bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of FES‐Rowing Exercise on the Time‐Dependent Changes in Bone Microarchitecture After Spinal Cord Injury: A Cross‐Sectional Investigation
Authors: Draghici Adina E , Taylor J Andrew , Bouxsein Mary L , Shefelbine Sandra J
Published: May 2019

Disuse osteoporosis is a serious, secondary consequence of spinal cord injury (SCI). Numerous pharmacological and exercise therapies have been implemented to mitigate bone loss after SCI. However, these therapies have not been shown to improve bone density, potentially because of insufficient duration and magnitude of loading and/or inability of imaging modalities to capture changes in bone microarchitecture. In this cross‐sectional study, we evaluated bone microstructure of the distal tibia and radius using HR‐pQCT in men with SCI (N = 13) who regularly trained with functional electrical stimulation‐ (FES‐) rowing. We aimed to determine whether the amount of FES‐rowing (total distance rowed and peak foot force) and/or time since injury (TSI) predict bone loss after SCI. We assessed volumetric density of the total, cortical, and trabecular compartments, cortical thickness, and trabecular thickness. Using linear regression analysis, we found that TSI was not associated with any of the tibial bone metrics. In fact, none of the variables (TSI, total distance rowed, and peak foot force) independently predicted bone loss. Using stepwise regression, when all three variables were considered together, we found a strong prediction for trabecular microstructure (trabecular vBMD: R2 = 0.53; p = 0.06; trabecular thickness: R2 = 0.72; p < 0.01), but not cortical bone metrics. In particular, trabecular vBMD and thickness were negatively associated with TSI and positively associated with distance rowed. Foot force contributed markedly less to trabecular bone than distance rowed or TSI. Our results suggest that regular FES‐rowing may have the capacity to alter the time‐dependent bone negative effects of SCI on trabecular bone density and microstructure. © 2019 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Role of GS28 in sodium nitroprusside‐induced cell death in cervical carcinoma cells
Authors: Rim Do Eun , Yoo Hyung Jae , Lee Jeong‐Hwa , Kwon Oh‐Joo , Jeong Seong‐Whan
Published: May 2019

Golgi S‐nitro‐N‐acetylpenicillamine receptor complex 1 (GS28) has been implicated in Golgi vesicle transport. We examined the role of GS28 and its molecular mechanisms in sodium nitroprusside (SNP)‐induced cell death using GS28 siRNA (siGS28)‐transfected HeLa cells. Significant inhibition of cytotoxicity was observed in the cells treated with SNP, and photodegraded SNP showed equal cytotoxicity to SNP. Pretreatment with an ERK inhibitor or siErk1 cotransfection blocked the inhibition in cytotoxicity. Additionally, increased phosphorylation of ERK was maintained in the cells treated with SNP, and Nrf2 level was dependent on ERK phosphorylation. However, pretreatment with a pan‐caspase inhibitor had no effect on cytotoxicity or procaspase‐3 level. Pretreatment with an autophagy inhibitor or siATG5 cotransfection blocked the inhibition of cytotoxicity. The changes of LC3 corresponded to that in siErk1‐cotransfected cells. These data suggest that GS28 has an inductive role in SNP‐induced cell death via inhibition of ERK, leading to inhibition of autophagic processes in HeLa cells.
TGFβ‐induced factor homeobox 2 blocks osteoblastic differentiation through targeting pSmad3/HDAC4/H4ac/Runx2 axis
Authors: Yu Xiang , Shen Gengyang , Ren Hui , Zhang Zhida , Shang Qi , Zhao Wenhua , Huang Jinjing , Yang Zhidong , Liang De , Jiang Xiaobing
Published: May 2019

TGFβ‐induced factor homeobox 2 (Tgif2) has been reported as a functional role in cell homeostasis and a key activator of osteoclastogenesis and bone loss, as well. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the potential role of Tgif2 on osteogenic differentiation. Tgif2 expression was assessed during the osteogenic differentiation process of bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and primary calvarial osteoblasts (OBs). The expression of Tgif2 in BMSCs and OBs increased by using lentivirus‐mediated gene overexpression (OE). The effect of Tgif2 on osteogenic differentiation was compared between Tgif2 negative control (Tgif2‐NC) and Tgif2‐OE group in BMSCs/OBs via performing alkaline phosphatase (ALP) assay, mineralization assay, and gene expression analysis of some osteogenic markers. To investigate the molecular mechanism, the direct interaction of histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4) and pSmad3, acetylated histone H4 (H4ac), and Runx2‐binding site of the Ocn promoter was confirmed by performing co‐immunoprecipitation (CoIP) and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay, respectively. The results showed that Tgif2 abundantly expressed in BMSCs and primary calvarial OBs, but decreased after osteogenic induction. In vitro, osteogenic differentiation was significantly inhibited with Tgif2 overexpression in both BMSCs and OBs, as well as the expression levels of osteogenic markers (Runx2, Sp7, Alp, and Ocn). Moreover, we found that Tgif2 overexpression significantly promoted the interaction of pSmad3 with HDAC4 in differentiated OBs, and sequentially decreased the abundance of H4ac at the Runx2‐binding site of the Ocn promoter. These findings indicated that Tgif2 might block osteoblastic differentiation in vitro through targeting pSmad3/HDAC4/H4ac/Runx2 axis.
Growth/differentiation 5 promotes the differentiation of retinal stem cells into neurons via Atoh8
Authors: Li Yanxiu , Li Haibo , Zhang LuSi , Xiong Siqi , Wen ShiJin , Xia Xiaobo , Zhou Xia
Published: May 2019

