bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evolution of a complex phenotype with biphasic ontogeny: Contribution of development versus function and climatic variation to skull modularity in toads
Authors: Simon Monique Nouailhetas , Marroig Gabriel 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThe theory of morphological integration and modularity predicts that if functional correlations among traits are relevant to mean population fitness, the genetic basis of development will be molded by stabilizing selection to match functional patterns. Yet, how much functional interactions actually shape the fitness landscape is still an open question. We used the anuran skull as a model of a complex phenotype for which we can separate developmental and functional modularity. We hypothesized that functional modularity associated to functional demands of the adult skull would overcome developmental modularity associated to bone origin at the larval phase because metamorphosis would erase the developmental signal. We tested this hypothesis in toad species of theRhinella granulosacomplex using species phenotypic correlation pattern (P‐matrices). Given that the toad species are distributed in very distinct habitats and the skull has important functions related to climatic conditions, we also hypothesized that differences in skull trait covariance pattern are associated to differences in climatic variables among species. Functional and hormonal‐regulated modules are more conspicuous than developmental modules only when size variation is retained on species P‐matrices. Without size variation, there is a clear modularity signal of developmental units, but most species have the functional model as the best supported by empirical data without allometric size variation. Closely related toad species have more similar climatic niches and P‐matrices than distantly related species, suggesting phylogenetic niche conservatism. We infer that the modularity signal due to embryonic origin of bones, which happens early in ontogeny, is blurred by the process of growth that occurs later in ontogeny. We suggest that the species differing in the preferred modularity model have different demands on the orbital functional unit and that species contrasting in climate are subjected to divergent patterns of natural selection associated to neurocranial allometry and T3 hormone regulation.
A Study on Influence of Ramp Event of Aggregated Power Output of Photovoltaic Power Generation on Electric Power System Frequency
Authors: KATO TAKEYOSHI , MANABE YUSUKE , FUNABASHI TOSHIHISA , MATSUMOTO KAZUYA , KURIMOTO MUNEAKI , SUZUOKI YASUO 
Published: November 2017

SUMMARYThis paper examines the influence of aggregated power output fluctuation of photovoltaic power generation system (PVS) on the power system frequency focusing on ramp events of aggregated PVS power output. A numerical simulation model of economic load dispatching control (EDC) and load frequency control (LFC) is used together with a PVS power output forecasting model and a unit commitment (UC) scheduling model developed in our preceding study. As a result, in the case of ramp event with long duration and high ramp rate, the frequency violation occurs when the power output of controllable generators with high load‐following capability reaches to upper/lower limit even if the power output of low load‐following capability generators is still available. If the load dispatching scheme is tentatively changed from the conventional EDC using an equal incremental fuel cost rule to, for example, a dispatching policy based on the capacity without the consideration of fuel cost, the aggregated load‐following capability can be kept, avoiding the frequency violation.
Politics of Energy Transitions: A decade after Nigeria's biofuels crusade, a tale of non‐commercialization and lost opportunities
Authors: Osunmuyiwa Olufolahan 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThere is a growing literature on the politics of sustainability transitions and its correlation with policy changes at the national level. This paper contributes to this debate by taking stock of energy transition processes in Nigeria's biofuels sector. It explores the socio‐economic externalities that influenced the biofuels policy, how this policy process was negotiated and why it failed. Based on expert interviews and document analysis, it was observed that a drop in oil production and the need for economic diversification (GDP growth) created a favourable condition for the development of biofuels in 2005. However, the biofuels policy was insufficiently articulated when the window of opportunity opened. In the last 10 years, fluctuations in oil prices and changes in government have closed the window of opportunity for biofuels. Taken together, the results suggest that to successfully engineer transition, policy processes of this nature require a re‐articulation of vision based on emerging externalities. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment
Development and Validation of the Written Communication Assessment of the HEIghten® Outcomes Assessment Suite
Authors: Rios Joseph A. , Sparks Jesse R. , Zhang Mo , Liu Ou Lydia 
Published: November 2017

