bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preventing phishing attacks using text and image watermarking
Authors: Hajiali Mahdi , Amirmazlaghani Maryam , Kordestani Hossain
Published: November 2018

Phishing is a form of identity theft used to illegally gather personal and financial information by providing fake web pages designed to mimic the website of a legitimate business. In this paper, we propose a novel anti‐phishing approach based on using imperceptible watermarking and monitoring the HTTP requests. In the server‐side, a URL dependent watermark is generated and embedded in the elements of the web page, which are logo image and HTML/CSS files. In the client side, to authenticate the website and check its safety, the watermark is regenerated and compared with the extracted watermarks from the elements of the webpage. Security analysis of the proposed method demonstrates its robustness against some common attacks. The proposed method performs fully automatically and without user interaction. It can be simply implemented and used for all kinds of websites, either secured or not secured with SSL protocol.
Butanediol Conversion to Gamma‐Hydroxybutyrate Markedly Reduced by the Alcohol Dehydrogenase Blocker Fomepizole
Authors: Liakoni Evangelia , Gugelmann Hallam , Dempsey Delia A. , Wiegand Timothy J. , Havel Christopher , Jacob Peyton , Benowitz Neal L.
Published: November 2018

1,4‐Butanediol (BDO)—used as solvent and abused for its euphoric effects—is converted to gamma‐hydroxybutyrate (GHB) by the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase. This double‐blind, placebo‐controlled crossover study with six healthy volunteers is the first to date investigating the role of the ADH inhibitor fomepizole (4‐methylpyrazole (4MP)) in moderating this conversion in humans. Participants received on two different days either intravenous placebo or 15 mg/kg 4MP followed by oral administration of 25 mg/kg BDO. Pretreatment with 4MP resulted in significantly higher BDO maximal plasma concentration (P = 0.001) and area under the concentration‐time curve (AUC; P = 0.028), confirming that ADH is the primary pathway for the conversion of BDO to GHB in humans. With 4MP, the mean arterial pressure was significantly lower at 105 minutes compared to baseline (P = 0.003), indicating that blood pressure lowering, observed not with a temporal relationship to 4MP administration but after the maximum BDO concentration was reached, may be an intrinsic effect of BDO.
Early treatment ofClassIIImalocclusion with facemask therapy
Authors: Menéndez‐Díaz Iván , Muriel Juan , Cobo Juan L. , Álvarez Covadonga , Cobo Teresa
Published: November 2018

The facemask is a widely used device in the treatment of Class III malocclusion and is intended to anteriorly displace the superior maxilla or stimulate its growth in that direction. The main goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of treatment using orthopedic maxillary expansion with facemask therapy in patients with Class III malocclusion. Sixty‐four patients, with a mean age of 8.14 ± 1.18 years at the start of treatment and a mean age of 9.78 ± 1.19 years at the end, were treated using orthopedic maxillary expansion and associated facemask therapy. The patients were evaluated using lateral head teleradiography before and after treatment, and the differences were analyzed. In addition, binary logistic regression was used as a model for predicting successful treatment. When comparing the changes achieved by treatment, statistically significant favorable changes were found at the skeletal level. Furthermore, an improvement in the airways at all levels was detected. Orthopedic maxillary expansion associated with facemask therapy has proven effective in treating early skeletal Class III malocclusion.
Alcohol Synthesis from CO2, H2, and Olefins over Alkali‐Promoted Au Catalysts—A Catalytic and In situ FTIR Spectroscopic Study
Authors: Heyl Denise , Kreyenschulte Carsten , Kondratenko Vita A. , Bentrup Ursula , Kondratenko Evgenii V. , Brückner Angelika
Published: November 2018