Retinal diseases are characterized by the degeneration of retinal neural cells, and are the main cause of blindness. Although the development of stem cell including retinal stem cell therapies raises hope for retinal neuron replacement, currently, there is still no efficient method to regenerate retinal neurons. To realize the potential roles of the production of retinal neurons, neurotrophic factor direct the differentiation of retinal stem cells should be extensively identified. In this article, we characterized growth/differentiation 5 (GDF5), which caused the activation of Smad signaling, can induce neurogenesis and neurite outgrowth in retinal stem cell differentiation. Moreover, a bHLH transcription factor, Atoh8 modulates the effects stimulated by GDF5. These data suggested that GDF5 regulates neuron differentiation through mediating Atoh8 and help us to understand the pathophysiological function of GDF5 in retinal regeneration.
Relevance of NAT2 genotype to anti‐tuberculosis drug‐induced hepatotoxicity in a Chinese Han population
Authors: Lu Lihuan , Tao Bilin , Wei Haixu , Chen Hongbo , He Xiaomin , Pan Hongqiu , Yang Miaomiao , Yi Honggang , Tang Shaowen
Published: May 2019

Background

Anti‐tuberculosis drug‐induced hepatotoxicity (ATDH) is a serious adverse drug reaction. The slow acetylator status of N‐acetyl transferase 2 (NAT2) is a well‐established risk factor for ATDH. One novel tagging single nucleotide polymorphism (tagging SNP), rs1495741, in NAT2 has been found to be highly predictive of the NAT2 phenotype. The present study aimed to validate the relationships between tagging SNP rs1495741 and ATDH in a Chinese Han population.

Methods

A 1:2 matched case–control study was conducted using 235 ATDH cases and 470 controls. Conditional or unconditional logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the association between genotypes and the risk of ATDH according to the odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI).

Results

Patients carrying the AA genotype of tagging SNP rs1495741 were at higher risk of ATDH than those carrying the GG genotype (OR = 1.653, 95% CI = 1.050–2.601; p = 0.030). Subgroup analysis suggested that the AA genotype was a risk factor for ATDH in patients aged older than 50 years (OR = 2.486, 95% CI = 1.313–4.706; p = 0.005), weighing over 50 kg (OR = 1.757, 95% CI = 1.016–3.038; p = 0.044) or using a hepatoprotectant (OR = 1.611, 95% CI = 1.009–2.572; p = 0.046). Tagging SNP rs1495741 was not a significant risk factor for moderate and severe hepatotoxicity but appears to be relevant to risk of mild hepatotoxicity specifically.

Conclusions

The present study is the first to validate the relationships between the tagging SNP rs1495741 and ATDH in a Chinese population. Based on this case–control study, the NAT2 rs1495741 polymorphism is a risk factor for mild but not more severe ATDH in Chinese Han patients.
Prevalence of hepatitis E virus infection in multiple transfused Brazilian patients with thalassemia and sickle cell disease
Authors: Slavov Svetoslav N. , Maçonetto Juliana D. M. , Martinez Edson Z. , Silva‐Pinto Ana Cristina , Covas Dimas T. , Eis‐Hübinger Anna Maria , Kashima Simone
Published: May 2019

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a leading cause of acute hepatitis worldwide. The virus is acquired by fecal‐oral route; however, it can also be transmitted by blood transfusion. The objective of the study was to examine anti‐HEV immunoglobulin G and HEV RNA prevalence in multiple transfused patients with thalassemia and sickle cell disease (SCD), and in blood donors. The HEV seroprevalence in the patients was 13% (20% in thalassemics; 7.7% in SCD), and 11% in blood donors. No positive result for HEV RNA was obtained. This is a pioneer study examining HEV circulation in Brazilian patients with hemoglobinopathies.
Effect of ultrasonic thawing on the water‐holding capacity, physicochemical properties and structure of frozen tuna (Thunnus tonggol) myofibrillar proteins
Authors: Li Xiu‐xia , Sun Pan , Ma Yingying , Cai Luyun , Li Jian‐rong
Published: May 2019

BACKGROUND

The effect of ultrasonic thawing (0, 160, 280, 400 W) on water‐holding capacity (WHC), physicochemical properties and structure of tuna myofibrillar proteins was investigated.

RESULTS

Thawing time was shown to decrease and thawing loss to increase significantly (P < 0.05) as power increased (160–400 W), whereas there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in cooking loss. Changes in T2 relaxation time were investigated using low‐field nuclear magnetic resonance. Ultrasonic thawing could significantly (P < 0.05) improve the immobilised water content compared to the control (0 W). surface hydrophobicity decreased significantly and then increased significantly (P < 0.05), whereas there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the reactive sulfhydryl content as power was increased. Tuna thawed at 280 W suffered fewer negative effects on its microstructure. Roman spectral date showed that the α‐helix changed to a random coil and β‐turn as power was increased (up to 400 W).

