bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Apparent shift in long-range motion trajectory by local pattern orientation
Authors: Nakayama Ryohei , Harada Daisuke , Kamachi Miyuki G. , Motoyoshi Isamu 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThe present study shows that the apparent direction of a moving pattern is systematically affected by its orientation. We found that the perceived direction of motion of a single Gabor grating changing position in discrete steps interleaved by blank inter-stimulus interval (ISI) is biased toward the orientation of the grating. This orientation-induced motion shift peaks for grating orientations ~±15 deg away from the physical motion trajectory and was profound for relatively short distances. Orientation adaptation revealed that the directional shift is determined by the apparent –not the physical –orientation of the grating, and a subsequent experiment demonstrated that directional shift is also influenced by the orientation of the contrast-defined stimulus envelope. Results provide further evidence that the apparent trajectory of a motion stimulus is determined by interactions between motion and pattern information at relatively high levels of visual processing.
Distinct ERP profiles for auditory processing in infants at-risk for autism and language impairment
Authors: Riva Valentina , Cantiani Chiara , Mornati Giulia , Gallo Martina , Villa Laura , Mani Elisa , Saviozzi Irene , Marino Cecilia , Molteni Massimo 
Published: January 2018

AbstractEarly identification of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is crucial for the formulation of effective intervention programs. Language deficits may be a hallmark feature of ASD and language delay observed in ASD shows striking similarities to that observed in children with language impairment (LI). Auditory processing deficits are seen in both LI and ASD, however, they have not previously been compared directly using Event-Related Potentials (ERPs) in the two at-risk populations. This study aims to characterize infants at-risk for ASD (HR-ASD) at the electrophysiological level and to compare them with infants at-risk for LI (HR-LI) and controls, to find specific markers with predictive value. At 12-month-old, auditory processing in HR-ASD, HR-LI and controls was characterized via ERP oddball paradigm. All infants were then evaluated at 20 months, to investigate the associations between auditory processing and language/ASD-related outcomes. In both HR-ASD and HR-LI, mismatch response latency was delayed compared to controls, whereas only HR-ASD showed overall larger P3 amplitude compared to controls. Interestingly, these ERP measures correlated with later expressive vocabulary and M-CHAT critical items in the whole sample. These results may support the use of objective measurement of auditory processing to delineate pathophysiological mechanisms in ASD, as compared to LI.
Bacterial iron reduction and biogenic mineral formation for the stabilisation of corroded iron objects
Authors: Kooli Wafa M. , Comensoli Lucrezia , Maillard Julien , Albini Monica , Gelb Arnaud , Junier Pilar , Joseph Edith 
Published: January 2018

AbstractExploiting bacterial metabolism for the stabilisation of corroded iron artefacts is a promising alternative to conventional conservation-restoration methods. Bacterial iron reduction coupled to biogenic mineral formation has been shown to promote the conversion of reactive into stable corrosion products that are integrated into the natural corrosion layer of the object. However, in order to stabilise iron corrosion, the formation of specific biogenic minerals is essential. In this study, we used the facultative anaerobeShewanella loihicafor the production of stable biogenic iron minerals under controlled chemical conditions. The biogenic formation of crystalline iron phosphates was observed after iron reduction in a solution containing Fe(III) citrate. When the same biological treatment was applied on corroded iron plates, a layer composed of iron phosphates and iron carbonates was formed. Surface and cross-section analyses demonstrated that these two stable corrosion products replaced 81% of the reactive corrosion layer after two weeks of treatment. Such results demonstrate the potential of a biological treatment in the development of a stabilisation method to preserve corroded iron objects.
A framework for quantifying the relationship between intensity and severity of impact of disturbance across types of events and species
Authors: Iwasaki Aiko , Noda Takashi 
Published: January 2018

