Showing papers by "Georgia State University published in 2017"
University of Maryland, Baltimore1, RTI International2, University of the West Indies3, University of California, Berkeley4, Harvard University5, Georgia State University6, Brigham and Women's Hospital7, University of Pennsylvania8, American University9, World Bank Group10, University College London11
TL;DR: Recent scientific progress and global commitments to early childhood development are examined, with new neuroscientific evidence linking early adversity and nurturing care with brain development and function throughout the life course.
1,534 citations
University of Washington1, University of British Columbia2, Stanford University3, University of Guelph4, University of Saskatchewan5, American Museum of Natural History6, University of Victoria7, University of Wyoming8, University of Waterloo9, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources10, Oregon State University11, Memorial University of Newfoundland12, Cornell University13, Colorado State University14, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania15, Georgia State University16
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examine the scope and purpose of eighteen subfields of classic, interdisciplinary and applied conservation social sciences and articulates ten distinct contributions that the social sciences can make to understanding and improving conservation.
717 citations
TL;DR: Propensity score matching (PSM) has become a popular technique for estimating average treatment effects (ATEs) in accounting research as mentioned in this paper, however, studies often oversell the capabilities of PSM, fail to disclose important design choices and/or implement PSM in a theoretically inconsistent manner.
Abstract: Propensity score matching (PSM) has become a popular technique for estimating average treatment effects (ATEs) in accounting research. In this study, we discuss the usefulness and limitations of PSM relative to more traditional multiple regression (MR) analysis. We discuss several PSM design choices and review the use of PSM in 86 articles in leading accounting journals from 2008–2014. We document a significant increase in the use of PSM from zero studies in 2008 to 26 studies in 2014. However, studies often oversell the capabilities of PSM, fail to disclose important design choices, and/or implement PSM in a theoretically inconsistent manner. We then empirically illustrate complications associated with PSM in three accounting research settings. We first demonstrate that when the treatment is not binary, PSM tends to confine analyses to a subsample of observations where the effect size is likely to be smallest. We also show that seemingly innocuous design choices greatly influence sample composi...
673 citations
University of British Columbia1, University of Washington2, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources3, University of Guelph4, University of Saskatchewan5, American Museum of Natural History6, University of Waterloo7, Oregon State University8, Cornell University9, Colorado State University10, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania11, University of Victoria12, Memorial University of Newfoundland13, Georgia State University14
TL;DR: Mainstreaming the conservation social sciences will facilitate the uptake of the full range of insights and contributions from these fields into conservation policy and practice and enable more ecologically effective and socially just conservation.
Abstract: Despite broad recognition of the value of social sciences and increasingly vocal calls for better engagement with the human element of conservation, the conservation social sciences remain misunderstood and underutilized in practice. The conservation social sciences can provide unique and important contributions to society's understanding of the relationships between humans and nature and to improving conservation practice and outcomes. There are 4 barriers—ideological, institutional, knowledge, and capacity—to meaningful integration of the social sciences into conservation. We provide practical guidance on overcoming these barriers to mainstream the social sciences in conservation science, practice, and policy. Broadly, we recommend fostering knowledge on the scope and contributions of the social sciences to conservation, including social scientists from the inception of interdisciplinary research projects, incorporating social science research and insights during all stages of conservation planning and implementation, building social science capacity at all scales in conservation organizations and agencies, and promoting engagement with the social sciences in and through global conservation policy-influencing organizations. Conservation social scientists, too, need to be willing to engage with natural science knowledge and to communicate insights and recommendations clearly. We urge the conservation community to move beyond superficial engagement with the conservation social sciences. A more inclusive and integrative conservation science—one that includes the natural and social sciences—will enable more ecologically effective and socially just conservation. Better collaboration among social scientists, natural scientists, practitioners, and policy makers will facilitate a renewed and more robust conservation. Mainstreaming the conservation social sciences will facilitate the uptake of the full range of insights and contributions from these fields into conservation policy and practice.
316 citations
TL;DR: A simple data assimilation framework for calibrating mathematical models based on ordinary differential equation models using time series data describing the temporal progression of case counts relating to population growth or infectious disease transmission dynamics is reviewed.
312 citations
TL;DR: The causal effects of the ACA on health insurance coverage in 2014 using data from the American Community Survey are estimated using difference- in-difference-in-differences models that exploit cross-sectional variation in the intensity of treatment arising from state participation in the Medicaid expansion and local area pre-ACA uninsured rates.
