bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Transcriptional and histological alterations in gonad of adult zebrafish after exposure to the synthetic progestin norgestrel
Authors: Shi Wen-Jun , Zhao Jian-Liang , Jiang Yu-Xia , Huang Guo-Yong , Liu You-Sheng , Zhang Jin-Na , Ying Guang-Guo 
Published: June 2017

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of norgestrel (NGT) on gonadal development in adult zebrafish. Adult zebrafish were exposed to NGT for 14 d at 871 ng L−1 for microarray analysis, and a follow-up experiment was conducted to further study the targeted pathway in adult zebrafish after exposure to NGT at 6.7, 83, and 912 ng L−1 by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and histological analysis. The microarray analysis revealed that 11 545 transcripts were identified. Gene ontology analysis showed organ development, system development, multicellular organismal development, single-organism developmental process, and developmental process were significantly enriched. A Venn diagram displayed 434 target genes involved in organ development, and these genes were common in these 5 development-related processes. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis showed that the notch signaling pathway was the top toxicity pathway, and it was selected as the target pathway for further qPCR analysis. The qPCR analysis revealed significant and dose-dependent alterations of most target genes involved in the notch signaling pathway in the gonads, even at an environmentally relevant concentration of 6.7 ng L−1. The transcriptional patterns were consistent with the notch signaling cascade. In addition, NGT significantly increased the frequency of mature sperm and decreased the frequency of immature sperm at all concentrations. Meanwhile, NGT treatment increased the percentage of mature vitellogenic oocytes and atretic follicles at 912 ng L−1 but decreased the percentage of immature vitellogenic oocytes. Thus, the present study demonstrated significant developmental toxicity in the gonad of adult zebrafish even at environmentally relevant NGT concentrations. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:3267–3276. © 2017 SETAC
The risk of violence associated with novel psychoactive substance misuse in patients presenting to acute mental health services
Authors: Shafi Abu , Gallagher Paul , Stewart Neil , Martinotti Giovanni , Corazza Ornella 
Published: June 2017

AbstractNovel psychoactive substance (NPS) availability is increasing at a phenomenal rate and so is their associated misuse. Currently, the harms associated with NPS misuse are unclear. This report presents the initial findings of a continuing study looking into the impact of NPS misuse on admissions to an acute mental health facility in London. Violence preadmission and violence during admission have been found to be significant in NPS misusers compared to non‐NPS substance misusers. Our findings have important consequences for acute mental health, emergency, and public health services. NPS misusers require specific assessment and risk management to reduce the risk of violence towards others.
Quantitative risk assessment to guide the treatment of cesarean scar pregnancy
Authors: Fang Qingxian , Sun Li , Tang Yunhui , Qian Cuifeng , Yao Xiaoying 
Published: June 2017

AbstractObjectiveTo develop a risk‐factor scoring system for the prediction of bleeding during ultrasound‐guided dilation and curettage (D&C) for cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP).MethodsThe retrospective study included patients with a CSP of 31–67 days who underwent transabdominal ultrasonography‐guided D&C in 2010–2014. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for the need of Foley catheter hemostasis. The predictive accuracy of a risk‐scoring system based on significant factors was evaluated by receiver operating curve analysis.ResultsAmong 82 included patients, 66 (80%) were successfully treated without any complications, whereas 16 (20%) required Foley catheter compression hemostasis. Four patients who received the Foley catheter needed further treatment. A longer pregnancy duration (odds ratio 1.171, 95% confidence interval 1.050–1.305; P=0.004) and a rich blood supply on ultrasonography (odds ratio 3.282, 95% confidence interval 1.441–4.742; P=0.005) were significant risk factors for the need of compression hemostasis. A scoring system based on these two risk factors would have identified 93.8% of patients requiring compression hemostasis if the optimum cutoff score was used.ConclusionHeavy bleeding during transabdominal ultrasound‐guided D&C for CSP is associated with a longer pregnancy duration and a rich blood supply on ultrasonography. The new risk‐scoring system can be used to predict bleeding during surgery.
Polymorphisms of human leukocyte antigen B*27 on clinical phenotype of spondyloarthritis in Chinese
Authors: Ma Hai‐Jun , Yin Qing‐Feng , Liu Yun , Wu Yin , Zhu Tie‐Chui , Guo Ming‐Hao 
Published: June 2017