AbstractProficiency with written communication (WC) is critical for success in college and careers. As a result, institutions face a growing challenge to accurately evaluate their students' writing skills to obtain data that can support demands of accreditation, accountability, or curricular improvement. Many current standardized measures, however, lack the ability to balance authenticity (i.e., requiring students to produce a sample of writing) with psychometric quality. To this end, we discuss the development of a newly developed measure, the WC assessment of the HEIghten® outcomes assessment suite, and present pilot test results based on a sample of 985 test takers from 33 higher education institutions. Overall, we found that the measure includes well‐functioning items (i.e., highly discriminating and lacking gender‐differential item functioning), an essay task that can be reliably scored by combining human scores with scores provided by an automated algorithm, evidence to support reporting separate selected‐response and essay scores to individuals and institutions, and adequate convergent validity evidence. Such results suggest that the HEIghten WC assessment demonstrates promise in providing institutions with a time‐ and cost‐efficient measure of WC that may allow for actionable data to drive decision‐making and improve teaching and student learning.
Petrogenesis and tectonic significance of Paleoproterozoic granitic rocks of the southeastern Liaodong Peninsula, Northeast China
Authors: Wang Chaoyang , Meng En , Li Yanguang , Li Zhuang , Yang Hong , Cai Jia , Ji Lei 
Published: November 2017

Geochronological, geochemical, and isotopic studies were carried out on the Paleoproterozoic granitic rocks, widely exposed on the southeastern Liaodong Peninsula in Northeast China, in order to determine their ages and petrogenesis and further to provide constraint on the tectonic nature of the north segment of Paleoproterozoic Jiao–Liao–Ji Belt. The zircons from the monzogranitic gneisses, magnetite‐bearing granitic gneisses, biotite‐monzogranitic gneisses, and amphibole‐bearing granitic gneisses fall into two groups, namely, magmatic and metamorphic. U–Pb and Lu–Hf isotopic data show that the magmatic zircons have peak ages of ~2,194, 2,485–2,603, and 2,951 Ma, and these age groups yield εHf values of +0.86 to +9.29, −3.04 to +3.70, and −2.86 and TCDM model ages of 2.19–2.67, 2.76–3.21, and 3.56 Ga, respectively, whereas the metamorphic zircons have a peak age of 1,910 Ma, εHf values of −7.71 to −2.02 and +0.69 to +7.63, with the corresponding TCDM model ages of 2.72 to 3.01 Ga and 2.08 to 2.52 Ga, respectively. Most of these granitic rocks are characterized by depletion in elements such as Nb, Ta, P, Ti, and peraluminous and belong to the high‐ to medium‐K calc‐alkaline series, suggesting I‐type granites, whereas a few samples have high contents of SiO2, alkalis, and TFe2O3 and are metaluminous to weakly peraluminous, which show typical features of A‐type granites. We consider these granitic rocks were emplaced at 2,194 Ma and modified by a regional metamorphic event at 1,910 Ma. The parental magma was originated mainly from the partial melting of Neoarchean–Paleoproterozoic juvenile crustal materials. Taking into account the regional geology, we consider these granitic rocks were formed in relation to subduction at an active continental margin. A crustal growth event took place at 2.5–2.2 Ga and a metamorphic event at ~1.9 Ga.
Late Miocene magnetostratigraphy of Jianzha Basin in the northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau and changes in the East Asian summer monsoon
Authors: Fu Chaofeng , Qiang Xiaoke , Xu Xinwen , Xi Jianjian , Zuo Jun , An Zhisheng 
Published: November 2017

Jianzha Basin is located in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau (NETP) and contains a thick sequence of Cenozoic sediments that are an archive of information about the growth of the Tibetan Plateau and the evolution of the arid environment of the interior of Asia. Here, we present magnetostratigraphic and palaeoenvironmental records from a 361‐m‐thick sequence of Late Cenozoic eolian Red Clay and intercalated fluviolacustrine deposits in the Jianzha Basin. The magnetostratigraphic results show that the sediments have recorded a continuous geomagnetic polarity sequence from C5r.3r to C3r, spanning the interval from 11.8 to 5.8 Ma in the Late Miocene. There are two intervals of rapidly fluctuating sedimentation rates between ~10 and ~6 Ma, which we interpret as a response to a series of uplifts and expansions to the north and to the east in the NETP. The fluctuations in Rb/Sr ratio and magnetic susceptibility before ~8.57 Ma reflect intensified East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) precipitation which resulted from the growth of the NETP. From ~8.57 to ~7.21 Ma, the EASM was impacted by global cooling and ice build‐up in the Northern Hemisphere in addition to the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau (TP) in the Late Miocene. From ~8.57 to ~7.21 Ma, there is a lack of coherency between the fluctuations in MS and Rb/Sr ratio; however, subsequently, there is significant coherency between the Rb/Sr ratio and the deep‐sea oxygen isotope record present. This suggests that from ~8.57 Ma, the eolian Red Clay sediments in the Jianzha Basin were significantly affected by the addition of dust derived from the deforming and uplifting areas of the TP.
High proportions of dementia among SLE patients: A big data analysis
Authors: Gendelman Omer , Tiosano Shmuel , Shoenfeld Yehuda , Comaneshter Doron , Amital Howard , Cohen Arnon D. , Amital Daniela 
Published: November 2017

ObjectiveSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting a wide range of systems including the peripheral and central nervous system. Cognitive impairment leading to dementia is one of the harmful central nervous system afflictions of SLE. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of SLE with dementia.MethodsA cross‐sectional study was conducted using Clalit Health Care database, the largest health maintenance organization in Israel with more than 4.4 million enrollees. Systemic lupus erythematosus patients were compared in a 1:5 ratio to age‐ and sex‐matched controls. Chi‐square and t tests were used for univariate analysis, and a logistic regression model was used for multivariate analysis.ResultsThe study included 4886 SLE patients and 24 430 age‐frequency‐ and sex‐frequency‐matched controls without SLE. The proportion of dementia was higher among SLE patients compared to controls (1.56% and 0.51%, respectively; P < .001). This finding was consistent across all age groups by univariate analysis. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, SLE was significantly associated with dementia (odds ratio = 1.51, 95% confidence interval, 1.11‐2.04).ConclusionSystemic lupus erythematosus is significantly associated with dementia. This finding should give rise to search for SLE in patients with an ambiguous cause for dementia, especially those with an early onset cognitive decline.
Oxidative Hydrophenylation of Ethylene Using a Cationic Ru(II) Catalyst: Styrene Production with Ethylene as the Oxidant
Authors: Jia Xiaofan , Gary J. Brannon , Gu Shaojin , Cundari Thomas R. , Gunnoe T. Brent 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThe complex [(MeOTTM)Ru(P(OCH2)3CEt)(NCMe)Ph][BAr′4] (MeOTMM=4,4’,4’’‐(methoxymethanetriyl)‐tris(1‐benzyl‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazole), BAr′4=tetrakis[3,5‐bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate) is used to catalyze the hydrophenylation of ethylene to produce styrene and ethylbenzene. The selectivity of styrene versus ethylbenzene varies as a function of ethylene pressure, and replacing the MeOTTM ligand with tris(1‐phenyl‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazol‐4‐yl)methanol reduces the selectivity toward styrene. For styrene production ethylene serves as the oxidant to produce ethane, as determined by both 1H NMR spectroscopy and GC‐MS. The Ru(III/II) potentials of [(MeOTTM)Ru[P(OCH2)3CEt](NCMe)Ph][BAr′4] (0.86 V) and [(HC(pz5)3)Ru[P(OCH2)3CEt](NCMe)Ph][BAr′4] (0.82 V) (HC(pz5)3=tris(5‐methyl‐pyrazolyl)methane) are nearly identical. Since catalytic conversion of ethylene and benzene by [(HC(pz5)3)Ru[P(OCH2)3CEt](NCMe)Ph][BAr′4] is known to selectively produce ethylbenzene, the formation of styrene using [(MeOTTM)Ru[P(OCH2)3CEt](NCMe)Ph][BAr′4] is attributed to the substituents on the triazole rings of the MeOTTM ligand.
Circulating progenitor cells in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia
Authors: Sandesara P. B. , Ramjee V. , Ghasemzadeh N. , Guo Y. , Bhatia N. , Li Q. , Vaughn L. , Nell‐Dybdahl C. , Waller E. K. , Mahar E. A. , Brigham K. , Wilson P. W. F. , Quyyumi A. , Le N.‐A. , Sperling L. S. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractObjectiveFamilial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a genetic disease with very high levels of circulating low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) levels that leads to accelerated atherosclerosis. Lipoprotein apheresis is an effective treatment option for patients with FH and results in reduced cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Circulating progenitor cells (CPCs) are markers of overall vascular health and diminished levels have been associated with decreased reparative potential and worse outcomes. We assessed the short‐term change in CPC levels following a single lipoprotein apheresis session in FH patients who are already on stable lipoprotein apheresis therapy. We hypothesized that in addition to a reduction in atherogenic lipids, the cardiovascular benefit from lipoprotein apheresis therapy is mediated by enhanced vascular reparative capacity through mobilization of CPCs.MethodsEight FH patients (1 homozygous and 7 heterozygous) on stable lipoprotein apheresis therapy for at least three months had CPCs measured at baseline (prior to apheresis) and two hours after apheresis. Results were compared with data from age‐matched hyperlipidemic (HLP) patients on statin therapy and healthy volunteers.ResultsFH patients had higher baseline circulating levels of CD34+/CD133+ and CD34+/CD133+/CXCR4+ cells compared to HLP and healthy subjects. There was no significant change in CPCs after apheresis in FH patients.ConclusionsFH patients had higher CPC counts at baseline compared to age‐matched HLP and healthy controls, suggesting activation of reparative mechanism in this high risk population. Larger studies are needed to better characterize differences in CPC counts between FH subjects and HLP patients over time.
Optimal extent of surgery for early gallbladder cancer with regard to long‐term survival: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Lee Hongeun , Kwon Wooil , Han Youngmin , Kim Jae Ri , Kim Sun‐Whe , Jang Jin‐Young 
Published: November 2017

