bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Genomic islands of differentiation in two songbird species reveal candidate genes for hybrid female sterility
Authors: Mořkovský Libor , Janoušek Václav , Reif Jiří , Rídl Jakub , Pačes Jan , Choleva Lukáš , Janko Karel , Nachman Michael W. , Reifová Radka 
Published: January 2018

AbstractHybrid sterility is a common first step in the evolution of postzygotic reproductive isolation. According to Haldane's Rule, it affects predominantly the heterogametic sex. While the genetic basis of hybrid male sterility in organisms with heterogametic males has been studied for decades, the genetic basis of hybrid female sterility in organisms with heterogametic females has received much less attention. We investigated the genetic basis of reproductive isolation in two closely related avian species, the common nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos) and the thrush nightingale (L. luscinia), that hybridize in a secondary contact zone and produce viable hybrid progeny. In accordance with Haldane's Rule, hybrid females are sterile, while hybrid males are fertile, allowing gene flow to occur between the species. Using transcriptomic data from multiple individuals of both nightingale species, we identified genomic islands of high differentiation (FST) and of high divergence (Dxy), and we analysed gene content and patterns of molecular evolution within these islands. Interestingly, we found that these islands were enriched for genes related to female meiosis and metabolism. The islands of high differentiation and divergence were also characterized by higher levels of linkage disequilibrium than the rest of the genome in both species indicating that they might be situated in genomic regions of low recombination. This study provides one of the first insights into genetic basis of hybrid female sterility in organisms with heterogametic females.
Genetic background affects pathogenicity island function and pathogen emergence in Streptomyces
Authors: Zhang Yucheng , Jiang Guangde , Ding Yousong , Loria Rosemary 
Published: January 2018

SummaryWith few exceptions, thaxtomin A (ThxA), a nitrated diketopiperazine, is the pathogenicity determinant for plant‐pathogenic Streptomyces species. In Streptomyces scabiei (syn. S. scabies), the ThxA biosynthetic cluster is located within a 177‐kb mobile pathogenicity island (PAI), called the toxicogenic region (TR). In S. turgidiscabies, the ThxA biosynthetic cluster is located within a 674‐kb pathogenicity island (PAIst). The emergence of new plant pathogens occurs in this genus, but not frequently. This raises the question of whether the mobilization of these pathogenicity regions, through mating, is widespread and whether TR and PAIst can confer plant pathogenicity. We showed that ThxA biosynthetic clusters on TR and PAIst were transferred into strains from five non‐pathogenic Streptomyces species through mating with S. scabiei and S. turgidiscabies. However, not all of the transconjugants produced ThxA and exhibited the virulence phenotype, indicating that the genetic background of the recipient strains affects the functionality of the ThxA biosynthetic cluster and therefore would be expected to affect the emergence of novel pathogenic Streptomyces species. Thxs have been patented as natural herbicides, but have yet to be commercialized. Our results also demonstrated the potential of the heterologous production of ThxA as a natural and biodegradable herbicide in non‐pathogenic Streptomyces species.
Carving out the nation with the enemy's kin: double strategy of boundary‐making in Transnistria and Abkhazia
Authors: Dembińska Magdalena 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThe 1992–1993 civil wars in Moldova and in Georgia ended with a de facto separation of Transnistria and Abkhazia, respectively. These de facto states are both inhabited by the kin to the ‘enemy’ across the administrative border: Moldovans and Georgians/Mingrelians. How do the de facto authorities foster a collective identity in support of their claim for legitimacy and statehood? Engaging with Wimmer's taxonomy of boundary‐making, this article argues that nation‐building involves not only expansion but also, simultaneously, contraction. Transnistria constructs a higher‐level identity category and co‐opts and contracts the Moldovan category, separating it into ‘our’ and Bessarabian Moldovans in order to incorporate the former into the Transnistrian people. In Abkhazia, the nation‐building project establishes the Abkhazs as the titular nation allowing, however, for the construction of an Abkhazian people that would include minorities, with Gal/i Georgians said to be Mingrelians, distinct from Georgians. These cases show that elites combine different ethnic boundary‐making strategies in order to implement their favoured identity project and to legitimize the claimed statehood.
Transcription factor EB influences invasion and migration in oral squamous cell carcinomas
Authors: Sakamoto H , Yamashita K , Okamoto K , Kadowaki T , Sakai E , Umeda M , Tsukuba T 
Published: January 2018