BackgroundIn recent years, an ever‐increasing number of alleles of human leukocyte antigen B*27 (HLA‐B*27) have been identified. This study aimed to establish an updated method for HLA‐B*27 subtyping, and to investigate the impact of HLA‐B*27 polymorphisms on the clinical phenotype of spondyloarthritis (SpA).MethodsOverall, 184 SpA patients were recruited for analyzing diversity of HLA‐B*27 via an updated high‐resolution polymerase chain reaction amplification with sequence specific primers (PCR‐SSP).ResultsThe prevalence of HLA‐B*27 was 94.0%, and four subtypes were identified including HLA‐B*2704 (77.5%), B*2705 (20.2%), B*2707 (1.7%), and B*2724 (0.6%). There was an obvious male predominance (P=.05) and markedly elevated C‐reaction protein (CRP) in B*27 positive SpA (P<.01). In multivariate linear regression analysis, the elevated CRP was positively associated with HLA‐B*27 positivity (regression coefficient B=46.1, P=.0003), grade of sacroiliitis (B=47.5, P=.0032), and male gender (B=20.4, P=.0041). Notably, a male predilection was also found in B*2705 positive SpA while B*2707 was associated with older age, higher positive family history, and higher prevalence of extra‐articular features (all P<.05).ConclusionsIn this study, an updated PCR‐SSP technique to identify increasing alleles of HLA‐B*27 was developed and their different effects on clinical manifestations of SpA were demonstrated. Genotyping of HLA‐B*27 would shed light on our understanding of the pathogenesis of SpA.
A decentralized receding horizon optimal approach to formation control of networked mobile robots
Authors: Hosseinzadeh Yamchi Mohammad , Mahboobi Esfanjani Reza 
Published: June 2017

SummaryThis paper presents a receding horizon optimal controller with guaranteed stability for multirobot formation, taking into account collision and obstacle avoidance. The proposed scheme is based on synchronous decentralized strategy wherein all the vehicles that are connected via a packed‐delaying network solve a finite horizon–constrained optimal control problem to obtain their own control action at each sampling instant. First, each robot is modeled by a single integrator dynamics; then, by defining a control law for each robot and considering the effect of communication delay, the closed‐loop dynamics is described as a delay differential equation with tunable parameters. Afterwards, a novel finite‐horizon optimal control setup is established to obtain these adjustable gains such that a desirable formation is achieved. The efficiency and applicability of the suggested scheme are demonstrated by simulation results.
High Gas Uptake and Selectivity in Hyper‐Crosslinked Porous Polymers Knitted by Various Nitrogen‐Containing Linkers
Authors: Jia Ziyan , Pan Jiannan , Yuan Daqiang 
Published: June 2017

AbstractBy introducing various N‐containing compounds as efficient linkers, a series of hyper‐crosslinked porous polymers with high surface areas and gas‐uptake values were synthesized by using the Friedel–Crafts alkylation reaction. Structural characterization indicated the presence of nitrogen atoms, and gas‐sorption experiments revealed that the high gas uptake benefitted from the high surface areas and the incorporation of N‐containing linkers as Lewis basic sites. Among these porous polymers, HCP‐4 had the highest H2 uptake of 9.29 mmol g−1 at 77 K and 0.1 MPa and the highest C2H2 uptake of 6.69 mmol g−1 at 273 K and 0.1 MPa, whereas HCP‐3 showed the best CO2 uptake of 4.42 mmol g−1 at 273 K and 0.1 MPa. To understand better the important role played by nitrogen in these polymers, the isosteric heat of adsorption and adsorption selectivity of CO2 over N2 were calculated. The results showed that the triazine‐based polymer HCP‐1 had the highest CO2 over N2 selectivity of 75.4 at 295 K and 0.1 MPa, which makes it the most potential candidate for CO2 capture.
Sampled‐data consensus of nonlinear multiagent systems subject to cyber attacks
Authors: Zhang Wenbing , Wang Zidong , Liu Yurong , Ding Derui , Alsaadi Fuad E. 
Published: June 2017