AbstractUnderstanding the impacts of natural disturbances on wildlife populations is a central task for ecologists; in general, the severity of impact of a disturbance (e.g., the resulting degree of population decline) is likely to depend primarily on the disturbance intensity (i.e., strength of forcing), type of disturbance, and species vulnerability. However, differences among disturbance events in the physical units of forcing and interspecific differences in the temporal variability of population size under normal (non-disturbance) conditions hinder comprehensive analysis of disturbance severity. Here, we propose new measures of disturbance intensity and severity, both represented by the return periods. We use a meta-analysis to describe the severity–intensity relationship across various disturbance types and species. The severity and the range of its 95% confidential interval increased exponentially with increasing intensity. This nonlinear relationship suggests that physically intense events may have a catastrophic impact, but their severity cannot be extrapolated from the severity–intensity relationship for weak, frequent disturbance events. The framework we propose may help to clarify the influence of event types and species traits on the severity–intensity relationship, as well as to improve our ability to predict the ecological consequences of various disturbance events of unexperienced intensity.
Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, pancreatic cancer and acute pancreatitis: A meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis
Authors: Pinto Lana C. , Rados Dimitris V. , Barkan Sabrina S. , Leitão Cristiane B. , Gross Jorge L. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThe use of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors may be associated with pancreatic cancer and acute pancreatitis. Recent meta-analyses have reported conflicting findings. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to assess the risk of both pancreatic cancer and acute pancreatitis associated with the use of DPP-4 inhibitors. We also used trial sequential analysis to evaluate whether the number of patients included was enough to reach conclusions. We included randomised controlled trials lasting 24 weeks or more that compared DPP-4 inhibitors with placebo or other antihyperglycaemic agents. A total of 59,404 patients were included. There was no relationship between the use of DPP-4 inhibitors and pancreatic cancer (Peto odds ratio 0.65; 95% CI 0.35–1.21), and the optimal sample size was reached to determine a number needed to harm (NNH) of 1000 patients. DPP-4 inhibitors were associated with increased risk for acute pancreatitis (Peto odds ratio 1.72; 95% CI 1.18–2.53), with an NNH of 1066 patients, but the optimal sample size for this outcome was not reached. In conclusion, there is no association between DPP-4 inhibitors and pancreatic cancer, and a small risk for acute pancreatitis was observed with DPP-4 inhibitor use, although the latter finding is not definitive.
Testing for the Presence of Correlation Changes in a Multivariate Time Series: A Permutation Based Approach
Authors: Cabrieto Jedelyn , Tuerlinckx Francis , Kuppens Peter , Hunyadi Borbála , Ceulemans Eva 
Published: January 2018

AbstractDetecting abrupt correlation changes in multivariate time series is crucial in many application fields such as signal processing, functional neuroimaging, climate studies, and financial analysis. To detect such changes, several promising correlation change tests exist, but they may suffer from severe loss of power when there is actually more than one change point underlying the data. To deal with this drawback, we propose a permutation based significance test for Kernel Change Point (KCP) detection on the running correlations. Given a requested number of change points K, KCP divides the time series into K + 1 phases by minimizing the within-phase variance. The new permutation test looks at how the average within-phase variance decreases when K increases and compares this to the results for permuted data. The results of an extensive simulation study and applications to several real data sets show that, depending on the setting, the new test performs either at par or better than the state-of-the art significance tests for detecting the presence of correlation changes, implying that its use can be generally recommended.
Stretchable Electrospun PVDF-HFP/Co-ZnO Nanofibers as Piezoelectric Nanogenerators
Authors: Parangusan Hemalatha , Ponnamma Deepalekshmi , Al-Maadeed Mariam Al Ali 
Published: January 2018

AbstractHerein, we investigate the morphology, structure and piezoelectric performances of neat polyvinylidene fluoride hexafluoropropylene (PVDF-HFP) and PVDF-HFP/Co-ZnO nanofibers, fabricated by electrospinning. An increase in the amount of crystalline β-phase of PVDF-HFP has been observed with the increase in Co-doped ZnO nanofiller concentration in the PVDF-HFP matrix. The dielectric constants of the neat PVDF-HFP and PVDF-HFP/2 wt.% Co-ZnO nanofibers are derived as 8 and 38 respectively. The flexible nanogenerator manipulated from the polymer nanocomposite (PVDF-HFP/Co-ZnO) exhibits an output voltage as high as 2.8 V compared with the neat PVDF-HFP sample (~120 mV). These results indicate that the investigated nanocomposite is appropriate for fabricating various flexible and wearable self-powered electrical devices and systems.
Co-action equilibrium fails to predict choices in mixed-strategy settings
Authors: Berger Ulrich 
Published: January 2018