CONCLUSION

The application of ultrasonic thawing at a specified power was showed to be a beneficial process when used in the seafood industry, but application of excessive power resulted in lower WHC and structural changes to myofibrillar proteins. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Preparative and scaled‐up separation of high‐purity α‐linolenic acid from perilla seed oil by conventional and pH‐zone refining counter current chromatography
Authors: Han Tian , Yang Guang , Cao Xueli , Li Haoze , Pei Hairun , Zhang Zhijun
Published: May 2019

α‐Linolenic acid is an essential omega‐3 fatty acid needed for human health. However, the isolation of high‐purity α‐linolenic acid from plant resources is challenging. The preparative separation methods of α‐linolenic acid by both conventional and pH‐zone refining counter current chromatography were firstly established in this work. The successful separation of α‐linolenic acid by conventional counter current chromatography was achieved by the optimized solvent system n‐heptane/methanol/ water/acetic acid (10:9:1:0.04, v/v), producing 466 mg of 98.98% α‐linolenic acid from 900 mg free fatty acid sample prepared from perilla seed oil with linoleic acid and oleic acid as by‐products. The scaled‐up separation in 45× is efficient without loss of resolution and extension of separation time. The separation of α‐linolenic acid by pH‐zone refining counter current chromatography was also satisfactory by the solvent system n‐hexane/methanol/water (10:5:5, v/v) and the optimized concentration of trifluoroacetic acid 30 mM and NH4OH 10 mM. The separation can be scaled up in 180× producing 9676.7 mg of 92.79% α‐linolenic acid from 18 000 mg free fatty acid sample. pH‐zone refining counter current chromatography exhibits a great advantage over conventional counter current chromatography with 20× sample loading capacity on the same column.
Soil organic carbon stocks under recommended management practices in different soils of semiarid vineyards
Authors: Gristina Luciano , Scalenghe Riccardo , García‐Díaz Andrés , Matranga Maria Gabriella , Ferraro Vito , Guaitoli Fabio , Novara Agata
Published: May 2019

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) approach is widely used to estimate the C account through the use of standardized coefficients that are not site specific. For these reasons, the aim of the work was to define specific IPCC coefficient taking into account differences in pedological characteristics that affect soil C steady state.

In a vineyard area of Sicily, the effectiveness of 5 years of recommended management practice (RMP) adoption on soil organic carbon (SOC) stock increases was evaluated by considering 100 paired sites distributed over four functional soil groups. Each site consisted of two neighbouring plots. The soil of one plot was managed with cover crops according to RMP, and the other plot was managed with conventional tillage practices. IPCC coefficients were also derived and specifically adjusted for semiarid environments.

SOC changes following RMP adoption and SOC steady‐state levels were correlated with functional soil groupings. SOC increased from 24.8 to 28.3 t ha−1 in conventional and RMP vineyards, respectively, with the highest increases being observed in vertic and the lowest in calcic soils. The management factor (Fmg) ranged from 1.11 for calcaric to 1.44 for vertic functional soil groups. C maintenance requirement (C input) should be estimated in relation to soil functional groups.

Findings of this study highlighted how the fine tuning of C steady state in relation to specific environmental characteristics is necessary to avoid overestimation of soil C sequestration. Awareness of correct soil C sequestration potential is useful for policymakers and stakeholders for future C account and land degradation control planning.
On the skewness of journal self‐citations and publisher self‐citations: Cues for discussion from a case study
Authors: Copiello Sergio
Published: May 2019

This paper takes the cue from the case of a retracted paper, cited both by the retraction notice and by an article published later in the same journal. This led to analysis and discussion on the skewness of citations in the journal Sustainability and within Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI) journals, particularly investigating self‐citations at journal and publisher levels. I analysed articles published by Sustainability in 2015 and found that self‐citations are higher than expected under a uniform probability distribution. Self‐citations in this journal make a 36% difference to the journal's impact factor. This research raises the question of what citation patterns can be expected as normal, and where the boundary between normal and anomaly lies. I suggest the issue deserves further investigation because self‐citations have several implications, ranging from impact factors to visibility and influence of scientific journals.
Inorganic nitrogen has a dominant impact on estuarine eelgrass distribution in the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada
Authors: van den Heuvel Michael R. , Hitchcock Jesse K. , Coffin Michael R. S. , Pater Christina C. , Courtenay Simon C.
Published: May 2019

Eelgrass (Zostera marina) coverage and height were evaluated in 16 estuaries in the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada, using boat‐based sonar surveys to determine the dominant factors in the decline of eelgrass in the region. Eelgrass coverage was modeled from the sonar surveys and quantified as the percentage of available habitat occupied—with habitat being defined by salinity limits (> 10 PSU) and depth (< 3 m). Estuaries showed a marked variation in eelgrass coverage ranging between 6% and 57% of available habitat, with eelgrass absent in the upper estuary of estuaries with the highest nitrate loading. The Dunk River estuary showed a decline in eelgrass coverage between 1967 and 2014, a period of increasing nitrogen loading. Measures of eelgrass height were not related to coverage endpoints, suggesting that height variables are not suitable endpoints for overall eelgrass health. Analysis of the influence of environmental factors showed that the factor that consistently correlated to eelgrass coverage was nitrate‐N loading while the factor most influencing eelgrass height was light attenuation. A nonlinear logistic loading‐effect model relating eelgrass coverage to nitrate‐N loading indicated that 10%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 90% decline in eelgrass would be expected to occur in response to estuarine nitrate‐N loads of 1.3 kg ha−1 yr−1, 8.0 kg ha−1 yr−1, 50.0 kg ha−1 yr−1, 312 kg ha−1 yr−1, and 1947 kg ha−1 yr−1, respectively. These results suggest that inorganic nitrogen loading is the most significant factor to be addressed by environmental managers when addressing eelgrass declines in estuaries similar to those studied.
Precisely Controlled Delivery of Abaloparatide through Injectable Hydrogel to Promote Bone Regeneration
Authors: Ning Ziyu , Tan Baoyu , Chen Bo , Lau Dzi Shing Aaron , Wong Tak Man , Sun Tianhao , Peng Songlin , Li Zhaoyang , Lu William Weijia
Published: May 2019