Abstract: The Affordable Care Act (ACA) aimed to achieve nearly universal health insurance coverage in the United States through a combination of insurance market reforms, mandates, subsidies, health insurance exchanges, and Medicaid expansions, most of which took effect in 2014. This paper estimates the causal effects of the ACA on health insurance coverage in 2014 using data from the American Community Survey. We utilize difference-in-difference-in-differences models that exploit cross-sectional variation in the intensity of treatment arising from state participation in the Medicaid expansion and local area pre-ACA uninsured rates. This strategy allows us to identify the effects of the ACA in both Medicaid expansion and non-expansion states. Our preferred specification suggests that, at the average pre-treatment uninsured rate, the full ACA increased the proportion of residents with insurance by 5.9 percentage points compared to 2.8 percentage points in states that did not expand Medicaid. Private insurance expansions from the ACA were due to increases in both employer-provided and non-group coverage. The coverage gains from the full ACA were largest for those without a college degree, non-whites, young adults, unmarried individuals, and those without children in the home. We find no evidence that the Medicaid expansion crowded out private coverage.
312 citations
TL;DR: It is indicated that the microbiota can be directly impacted by these commonly used food additives, in a manner that subsequently drives intestinal inflammation.
Abstract: Objective The intestinal microbiota plays a central role in the development of many chronic inflammatory diseases including IBD and metabolic syndrome. Administration of substances that alter microbiota composition, including the synthetic dietary emulsifiers polysorbate 80 (P80) and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), can promote such inflammatory disorders. However, that inflammation itself impacts microbiota composition has obfuscated defining the extent to which these compounds or other substances act directly upon the microbiota versus acting on host parameters that promote inflammation, which subsequently reshapes the microbiota. Design We examined the direct impact of CMC and P80 on the microbiota using the mucosal simulator of the human intestinal microbial ecosystem (M-SHIME) model that maintains a complex stable human microbiota in the absence of a live host. Results This approach revealed that both P80 and CMC acted directly upon human microbiota to increase its proinflammatory potential, as revealed by increased levels of bioactive flagellin. The CMC-induced increase in flagellin was rapid (1 day) and driven by altered microbiota gene expression. In contrast, the P80-induced flagellin increase occurred more slowly and was closely associated with altered species composition. Transfer of both emulsifier-treated M-SHIME microbiotas to germ-free recipient mice recapitulated many of the host and microbial alterations observed in mice directly treated with emulsifiers. Conclusions These results demonstrate a novel paradigm of deconstructing host–microbiota interactions and indicate that the microbiota can be directly impacted by these commonly used food additives, in a manner that subsequently drives intestinal inflammation.
309 citations
TL;DR: Findings show that metformin attenuated the development of atherosclerosis by reducing Drp1-mediated mitochondrial fission in an AMPK-dependent manner and may be a therapeutic approach for treating macrovascular complications in patients with diabetes.
Abstract: Metformin is a widely used antidiabetic drug that exerts cardiovascular protective effects in patients with diabetes. How metformin protects against diabetes-related cardiovascular diseases remains poorly understood. Here, we show that metformin abated the progression of diabetes-accelerated atherosclerosis by inhibiting mitochondrial fission in endothelial cells. Metformin treatments markedly reduced mitochondrial fragmentation, mitigated mitochondrial-derived superoxide release, improved endothelial-dependent vasodilation, inhibited vascular inflammation, and suppressed atherosclerotic lesions in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic ApoE−/− mice. In high glucose–exposed endothelial cells, metformin treatment and adenoviral overexpression of constitutively active AMPK downregulated mitochondrial superoxide, lowered levels of dynamin-related protein (Drp1) and its translocation into mitochondria, and prevented mitochondrial fragmentation. In contrast, AMPK-α2 deficiency abolished the effects of metformin on Drp1 expression, oxidative stress, and atherosclerosis in diabetic ApoE−/−/AMPK-α2−/− mice, indicating that metformin exerts an antiatherosclerotic action in vivo via the AMPK-mediated blockage of Drp1-mediated mitochondrial fission. Consistently, mitochondrial division inhibitor 1, a potent and selective Drp1 inhibitor, reduced mitochondrial fragmentation, attenuated oxidative stress, ameliorated endothelial dysfunction, inhibited inflammation, and suppressed atherosclerosis in diabetic mice. These findings show that metformin attenuated the development of atherosclerosis by reducing Drp1-mediated mitochondrial fission in an AMPK-dependent manner. Suppression of mitochondrial fission may be a therapeutic approach for treating macrovascular complications in patients with diabetes.