SummaryThis paper is concerned with the sampled‐data consensus problem for a class of nonlinear multiagent systems subject to cyber attacks. The considered attacks are assumed to be recoverable, which destroy the connectivity of the network topology with directed spanning tree. In light of the designed sampled‐data control protocol, a more general switched system is proposed to model both the cyber attacks and the sampled‐data mechanism within a unified framework. Then, by using the contradiction methods, the solution of a class of differential equations is provided to deal with the technical challenge resulting from the switching and sampling issues. Furthermore, in terms of such a solution combined with the constructed piecewise Lyapunov function, sufficient conditions are derived under which the nonlinear multiagent systems subject to attacks achieve the consensus exponentially. The relationship between the attack frequency and the sampling period is also revealed through the obtained conditions. Finally, simulations are given to show the effectiveness of the proposed results.
The fragment molecular orbital method: theoretical development, implementation in GAMESS, and applications
Authors: Fedorov Dmitri G. 
Published: June 2017

The physical picture of the fragment molecular orbital (FMO) method is described on the basis of a many‐body expansion with terms describing the polarization of isolated fragments, charge transfer (CT), and exchange‐repulsion (EX) between them. Aspects of fragmentation are discussed in detail and FMO development in GAMESS‐US is summarized. Recent progress in method development and applications is reviewed, with a focus on studies of protein–ligand binding, excited states, and spectra of large molecular systems. WIREs Comput Mol Sci 2017, 7:e1322. doi: 10.1002/wcms.1322This article is categorized under:

Structure and Mechanism > Computational Biochemistry and Biophysics
Electronic Structure Theory > Ab Initio Electronic Structure Methods
Synthesis and Surface Properties of Novel Carboxylic Ester‐Containing Imidazolium‐Based Zwitterionic Surfactants: Monoalkyl 2‐(3‐Methylimidazolium‐1‐yl) Succinate Inner Salts
Authors: Chen Xuewei , Xin Yujuan , Yu Fangcai , Lan Zhili 
Published: June 2017

AbstractA series of carboxylic ester‐containing imidazolium‐based zwitterionic surfactants, namely, monoalkyl 2‐(3‐methylimidazolium‐1‐yl) succinate inner salts (CnMimSU, n = 8, 10, 12 and 14), have been synthesized. Their structures were confirmed by 1H NMR, 13C NMR and FTIR. The typical physicochemical properties parameters such as isoelectric point, critical micelle concentration (CMC), surface tension at CMC (γCMC), surface pressure at CMC (ΠCMC), adsorption efficiency (pC20), the maximum surface excess (Γm), the minimum molecular cross‐sectional area (Amin) and the value of CMC/C20 were determined. The effect of the long‐chain length on the important physicochemical properties of CnMimSU was studied. It is found that the surface activity of CnMimSU is enhanced with the long‐chain length increases.
Effects of prenatal binge‐like ethanol exposure and maternal stress on postnatal morphological development of hippocampal neurons in rats
Authors: Jakubowska‐Dogru Ewa , Elibol Birsen , Dursun Ilknur , Yürüker Sinan 
Published: June 2017

AbstractBackgroundAlcohol is one of the most commonly used drugs of abuse negatively affecting human health and it is known as a potent teratogen responsible for fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), which is characterized by cognitive deficits especially pronounced in juveniles but ameliorating in adults. Searching for the potential morphological correlates of these effects, in this study, we compared the course of developmental changes in the morphology of principal hippocampal neurons in fetal‐alcohol (A group), intubated control (IC group), and intact control male rats (C group) over a protracted period of the first two postnatal months.MethodsEthanol was administered to the pregnant Wistar dams intragastrically, throughout gestation days (GD) 7–20, at a total dose of 6 g/kg/day resulting in the mean blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 246.6 ± 40.9 mg/dl. Ten morphometric parameters of Golgi‐stained hippocampal neurons (pyramidal and granule) from CA1, CA3, and DG areas were examined at critical postnatal days (PD): at birth (PD1), at the end of the brain growth spurt period (PD10), in juveniles (PD30), and in young adults (PD60).ResultsDuring postnatal development, the temporal pattern of morphometric changes was shown to be region‐dependent with most significant alterations observed between PD1‐30 in the CA region and between PD10‐30 in the DG region. It was also parameter‐dependent with the soma size (except for CA3 pyramids), number of primary dendrites, dendrite diameter, dendritic tortuosity and the branch angle demonstrating little changes, while the total dendritic field area, dendritic length, number of dendritic bifurcations, and spine density being highly increased in all hippocampal regions during the first postnatal month. Moderate ethanol intoxication and the maternal intubation stress during gestation, showed similar, transient effects on the neuron development manifested as a smaller soma size in granule cells, reduced dendritic parameters and lower spine density in pyramidal neurons at PD1. Full recovery from these effects took place within the first 10 postnatal days.ConclusionsThis study showed regional and temporal differences in the development of different morphometric features of principal hippocampal neurons in intact subjects over a protracted 2‐months postnatal period. It also demonstrated an overlap in the effects of a moderate fetal ethanol intoxication and a mild maternal stress produced by the intragastric intubation, a commonly used method of ethanol administration to the pregnant dams. Fast recovery from the adverse effects on the soma size, dendritic arborization and spines density observed at birth indicates towards the fetal ethanol/stress induced developmental retardation.
Dose‐Dependent Effects of AbobotulinumtoxinA (Dysport) on Spasticity and Active Movements in Adults With Upper Limb Spasticity: Secondary Analysis of a Phase 3 Study
Authors: O'Dell Michael W. , Brashear Allison , Jech Robert , Lejeune Thierry , Marque Philippe , Bensmail Djamel , Ayyoub Ziyad , Simpson David M. , Volteau Magali , Vilain Claire , Picaut Philippe , Gracies Jean Michel 
Published: June 2017