Side‐effects from allograft, limited bone stock, and site morbidity from autograft are the major challenges to traditional bone defect treatments. With the advance of tissue engineering, hydrogel injection therapy is introduced as an alternative treatment. Therapeutic drugs and growth factors can be carried by hydrogels and delivered to patients. Abaloparatide, as an analog of human recombinant parathyroid hormone protein (PTHrp) and an alternative to teriparatide, has been considered as a drug for treating postmenopausal osteoporosis since 2017. Since only limited cases of receiving abaloparatide with polymeric scaffolds have been reported, the effects of abaloparatide on pre‐osteoblast MC3T3‐E1 are investigated in this study. It is found that in vitro abaloparatide treatment can promote pre‐osteoblast MC3T3‐E1 cells’ viability, differentiation, and mineralization significantly. For the drug delivery system, 3D porous structure of the methacrylated gelatin (GelMA) hydrogel is found effective for prolonging the release of abaloparatide (more than 10 days). Therefore, injectable photo‐crosslinked GelMA hydrogel is used in this study to prolong the release of abaloparatide and to promote healing of defected bones in rats. Overall, data collected in this study show no contradiction and imply that Abaloparatide‐loaded GelMA hydrogel is effective in stimulating bone regeneration.
Enterobacter oligotrophica sp. nov., a novel oligotroph isolated from leaf soil
Authors: Akita Hironaga , Matsushika Akinori , Kimura Zen‐ichiro
Published: May 2019

A novel oligotrophic bacterium, designated strain CCA6, was isolated from leaf soil collected in Japan. Cells of the strain were found to be a Gram‐negative, non‐sporulating, motile, rod‐shaped bacterium. Strain CCA6 grew at 10–45°C (optimum 20°C) and pH 4.5–10.0 (optimum pH 5.0). The strain was capable of growth in poor‐nutrient (oligotrophic) medium, and growth was unaffected by high‐nutrient medium. The major fatty acid and predominant quinone system were C16:0 and ubiquinone‐8. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated strain CCA6 presented as a member of the family Enterobacteriaceae. Multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) based on fragments of the atpD, gyrB, infB, and rpoB gene sequences was performed to further identify strain CCA6. The MLSA showed clear branching of strain CCA6 with respect to Enterobacter type strains. The complete genome of strain CCA6 consisted of 4,476,585 bp with a G+C content of 54.3% and comprising 4,372 predicted coding sequences. The genome average nucleotide identity values between strain CCA6 and the closest related Enterobacter type strain were <88.02%. Based on its phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic features, strain CCA6 (=HUT 8142T =KCTC 62525T) can be considered as a novel species within the genus Enterobacter with the proposed name Enterobacter oligotrophica.
The functional ALDH2 polymorphism is associated with breast cancer risk: A pooled analysis from the Breast Cancer Association Consortium
Authors: Ugai Tomotaka , Milne Roger L. , Ito Hidemi , Aronson Kristan J. , Bolla Manjeet K. , Chan Tsun , Chan Ching W. , Choi Ji‐Yeob , Conroy Don M. , Dennis Joe , Dunning Alison M. , Easton Douglas F. , Gaborieau Valerie , Gonzalez‐Neira Anna , Hartman Mikael , Healey Catherine S. , Iwasaki Motoki , John Esther M. , Kang Daehee , Kim Sung‐Won , Kwong Ava , Lophatananon Artitaya , Michailidou Kyriaki , Taib Nur Aishah Mohd , Muir Kenneth , Park Sue K. , Pharoah Paul D. P. , Sangrajrang Suleeporn , Shen Chen‐Yang , Shu Xiao‐Ou , Spinelli John J. , Teo Soo H. , Tessier Daniel C. , Tseng Chiu‐Chen , Tsugane Shoichiro , Vincent Daniel , Wang Qin , Wu Anna H. , Wu Pei‐Ei , Zheng Wei , Matsuo Keitaro
Published: May 2019

Background

Epidemiological studies consistently indicate that alcohol consumption is an independent risk factor for female breast cancer (BC). Although the aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) polymorphism (rs671: Glu>Lys) has a strong effect on acetaldehyde metabolism, the association of rs671 with BC risk and its interaction with alcohol intake have not been fully elucidated. We conducted a pooled analysis of 14 case‐control studies, with individual data on Asian ancestry women participating in the Breast Cancer Association Consortium.

Methods

We included 12,595 invasive BC cases and 12,884 controls for the analysis of rs671 and BC risk, and 2,849 invasive BC cases and 3,680 controls for the analysis of the gene‐environment interaction between rs671 and alcohol intake for BC risk. The pooled odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) associated with rs671 and its interaction with alcohol intake for BC risk were estimated using logistic regression models.

Results

The Lys/Lys genotype of rs671 was associated with increased BC risk (OR = 1.16, 95% CI 1.03–1.30, p = 0.014). According to tumor characteristics, the Lys/Lys genotype was associated with estrogen receptor (ER)‐positive BC (OR = 1.19, 95% CI 1.05–1.36, p = 0.008), progesterone receptor (PR)‐positive BC (OR = 1.19, 95% CI 1.03–1.36, p = 0.015), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)‐negative BC (OR = 1.25, 95% CI 1.05–1.48, p = 0.012). No evidence of a gene‐environment interaction was observed between rs671 and alcohol intake (p = 0.537).