AbstractBackgroundThe optimal surgical extent for T1 gallbladder cancer (GBC) remains controversial. Simple cholecystectomy is routinely performed for T1 GBC while several guidelines recommend extended cholecystectomy for T1b GBC. However, evidence regarding the optimal surgical extent for T1 GBC is lacking. This study aims to systematically evaluate the optimal surgical extent for early GBC with regard to long‐term survival.MethodsA comprehensive literature search in MEDLINE was performed to identify studies with histologically proven GBC and survival data. A total of 22 articles with a total of 2,578 patients were included in the final analysis. Dichotomous data regarding cancer‐related death in all T1, T1a, and T1b GBC cases were extracted. Risk ratios, risk differences, and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled.ResultsThe risk ratio between simple and extended cholecystectomy in T1 GBC patients was 1.06 (95% CI 0.97–1.16); T1a, 0.82 (95% CI 0.70–0.96); and T1b, 1.06 (95% CI 0.93–1.22). No significant difference was found according to the extent of surgery in all T1 or T1b GBC cases (P = 0.17 and P = 0.36, respectively). Simple cholecystectomy had significantly lower cancer‐related death in T1a GBC patients (P = 0.01).ConclusionSimple and extended cholecystectomy showed comparable survival outcomes in T1 GBC patients.
Comparison of surgical outcomes between open and robot‐assisted minimally invasive pancreaticoduodenectomy
Authors: Kim Hyeong Seok , Han Youngmin , Kang Jae Seung , Kim Hongbeom , Kim Jae Ri , Koon Wooil , Kim Sun‐Whe , Jang Jin‐Young 
Published: November 2017

AbstractBackgroundRobot surgery is a new method that maintains advantages and overcomes disadvantages of conventional methods, even in pancreatic surgery. This study aimed to evaluate safety and benefits of robot‐assisted minimally invasive pancreaticoduodenectomy (robot PD).MethodsThis study included 237 patients who underwent PD between 2015 and 2017. Demographics and surgical outcomes were evaluated.ResultsFifty‐one patients underwent robot PD and 186 underwent open PD. Robot PD group had younger age (60.7 vs. 65.4 years, P = 0.006) and lower body mass index (22.7 vs. 24.0, P = 0.007). Robot PD group had lower proportion of patients with firm or hard pancreatic texture (15.7% vs. 38.2%, P = 0.004) and smaller pancreatic duct size (2.3 vs. 3.3 mm, P = 0.002). Two groups had similar operation time (robot vs. open: 335.6 vs. 330.1 min) and complications (15.7% vs. 21.0%), including postoperative pancreatic fistula rate (6.0% vs. 12.0%). Robot PD group had lower postoperative pain score (3.7 vs. 4.1 points, P = 0.008), and shorter postoperative stay (10.6 vs. 15.3 days, P = 0.001).ConclusionRobot PD is comparable to open PD in early outcomes. Robot PD is safe and feasible and enables early recovery; indication for robot PD is expected to expand in the near future.
N‐acetylcysteine attenuates the cuprizone‐induced behavioral changes and oligodendrocyte loss in male C57BL/7 mice via its anti‐inflammation actions
Authors: Zhang Lin , Xu Shuqin , Huang Qingjun , Xu Haiyun 
Published: November 2017

