bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Predictive value of CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc scores for acute myocardial infarction in patients with atrial fibrillation
Authors: Pang Hui , Han Bing , Fu Qiang , Zong Zhenkun 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThe presence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) confers a poor prognosis in atrial fibrillation (AF), associated with increased mortality dramatically. This study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc scores for AMI in patients with AF. This retrospective study enrolled 5140 consecutive nonvalvular AF patients, 300 patients with AMI and 4840 patients without AMI. We identified the optimal cut-off values of the CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc scores each based on receiver operating characteristic curves to predict the risk of AMI. Both CHADS2 score and CHA2DS2-VASc score were associated with an increased odds ratio of the prevalence of AMI in patients with AF, after adjustment for hyperlipidaemia, hyperuricemia, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism and obstructive sleep apnea. The present results showed that the area under the curve (AUC) for CHADS2 score was 0.787 with a similar accuracy of the CHA2DS2-VASc score (AUC 0.750) in predicting “high-risk” AF patients who developed AMI. However, the predictive accuracy of the two clinical-based risk scores was fair. The CHA2DS2-VASc score has fair predictive value for identifying high-risk patients with AF and is not significantly superior to CHADS2 in predicting patients who develop AMI.
Mechanisms and time-resolved dynamics for trihydrogen cation (H3
+) formation from organic molecules in strong laser fields
Authors: Ekanayake Nagitha , Nairat Muath , Kaderiya Balram , Feizollah Peyman , Jochim Bethany , Severt Travis , Berry Ben , Pandiri Kanaka Raju , Carnes Kevin D. , Pathak Shashank , Rolles Daniel , Rudenko Artem , Ben-Itzhak Itzik , Mancuso Christopher A. , Fales B. Scott , Jackson James E. , Levine Benjamin G. , Dantus Marcos 
Published: June 2017

AbstractStrong-field laser-matter interactions often lead to exotic chemical reactions. Trihydrogen cation formation from organic molecules is one such case that requires multiple bonds to break and form. We present evidence for the existence of two different reaction pathways for H3+ formation from organic molecules irradiated by a strong-field laser. Assignment of the two pathways was accomplished through analysis of femtosecond time-resolved strong-field ionization and photoion-photoion coincidence measurements carried out on methanol isotopomers, ethylene glycol, and acetone. Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations suggest the formation occurs via two steps: the initial formation of a neutral hydrogen molecule, followed by the abstraction of a proton from the remaining CHOH2+ fragment by the roaming H2 molecule. This reaction has similarities to the H2 + H2+ mechanism leading to formation of H3+ in the universe. These exotic chemical reaction mechanisms, involving roaming H2 molecules, are found to occur in the ~100 fs timescale. Roaming molecule reactions may help to explain unlikely chemical processes, involving dissociation and formation of multiple chemical bonds, occurring under strong laser fields.
Beaming and enhanced transmission through a subwavelength aperture via epsilon-near-zero media
Authors: Hajian Hodjat , Ozbay Ekmel , Caglayan Humeyra 
Published: June 2017

AbstractWe numerically validate and experimentally realize considerable funneling of electromagnetic energy through a subwavelength aperture that is covered with an epsilon-near-zero metamaterial (ENZ). The epsilon-near-zero metamaterial is composed of two layers of metasurfaces and operates at microwave frequencies. We demonstrate that the presence of the metamaterial at the inner and outer sides of the aperture not only lead to a significant enhancement in light transmission, but also cause a directional emission of light extracting from this hybrid system. In addition to these experimental results, we theoretically demonstrate the same concept in mid-IR region for a subwavelength gold aperture with indium tin oxide as an epsilon-near-zero material. Moreover, we found that using a dielectric spacer in-between the sunwavelength aperture and the ENZ medium, it is possible to red-shift the enhancement/directional frequency of the system.