258 citations
TL;DR: It is shown that genetic variants associated with decreased hippocampal volume are also associated with increased risk for Alzheimer's disease (rg=−0.155), and these findings suggest novel biological pathways through which human genetic variation influences hippocampus volume and risk for neuropsychiatric illness.
Abstract: The hippocampal formation is a brain structure integrally involved in episodic memory, spatial navigation, cognition and stress responsiveness. Structural abnormalities in hippocampal volume and shape are found in several common neuropsychiatric disorders. To identify the genetic underpinnings of hippocampal structure here we perform a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 33,536 individuals and discover six independent loci significantly associated with hippocampal volume, four of them novel. Of the novel loci, three lie within genes (ASTN2, DPP4 and MAST4) and one is found 200 kb upstream of SHH. A hippocampal subfield analysis shows that a locus within the MSRB3 gene shows evidence of a localized effect along the dentate gyrus, subiculum, CA1 and fissure. Further, we show that genetic variants associated with decreased hippocampal volume are also associated with increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease (rg=−0.155). Our findings suggest novel biological pathways through which human genetic variation influences hippocampal volume and risk for neuropsychiatric illness.
256 citations
TL;DR: A heterogeneous-network-based epidemic model that incorporates the two kinds of methods to describe rumor spreading in MSNs is proposed that can restrain rumors in a continuous or periodical manner and guarantee cost efficiency.
Abstract: With the popularity of mobile devices, mobile social networks (MSNs) have become an important platform for information dissemination. However, the spread of rumors in MSNs present a massive social threat. Currently, there are two kinds of methods to address this: blocking rumors at influential users and spreading truth to clarify rumors. However, most existing works either overlook the cost of various methods or only consider different methods individually. This paper proposes a heterogeneous-network-based epidemic model that incorporates the two kinds of methods to describe rumor spreading in MSNs. Moreover, two cost-efficient strategies are designed to restrain rumors. The first strategy is the real-time optimization strategy that minimizes the rumor-restraining cost by optimally combining various rumor-restraining methods such that a rumor can be extinct within an expected time period. The second strategy is the pulse spreading truth and continuous blocking rumor strategy that restrains rumor spreading through spreading truth periodically. The two strategies can restrain rumors in a continuous or periodical manner and guarantee cost efficiency. The experiments toward the Digg2009 data set demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed model and the efficiency of the two strategies.
249 citations
Umeå University1, Case Western Reserve University2, University of California, San Francisco3, University of Copenhagen4, Georgia State University5, Duke University6, Institute of Cancer Research7, University of Paris8, Baylor College of Medicine9, Mayo Clinic10, University of Bonn11, University of Leeds12, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich13, Technische Universität München14, The Breast Cancer Research Foundation15, McGill University16, Dartmouth College17, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center18, University of Alberta19, NorthShore University HealthSystem20, Tel Aviv University21, Sheba Medical Center22, University of Texas at Austin23, University of Southern California24, Yale University25, Brigham and Women's Hospital26
TL;DR: A meta-analysis of existing GWAS and two new GWAS substantiate that genetic susceptibility to GBM and non-GBM tumors are highly distinct, which likely reflects different etiology.
Abstract: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have transformed our understanding of glioma susceptibility, but individual studies have had limited power to identify risk loci. We performed a meta-analysis of existing GWAS and two new GWAS, which totaled 12,496 cases and 18,190 controls. We identified five new loci for glioblastoma (GBM) at 1p31.3 (rs12752552; P = 2.04 × 10-9, odds ratio (OR) = 1.22), 11q14.1 (rs11233250; P = 9.95 × 10-10, OR = 1.24), 16p13.3 (rs2562152; P = 1.93 × 10-8, OR = 1.21), 16q12.1 (rs10852606; P = 1.29 × 10-11, OR = 1.18) and 22q13.1 (rs2235573; P = 1.76 × 10-10, OR = 1.15), as well as eight loci for non-GBM tumors at 1q32.1 (rs4252707; P = 3.34 × 10-9, OR = 1.19), 1q44 (rs12076373; P = 2.63 × 10-10, OR = 1.23), 2q33.3 (rs7572263; P = 2.18 × 10-10, OR = 1.20), 3p14.1 (rs11706832; P = 7.66 × 10-9, OR = 1.15), 10q24.33 (rs11598018; P = 3.39 × 10-8, OR = 1.14), 11q21 (rs7107785; P = 3.87 × 10-10, OR = 1.16), 14q12 (rs10131032; P = 5.07 × 10-11, OR = 1.33) and 16p13.3 (rs3751667; P = 2.61 × 10-9, OR = 1.18). These data substantiate that genetic susceptibility to GBM and non-GBM tumors are highly distinct, which likely reflects different etiology.