Au/TiO2 and Au/SiO2 catalysts containing 2 wt % Au and different amounts of K or Cs were tested for alcohol synthesis from CO2, H2, and C2H4/C3H6. 1‐Propanol or 1‐butanol/isobutanol were obtained in the presence of C2H4 or C3H6. Higher yields of the corresponding alcohols were obtained over TiO2‐based catalysts in comparison with their SiO2‐based counterparts. This is caused by an enhanced ability of the TiO2‐based catalysts for CO2 activation, as concluded from in situ fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and temporal analysis of products (TAP) studies. The synthesized carbonate and formate species adsorbed on the support do not hamper CO2 conversion into CO and the hydroformylation reaction. The transformation of Auδ+ to active Au0 sites proceeds during an activation procedure. As reflected by CO adsorption and scanning transmission electron microscopy, the accessible Au0 sites are influenced by the amount of alkali dopants and the support. FTIR data and TAP tests reveal a very weak interaction of C2H4 with the catalyst, suggesting its quick reaction with CO and H2 after activation on Au0 sites to form propanol and propane.
Evolution of Reactions of a Fluoride Shuttle Battery at the Surfaces of BiF3 Microclusters Studied by In Situ Raman Microscopy
Authors: Yamanaka Toshiro , Okazaki Ken‐ichi , Abe Takeshi , Nishio Koji , Ogumi Zempachi
Published: November 2018

Fluoride shuttle batteries (FSBs), which utilize defluorination of metal fluorides and fluorination of the resultant metals, are expected to have high energy densities. In situ Raman microscopy was conducted during FSB reactions of a nearly‐2D cluster of orthorhombic BiF3 microparticles partly embedded in a gold‐plated film (o‐BiF3/gold). At a high overpotential, defluorination of the surface of an o‐BiF3 particle (or cluster) was almost completed within approximately 120 s. At a low over potential, defluorination proceeded from the contours of the cluster that was in contact with the gold to the center of the cluster, suggesting that the rate‐limiting process was electronic diffusion. Conversely, fluorination proceeded uniformly at the surface of the cluster to form BiF3 with a cubic structure (c‐BiF3). The results will lead to the establishment of a strategy for efficient use of active materials with low electronic and ionic conductivities.
Recent Progress in the Design and Synthesis of Nitrides for Mesoscopic and Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Kang Jin Soo , Kang Jiho , Sung Yung‐Eun
Published: November 2018

With growing concerns about global warming and the energy crisis, a variety of photovoltaic devices have attracted worldwide attention as alternative energy sources. Among them, organic–inorganic hybrid photovoltaics, typically mesoscopic and perovskite solar cells, are promising, owing to their potential for low‐cost energy production, which mainly comes from unlimited combinations of materials optimized for each step of solar energy conversion. However, the commercialization of organic–inorganic hybrid solar cells is hampered by costly electrocatalysts or hole‐transport materials. Currently, state‐of‐the‐art dye‐ or quantum‐dot‐sensitized solar cells and perovskite solar cells necessitate noble metals and high‐price polymeric materials. In an attempt to resolve this issue, various kinds of metal compounds have been investigated, and nitrides have been actively reported to possess a number of favorable properties for the aforementioned purpose, such as excellent electrical conductivity and superb electrocatalytic performance. Herein, the use of nitrides as cost‐effective electrocatalysts or hole‐transport materials in organic–inorganic hybrid solar cells is reviewed. Nitrides with a variety of morphologies and scales are discussed, together with the synergistic effect in the case of diverse composites. In addition, prospects and challenges for applying nitride materials are briefly suggested.
Boosting Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution Activity with Ni‐Doped MoS2/Reduced Graphene Oxide Hybrid Aerogel
Authors: Lin Chong , Gao Zhengfei , Jin Jian
Published: November 2018