Behavioral Inefficiency on a Risky Decision-Making Task in Adulthood after Adolescent Intermittent Ethanol Exposure in Rats
Authors: Miller Kelsey M. , Risher Mary-Louise , Acheson Shawn K. , Darlow Matthew , Sexton Hannah G. , Schramm-Sapyta Nicole , Swartzwelder H. S. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractAdolescence is a period of development in neural circuits that are critical for adult functioning. There is a relationship between alcohol exposure and risky decision-making, though the enduring effects of adolescent ethanol exposure on risky decision-making in adulthood have not been fully explored. Studies using positive reinforcement have shown that adolescent intermittent ethanol (AIE) exposure results in higher levels of risky decision-making in adulthood, but the effects of AIE on punishment-mediated decision-making have not been explored. Adolescent rats were exposed to AIE or saline vehicle across a 16-day period, and then allowed to mature into adulthood. They were then trained to lever press for food reward and were assessed for risky decision-making by pairing increased levels of food reward with the probability of footshock punishment. AIE did not alter punishment-mediated risky decision-making. However, it did result in a significant increase in the delay to lever pressing. This finding is consistent with previous reports, using other behavioral tasks, which show decreased behavioral efficiency in adulthood after AIE. These findings indicate that AIE increases behavioral inefficiency, but not punishment-mediated risk-taking, in adulthood. Thus they contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the long-term effects of AIE on adult behavior.
Immunosuppression in Honeybee Queens by the Neonicotinoids Thiacloprid and Clothianidin
Authors: Brandt Annely , Grikscheit Katharina , Siede Reinhold , Grosse Robert , Meixner Marina Doris , Büchler Ralph 
Published: June 2017

AbstractQueen health is crucial to colony survival of honeybees, since reproduction and colony growth rely solely on the queen. Queen failure is considered a relevant cause of colony losses, yet few data exist concerning effects of environmental stressors on queens. Here we demonstrate for the first time that exposure to field-realistic concentrations of neonicotinoid pesticides can severely affect the immunocompetence of queens of western honeybees (Apis mellifera L.). In young queens exposed to thiacloprid (200 µg/l or 2000 µg/l) or clothianidin (10 µg/l or 50 µg/l), the total hemocyte number and the proportion of active, differentiated hemocytes was significantly reduced. Moreover, functional aspects of the immune defence namely the wound healing/melanisation response, as well as the antimicrobial activity of the hemolymph were impaired. Our results demonstrate that neonicotinoid insecticides can negatively affect the immunocompetence of queens, possibly leading to an impaired disease resistance capacity.
Improved Energetic-Behaviors of Spontaneously Surface-Mediated Al Particles
Authors: Kim Dong Won , Kim Kyung Tae , Min Tae Sik , Kim Kyung Ju , Kim Soo Hyung 
Published: June 2017

AbstractSurface-mediated Al particles are synthesized by incorporating the stable fluoride reaction of Al-F on a pure Al surface in place of natural oxides. Al particles with fluoro-polymer directly adsorbed on the surface show a considerable capability to overcome limitations caused by the surface oxide. Here, we report that Al fluoride when spontaneously formed at the poly(vinylidene fluoride)/Al interface serves as an oxidation-protecting layer while also providing an efficient combustion path along which the internal Al rapidly reacts with external oxygen atoms. Both thermal oxidation and explosion tests of the poly(vinylidene fluoride)/Al particles show superior exothermic enthalpy energy and simultaneously rapid oxidation reactivity compared to those of Al2O3 passivated Al particles. It is clearly elucidated that the enhanced energetic properties of Al particles mediated by poly(vinylidene fluoride) originate from the extraordinary pyrolytic process of Al fluoride occurring at a low temperature compared to Al2O3 passivated Al. Hence, these results clarify that the surface mediation of Al particles can be significantly considered as advanced technology for many energetic applications.
Quantitative characterization of the auxin-inducible degron: a guide for dynamic protein depletion in single yeast cells
Authors: Papagiannakis Alexandros , de Jonge Janeska J , Zhang Zheng , Heinemann Matthias 
Published: June 2017

AbstractPerturbations are essential for the interrogation of biological systems. The auxin-inducible degron harbors great potential for dynamic protein depletion in yeast. Here, we thoroughly and quantitatively characterize the auxin-inducible degron in single yeast cells. We show that an auxin concentration of 0.25 mM is necessary for fast and uniform protein depletion between single cells, and that in mother cells proteins are depleted faster than their daughters. Although, protein recovery starts immediately after removal of auxin, it takes multiple generations before equilibrium is reached between protein synthesis and dilution, which is when the original protein levels are restored. Further, we found that blue light, used for GFP excitation, together with auxin results in growth defects, caused by the photo-destruction of auxin to its toxic derivatives, which can be avoided if indole-free auxin substitutes are used. Our work provides guidelines for the successful combination of microscopy, microfluidics and the auxin-inducible degron, offering the yeast community an unprecedented tool for dynamic perturbations on the single cell level.