ObjectiveTranscription factor EB (TFEB) is a master regulator of lysosomal biogenesis and plays an important role in various cancers. However, the function of TFEB in oral squamous cell carcinomas has not been examined. The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of TFEB in oral squamous cell carcinomas.Materials and MethodsExpression levels of TFEB were examined in six different human oral squamous carcinoma cells: HSC2, HSC3, HSC4, SAS, OSC20, and SCC25. Knockdown of TFEB using small interfering RNA in HSC2 and HSC4 cells was performed. Cell morphology was observed by immunofluorescence microscopy. Cell proliferation, invasion, and adhesion were analyzed.ResultsExpression levels of TFEB were high in HSC2, moderate in HSC4 and SCC25, and low in HSC3 and OSC20 cells. Knockdown of TFEB did not affect proliferation of HSC2 and HSC4 cells, but did induced enlargement of lysosomes and endosomes in HSC4 cells. TFEB silencing reduced invasion and migration of these HSC cell squamous carcinoma cells; however, increased cell adhesion was also observed.ConclusionTFEB knockdown reduces invasion and migration of cancer cells, likely through lysosomal regulation. Taken together, TFEB influences cell invasion and migration of oral squamous cell carcinomas.
Detecting glaucomatous progression with infrequent visual field testing
Authors: Anderson Andrew J. , Asokan Rashima , Murata Hiroshi , Asaoka Ryo 
Published: January 2018

AbstractPurposePrevious work has investigated whether a significant regression slope in the first 2 years for the summary index Mean Deviation (MD) is predictive of rapid (≤−2 dB year−1) glaucomatous visual field progression. This work assumed six visual fields were obtained as per management guidelines, but in clinical practice commonly only two or three fields are measured. We used simulation methods to investigate how reducing test frequency influences the prediction of rapid visual field progression, along with the influence of including criteria based on regression slope.MethodsWe simulated visual field series (N = 100 000) spaced annually in the first 2 years and then biennially. We calculated positive and negative predictive values (PPV & NPV) for detecting rapid progression, based on a criterion of a significant negative regression slope of any magnitude, or of a magnitude less than a particular limit. We performed a second simulation using test frequency and disease prevalence parameters from a dataset of 255 glaucoma patients from The University of Tokyo Hospital, to check the validity of our method.ResultsPrediction values at 2 years were slightly less than those obtained using six visual fields. An addition of an appropriate slope based criterion materially improved PPV, with little detrimental effect on NPV. Simulated prediction values for the Tokyo dataset were similar to those determined empirically.ConclusionInfrequent visual field testing does not dramatically alter predictive values at 2 years, but does substantially delay when significant progression may first be detected.
High‐density contact and noninvasive mapping of focal atrial tachycardia: Evidence of dual endocardial exits from an epicardial focus
Authors: Yamashita Seigo , Hooks Darren A. , Cheniti Ghassen , Jais Pierre 
Published: January 2018

AbstractWe report a case of recurrent focal atrial tachycardia (AT) which mechanisms could be resolved by using noninvasive electrocardiographic imaging (ECGI) reconstructing epicardial potentials and rapid high‐density endocardial contact mapping (Rhythmia™, Boston Scientific, Natick, MA, USA). ECGI demonstrated focal activity from the anterior of the left superior pulmonary vein antrum, although Rhythmia™ showed focal activity from the high anterior left atrium with the 2nd focus originating from the site where identical to the focus on the ECGI map with slightly delay (by 8 ms). Elimination of the AT by radiofrequency applications for both of the endocardial focuses indicated the dual endocardial exits from an epicardial focus.
Extubation in the operating room after pediatric liver transplant: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Gurnaney Harshad G. , Cook‐Sather Scott D. , Shaked Abraham , Olthoff Kim M. , Rand Elizabeth B. , Lingappan Arul M. , Rehman Mohamed A. 
Published: January 2018