ETH Zurich1, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile2, Peking University3, California Institute of Technology4, Georgia State University5, Goddard Space Flight Center6, National Taiwan Normal University7, University of Maryland, College Park8, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Japan9, Andrés Bello National University10, Kyoto University11
TL;DR: The first catalog and data release of the Swift-BAT AGN Spectroscopic Survey is presented in this article, which includes redshift determination, absorption and emission line measurements, and black hole mass and accretion rate estimates for the majority of obscured and unobscured AGNs.
Abstract: We present the first catalog and data release of the Swift-BAT AGN Spectroscopic Survey. We analyze optical spectra of the majority of the detected AGNs (77%, 642/836)based on their 14–195 keV emission in the 70-month Swift-BAT all-sky catalog. This includes redshift determination, absorption and emission-line measurements, and black hole mass and accretion rate estimates for the majority of obscured and unobscured AGNs (74%, 473/642), with 340 measured for the first time. With ~90% of sources at z 10^(21/9) cm^(−2). Seyfert 1.9, however, show a range of column densities. Compared to narrow-line AGNs in the SDSS, the X-ray-selected AGNs have a larger fraction of dusty host galaxies (Hα/Hβ > 5), suggesting that these types of AGN are missed in optical surveys. Using the [O III] λ5007/Hβ and [N II] λ6583/Hα emission-line diagnostic, about half of the sources are classified as Seyferts; ~15% reside in dusty galaxies that lack an Hβdetection, but for which the upper limits on line emission imply either a Seyfert or LINER, ~15% are in galaxies with weak or no emission lines despite high-quality spectra, and a few percent each are LINERS, composite galaxies, H II regions, or in known beamed AGNs.
TL;DR: For example, the authors found that highly novel papers are more likely to be a top 1% highly cited paper in the long run, to inspire follow-on highly cited research, and to be cited in a broader set of disciplines and in disciplines that are more distant from their home field.
Washington University in St. Louis1, National Institutes of Health2, Georgia State University3, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases4, Friedrich Loeffler Institute5, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation6, Columbia University7, University of Texas Medical Branch8, Colorado State University9, Yeshiva University10, University of Queensland11, University of Marburg12, University of Warwick13, Mayo Clinic14, Zhejiang University15, World Health Organization16, Erasmus University Rotterdam17, New York University18, Queensland University of Technology19, Public Health England20, Auckland University of Technology21, Kyoto University22, Huazhong Agricultural University23, Laval University24, Okayama University25, United States Geological Survey26, Northwestern University27, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai28, Boston University29, Novosibirsk State University30, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna31, University of Medicine and Health Sciences32, Texas Biomedical Research Institute33, Texas A&M University34, University of Auckland35, University of St Andrews36, University of Melbourne37, Queen's University Belfast38, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention39, University of Freiburg40, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory41, University of Missouri42, Hokkaido University43, Pasteur Institute44, Claude Bernard University Lyon 145, National University of Singapore46, University of Rochester47, Kansas State University48
TL;DR: The updated taxonomy of the order Mononegavirales is presented, with non-Latinized binomial species names replaced all paramyxovirus and pneumovirus species names, thereby accomplishing application of binomial Species names throughout the entire order.
Abstract: In 2017, the order Mononegavirales was expanded by the inclusion of a total of 69 novel species. Five new rhabdovirus genera and one new nyamivirus genus were established to harbor 41 of these species, whereas the remaining new species were assigned to already established genera. Furthermore, non-Latinized binomial species names replaced all paramyxovirus and pneumovirus species names, thereby accomplishing application of binomial species names throughout the entire order. This article presents the updated taxonomy of the order Mononegavirales as now accepted by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV).
TL;DR: In adults at risk for diabetes, LSM and medications (weight loss and insulin-sensitizing agents) successfully reduced diabetes incidence, suggesting that interventions to preserve effects are needed.