Conclusion

This study suggests that the Lys/Lys genotype confers susceptibility to BC risk among women of Asian ancestry, particularly for ER‐positive, PR‐positive, and HER2‐negative tumor types.
Triplet NOAH supersequences optimised for small molecule structure characterisation
Authors: Claridge Tim D.W. , Mayzel Maksim , Kupče Ēriks
Published: May 2019

A series of NMR supersequences are presented for the time‐efficient structure characterisation of small molecules in the solution state. These triplet sequences provide HMBC, HSQC, and one homonuclear correlation experiment of choice according to the NMR by Ordered Acquisition using 1H detection principle. The experiments are demonstrated to be compatible with non‐uniform sampling schemes and may be acquired and processed under full automation.
Vessel‐specific quantification of neonatal cerebral venous oxygenation
Authors: Jiang Dengrong , Lu Hanzhang , Parkinson Charlamaine , Su Pan , Wei Zhiliang , Pan Li , Tekes Aylin , Huisman Thierry A.G.M. , Golden W. Christopher , Liu Peiying
Published: May 2019

Purpose

Noninvasive measurement of cerebral venous oxygenation (Yv) in neonates is important in the assessment of brain oxygen extraction and consumption, and may be useful in characterizing brain development and neonatal brain diseases. This study aims to develop a rapid method for vessel‐specific measurement of Yv in neonates.

Methods

We developed a pulse sequence, named accelerated T2‐relaxation‐under‐phase‐contrast (aTRUPC), which consists of velocity‐encoding phase‐contrast module to isolate pure blood signal, flow‐insensitive T2‐preparation to quantify blood T2, and turbo‐field‐echo (TFE) scheme for rapid image acquisition, which is critical for neonatal MRI. A series of studies were conducted. First, the pulse sequence was optimized in terms of TFE factor, velocity encoding (VENC), and slice thickness for best sensitivity. Second, to account for the influence of TFE acquisition on T2 quantification, simulation and experiments were conducted to establish the relationship between TFE‐T2 and standard T2. Finally, the complete aTRUPC sequence was applied on a group of healthy neonates and normative Yv values were determined.

Results

Optimal parameters of aTRUPC in neonates were found to be a TFE factor of 15, VENC of 5 cm/s, and slice thickness of 10 mm. The TFE‐T2 was on average 3.9% lower than standard T2. These two measures were strongly correlated (R2 = 0.86); thus their difference can be accounted for by a correction equation, T2,standard = 1.2002 × T2,TFE − 10.6276. Neonatal Yv values in veins draining cortical brain and those draining central brain were 64.8 ± 2.9% and 70.2 ± 3.3%, respectively, with a significant difference (P =.02).

Conclusion

The aTRUPC MRI has the potential to provide vessel‐specific quantification of cerebral Yv in neonates.
Toward “plug and play” prospective motion correction for MRI by combining observations of the time varying gradient and static vector fields
Authors: van Niekerk Adam , van der Kouwe Andre , Meintjes Ernesta
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The efficacy of a Wireless Radio frequency triggered Acquisition Device (WRAD) is evaluated for high frequency (50 Hz) prospective motion correction in a 3‐dimensional spoiled gradient echo pulse sequence.

Methods

The device measures the rate of change in the gradient vector fields (slew) using a 3‐dimensional assembly of Printed Circuit Board (PCB) inductors and the direction of the static magnetic field using a 3‐axis Hall effect magnetometer. The slew vector encoding is highly efficient, because the Maxwell‐term position encoding is observable, allowing overconstrained pose measurement using 3 sinusoidal gradient pulses lasting 880 μs. Since small offsets in the magnetometer can introduce bias into the pose estimates, sensor/system biases are tracked using a lightweight Kalman filter. The only calibration required is determining a geometric scaling factor for the pickup coils, which is specific to the device and will therefore be valid in any scanner.

Results

The device was used to perform prospective motion correction in 3 subjects, resulting in an increase in Average Edge Strength (AES) for involuntary and deliberate motion.

Conclusions

The WRAD is simple to set up and use, with well‐defined measurement variance. This could enable “plug and play” prospective motion correction if pulse sequence independence is achieved.
Positive‐contrast susceptibility imaging based on first‐order primal‐dual optimization
Authors: Shi Caiyun , Cheng Jing , Xie Guoxi , Su Shi , Chang Yuchou , Chen Hanwei , Liu Xin , Wang Haifeng , Liang Dong
Published: May 2019

Purpose

To achieve faster reconstruction and better imaging quality of positive‐contrast MRI based on the susceptibility mapping by incorporating a primal‐dual (PD) formulation.

Methods

The susceptibility‐based positive contrast MR technique was applied to estimate arbitrary magnetic susceptibility distributions of the metallic devices using a kernel deconvolution algorithm with a regularized minimization. The regularized positive‐contrast inversion problem and its PD formulation were derived. The visualization of the positive contrast and convergence behavior of the PD algorithm were compared with those of the nonlinear conjugate gradient algorithm, fast iterative soft‐thresholding algorithm, and alternating direction method of multipliers. These methods were tested and validated on computer simulations and phantom experiments.

Results

The PD approach could provide a faster reconstruction time compared with other methods. Experimental results showed that the PD algorithm could achieve comparable or even better visualization and accuracy of the metallic interventional devices in positive‐contrast imaging with different SNRs and orientations to the B0 field.