AbstractSocial projection is the tendency to project one’s own characteristics onto others. This phenomenon can potentially explain cooperation in prisoner’s dilemma experiments and other social dilemmas. The social projection hypothesis has recently been formalized for symmetric games as co-action equilibrium and for general games as consistent evidential equilibrium. These concepts have been proposed to predict choice behavior in experimental one-shot games. We test the predictions of the co-action equilibrium concept in a simple binary minimizer game experiment. We find no evidence of social projection.
A Geodetic Strain Rate Model for the East African Rift System
Authors: Stamps D. S. , Saria E. , Kreemer C. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractHere we describe the new Sub-Saharan Africa Geodetic Strain Rate Model v.1.0 (SSA-GSRM v.1.0), which provides fundamental constraints on long-term tectonic deformation in the region and an improved seismic hazards assessment in Sub-Saharan Africa. Sub-Saharan Africa encompasses the East African Rift System, the active divergent plate boundary between the Nubian and Somalian plates, where strain is largely accommodated along the boundaries of three subplates. We develop an improved geodetic strain rate field for sub-Saharan Africa that incorporates 1) an expanded geodetic velocity field, 2) redefined regions of deforming zones guided by seismicity distribution, and 3) updated constraints on block rotations. SSA-GSRM v.1.0 spans longitudes 22° to 55.5° and latitudes −52° to 20° with 0.25° (longitude) by 0.2° (latitude) spacing. For plates/sub-plates, we assign rigid block rotations as constraints on the strain rate calculation that is determined by fitting bicubic Bessel splines to a new geodetic velocity solution for an interpolated velocity gradient tensor field. We derive strain rates, velocities, and vorticity rates from the velocity gradient tensor field. A comparison with the Global Geodetic Strain Rate model v2.1 reveals regions of previously unresolved spatial heterogeneities in geodetic strain rate distribution, which indicates zones of elevated seismic risk.
Nanostructural Differentiation and Toxicity of Amyloid-β25-35 Aggregates Ensue from Distinct Secondary Conformation
Authors: Song Yongxiu , Li Ping , Liu Lei , Bortolini Christian , Dong Mingdong 
Published: January 2018