Abstract: Importance Diabetes prevention is imperative to slow worldwide growth of diabetes-related morbidity and mortality. Yet the long-term efficacy of prevention strategies remains unknown. Objective To estimate aggregate long-term effects of different diabetes prevention strategies on diabetes incidence. Data Sources Systematic searches of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases. The initial search was conducted on January 14, 2014, and was updated on February 20, 2015. Search terms included prediabetes , primary prevention , and risk reduction . Study Selection Eligible randomized clinical trials evaluated lifestyle modification (LSM) and medication interventions (>6 months) for diabetes prevention in adults (age ≥18 years) at risk for diabetes, reporting between-group differences in diabetes incidence, published between January 1, 1990, and January 1, 2015. Studies testing alternative therapies and bariatric surgery, as well as those involving participants with gestational diabetes, type 1 or 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome, were excluded. Data Extraction and Synthesis Reviewers extracted the number of diabetes cases at the end of active intervention in treatment and control groups. Random-effects meta-analyses were used to obtain pooled relative risks (RRs), and reported incidence rates were used to compute pooled risk differences (RDs). Main Outcomes and Measures The main outcome was aggregate RRs of diabetes in treatment vs control participants. Treatment subtypes (ie, LSM components, medication classes) were stratified. To estimate sustainability, post-washout and follow-up RRs for medications and LSM interventions, respectively, were examined. Results Forty-three studies were included and pooled in meta-analysis (49 029 participants; mean [SD] age, 57.3 [8.7] years; 48.0% [n = 23 549] men): 19 tested medications; 19 evaluated LSM, and 5 tested combined medications and LSM. At the end of the active intervention (range, 0.5-6.3 years), LSM was associated with an RR reduction of 39% (RR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.54-0.68), and medications were associated with an RR reduction of 36% (RR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.54-0.76). The observed RD for LSM and medication studies was 4.0 (95% CI, 1.8-6.3) cases per 100 person-years or a number-needed-to-treat of 25. At the end of the washout or follow-up periods, LSM studies (mean follow-up, 7.2 years; range, 5.7-9.4 years) achieved an RR reduction of 28% (RR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.60-0.86); medication studies (mean follow-up, 17 weeks; range, 2-52 weeks) showed no sustained RR reduction (RR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.79-1.14). Conclusions and Relevance In adults at risk for diabetes, LSM and medications (weight loss and insulin-sensitizing agents) successfully reduced diabetes incidence. Medication effects were short lived. The LSM interventions were sustained for several years; however, their effects declined with time, suggesting that interventions to preserve effects are needed.
TL;DR: A comprehensive and updated review of the impact of decentralization on the economy, society and politics can be found in this article, where the authors discuss the main findings in the existing literature on the effects of decentralisation on a relevant list of socioeconomic variables.
Abstract: In this paper we offer a comprehensive and updated review of the impact of fiscal decentralization on the economy, society and politics. We start with the examination of two crucial and yet unsolved issues in the literature on decentralization: its proper measurement and the potential endogeneity of fiscal decentralization with many of the variables of interest we are trying to investigate. Then we discuss the main findings in the existing literature on the effects of decentralization on a relevant list of socio-economic variables. The impact of fiscal decentralization reforms on political institutions is also considered. Complete answers to the many questions on the impact of fiscal decentralization are not likely to be certain but overall there are reasons to be optimistic about the overall positive impact of the decentralized systems that have been introduced all over the world in the past several decades. The survey offered in this paper by necessity has to be selective but it presents a balanced view of what is known and what is not yet known opening room for further research and practice on fiscal decentralization.
TL;DR: A survey of recent security advances in smart grid, by a data driven approach around the security vulnerabilities and solutions within the entire lifecycle of smart grid data, which are systematically decomposed into four sequential stages.
Abstract: With the integration of advanced computing and communication technologies, smart grid is considered as the next-generation power system, which promises self healing, resilience, sustainability, and efficiency to the energy critical infrastructure. The smart grid innovation brings enormous challenges and initiatives across both industry and academia, in which the security issue emerges to be a critical concern. In this paper, we present a survey of recent security advances in smart grid, by a data driven approach. Compared with existing related works, our survey is centered around the security vulnerabilities and solutions within the entire lifecycle of smart grid data, which are systematically decomposed into four sequential stages: 1) data generation; 2) data acquisition; 3) data storage; and 4) data processing. Moreover, we further review the security analytics in smart grid, which employs data analytics to ensure smart grid security. Finally, an effort to shed light on potential future research concludes this paper.
Stockholm County Council1, Karolinska Institutet2, King's College London3, Southern Methodist University4, Radboud University Nijmegen5, Cornell University6, Emory University7, Griffith University8, Harvard University9, University of Sydney10, Boston University11, University of Minnesota12, Washington University in St. Louis13, University of Louisville14, Charité15, Rush University Medical Center16, Tulane University17, University of Texas at Austin18, University of South Florida19, Veterans Health Administration20, Iowa State University21, City University of New York22, Georgia State University23, University of Florida24, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai25, Great Ormond Street Hospital26
TL;DR: D-cycloserine is associated with a small augmentation effect on exposure-based therapy that is not moderated by the concurrent use of antidepressants, and participants assigned to DCS were associated with lower symptom severity.