Conclusion

A susceptibility‐based positive‐contrast imaging technique by PD algorithm was proposed. The PD approach has more superior performance than other algorithms in terms of reconstruction time and accuracy for imaging the metallic interventional devices.
A class of stochastic hyperbolic evolution equations via weighted pseudo almost periodic coefficients and optimal controls
Authors: Yan Zuomao , Han Li
Published: May 2019

This paper introduces the concept of the piecewise weighted pseudo periodicity for stochastic processes. In addition, it establishes a new composition theorem for weighted pseudo almost periodic functions under the non‐Lipschitz conditions. Using this composition theorem, evolution family together with a fixed‐point theorem for condensing maps, we investigate the existence of  p‐mean piecewise weighted pseudo almost periodic mild solutions and optimal mild solutions for a class of impulsive stochastic hyperbolic evolution equations in Hilbert spaces. Then, the existence conditions of optimal pairs of systems governed by the nonlinear impulsive stochastic evolution equations are presented. Finally, an example is provided to illustrate the obtained theory.
A versatile approach for the preparation of end‐functional polymers and block copolymers by stable radical exchange reactions
Authors: Goksu Yonca Alkan , Yilmaz Gorkem , Yagci Yusuf
Published: May 2019

A versatile strategy for the preparation of end‐functional polymers and block copolymers by radical exchange reactions is described. For this purpose, first polystyrene with 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidine‐1‐oxyl end group (PS‐TEMPO) is prepared by nitroxide‐mediated radical polymerization (NMRP). In the subsequent step, these polymers are heated to 130 °C in the presence of independently prepared TEMPO derivatives bearing hydroxyl, azide and carboxylic acid functionalities, and polymers such as poly(ethylene glycol) (TEMPO‐PEG) and poly(ε‐caprolactone) (TEMPO‐PCL). Due to the simultaneous radical generation and reversible termination of the polymer radical, TEMPO moiety on polystyrene is replaced to form the corresponding end‐functional polymers and block copolymers. The intermediates and final polymers are characterized by 1H NMR, UV, IR, and GPC measurements. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 2387–2395
Weyl Anomaly and Vacuum Magnetization Current of M5‐brane in Background Flux
Authors: Chu Chong‐Sun
Published: May 2019

It was recently discovered that for a boundary system in the presence of a background magnetic field, the quantum fluctuation of the vacuum would create a non‐uniform magnetization density for the vacuum and a magnetization current is induced in the vacuum. It was also shown that this ‘magnetic Casimir effect’ of the vacuum is closely related to another quantum effect of the vacuum, the Weyl anomaly. Furthermore, the phenomena can be understood in terms of the holography of the boundary system. In this article, we review the derivation of this phenomena from QFT as well as the derivation of it using AdS/BCFT. We then generalize this four dimensional effect to six‐dimensions. We use the AdS/BCFT holography to show that in the presence of a 3‐form magnetic field strength H, a string current is induced in a six‐dimensional boundary conformal field theory. This allows us to determine the gauge field contribution to the Weyl anomaly in six‐dimensional conformal field theory in a H‐flux background. For the (2,0) superconformal field theory of N M5‐branes, the current has a magnitude proportional to N3 for large N. This suggests that the degree of freedoms scales as N3 in the (2,0) superconformal theory of N multiple M5‐branes. Our result for the Weyl anomaly is a new prediction for the (2,0) theory.
Homotopy Algebras in String Field Theory
Authors: Sachs Ivo
Published: May 2019

Homotopy algebra and its involutive generalisation plays an important role in the construction of string field theory. I will review recent progress in these applications of homotopy algebra and its relation to moduli spaces.
LysargiNase enhances protein identification on the basis of trypsin on formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded samples
Authors: Liu Shu , Xu Feng , Yin Yanan , Zhang Junling , Wang Fuqiang , Li Yanchang , Xu Ping
Published: May 2019

Rationale

Formalin‐Fixed Paraffin‐Embedded (FFPE) samples are valuable for proteomic studies of disease. However, the crosslink among proteins, protein vs nucleic acid, and other covalent chemical modifications like methylation introduced by formaldehyde can interfere with trypsin digestion in proteomics studies. LysargiNase was reported to have a better full‐cleavage rate at methylation and b ion coverage than trypsin. The contribution of LysargiNase in the proteomic study of FFPE samples was assessed and compared with trypsin in this study for the first time to facilitate proteomic research on FFPE samples.

Methods

The FFPE proteins were extracted with an “antigen retrieval” method. Digestion parameters were optimized by visualization of the digests on the tricine gel by silver staining. Then the FFPE proteins were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE) and cut into 16 gel bands and in‐gel digested by trypsin and LysargiNase, respectively. Peptides were desalted with Stage‐Tips and separated via liquid chromatography. Electrospray ionization was conducted and peptide mass was measured in the LTQ Orbitrap Velos in the data‐dependent mode.

Results

High concentrations of enzyme facilitate the digestion efficiency of FFPE samples. A total of 32,294 peptides and 3445 proteins were identified with LysargiNase and trypsin combined in two replicates. LysargiNase increased peptide identification by 18.9% and protein identification by 13.4% on the basis of trypsin. Consistently, LysargiNase increased C‐terminal peptide identification by 47.7%. Moreover, LysargiNase showed better full‐cleavage rate (49.3%) at methylated sites than trypsin (23.9%). LysargiNase and trypsin combined can improve the b‐ion coverage by 50% on FFPE samples.