SummaryBackgroundEarly extubation immediately following liver transplantation is increasingly common in adult practice. Some pediatric institutions have begun to adopt this strategy. Careful patient selection is essential in minimizing risk.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study evaluated infants and children who underwent liver transplantation between July 2011 and December 2014. Our primary objective was to determine early extubation rate. Secondary objectives were to identify clinical factors associated with successful early extubation compared with delayed extubation and to examine significant postoperative complications, intensive care unit length of stay, and hospital length of stay.ResultsThe early extubation rate was 57.8% (37/64, confidence interval [CI] 44.8%‐70.1%) over this 3.5‐year period, increasing from 42% in 2012 to 58% by the end of 2014. The patients in the early extubation group were more likely to be older than the delayed extubation group (mean [SD], 7 [5.3] years vs 3.5 [5.5] years, difference between the mean [95% CI], 3.5 [0.8, 6.2] years); were to have come from home on the day of surgery (78.4% vs 25.9%); and were less likely to be listed as United Network for Organ Sharing status 1A (2.7% vs 25.9%). The early extubation group received less packed red blood cell volume (mean [SD], 9 [13.2] mL/kg vs 40.6 [48.5] mL/kg, difference between the mean [95% CI], 31.6 [95% CI 14.9, 48.3] mL/kg) and fresh‐frozen plasma (mean 2.7 [SD 9.5] vs 13.3 [SD15.1], difference between the mean [95% CI], 10.5 [4.4,16.7] mL/kg). None of the patients in the early extubation group required reintubation in the first 24 hours following transplant and none experienced hepatic artery thrombosis. The early extubation group had a shorter average postoperative PICU stay (mean 3.8 [SD 2.1] days vs 17.6 [SD 31.3] days, difference between the mean [95% CI], 9.5 [4.3, 14.7] days) and a shorter postoperative hospital stay overall (mean 10.7 [SD 4.3] days vs 29.7 [SD 43.1] days, difference between the mean [95% CI], 19.1 [8.6, 29.6] days).ConclusionMore than half of our pediatric liver transplant patients were successfully extubated in the operating room immediately following surgery. We believe early extubation to be safe when employed in selected subpopulations of pediatric patients undergoing liver transplantation.
Giant congenital melanocytic nevus with vascular malformation and epidermal cysts associated with a somatic activating mutation in BRAF
Authors: Etchevers Heather C. , Rose Christian , Kahle Birgit , Vorbringer Helmuth , Fina Frédéric , Heux Pauline , Berger Irina , Schwarz Benjamin , Zaffran Stéphane , Macagno Nicolas , Krengel Sven 
Published: January 2018

SummaryGiant congenital melanocytic nevi may be symptomatically isolated or syndromic. Associations with capillary malformations are exceptional, and development of epidermal cysts has not been described. A 71‐year‐old patient with a giant congenital melanocytic nevus (CMN) of the lower back, buttocks, and thighs was asymptomatic except for unexpected hemorrhage during partial surgical excision years before. Blunt trauma at age 64 initiated recurrent, severe pain under the nevus; multiple large epidermal cysts then developed within it. Imaging and biopsy showed a large, non‐pulsatile venous malformation intermingled with the deep nevus. A low‐abundance, heterozygous BRAF c.1799T>A (p.V600E) mutation was present in both gluteal and occipital congenital nevi; additional mutations in NRAS, GNAQ, GNA11, HRAS, or PIK3CA were undetectable. This is the first demonstration of a recurrent BRAF mutation in multiple large congenital nevi from the same individual, confirming that this malformation can have multiple genetic origins. Early constitutive activation of BRAF can therefore cause unusual associations of giant nevi with vascular malformations, indicating that both pigment and endothelial cell physiology may be affected by mosaic RASopathies.
Incidence, outcomes, and resource use in children with Stevens‐Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis
Authors: Antoon James W. , Goldman Jennifer L. , Lee Brian , Schwartz Alan 
Published: January 2018