AbstractAmyloid nanostructures are originated from protein misfolding and aberrant aggregation, which is associated with the pathogenesis of many types of degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Huntington’s disease. The secondary conformation of peptides is of a fundamental importance for aggregation and toxicity of amyloid peptides. In this work, Aβ25-35, a fragment of amyloid β(1-42) (Aβ42), was selected to investigate the correlation between secondary structures and toxicity of amyloid fibrils. Furthermore, each aggregation assemblies show different cell membrane disruption and cytotoxicity. The structural analysis of amyloid aggregates originated from different secondary structure motifs is helpful to understand the mechanism of peptides/cell interactions in the pathogenesis of amyloid diseases.
Trophic ecology of glass sponge reefs in the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia
Authors: Kahn Amanda S. , Chu Jackson W. F. , Leys Sally P. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractSponges link the microbial loop with benthic communities by feeding on bacteria. Glass sponge reefs on the continental shelf of western Canada have extremely high grazing rates, consuming seven times more particulate carbon than can be supplied by vertical flux alone. Unlike many sponges, the reef building species Aphrocallistes vastus has no microbial symbionts and removes little dissolved organic carbon. To determine how reef sponges therefore get enough food to sustain such substantial grazing we measured stable carbon and nitrogen isotope signatures of water, sediment and sponge tissues. To ensure samples were temporally associated, we also studied the duration particles were retained in tissues in controlled feeding studies using microscopic beads and 13C-labeled bacteria. Although fecal pellets were expelled from sponges within 24 hours of feeding, intact bacteria were still found in tissues and sponge tissues retained elevated 13C levels for at least 14 days. These independent lines of evidence suggest that carbon in reef sponge tissues may reflect food consumed from days to weeks earlier. Stable isotope analysis suggests that heterotrophic bacteria ingested by the sponges comes from a confluence of trophic subsidies: from terrestrial and oceanic sources, and also potentially on sediment-borne bacteria resuspended by tidal currents.
Net global warming potential and greenhouse gas intensity as affected by different water management strategies in Chinese double rice-cropping systems
Authors: Wu Xiaohong , Wang Wei , Xie Xiaoli , Yin Chunmei , Hou Haijun , Yan Wende , Wang Guangjun 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThis study provides a complete account of global warming potential (GWP) and greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI) in relation to a long-term water management experiment in Chinese double-rice cropping systems. The three strategies of water management comprised continuous (year-round) flooding (CF), flooding during the rice season but with drainage during the midseason and harvest time (F-D-F), and irrigation only for flooding during transplanting and the tillering stage (F-RF). The CH4 and N2O fluxes were measured with the static chamber method. Soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration rates were estimated based on the changes in the carbon stocks during 1998–2014. Longer periods of soil flooding led to increased CH4 emissions, reduced N2O emissions, and enhanced SOC sequestration. The net GWPs were 22,497, 8,895, and 1,646 kg CO2-equivalent ha−1 yr−1 for the CF, F-D-F, and F-RF, respectively. The annual rice grain yields were comparable between the F-D-F and CF, but were reduced significantly (by 13%) in the F-RF. The GHGIs were 2.07, 0.87, and 0.18 kg CO2-equivalent kg−1 grain yr−1 for the CF, F-D-F, and F-RF, respectively. These results suggest that F-D-F could be used to maintain the grain yields and simultaneously mitigate the climatic impact of double rice-cropping systems.
A Collective Route to Head and Neck Cancer Metastasis
Authors: Kulasinghe Arutha , Schmidt Henri , Perry Chris , Whitfield Bernard , Kenny Liz , Nelson Colleen , Warkiani Majid E. , Punyadeera Chamindie 
Published: January 2018

AbstractDistant metastasis (DM) from head and neck cancers (HNC) portends a poor patient prognosis. Despite its important biological role, little is known about the cells which seed these DM. Circulating tumour cells (CTCs) represent a transient cancer cell population, which circulate in HNC patients’ peripheral blood and seed at distant sites. Capture and analysis of CTCs offers insights into tumour metastasis and can facilitate treatment strategies. Whilst the data on singular CTCs have shown clinical significance, the role of CTC clusters in metastasis remains limited. In this pilot study, we assessed 60 treatment naïve HNC patients for CTCs with disease ranging from early to advanced stages, for CTC clusters utilizing spiral CTC enrichment technology. Single CTCs were isolated in 18/60–30% (Ranging from Stage I-IV), CTC clusters in 15/60–25% (exclusively Stage IV) with 3/15–20% of CTC clusters also containing leukocytes. The presence of CTC clusters associated with the development of distant metastatic disease(P = 0.0313). This study demonstrates that CTC clusters are found in locally advanced patients, and this may be an important prognostic marker. In vivo and in vitro studies are warranted to determine the role of these CTC clusters, in particular, whether leukocyte involvement in CTC clusters has clinical relevance.
Placental Morphology Is Associated with Maternal Depressive Symptoms during Pregnancy and Toddler Psychiatric Problems
Authors: Lahti-Pulkkinen Marius , Cudmore Melissa Jane , Haeussner Eva , Schmitz Christoph , Pesonen Anu-Katriina , Hämäläinen Esa , Villa Pia M. , Mehtälä Susanna , Kajantie Eero , Laivuori Hannele , Reynolds Rebecca M. , Frank Hans-Georg , Räikkönen Katri 
Published: January 2018