AbstractPrevious animal studies have linked white matter damage to certain schizophrenia‐like behaviors in cuprizone (CPZ)‐exposed mouse. Mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and oligodendrocyte loss coexist in the brain of such mice. The aim of this study was to examine effects of the antioxidant N‐acetylcysteine (NAC) on CPZ‐induced behavioral changes and concurrent oligodendrocyte loss, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation in these animals. Male C57BL/6 mice were given intraperitoneal saline or NAC at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg/day for 2 weeks; animals were fed a CPZ‐containing diet (0.2%, w/w) during days 5–14. During days 15–17, the mice were examined in open‐field, social recognition, and Y‐maze tests (1 test per day). Six mice in each group were then used for biochemical and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay analyses, while the remaining animals were used for immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence staining. The mice exposed to CPZ for 10 days showed significantly lower spontaneous alternation in the Y‐maze, lower activity of total superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase, but higher levels of malondialdehyde in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, elevated concentrations of interleukin‐1β and tumor necrosis factor‐α in the brain regions mentioned above and caudate putamen, and a decreased number of mature oligodendrocytes, but increased number of microglia in all the brain regions examined. These changes, however, were not seen or effectively alleviated in NAC‐treated mice at all three doses. These results demonstrate that NAC protected mature oligodendrocytes against the toxic effects of CPZ, likely via its antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory actions.
Possible involvement of a cell adhesion molecule, Migfilin, in brain development and pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorders
Authors: Ishizuka Kanako , Tabata Hidenori , Ito Hidenori , Kushima Itaru , Noda Mariko , Yoshimi Akira , Usami Masahide , Watanabe Kyota , Morikawa Mako , Uno Yota , Okada Takashi , Mori Daisuke , Aleksic Branko , Ozaki Norio , Nagata Koh‐ichi 
Published: November 2017

AbstractMigfilin, encoded by FBLIM1 at the 1p36 locus, is a multi‐domain adaptor protein essential for various cellular processes such as cell morphology and migration. Small deletions and duplications at the 1p36 locus, monosomy of which results in neurodevelopmental disorders and multiple congenital anomalies, have also been identified in patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the impact of FBLIM1, the gene within 1p36, on the pathogenesis of ASD is unknown. In this study, we performed morphological analyses of migfilin to elucidate its role in brain development. Migfilin was detected specifically in the embryonic and perinatal stages of the mouse brain. Either silencing or overexpression of migfilin in embryos following in utero electroporation disrupted Neocortical neuronal migration. Additionally, neurite elongation was impaired when migfilin was silenced in cultured mouse hippocampal neurons. We then screened FBLIM1 for rare exonic deletions/duplications in 549 Japanese ASD patients and 824 controls, detecting one case of ASD and intellectual delay that harbored a 26‐kb deletion at 1p36.21 that solely included the C‐terminal exon of FBLIM1. The FBLIM1 mRNA expression level in this case was reduced compared to levels in individuals without FBLIM1 deletion. Our findings indicate that tightly regulated expression of migfilin is essential for neuronal development and that FBLIM1 disruption may be related to the phenotypes associated with ASD and related neurodevelopmental disorders.
High‐throughput LC–MS/MS method with 96‐well plate precipitation for the determination of arotinolol and amlodipine in a small volume of rat plasma: Application to a pharmacokinetic interaction study
Authors: Qian Zheyuan , Le Jian , Chen Xiujuan , Li Shengni , Song Hongjie , Hong Zhanying 
Published: November 2017

AbstractA rapid, sensitive, and selective liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and fully validated for the simultaneous quantification of arotinolol and amlodipine in rat plasma. Two internal standards were introduced with metoprolol as the internal standard of arotinolol and (S)‐amlodipine‐d4 as the internal standard of amlodipine. The analytes were isolated from 50.0 μL plasma samples by a simple protein precipitation using acetonitrile. The chromatographic separation was achieved in 5 min on a C18 column. The mobile phase consisted of phase A 5% methanol and phase B 95% methanol (both containing 0.5% formic acid and 5 mM ammonium acetate) and was delivered in gradient elution at 0.300 mL/min. Quantification was performed in multiple reaction monitoring mode with the transition m/z 372.1 → 316.1 for arotinolol, m/z 268.2 → 116.2 for metoprolol, m/z 409.1 → 238.1 for amlodipine and m/z 413.1 → 238.1 for (S)‐amlodipine‐d4. Linearity was obtained over the range of 0.200–40.0 ng/mL for arotinolol (r2 = 0.9988) and 0.500–100 ng/mL for amlodipine (r2 = 0.9985) in rat plasma. The validated data have met the acceptance criteria in FDA guideline. This method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic interaction study in rats, and the results indicated that there was no significant drug–drug interaction between arotinolol and amlodipine.