GWAS follow-up study of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma identifies potential genetic loci associated with family history of upper gastrointestinal cancer
Authors: Song Xin , Li Wen-Qing , Hu Nan , Zhao Xue Ke , Wang Zhaoming , Hyland Paula L. , Jiang Tao , Kong Guo Qiang , Su Hua , Wang Chaoyu , Wang Lemin , Sun Li , Fan Zong Min , Meng Hui , Zhang Tang Juan , Ji Ling Fen , Hu Shou Jia , Han Wei Li , Wu Min Jie , Zheng Peng Yuan , Lv Shuang , Li Xue Min , Zhou Fu You , Burdett Laurie , Ding Ti , Qiao You-Lin , Fan Jin-Hu , Han Xiao-You , Giffen Carol , Tucker Margaret A. , Dawsey Sanford M. , Freedman Neal D. , Chanock Stephen J. , Abnet Christian C. , Taylor Philip R. , Wang Li-Dong , Goldstein Alisa M. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractBased on our initial genome-wide association study (GWAS) on esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in Han Chinese, we conducted a follow-up study to examine the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with family history (FH) of upper gastrointestinal cancer (UGI) cancer in cases with ESCC. We evaluated the association between SNPs and FH of UGI cancer among ESCC cases in a stage-1 case-only analysis of the National Cancer Institute (NCI, 541 cases with FH and 1399 without FH) and Henan GWAS (493 cases with FH and 869 without FH) data (discovery phase). The top SNPs (or their surrogates) from discovery were advanced to a stage-2 evaluation in additional Henan subjects (2801 cases with FH and 3136 without FH, replication phase). A total of 19 SNPs were associated with FH of UGI cancer in ESCC cases with P < 10−5 in the stage-1 meta-analysis of NCI and Henan GWAS data. In stage-2, the association for rs79747906 (located at 18p11.31, P = 5.79 × 10−6 in discovery) was replicated (P = 0.006), with a pooled-OR of 1.59 (95%CI: 1.11-2.28). We identified potential genetic variants associated with FH of UGI cancer. Our findings may provide important insights into new low-penetrance susceptibility regions involved in the susceptibility of families with multiple UGI cancer cases.
Multiple cues produced by a robotic fish modulate aggressive behaviour in Siamese fighting fishes
Authors: Romano Donato , Benelli Giovanni , Donati Elisa , Remorini Damiano , Canale Angelo , Stefanini Cesare 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThe use of robotics to establish social interactions between animals and robots, represents an elegant and innovative method to investigate animal behaviour. However, robots are still underused to investigate high complex and flexible behaviours, such as aggression. Here, Betta splendens was tested as model system to shed light on the effect of a robotic fish eliciting aggression. We evaluated how multiple signal systems, including a light stimulus, affect aggressive responses in B. splendens. Furthermore, we conducted experiments to estimate if aggressive responses were triggered by the biomimetic shape of fish replica, or whether any intruder object was effective as well. Male fishes showed longer and higher aggressive displays as puzzled stimuli from the fish replica increased. When the fish replica emitted its full sequence of cues, the intensity of aggression exceeded even that produced by real fish opponents. Fish replica shape was necessary for conspecific opponent perception, evoking significant aggressive responses. Overall, this study highlights that the efficacy of an artificial opponent eliciting aggressive behaviour in fish can be boosted by exposure to multiple signals. Optimizing the cue combination delivered by the robotic fish replica may be helpful to predict escalating levels of aggression.
Post-glacial biogeography of trembling aspen inferred from habitat models and genetic variance in quantitative traits
Authors: Ding Chen , Schreiber Stefan G. , Roberts David R. , Hamann Andreas , Brouard Jean S. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractUsing species distribution models and information on genetic structure and within-population variance observed in a series of common garden trials, we reconstructed a historical biogeography of trembling aspen in North America. We used an ensemble classifier modelling approach (RandomForest) to reconstruct palaeoclimatic habitat for the periods 21,000, 14,000, 11,000 and 6,000 years before present. Genetic structure and diversity in quantitative traits was evaluated in common garden trials with 43 aspen collections ranging from Minnesota to northern British Columbia. Our main goals were to examine potential recolonisation routes for aspen from southwestern, eastern and Beringian glacial refugia. We further examined if any refugium had stable habitat conditions where aspen clones may have survived multiple glaciations. Our palaeoclimatic habitat reconstructions indicate that aspen may have recolonised boreal Canada and Alaska from refugia in the eastern United States, with separate southwestern refugia for the Rocky Mountain regions. This is further supported by a southeast to northwest gradient of decreasing genetic variance in quantitative traits, a likely result of repeated founder effects. Stable habitat where aspen clones may have survived multiple glaciations was predicted in Mexico and the eastern United States, but not in the west where some of the largest aspen clones have been documented.