Abstract: Importance Whether and under which conditions D-cycloserine (DCS) augments the effects of exposure-based cognitive behavior therapy for anxiety, obsessive-compulsive, and posttraumatic stress disorders is unclear. Objective To clarify whether DCS is superior to placebo in augmenting the effects of cognitive behavior therapy for anxiety, obsessive-compulsive, and posttraumatic stress disorders and to evaluate whether antidepressants interact with DCS and the effect of potential moderating variables. Data Sources PubMed, EMBASE, and PsycINFO were searched from inception to February 10, 2016. Reference lists of previous reviews and meta-analyses and reports of randomized clinical trials were also checked. Study Selection Studies were eligible for inclusion if they were (1) double-blind randomized clinical trials of DCS as an augmentation strategy for exposure-based cognitive behavior therapy and (2) conducted in humans diagnosed as having specific phobia, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder with or without agoraphobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or posttraumatic stress disorder. Data Extraction and Synthesis Raw data were obtained from the authors and quality controlled. Data were ranked to ensure a consistent metric across studies (score range, 0-100). We used a 3-level multilevel model nesting repeated measures of outcomes within participants, who were nested within studies. Results Individual participant data were obtained for 21 of 22 eligible trials, representing 1047 of 1073 eligible participants. When controlling for antidepressant use, participants receiving DCS showed greater improvement from pretreatment to posttreatment (mean difference, −3.62; 95% CI, −0.81 to −6.43; P = .01; d = −0.25) but not from pretreatment to midtreatment (mean difference, −1.66; 95% CI, −4.92 to 1.60; P = .32; d = −0.14) or from pretreatment to follow-up (mean difference, −2.98, 95% CI, −5.99 to 0.03; P = .05; d = −0.19). Additional analyses showed that participants assigned to DCS were associated with lower symptom severity than those assigned to placebo at posttreatment and at follow-up. Antidepressants did not moderate the effects of DCS. None of the prespecified patient-level or study-level moderators was associated with outcomes. Conclusions and Relevance D-cycloserine is associated with a small augmentation effect on exposure-based therapy. This effect is not moderated by the concurrent use of antidepressants. Further research is needed to identify patient and/or therapy characteristics associated with DCS response.
TL;DR: Limiting the range of e-cigarette flavors may benefit youth and young adult prevention efforts, but it is unclear what impact this change would have on adult smoking cessation.
Abstract: The purpose of this study is to investigate how the use of flavored e-cigarettes varies between youth (12–17 years old), young adults (18–29 years old), and older adults (30 + years old). Cross-sectional surveys of school-going youth (n = 3907) and young adult college students (n = 5482) in Texas, and young adults and older adults (n = 6051) nationwide were administered in 2014–2015. Proportions and 95% confidence intervals were used to describe the percentage of e-cigarette use at initiation and in the past 30 days that was flavored, among current e-cigarette users. Chi-square tests were applied to examine differences by combustible tobacco product use and demographic factors. Most e-cigarette users said their first and “usual” e-cigarettes were flavored. At initiation, the majority of Texas school-going youth (98%), Texas young adult college students (95%), and young adults (71.2%) nationwide said their first e-cigarettes were flavored to taste like something other than tobacco, compared to 44.1% of older adults nationwide. Fruit and candy flavors predominated for all groups; and, for youth, flavors were an especially salient reason to use e-cigarettes. Among adults, the use of tobacco flavor at initiation was common among dual users (e-cigarettes + combustible tobacco), while other flavors were more common among former cigarette smokers (P = 0.03). Restricting the range of e-cigarette flavors (e.g., eliminating sweet flavors, like fruit and candy) may benefit youth and young adult prevention efforts. However, it is unclear what impact this change would have on adult smoking cessation.
TL;DR: It is shown that mice lacking BAT Comparative Gene Identification-58 (CGI-58), a lipolytic activator essential for the stimulated LD lipolysis, have normal thermogenic capacity and are not cold sensitive, and an essential role of WATlipolysis in fueling thermogenesis during fasting is uncovered.
TL;DR: An overview of state-of-the-art computational studies on subnanosecond events in rhodopsins, photoactive yellow proteins, phytochromes, and some other photoresponsive proteins where photoinduced double-bond isomerization occurs is presented.