Conclusions

FFPE samples can be more efficiently digested at high concentrations of LysargiNase and trypsin. LysargiNase can better digest methylated peptides and improve the proteome identification by 13.4% and the b‐ion coverage by 50% on the basis of trypsin in FFPE samples.
Fight or flight? Market positions, submarket interdependencies, and strategic responses to entry threats
Authors: Ethiraj Sendil , Zhou Yue Maggie
Published: May 2019

Research Summary

This paper examines how incumbent firms' market positions and interdependencies across their submarkets influence their responses to entry threats. We adapt a model of capacity deterrence to show that because premium and low‐cost incumbents face different demand functions and operating costs, they experience different tradeoffs between ignoring, deterring, and accommodating threatened entry. In addition, the interdependencies within and between a premium incumbent's submarkets influence its responses. Using data on incumbent responses to entry threats from Southwest Airlines between 2003 and 2012, we find that (a) full‐service incumbents expanded capacity while low‐cost incumbents did not respond significantly, and (b) full‐service incumbents expanded capacity less aggressively in submarkets that had less substitutable customer segments and submarkets that were more complementary with their unthreatened submarkets.

Managerial Summary

An immutable market position is a core competitive advantage. Using data on incumbent responses to entry threats from Southwest Airlines between 2003 and 2012, we find that (a) full‐service (FSC) incumbents expanded capacity while low‐cost (LCC) incumbents did not respond significantly, and (b) FSCs expanded capacity less aggressively on routes that were expected to have a large number of business passengers and routes that connected to their international hubs. These results suggest two sources of positional immutability: While one set of past choices (e.g., those about submarket substitutability or complementarity) provide a barrier against imitation, another set of past choices (e.g., those about products and costs) generate incentives for a tough defense, both deterring entry by firms from a different position.
Anticipatory development processes for reducing total ownership costs and schedules
Authors: Boehm Barry , Behnamghader Pooyan
Published: May 2019

Many systems and software processes overfocus on getting a project and product from an initial set of requirements to an Initial Operational Capability (IOC). Examples are most waterfall and V models. Projects following such processes may pass acceptance tests for functionality and performance, but may leave the product with serious maintainability shortfalls. Many agile processes focus on users' initial usage priorities, but often make development commitments for earlier needs that are incompatible with achieving later critical needs (eg, security, safety). Incremental development process models can do better, but often later increments may find that the earlier increments have not prepared them for ease of modification and repair. Besides increasing Total Ownership Costs (TOCs), long mean times to repair result in long downtimes, which can be critical to an organization's income and reputation. Furthermore, many of these shortfalls take the form of Technical Debt (TD), in that the later they are fixed, the more slow and expensive will be the fixes. This paper summarizes three process frameworks and tools providing more anticipatory ways to improve systems and software maintainability and life‐cycle cost‐effectiveness. The first framework is an Opportunity Tree for identifying and anticipating such ways. The second framework, Software Quality Understanding by Analysis of Abundant Data (SQUAAD), is a toolset for tracking a software project's incremental code commits, and analyzing and visualizing each commit's incremental and cumulative TD. The third framework is a Software/Systems Maintenance Readiness Framework (SMRF), that identifies needed maintenance readiness levels at development decision reviews, similar to the Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) framework.
The changing water cycle: The eco‐hydrologic impacts of forest density reduction in Mediterranean (seasonally dry) regions
Authors: Tague Christina L. , Moritz Max , Hanan Erin
Published: May 2019

In seasonally dry Mediterranean regions, forest ecosystems are well adapted to water stress. However, extended droughts, or droughts that are warmer or more frequent than they have been in the past, can have large consequences on water availability, forest productivity, and forest mortality. Forest density reduction offers a strategy for potentially mitigating these effects and may not only improve forest health but also increase streamflow. While recent droughts have focused attention on forest density reduction strategies, there is great uncertainty in how changing forest structure alters water availability for both remaining trees and downslope water provision, particularly during droughts in semi‐arid and Mediterranean forests. To help to disentangle sometimes conflicting findings from case studies, we present a review from an eco‐hydrologic perspective that considers both how much water trees use (hydrology) but also how water availability affects forest ecophysiology and health (ecology). This eco‐hydrologic perspective helps to build a conceptual model of the mechanisms through which changes in forest structure and composition can influence water availability, forest productivity, and mortality patterns, particularly in Mediterranean‐climate regions, both during and after droughts. Ultimately, this eco‐hydrologic conceptual model offers a guide for assessing when and where density reduction will be likely to achieve desired management objectives.

This article is categorized under:

Human Water > Water Governance

Human Water > Rights to Water

Science of Water > Water Quality
Using Reflection to Promote Career‐Based Learning in Student Employment
Authors: Hansen Sarah L.
Published: May 2019

College students employed on campus are in a setting ripe for learning career‐based competencies related to leadership. Through incorporating intentional reflection opportunities into student employment settings, institutions can increase their contribution to graduating students ready to lead in the workforce or any other setting. This chapter presents models of reflection that enhance transfer of work related skills.
Improving the Leadership Development of Students Who Work Off‐Campus
Authors: Preston Michael
Published: May 2019

Using the cocurricular career connections (C3) leadership model, this chapter will focus on the potential for off‐campus jobs to help a largely underserved group to develop leadership skills. In so doing, leadership educators and student employers can help students be more effective in their work, develop skills that can promote employability after college, and impact the perception of employers about how effectively colleges and universities are preparing students for the world of work.
Analytical solutions to renormalization-group equations of effective neutrino masses and mixing parameters in matter
Authors: Wang Xin , Zhou Shun
Published: May 2019