AbstractBackground/ObjectivesStevens‐Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are life‐threatening cutaneous reactions, typically to drugs or infection. The incidence and outcomes of these conditions in children are unknown. The objective of this study was to report the overall burden of Stevens‐Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis in children in the United States.MethodsWe performed a retrospective cohort analysis of children and adolescents younger than 18 years of age using the 2009 and 2012 Kids' Inpatient Database.ResultsWe identified 1486 children and adolescents hospitalized with a diagnosis of Stevens‐Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis. The national incidence per 100 000 was 6.3 for Stevens‐Johnson syndrome, 0.7 for Stevens‐Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis overlap syndrome, and 0.5 for toxic epidermal necrolysis. The highest incidence in children was in those aged 11‐15 years (38.4 per 100 000). Toxic epidermal necrolysis and Stevens‐Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis overlap syndrome were associated with longer stay, greater mortality, and higher hospital charges than those with Stevens‐Johnson syndrome. Hospital mortality was highest in children with toxic epidermal necrolysis and in children aged 0‐5 years.ConclusionsThe incidence of Stevens‐Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis in children is higher than reported in adults, and there are significant age‐based variations in incidence and outcomes across the pediatric population. Further study is needed to determine the most effective treatment strategies to reduce costs and improve outcomes in children hospitalized with severe cutaneous reactions.
Pediatric kidney transplantation and mortality: Distance to transplant center matters
Authors: Cao Bonnie , Adler Joel T. , Bababekov Yanik J. , Markmann James F. , Chang David C. , Yeh Heidi 
Published: January 2018

AbstractDistance from pediatric kidney transplant centers may be a significant barrier in accessing care for patients and families, particularly due to the lower number of pediatric kidney transplant centers compared with the number of adult centers. We performed a retrospective cohort study using data from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients to determine the effect of distance on pediatric kidney transplant waitlist outcomes. We found that distance did not play a role in the likelihood of transplantations for patients who were placed on the waitlist. However, living a greater distance from the transplant center was associated with a greater risk of death while on the waitlist. Larger volume centers attracted patients from greater distances, many of whom had other centers closer to their home. Further investigation on the role of distance to transplant center and the likelihood of being evaluated and listed for a kidney transplant would elucidate whether there are additional barriers these patients face.
Identification of a Pyranocoumarin Photosensitizer that is a Potent Inhibitor of Keratinocyte Growth
Authors: Laskin Jeffrey D. , Jan Yi‐Hua , Jetter Michele M. , Guillon Christophe D. , Mariano Thomas M. , Heck Diane E. , Heindel Ned D. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractPhotosensitizers are used in the treatment of epidermal proliferation and differentiation disorders such as psoriasis and vitiligo. In these studies, a ring‐expanded carbon homolog of the linear psoralen (furo[3,2‐g]benzopyran‐7‐one) class of photosensitizers, 4,10‐dimethyl‐2H,8H‐benzo[1,2‐b:5,4‐b′]dipyran‐2‐one (NDH2476), was synthesized and analyzed for biological activity. Following activation by ultraviolet light (UVA, 320‐400 nm), NDH2476 was found to be a potent inhibitor of keratinocyte growth (IC50 = 9 nm). Similar derivatives methylated in the pyran ring, or containing a saturated pyran ring structure, were markedly less active or inactive as photosensitizers. NDH2476 was found to intercalate and damage DNA following UVA light treatment as determined by plasmid DNA unwinding and nicking experiments. Taken together, these data demonstrate that an intact furan ring in psoralen photosensitizers is not required for keratinocyte growth inhibition or DNA damage. Our findings that low nanomolar concentrations of a benzopyranone derivative were active as a photosensitizer indicates that this or a structurally related compound may be useful in the treatment of skin diseases involving aberrant epidermal cell growth and differentiation.
My mistake? Enhanced error processing for commanded compared to passively observed actions
Authors: Weller Lisa , Schwarz Katharina A. , Kunde Wilfried , Pfister Roland 
Published: January 2018