Highly active, durable, and cost‐effective non‐precious‐metal‐based electrocatalysts are urgently needed to improve the sluggish hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in an alkaline environment. Herein, a lyophilization/thermolysis method is successfully applied to prepare Ni‐doped MoS2 (Ni‐MoS2)/reduced graphene oxide (RGO) hybrid aerogels. The MoS2 aerogel possesses a higher density of exposed active sites than its corresponding bulk material. Inheriting from GO its abundant functional groups during pyrolysis, the RGO aerogel can uniformly disperse MoS2 and simultaneously maintain excellent conductivity. The incorporation of Ni atoms can accelerate the cleavage of the HO−H bond and enhance the adsorption and desorption of intermediate OH−. Owing to the synergistic effect of the compositional and structural advantages of aerogels, the Ni‐MoS2/RGO hybrid aerogel delivers highly promoted HER kinetics in alkaline media. As a result, an optimal η10 (overpotential at 10 mA cm−2) of 168 mV in 1 m KOH is obtained, which is superior to the non‐doped MoS2/RGO hybrid aerogel (225 mV) and MoS2 aerogel (263 mV), letting alone bulk MoS2 (448 mV). Moreover, the η60 (overpotential at 60 mA cm−2) is maintained at 262 mV after chronopotentiometry tests at a constant current density of 10 mA cm−2 for 24 h, indicating an exceptionally stability of the HER catalyst.
CD123 expression levels in 846 acute leukemia patients based on standardized immunophenotyping
Authors: Bras Anne E. , de Haas Valerie , van Stigt Arthur , Jongen‐Lavrencic Mojca , Beverloo H. Berna , te Marvelde Jeroen G. , Zwaan C. Michel , van Dongen Jacques J.M. , Leusen Jeanette H.W. , van der Velden Vincent H.J.
Published: November 2018

Background

While it is known that CD123 is normally strongly expressed on plasmacytoid dendritic cells and completely absent on nucleated red blood cells, detailed information regarding CD123 expression in acute leukemia is scarce and, if available, hard to compare due to different methodologies.

Methods

CD123 expression was evaluated using standardized EuroFlow immunophenotyping in 139 pediatric AML, 316 adult AML, 193 pediatric BCP‐ALL, 69 adult BCP‐ALL, 101 pediatric T‐ALL, and 28 adult T‐ALL patients. Paired diagnosis‐relapse samples were available for 57 AML and 19 BCP‐ALL patients. Leukemic stem cell (LSC) data was available for 32 pediatric AML patients. CD123 expression was evaluated based on mean fluorescence intensity, median fluorescence intensity, and percentage CD123 positive cells.

Results

EuroFlow panels were stable over time and between laboratories. CD123 was expressed in the majority of AML and BCP‐ALL patients, but absent in most T‐ALL patients. Within AML, CD123 expression was lower in erythroid/megakaryocytic leukemia, higher in NPM1 mutated and FLT3‐ITD mutated leukemia, and comparable between LSC and leukemic blasts. Within BCP‐ALL, CD123 expression was higher in patients with (high) hyperdiploid karyotypes and the BCR‐ABL fusion gene. Interestingly, CD123 expression was increased in BCP‐ALL relapses while highly variable in AML relapses (compared to CD123 expression at diagnosis).

Conclusions

Authors evaluated CD123 expression in a large cohort of acute leukemia patients, based on standardized and reproducible methodology. Our results may facilitate stratification of patients most likely to respond to CD123 targeted therapies and serve as reference for CD123 expression (in health and disease). © 2018 The Authors. Cytometry Part B: Clinical Cytometry published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Clinical Cytometry Society.
Sequential Oxygen Reduction and Adsorption for Carbon Dioxide Purification for Flue Gas Applications
Authors: Kuhn Andrew N. , Chen Zhitao , Lu Yongqi , Yang Hong
Published: November 2018