Abstract: Ultrafast processes in light-absorbing proteins have been implicated in the primary step in the light-to-energy conversion and the initialization of photoresponsive biological functions. Theory and computations have played an instrumental role in understanding the molecular mechanism of such processes, as they provide a molecular-level insight of structural and electronic changes at ultrafast time scales that often are very difficult or impossible to obtain from experiments alone. Among theoretical strategies, the application of hybrid quantum mechanics and molecular mechanics (QM/MM) models is an important approach that has reached an evident degree of maturity, resulting in several important contributions to the field. This review presents an overview of state-of-the-art computational studies on subnanosecond events in rhodopsins, photoactive yellow proteins, phytochromes, and some other photoresponsive proteins where photoinduced double-bond isomerization occurs. The review also discusses current limit...
TL;DR: A non-metabolic function of PKM2, an enzyme associated with tumours cell reliance on aerobic glycolysis, in promoting tumour cell exosome release is revealed.
Abstract: Tumour cells secrete exosomes that are involved in the remodelling of the tumour-stromal environment and promoting malignancy. The mechanisms governing tumour exosome release, however, remain incompletely understood. Here we show that tumour cell exosomes secretion is controlled by pyruvate kinase type M2 (PKM2), which is upregulated and phosphorylated in tumours. During exosome secretion, phosphorylated PKM2 serves as a protein kinase to phosphorylate synaptosome-associated protein 23 (SNAP-23), which in turn enables the formation of the SNARE complex to allow exosomes release. Direct phosphorylation assay and mass spectrometry confirm that PKM2 phosphorylates SNAP-23 at Ser95. Ectopic expression of non-phosphorylated SNAP-23 mutant (Ser95→Ala95) significantly reduces PKM2-mediated exosomes release whereas expression of selective phosphomimetic SNAP-23 mutants (Ser95→Glu95 but not Ser20→Glu20) rescues the impaired exosomes release induced by PKM2 knockdown. Our findings reveal a non-metabolic function of PKM2, an enzyme associated with tumour cell reliance on aerobic glycolysis, in promoting tumour cell exosome release.
TL;DR: This synthetic forecasting challenge inspired by the West African Ebola crisis in 2014-2015 is presented and recommended as key elements to improve coordination and inspire collaboration between modeling groups ahead of the next pandemic threat, and to assess model forecasting accuracy for a variety of known and hypothetical pathogens.
TL;DR: The results show that phosphorylation of Ser495 in PINK1 by AMPK&agr;2 was essential for efficient mitophagy to prevent the progression of HF.
Abstract: Rationale:Mitochondrial dysfunction plays an important role in heart failure (HF). However, the molecular mechanisms regulating mitochondrial functions via selective mitochondrial autophagy (mitoph...
TL;DR: Loss of SIRT2 reduces AMPK activation, promotes aging-related and Ang II–induced cardiac hypertrophy, and blunts metformin-mediated cardioprotective effects, indicating that Sirt2 will be a potential target for therapeutic interventions in aging- and stress-induced cardiachypertrophy.
Abstract: Background:Pathological cardiac hypertrophy induced by stresses such as aging and neurohumoral activation is an independent risk factor for heart failure and is considered a target for the treatmen...
National Autonomous University of Mexico1, Max Planck Society2, University of Michigan3, National Radio Astronomy Observatory4, King Abdulaziz University5, University of Guadalajara6, University of Bonn7, Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics8, California Institute of Technology9, University of Texas at Austin10, University of Grenoble11, University of São Paulo12, Georgia State University13
TL;DR: The first results of the Gould's Belt Distances Survey (GOBELINS) as mentioned in this paper were obtained for 16 stellar systems in Ophiuchus to derive their parallax and proper motion.
Abstract: We present the first results of the Gould's Belt Distances Survey (GOBELINS), a project aimed at measuring the proper motion and trigonometric parallax of a large sample of young stars in nearby regions using multi-epoch Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) radio observations. Enough VLBA detections have now been obtained for 16 stellar systems in Ophiuchus to derive their parallax and proper motion. This leads to distance determinations for individual stars with an accuracy of 0.3 to a few percent. In addition, the orbits of six multiple systems were modelled by combining absolute positions with VLBA (and, in some cases, near-infrared) angular separations. Twelve stellar systems are located in the dark cloud Lynds 1688; the individual distances for this sample are highly consistent with one another and yield a mean parallax for Lynds 1688 of ω = 7.28 ± 0.06 mas, corresponding to a distance d = 137.3 ± 1.2 pc. This represents an accuracy greater than 1%. Three systems for which astrometric elements could be measured are located in the eastern streamer (Lynds 1689) and yield an estimate of ω = 6.79 ± .016 mas, corresponding to a distance d = 147.3 ± 3.4 pc. This suggests that the eastern streamer is located about 10 pc farther than the core, but this conclusion needs to be confirmed by observations of additional sources in the eastern streamer (currently being collected). From the measured proper motions, we estimate the one-dimensional velocity dispersion in Lynds 1688 to be 2.8 ± 1.8 and 3.0 ± 2.0 km s^(−1), in R.A. and decl., respectively; these are larger than, but still consistent within 1σ of, those found in other studies.