AbstractWe often ask other people to carry out actions for us in order to reach our goals. However, these commanded actions may sometimes go awry, and goal attainment is hindered by errors of the following person. Here, we investigated how the commanding person processes these errors of their follower. Because such errors indicate that the original goal of the command is not met, error processing for these actions should be enhanced compared to passively observing another person's actions. Participants thus either commanded another agent to perform one of four key press responses or they passively observed the agent responding. The agent could respond correctly or commit an error in either case. We compared error processing of commanded and passively observed actions using observation‐related post‐error slowing (oPES) as a behavioral marker and observed‐error‐related negativity (oNE/oERN) and observed‐error positivity (oPE) as electrophysiological markers. Whereas error processing, as measured via the oERN, was similarly pronounced for commanded and observed actions, commanded actions gave rise to stronger oPES and a stronger oPE. These results suggest that enhanced monitoring is an automatic by‐product of commanding another person's actions.
Manipulating the focus of attention in working memory: Evidence for a protection of multiple items against perceptual interference
Authors: Barth Anna , Schneider Daniel 
Published: January 2018

AbstractVisual working memory representations can be shielded from interference by selective attentional focusing using retroactive cues (retro‐cues). However, it is not clear how many representations can be effectively cued and which neural mechanisms provide the protection from distractors. To address these questions, we manipulated the number of attended items by means of a retro‐cue (one, two, or three items) and presented a distractor display during the retention of information in working memory. Analyses of the raw error and a mixture model revealed that a general performance benefit was only present when one item was retro‐cued. Nevertheless, a protection of the item representations against subsequent interference occurred also after a two‐item cue. ERPs revealed a modulation of the posterior negative slow wave following the retro‐cues, reflecting the applied working memory resources dependent on the number of attended representations. Further, the distractor information was encoded into working memory only when the number of attended items was not changed by the retro‐cues (neutral and three‐item conditions), reflected by a P3b following the distractor display. These results suggest that more than one item can be effectively protected from perceptual interference. We propose that the protective effect of selective attention within working memory is based on both a reduction of the number of focused representations and the attentional refreshing of item context and features.
Pathophysiology of severe asthma: We’ve only just started
Authors: King Gregory G. , James Alan , Harkness Louise , Wark Peter A.B. 
Published: January 2018

ABSTRACTSevere asthma is defined by the high treatment requirements to partly or fully control the clinical manifestations of disease. It remains a problem worldwide with a large burden for individuals and health services. The key to improving targeted treatments, reducing disease burden and improving patient outcomes is a better understanding of the pathophysiology and mechanisms of severe disease. The heterogeneity, complexity and difficulties in undertaking clinical studies in severe asthma remain challenges to achieving better understanding and better outcomes. In this review, we focus on the structural, mechanical and inflammatory abnormalities that are relevant in severe asthma.
Continuous Inference for Aggregated Point Process Data
Authors: Taylor Benjamin M. , Andrade-Pacheco Ricardo , Sturrock Hugh J. W. 
Published: January 2018

SummaryThe paper introduces new methods for inference with count data registered on a set of aggregation units. Such data are omnipresent in epidemiology because of confidentiality issues: it is much more common to know the county in which an individual resides, say, than to know their exact location in space. Inference for aggregated data has traditionally made use of models for discrete spatial variation, e.g. conditional auto-regressive models. We argue that such discrete models can be improved from both a scientific and an inferential perspective by using spatiotemporally continuous models to model the aggregated counts directly. We introduce methods for delivering (limiting) continuous inference with spatiotemporal aggregated count data in which the aggregation units might change over time and are subject to uncertainty. We illustrate our methods by using two examples: from epidemiology, spatial prediction of malaria incidence in Namibia, and, from politics, forecasting voting under the proposed changes to parliamentary boundaries in the UK.