Sequestration or utilization of carbon dioxide (CO2) produced from fossil fuels depends on the ability to transform flue gas into purified streams. Recent developments in oxy‐combustion have improved the efficiency of energy generation and carbon capture (>90% CO2). The subsequent removal of oxygen (O2) from this flue gas is critical, but such a process is energy intensive, technologically challenging, and unsolved. Herein, a simulated flue gas stream is purified by the catalytic conversion of oxygen using methane (CH4). The supported palladium (Pd) catalyst selectively reduces oxygen to an effluent gas with 99.7% CO2 and 0.3% O2. Using a higher Pd loading has no impact on the oxygen conversion, whereas feeding excess CH4 decreases the selectivity to CO2. A complete removal of O2 is achieved using a copper‐based oxygen scavenger placed after the Pd catalyst bed, yielding a 100.0% pure CO2 stream.
Enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity of zno nanoparticles modified by cyclized polyacrynitrile
Authors: Li Xueyan , Yin Rong , Liu Yanyan , Luo Qingzhi , An Jing , Wang Desong , Liu Sijie , Dai Bo
Published: November 2018

The ZnO/cyclized polyacrylonitrile (CPAN) composites were prepared by impregnation and heat treatment process. The morphology, crystal type, internal structure of ZnO/CPAN nanocomposites were characterized by UV‐vis‐diffuse reflectance spectroscope (DRS), X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The visible light photocatalytic activity of ZnO/CPAN was evaluated by degradation of methyl orange under xenon lamp irradiation. The DRS results indicate that the absorption of ZnO/CPAN nanocomposites in the visible region was significantly higher than that of pure ZnO nanoparticles. The TEM results show that the surface of ZnO nanoparticles is occupied by the CPAN in small amount. The results of photocatalytic experiment show that the photocatalytic activity of ZnO nanoparticles can be improved significantly by the modification of CPAN. The possible photocatalytic mechanism was also discussed. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 38: 336–344, 2019
A class of periodic trend models for seasonal time series
Authors: Proietti Tommaso , Marczak Martyna , Mazzi Gianluigi
Published: November 2018

Trend and seasonality are the most prominent features of economic time series that are observed at the subannual frequency. Modeling these components serves a variety of analytical purposes, including seasonal adjustment and forecasting. In this paper we introduce unobserved components models for which both the trend and seasonal components arise from systematically sampling a multivariate transition equation, according to which each season evolves as a random walk with a drift. By modeling the disturbance covariance matrix we can encompass traditional models for seasonal time series, like the basic structural model, and can formulate more elaborate ones, dealing with season specific features, such as seasonal heterogeneity and correlation, along with the different role of the nonstationary cycles defined at the fundamental and the harmonic frequencies in determining the shape of the seasonal pattern.
Real‐time inflation forecast combination for time‐varying coefficient models
Authors: Zhang Bo
Published: November 2018

We use real‐time macroeconomic variables and combination forecasts with both time‐varying weights and equal weights to forecast inflation in the USA. The combination forecasts compare three sets of commonly used time‐varying coefficient autoregressive models: Gaussian distributed errors, errors with stochastic volatility, and errors with moving average stochastic volatility. Both point forecasts and density forecasts suggest that models combined by equal weights do not produce worse forecasts than those with time‐varying weights. We also find that variable selection, the allowance of time‐varying lag length choice, and the stochastic volatility specification significantly improve forecast performance over standard benchmarks. Finally, when compared with the Survey of Professional Forecasters, the results of the best combination model are found to be highly competitive during the 2007/08 financial crisis.
A new human delayed‐matching‐to‐place test in a virtual environment reverse‐translated from the rodent watermaze paradigm: Characterization of performance measures and sex differences
Authors: Buckley Matthew G. , Bast Tobias
Published: November 2018