AbstractMaternal depressive symptoms during pregnancy predict increased psychiatric problems in children. The underlying biological mechanisms remain unclear. Hence, we examined whether alterations in the morphology of 88 term placentas were associated with maternal depressive symptoms during pregnancy and psychiatric problems in 1.9–3.1-years old (Mean = 2.1 years) toddlers. Maternal depressive symptoms were rated biweekly during pregnancy with the Center of Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (n = 86). Toddler psychiatric problems were mother-rated with the Child Behavior Checklist (n = 60). We found that higher maternal depressive symptoms throughout pregnancy [B = −0.24 Standard Deviation (SD) units: 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = −0.46; −0.03: P = 0.03; Mean difference = −0.66 SDs; 95% CI = −0.08; −1.23: P = 0.03; between those with and without clinically relevant depressive symptoms] were associated with lower variability in the placental villous barrier thickness of γ-smooth muscle actin-negative villi. This placental morphological change predicted higher total (B = −0.34 SDs: 95% CI = −0.60; −0.07: P = 0.01) and internalizing (B = −0.32 SDs: 95% CI = −0.56; −0.08: P = 0.01) psychiatric problems in toddlers. To conclude, our findings suggest that both maternal depressive symptoms during pregnancy and toddler psychiatric problems may be associated with lower variability in the villous membrane thickness of peripheral villi in term placentas. This lower heterogeneity may compromise materno-fetal exchange, suggesting a possible role for altered placental morphology in the fetal programming of mental disorders.
Hindlimb Ischemia Impairs Endothelial Recovery and Increases Neointimal Proliferation in the Carotid Artery
Authors: Sorrentino Sabato , Iaconetti Claudio , De Rosa Salvatore , Polimeni Alberto , Sabatino Jolanda , Gareri Clarice , Passafaro Francesco , Mancuso Teresa , Tammè Laura , Mignogna Chiara , Camastra Caterina , Esposito Giovanni , Curcio Antonio , Torella Daniele , Indolfi Ciro 
Published: January 2018

AbstractPeripheral ischemia is associated with higher degree of endothelial dysfunction and a worse prognosis after percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). However, the role of peripheral ischemia on vascular remodeling in remote districts remains poorly understood. Here we show that the presence of hindlimb ischemia significantly enhances neointima formation and impairs endothelial recovery in balloon-injured carotid arteries. Endothelial-derived microRNAs are involved in the modulation of these processes. Indeed, endothelial miR-16 is remarkably upregulated after vascular injury in the presences of hindlimb ischemia and exerts a negative effect on endothelial repair through the inhibition of RhoGDIα and nitric oxide (NO) production. We showed that the repression of RhoGDIα by means of miR-16 induces RhoA, with consequent reduction of NO bioavailability. Thus, hindlimb ischemia affects negative carotid remodeling increasing neointima formation after injury, while systemic antagonizzation of miR-16 is able to prevent these negative effects.
Prognostic significance of HALP (hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte and platelet) in patients with bladder cancer after radical cystectomy
Authors: Peng Ding , Zhang Cui-jian , Gong Yan-qing , Hao Han , Guan Bao , Li Xue-song , Zhou Li-qun 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThe outcome of bladder cancer after radical cystectomy is heterogeneous. We aim to evaluate the prognostic value of HALP (hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte and platelet) and explore novel prognostic indexes for patients with bladder cancer after radical cystectomy. In this retrospective study, 516 patients with bladder cancer after radical cystectomy were included. The median follow-up was 37 months (2 to 99 mo). Risk factors of decreased overall survival were older age, high TNM stage, high American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade and low HALP score. The predictive accuracy was better with HALP-based nomogram than TNM stage (C- index 0.76 ± 0.039 vs. 0.708 ± 0.041). By combining ASA grade and HALP, we created a novel index—HALPA score and found it an independent risk factor for decreased survival (HALPA score = 1, HR 1.624, 95% CI 1.139–2.314, P = 0.007; HALPA score = 2, HR 3.471, 95% CI: 1.861–6.472, P < 0.001).The present study identified the prognostic value of HALP and provided a novel index HALPA score for bladder cancer after radical cystectomy.