TL;DR: In this paper, a 2D periodic nanoparticle arrays (metasurfaces) that support lattice resonances near the Rayleigh anomaly due to the electric dipole and magnetic dipole (MD) resonant coupling between the nanoparticles Silicon and core-shell particles are considered.
Abstract: To achieve efficient light control at subwavelength dimensions, plasmonic and all-dielectric nanoparticles have been utilized both as a single element as well as in the arrays Here we study 2D periodic nanoparticle arrays (metasurfaces) that support lattice resonances near the Rayleigh anomaly due to the electric dipole (ED) and magnetic dipole (MD) resonant coupling between the nanoparticles Silicon and core-shell particles are considered Our investigations are carried out using two independent numerical techniques, namely, the finite-element method and the method of coupled-dipole equations based on the Green function approach We numerically demonstrate that choosing of lattice periods independently in each mutual-perpendicular direction, it is possible to achieve a full overlap between the ED-lattice resonance and MD resonances of nanoparticles in certain spectral range and to realize the resonant lattice Kerker effect (resonant suppression of the backward scattering or reflection) At the effect conditions, the strong suppression of light reflectance in the structure is appeared due to destructive interference between electromagnetic waves scattered by ED and MD moments of every nanoparticle in the backward direction with respect to the incident light wave Influence of the array size on the revealed reflectance and transmittance behavior is discussed The resonant lattice Kerker effect based on the overlap of both ED and MD lattice resonances is also demonstrated
TL;DR: For example, the authors found that highly novel papers are more likely to be a top 1% highly cited paper in the long run, to inspire follow on highly cited research, and to be cited in a broader set of disciplines.
Abstract: Research which explores unchartered waters has a high potential for major impact but also carries a higher uncertainty of having impact. Such explorative research is often described as taking a novel approach. This study examines the complex relationship between pursuing a novel approach and impact. Viewing scientific research as a combinatorial process, we measure novelty in science by examining whether a published paper makes first time ever combinations of referenced journals, taking into account the difficulty of making such combinations. We apply this newly developed measure of novelty to all Web of Science research articles published in 2001 across all scientific disciplines. We find that highly novel papers, defined to be those that make more (distant) new combinations, deliver high gains to science: they are more likely to be a top 1% highly cited paper in the long run, to inspire follow on highly cited research, and to be cited in a broader set of disciplines. At the same time, novel research is also more risky, reflected by a higher variance in its citation performance. In addition, we find that novel research is significantly more highly cited in "foreign" fields but not in its "home" field. We also find strong evidence of delayed recognition of novel papers and that novel papers are less likely to be top cited when using a short time window. Finally, novel papers typically are published in journals with a lower than expected Impact Factor. These findings suggest that science policy, in particular funding decisions which rely on traditional bibliometric indicators based on short-term direct citation counts and Journal Impact Factors, may be biased against "high risk/high gain" novel research. The findings also caution against a mono-disciplinary approach in peer review to assess the true value of novel research.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors argue that the research efforts should be focused on six major areas of inquiry: Innovation, Customer Journey and Relationship Value, Data Analytics, Harnessing Technology, Marketing/Finance Interface and Revenue Growth, and Industry Context or Ecosystem.
01 Feb 2017
TL;DR: A significant association between delaying healthcare because of fear of discrimination and worse general and mental health among transgender adults is suggested.
Abstract: Purpose: There are many barriers to reliable healthcare for transgender people that often contribute to delaying or avoiding needed medical care. Yet, few studies have examined whether noninclusive healthcare and delaying needed medical care because of fear of discrimination are associated with poorer health among transgender adults. This study aims to address these gaps in the knowledge base. Methods: This study analyzed secondary data from a statewide survey of 417 transgender adults in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States. Independent variables included noninclusive healthcare from a primary care provider (PCP) and delay of needed medical care because of fear of discrimination. Dependent variables assessed general health and mental health. Results: Transgender individuals who delayed healthcare because of fear of discrimination had worse general health in the past month than those who did not delay or delayed care for other reasons (B=−0.26, p<0.05); they also had 3.08 greater odds o...