authors: Portz Bede , Lu Feiyue , Gibbs Eric B. , Mayfield Joshua E. , Rachel Mehaffey M. , Zhang Yan Jessie , Brodbelt Jennifer S. , Showalter Scott A. , Gilmour David S. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractRNA polymerase II contains a repetitive, intrinsically disordered, C-terminal domain (CTD) composed of heptads of the consensus sequence YSPTSPS. The CTD is heavily phosphorylated and serves as a scaffold, interacting with factors involved in transcription initiation, elongation and termination, RNA processing and chromatin modification. Despite being a nexus of eukaryotic gene regulation, the structure of the CTD and the structural implications of phosphorylation are poorly understood. Here we present a biophysical and biochemical interrogation of the structure of the full length CTD ofDrosophila melanogaster, which we conclude is a compact random coil. Surprisingly, we find that the repetitive CTD is structurally heterogeneous. Phosphorylation causes increases in radius, protein accessibility and stiffness, without disrupting local structural heterogeneity. Additionally, we show the human CTD is also structurally heterogeneous and able to substitute for theD. melanogasterCTD in supporting fly development to adulthood. This finding implicates conserved structural organization, not a precise array of heptad motifs, as important to CTD function.
Real-time atomistic observation of structural phase transformations in individual hafnia nanorods
Authors: Hudak Bethany M. , Depner Sean W. , Waetzig Gregory R. , Talapatra Anjana , Arroyave Raymundo , Banerjee Sarbajit , Guiton Beth S. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractHigh-temperature phases of hafnium dioxide have exceptionally high dielectric constants and large bandgaps, but quenching them to room temperature remains a challenge. Scaling the bulk form to nanocrystals, while successful in stabilizing the tetragonal phase of isomorphous ZrO2, has produced nanorods with a twinned version of the room temperature monoclinic phase in HfO2. Here we use in situ heating in a scanning transmission electron microscope to observe the transformation of an HfO2 nanorod from monoclinic to tetragonal, with a transformation temperature suppressed by over 1000°C from bulk. When the nanorod is annealed, we observe with atomic-scale resolution the transformation from twinned-monoclinic to tetragonal, starting at a twin boundary and propagating via coherent transformation dislocation; the nanorod is reduced to hafnium on cooling. Unlike the bulk displacive transition, nanoscale size-confinement enables us to manipulate the transformation mechanism, and we observe discrete nucleation events and sigmoidal nucleation and growth kinetics.
Underwater Leidenfrost nanochemistry for creation of size-tailored zinc peroxide cancer nanotherapeutics
Authors: Elbahri Mady , Abdelaziz Ramzy , Disci-Zayed Duygu , Homaeigohar Shahin , Sosna Justyna , Adam Dieter , Kienle Lorenz , Dankwort Torben , Abdelaziz Moheb 
Published: May 2017

AbstractThe dynamic underwater chemistry seen in nature is inspiring for the next generation of eco-friendly nanochemistry. In this context, green synthesis of size-tailored nanoparticles in a facile and scalable manner via a dynamic process is an interesting challenge. Simulating the volcano-induced dynamic chemistry of the deep ocean, here we demonstrate the Leidenfrost dynamic chemistry occurring in an underwater overheated confined zone as a new tool for customized creation of nanoclusters of zinc peroxide. The hydrodynamic nature of the phenomenon ensures eruption of the nanoclusters towards a much colder region, giving rise to growth of monodisperse, size-tailored nanoclusters. Such nanoparticles are investigated in terms of their cytotoxicity on suspension and adherent cells to prove their applicability as cancer nanotherapeutics. Our research can pave the way for employment of the dynamic green nanochemistry in facile, scalable fabrication of size-tailored nanoparticles for biomedical applications.
Mouse Rif1 is a regulatory subunit of protein phosphatase 1 (PP1)
Authors: Sukackaite Rasa , Cornacchia Daniela , Jensen Malene Ringkjøbing , Mas Philippe J. , Blackledge Martin , Enervald Elin , Duan Guangyou , Auchynnikava Tania , Köhn Maja , Hart Darren J. , Buonomo Sara B. C. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractRif1 is a conserved protein that plays essential roles in orchestrating DNA replication timing, controlling nuclear architecture, telomere length and DNA repair. However, the relationship between these different roles, as well as the molecular basis of Rif1 function is still unclear. The association of Rif1 with insoluble nuclear lamina has thus far hampered exhaustive characterization of the associated protein complexes. We devised a protocol that overcomes this problem, and were thus able to discover a number of novel Rif1 interactors, involved in chromatin metabolism and phosphorylation. Among them, we focus here on PP1. Data from different systems have suggested that Rif1-PP1 interaction is conserved and has important biological roles. Using mutagenesis, NMR, isothermal calorimetry and surface plasmon resonance we demonstrate that Rif1 is a high-affinity PP1 adaptor, able to out-compete the well-established PP1-inhibitor I2 in vitro. Our conclusions have important implications for understanding Rif1 diverse roles and the relationship between the biological processes controlled by Rif1.