AbstractBackgroundAbobotulinumtoxinA has beneficial effects on spasticity and active movements in hemiparetic adults with upper limb spasticity (ULS). However, evidence‐based information on optimal dosing for clinical use is limited.ObjectiveTo describe joint‐specific dose effects of abobotulinumtoxinA in adults with ULS.DesignSecondary analysis of a phase 3 study (NCT01313299).SettingMulticenter, international, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled clinical trial.ParticipantsA total of 243 adults with ULS >6 months after stroke or traumatic brain injury, aged 52.8 (13.5) years and 64.3% male, randomized 1:1:1 to receive a single‐injection cycle of placebo or abobotulinumtoxinA 500 U or 1000 U (total dose).MethodsThe overall effects of injected doses were assessed in the primary analysis, which showed improvement of angles of catch in finger, wrist, and elbow flexors and of active range of motion against these muscle groups. This secondary analysis was performed at each of the possible doses received by finger, wrist, and elbow flexors to establish possible dose effects.Main Outcome MeasuresAngle of arrest (XV1) and angle of catch (XV3) were assessed with the Tardieu Scale, and active range of motion (XA).ResultsAt each muscle group level (finger, wrist, and elbow flexors) improvements in all outcome measures assessed (XV1, XV3, XA) were observed. In each muscle group, increases in abobotulinumtoxinA dose were associated with greater improvements in XV3 and XA, suggesting a dose‐dependent effect.ConclusionsPrevious clinical trials have established the clinical efficacy of abobotulinumtoxinA by total dose only. The wide range of abobotulinumtoxinA doses per muscle groups used in this study allowed observation of dose‐dependent improvements in spasticity and active movement. This information provides a basis for future abobotulinumtoxinA dosing recommendations for health care professionals based on treatment objectives and quantitative assessment of spasticity and active range of motion at individual joints.Level of EvidenceI
The Contradictions of Pre-election Violence: The Effects of Violence on Voter Turnout in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Bekoe Dorina A. , Burchard Stephanie M. 
Published: June 2017

Abstract:Politicians often foment violence before elections to reduce competitiveness and, hence, increase their chances of winning. Given that fear and intimidation may be used to prevent voters from casting their ballots, many case studies, as well as anecdotal evidence, suggest that electoral violence has a suppressive effect on voter turnout. However, until now there has been no large-scale, multi-year analysis on the effect of pre-election violence on one of its primary targets, voter turnout. Looking across sub-Saharan Africa, and more specifically at Kenya, this article examines the influence of pre-election violence on voter turnout and finds, in the aggregate, no significant effect. Nevertheless, electoral violence may be used to depress turnout, to mobilize supporters, or to punish victors. It is a persistent trend in sub-Saharan Africa and one that threatens to undermine democratic development.
Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3and 24R,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3concentrations in adult dogs are more substantially increased by oral supplementation of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3than by vitamin D3
Authors: Young Lauren R. , Backus Robert C. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractWe previously found a weak response in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3(25(OH)D3) concentrations when dogs were supplemented with oral vitamin D3(D3). In the present study, we determined the relative potency of oral 25(OH)D3compared with D3for increasing vitamin D status in dogs with low serum 25(OH)D concentrations. Four male and three female, 4-year-old, intact, lean, genetically related, Chinese-crested/beagle dogs were studied in a randomised, single cross-over trial. After feeding a low-vitamin D diet (<4 IU/100 g) for 30 d, four dogs received daily D3supplementation at 2·3 µg/kg body weight0·75, while three dogs received a molar equivalency as 25(OH)D3. The supplements, dissolved in ethanol, were applied to a commercial treat for consumption. Serum 25(OH)D3and 24R,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3(24R,25(OH)2D3) were analysed weekly using a validated HPLC method. Both supplementations increased (P ≤ 0·01) serum 25(OH)D3concentrations. However, oral 25(OH)D3resulted in greater (P < 0·0001) concentrations than D3by week 1, with a difference of 173 % (P < 0·0001) by week 2. The supplementation period was limited to 14 d after serum 25(OH)D3concentrations were not appearing to plateau. Thereafter, a washout period of 1 month separated the cross-over. Following 25(OH)D3, but not D3supplementation, serum 24R,25(OH)2D3concentrations increased (P ≤ 0·02), 3 to 5 weeks after initiating supplementation. Vitamin D status, as indicated by serum 25(OH)D3and 24R,25(OH)2D3concentrations, is more rapidly and efficiently increased in adult dogs by oral supplementation of 25(OH)D3than D3.
Precipitation of (Si2−xAlx)Hf in an Al–Si–Mg–Hf Alloy
Authors: Wang Xueli , Xie Zhiqiang , Huang Huilan , Jia Zhihong , Yang Guang , Gu Lin , Liu Qing 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThe morphology, composition, and structure of precipitates in an Al–Si–Mg–Hf alloy after heat treatment at 560°C for 20 h were studied by means of Cs-corrected high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and first-principle calculations. Precipitates with three kinds of morphologies were observed. The rectangular and square precipitates were predominantly (Si2−xAlx)Hf phases, while the nanobelt-like precipitate is the Si2Hf phase. First-principle calculations were used to show that the Si6 and Si8 sites were the most favorable sites for Al incorporation in the orthorhombic Si2Hf phase.
Speckle-modulating optical coherence tomography in living mice and humans
Authors: Liba Orly , Lew Matthew D. , SoRelle Elliott D. , Dutta Rebecca , Sen Debasish , Moshfeghi Darius M. , Chu Steven , de la Zerda Adam 
Published: June 2017

AbstractOptical coherence tomography (OCT) is a powerful biomedical imaging technology that relies on the coherent detection of backscattered light to image tissue morphology in vivo. As a consequence, OCT is susceptible to coherent noise (speckle noise), which imposes significant limitations on its diagnostic capabilities. Here we show speckle-modulating OCT (SM-OCT), a method based purely on light manipulation that virtually eliminates speckle noise originating from a sample. SM-OCT accomplishes this by creating and averaging an unlimited number of scans with uncorrelated speckle patterns without compromising spatial resolution. Using SM-OCT, we reveal small structures in the tissues of living animals, such as the inner stromal structure of a live mouse cornea, the fine structures inside the mouse pinna, and sweat ducts and Meissner’s corpuscle in the human fingertip skin—features that are otherwise obscured by speckle noise when using conventional OCT or OCT with current state of the art speckle reduction methods.
Giant capsids from lattice self-assembly of cyclodextrin complexes
Authors: Yang Shenyu , Yan Yun , Huang Jianbin , Petukhov Andrei V. , Kroon-Batenburg Loes M. J. , Drechsler Markus , Zhou Chengcheng , Tu Mei , Granick Steve , Jiang Lingxiang 
Published: June 2017

AbstractProteins can readily assemble into rigid, crystalline and functional structures such as viral capsids and bacterial compartments. Despite ongoing advances, it is still a fundamental challenge to design and synthesize protein-mimetic molecules to form crystalline structures. Here we report the lattice self-assembly of cyclodextrin complexes into a variety of capsid-like structures such as lamellae, helical tubes and hollow rhombic dodecahedra. The dodecahedral morphology has not hitherto been observed in self-assembly systems. The tubes can spontaneously encapsulate colloidal particles and liposomes. The dodecahedra and tubes are respectively comparable to and much larger than the largest known virus. In particular, the resemblance to protein assemblies is not limited to morphology but extends to structural rigidity and crystallinity—a well-defined, 2D rhombic lattice of molecular arrangement is strikingly universal for all the observed structures. We propose a simple design rule for the current lattice self-assembly, potentially opening doors for new protein-mimetic materials.