Chimeras and complex cluster states in arrays of spin-torque oscillators
Authors: Zaks Michael , Pikovsky Arkady 
Published: June 2017

AbstractWe consider synchronization properties of arrays of spin-torque nano-oscillators coupled via an RC load. We show that while the fully synchronized state of identical oscillators may be locally stable in some parameter range, this synchrony is not globally attracting. Instead, regimes of different levels of compositional complexity are observed. These include chimera states (a part of the array forms a cluster while other units are desynchronized), clustered chimeras (several clusters plus desynchronized oscillators), cluster state (all oscillators form several clusters), and partial synchronization (no clusters but a nonvanishing mean field). Dynamically, these states are also complex, demonstrating irregular and close to quasiperiodic modulation. Remarkably, when heterogeneity of spin-torque oscillators is taken into account, dynamical complexity even increases: close to the onset of a macroscopic mean field, the dynamics of this field is rather irregular.
Alkaline-Earth Metals-Doped Pyrochlore Gd2Zr2O7 as Oxygen Conductors for Improved NO2 Sensing Performance
Authors: Zhong Fulan , Zhao Jiwu , Shi Lanqian , Xiao Yihong , Cai Guohui , Zheng Yong , Long Jinlin 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThis work proposed a novel strategy to fabricate highly-stable NO2 sensor based on a pyrochlore-phase Gd2Zr2O7 oxygen conductor. The incorporation of alkaline-earth metals distinctly enhances the sensing performance of the Gd2Zr2O7 based sensors. The excellent sensor based on Gd1.95Ca0.05Zr2O7+δ exhibits rapid response-recovery characteristics with the maximum response current value (ΔI = 6.4 μA), extremely short 90% responce (3 s) and 90% recovery (35 s) time towards 500 ppm NO2 at 500 °C, which is better than that of commercial YSZ under the same condition. The ΔI value towards NO2 is much higher than those towards other gases (CH4, C3H6, C3H8, CO, NO, SO2, C2H4, CO2 and C2H6), exhibiting excellent selectivity for detecting NO2. The response signal basically maintains a stable value of 6.4 μA after the sensors was stored for half a month and a month. The outstanding selectivity and highly stability of the NO
2
sensors based on Gd2−xMxZr2O7+δ
are expected to a promising application in automotive vehicles.
Predictors of Change in Self-Reported Sleep Duration in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: The Shih-Pai Sleep Study, Taiwan
Authors: Chen Hsi-Chung , Chou Pesus 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThe present study aims to examine and compare the predictors of changes in self-reported sleep duration in older adults. A total of 2,294 participants over the age of 65 in the Shih-Pai Sleep Study were followed-up for an average of 3 years. According to the self-reported sleep duration at baseline and the results of a follow-up survey conducted 3 years later, participants were classified into three categories: mid-range sleepers (6–7 hours), short sleepers (≤5 hours), and long sleepers (≥8 hours). The main outcome variable was the sleep duration at the follow-up survey. A comparison of the results of the baseline and follow-up surveys revealed that only 45.9% of participants remained in the same spectrum of sleep duration in both surveys, with baseline long sleepers having the lowest consistency rate (27.6%). Only incident diseases, with the exception of prevalent diabetes and physical disability, predicted shortening of sleep duration. In contrast, prevalent morbidities or baseline characteristics correlated with the lengthening of sleep duration. The findings suggested that the self-estimated sleep duration fluctuated in a significant proportion of study participants over time. Predictors of lengthening of sleep duration were essentially different from predictors of shortening of sleep duration.