Abstract

Neutrino oscillations in matter can be fully described by six effective parameters, namely, three neutrino mixing angles

$$ \left\{{\tilde{\theta}}_{12},{\tilde{\theta}}_{13},{\tilde{\theta}}_{23}\right\} $$

θ
˜

12

θ
˜

13

θ
˜

23

, one Dirac-type CP-violating phase

$$ \tilde{\delta} $$

δ
˜

, and two neutrino mass-squared differences

$$ {\tilde{\Delta}}_{21}\equiv {\tilde{m}}_2^2-{\tilde{m}}_1^2 $$

Δ
˜

21

≡

m
˜

2
2

−

m
˜

1
2

and

$$ {\tilde{\Delta}}_{21}\equiv {\tilde{m}}_3^2-{\tilde{m}}_1^2 $$

Δ
˜

21

≡

m
˜

3
2

−

m
˜

1
2

. Recently, a complete set of differential equations for these effective parameters have been derived to characterize their evolution with respect to the ordinary matter term

$$ a\equiv 2\sqrt{2}{G}_{\mathrm{F}}{N}_eE $$

a
≡
2

2

G
F

N
e

E

, in analogy with the renormalization-group equations (RGEs) for running parameters. Via series expansion in terms of the small ratio α

c
≡ Δ21/Δc with Δc ≡ Δ31 cos2 θ12+Δ32 sin2
θ
12, we obtain approximate analytical solutions to the RGEs of the effective neutrino parameters and make several interesting observations. First, at the leading order,

$$ {\tilde{\theta}}_{12} $$

θ
˜

12

and

$$ {\tilde{\theta}}_{13} $$

θ
˜

13

are given by the simple formulas in the two-flavor mixing limit, while

$$ {\tilde{\theta}}_{23}\approx {\theta}_{23} $$

θ
˜

23

≈

θ
23

and

$$ \tilde{\delta}\approx \delta $$

δ
˜

≈
δ

are not changed by matter effects. Second, the ratio of the matter-corrected Jarlskog invariant

$$ \tilde{\mathcal{J}} $$

J
˜

to its counterpart in vacuum

$$ \mathcal{J} $$

J

approximates to

$$ \tilde{\mathcal{J}}/\mathcal{J}\approx 1/\left({\widehat{C}}_{12}{\widehat{C}}_{13}\right) $$

J
˜

/
J
≈
1
/

C
^

12

C
^

13

, where

$$ {\widehat{C}}_{12}\equiv \sqrt{1-2{A}_{\ast } \cos 2{\theta}_{12}+{A}_{{}^{\ast}}^2} $$

C
^

12

≡

1
−
2

A
∗

cos
2

θ
12

+

A

∗

2

with A
∗ ≡ a/Δ21 and

$$ {\widehat{C}}_{13}\equiv \sqrt{1-2{A}_c \cos 2{\theta}_{13}+{A}_c^2} $$

C
^

13

≡

1
−
2

A
c

cos
2

θ
13

+

A
c
2

with Ac ≡ a/Δc have been defined. Finally, after taking higher-order corrections into account, we find compact and simple expressions of all the effective parameters, which turn out to be in perfect agreement with the exact numerical results.
Maternal deprivation alters nociceptive response in a gender‐dependent manner in rats
Authors: Ströher Roberta , de Oliveira Carla , Costa Lopes Bettega , da Silva Lisiane Santos , Regner Gabriela Gregory , Richardt Medeiros Helouise , de Macedo Isabel Cristina , Caumo Wolnei , Torres Iraci L.S.
Published: May 2019

The present study aimed at investigating both the early and long‐term effects of maternal deprivation as well as gender on neuromotor reflexes, anxiety behavior and thermal nociceptive responses. A total of 64 Wistar rats pups (32 males, 32 females) were utilized and were deprived of their mother for 3 h/daily, from postnatal day 1 (P1) until P10. Successively, animals were divided into 2 groups: control group (C) ‐ pups no subjected to intervention; and the maternal‐deprived group (MD): pups subjected to maternal deprivation. The neuromotor reflexes were evaluated through the righting reflex and negative geotaxis tests; the exploratory behavior by open field test (OFT); the anxiety‐like behavior by elevated plus‐maze test (EPM); the thermal nociceptive responses byhot plate (HP) and tail‐flick (TFL) tests. All the animals subjected to maternal deprivation showed a delayed reflex response at P8 in the negative geotaxis test. In contrast, the OFT at P20 identified an effect of gender on the outer crossings and grooming as well as an interaction between gender and maternal deprivation on latency. Additionally, effect of maternal deprivation in the open and closed arms as well as gender effect in the protected head‐dipping (PHD) and non‐protected head‐dipping (NPHD) were observed at P20 (EPM). In contrast, there were a gender effect on latency and an interaction between gender and maternal deprivation on rearing at P42. Moreover, in nociceptive tests was observed an analgesic effect induced by maternal deprivation; however, in the TFL test, only deprived females showed this effect. Surprisingly, only control animals presented an ontogeny nociceptive effect in the HP testat P21 and P43, which may be related to an increase in the inhibitory nociceptive pathways throughout life. In this way, we suggest maternal deprivation to be able to anticipate the maturation of the inhibitory nociceptive pathway. In conclusion, maternal deprivation induced a delayed reflex response at P8 and altered the anxiety and nociceptive behaviors according to the time after exposure to this stressor, in a gender‐specific manner.