Large perturbations in CO2 flux and subsequent chemosynthesis are induced in agricultural soil by the addition of elemental sulfur
Authors: Kelleher Brian P. , Flanagan Paul V. , Hart Kris M. , Simpson Andre J. , Oppenheimer Seth F. , Murphy Brian T. , O’Reilly Shane S. , Jordan Sean F. , Grey Anthony , Ibrahim Aliyu , Allen Christopher C. R. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThe microbial contribution to soil organic matter has been shown to be much larger than previously thought and thus it plays a major role in carbon cycling. Among soil microorganisms, chemoautotrophs can fix CO2without sunlight and can glean energy through the oxidation of reduced elements such as sulfur. Here we show that the addition of sulfur to soil results in an initial surge in production of CO2through microbial respiration, followed by an order of magnitude increase in the capture of carbon from the atmosphere as elemental sulfur is oxidised to sulfate.Thiobacillus spp., take advantage of specific conditions to become the dominant chemoautotrophic group that consumes CO2. We discern the direct incorporation of atmospheric carbon into soil carbohydrate, protein and aliphatic compounds and differentiate these from existing biomass. These results suggest that chemoautotrophs can play a large role in carbon cycling and that this carbon is heavily influenced by land management practises.
Refining Long-Term Prediction of Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes – The VILDIA Score
Authors: Goliasch Georg , Silbernagel Günther , Kleber Marcus E. , Grammer Tanja B. , Pilz Stefan , Tomaschitz Andreas , Bartko Philipp E. , Maurer Gerald , Koenig Wolfgang , Niessner Alexander , März Winfried 
Published: June 2017

AbstractCardiovascular risk assessment in patients with diabetes relies on traditional risk factors. However, numerous novel biomarkers have been found to be independent predictors of cardiovascular disease, which might significantly improve risk prediction in diabetic patients. We aimed to improve prediction of cardiovascular risk in diabetic patients by investigating 135 evolving biomarkers. Based on selected biomarkers a clinically applicable prediction algorithm for long-term cardiovascular mortality was designed. We prospectively enrolled 864 diabetic patients of the LUdwigshafen RIsk and Cardiovascular health (LURIC) study with a median follow-up of 9.6 years. Independent risk factors were selected using bootstrapping based on a Cox regression analysis. The following seven variables were selected for the final multivariate model: NT-proBNP, age, male sex, renin, diabetes duration, Lp-PLA2 and 25-OH vitamin D3. The risk score based on the aforementioned variables demonstrated an excellent discriminatory power for 10-year cardiovascular survival with a C-statistic of 0.76 (P < 0.001), which was significantly better than the established UKPDS risk engine (C-statistic = 0.64, P < 0.001). Net reclassification confirmed a significant improvement of individual risk prediction by 22% (95% confidence interval: 14–30%) compared to the UKPDS risk engine (P < 0.001). The VILDIA score based on traditional cardiovascular risk factors and reinforced with novel biomarkers outperforms previous risk algorithms.
Computing disease-linked SOD1 mutations: deciphering protein stability and patient-phenotype relations
Authors: Kumar Vijay , Rahman Safikur , Choudhry Hani , Zamzami Mazin A. , Sarwar Jamal Mohammad , Islam Asimul , Ahmad Faizan , Hassan Md. Imtaiyaz 
Published: June 2017

AbstractProtein stability is a requisite in the field of biotechnology, cell biology and drug design. To understand effects of amino acid substitutions, computational models are preferred to save time and expenses. As a systemically important, highly abundant, stable protein, the knowledge of Cu/Zn Superoxide dismutase1 (SOD1) is important, making it a suitable test case for genotype-phenotype correlation in understanding ALS. Here, we report performance of eight protein stability calculators (PoPMuSiC 3.1, I-Mutant 2.0, I-Mutant 3.0, CUPSAT, FoldX, mCSM, BeatMusic and ENCoM) against 54 experimental stability changes due to mutations of SOD1. Four different high-resolution structures were used to test structure sensitivity that may affect protein calculations. Bland-Altman plot was also used to assess agreement between stability analyses. Overall, PoPMuSiC and FoldX emerge as the best methods in this benchmark. The relative performance of all the eight methods was very much structure independent, and also displayed less structural sensitivity. We also analyzed patient’s data in relation to experimental and computed protein stabilities for mutations of human SOD1. Correlation between disease phenotypes and stability changes suggest that the changes in SOD1 stability correlate with ALS patient survival times. Thus, the results clearly demonstrate the importance of protein stability in SOD1 pathogenicity.