Watermaze tests of place learning and memory in rodents and corresponding reverse‐translated human paradigms in real or virtual environments are key tools to study hippocampal function. In common variants, the animal or human participant has to find a hidden goal that remains in the same place over many trials, allowing for incremental learning of the place with reference to distal cues surrounding the circular, featureless maze. Although the hippocampus is involved in incremental place learning, rodent studies have shown that the delayed‐matching‐to‐place (DMP) watermaze test is a more sensitive assay of hippocampal function. On the DMP test, the goal location changes every four trials, requiring the rapid updating of place memory. Here, we developed a virtual DMP test reverse‐translated from the rat watermaze DMP paradigm. In two replications, participants showed 1‐trial place learning, evidenced by marked latency and path length savings between Trials 1 and 2 to the same goal location, and by search preference for the vicinity of the goal when Trial 2 was run as probe trial (during which the goal was removed). The performance was remarkably similar to rats' performance on the watermaze DMP test. In both replications, male participants showed greater savings and search preferences compared to female participants. Male participants also showed better mental rotation performance, although mental rotation scores did not consistently correlate with DMP performance measures, pointing to distinct neurocognitive mechanisms. The remarkable similarity between rodent and human DMP performance suggests similar underlying neuro‐psychological mechanisms, including hippocampus dependence. The new virtual DMP test may, therefore, provide a sensitive tool to probe human hippocampal function.
Fusion of noisy images based on joint distribution model in dual‐tree complex wavelet domain
Authors: Sun Bin , Zhu Weidan , Luo Chengwei , Hu Kai , Hu Yu , Gao Jingjing
Published: November 2018

Source images are frequently corrupted by noise before fusion, which will lead to the quality decline of fused image and the inconvenience for subsequent observation. However, at present, most of the traditional medical image fusion scheme cannot be implemented in noisy environment. Besides, the existing fusion methods scarcely make full use of the dependencies between source images. In this research, a novel fusion algorithm based on the statistical properties of wavelet coefficients is proposed, which incorporates fusion and denoising simultaneously. In the proposed algorithm, the new saliency and matching measures are defined by two distributions: the marginal statistical distribution of single wavelet coefficient fit by the generalized Gaussian Distribution and joint distribution of dual source wavelet coefficients modeled by the anisotropic bivariate Laplacian model. Additionally, the bivariate shrinkage is introduced to develop a noise robust fusion method, and a moment‐based parameter estimation applied in the fusion scheme is also exploited in denoising method, which allows to achieve the consistency of fusion and denoising. The experiments demonstrate that the proposed algorithm performs very well on both noisy and noise‐free images from multimodal medical datasets (computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic resonance angiography, etc.), outperforming the conventional methods in terms of both fusion quality and noise reduction.
Hurdling Over Language Barriers: Building Relationships With Adolescent Newcomers Through Literacy Advancement
Authors: Flint Patricia , Dollar Tamra , Stewart Mary Amanda
Published: November 2018

Adolescents who are newcomers in a country and beginning to acquire English as an additional language are often in secondary classrooms with teachers who do not speak their languages. Due to these communication obstacles, there is a great need for teachers to build relationships with their students while setting optimal conditions for literacy development across languages (e.g., English and Spanish) and domains (e.g., oral, written, and digital communication). Guided by tenets of culturally and linguistically responsive pedagogy, the authors describe how two self‐identifying monolingual English‐speaking teachers formed relationships with high school newcomers during a summer literacy institute. The authors highlight three specific literacy activities that facilitated students’ oral, written, and digital literacy skills in both English and Spanish while also creating a space for caring relationships to form between students and teachers.
Inhibition of the Oxygen Sensor PHD2 Enhances Tissue-Engineered Endochondral Bone Formation
Authors: Stiers Pieter-Jan , Stegen Steve , van Gastel Nick , Van Looveren Riet , Torrekens Sophie , Carmeliet Geert
Published: November 2018

Tissue engineering holds great promise for bone regenerative medicine, but clinical translation remains challenging. An important factor is the low cell survival after implantation, primarily caused by the lack of functional vasculature at the bone defect. Interestingly, bone development and repair initiate predominantly via an avascular cartilage template, indicating that chondrocytes are adapted to limited vascularization. Given these advantageous properties of chondrocytes, we questioned whether tissue-engineered cartilage intermediates implanted ectopically in mice are able to form bone, even when the volume size increases. Here, we show that endochondral ossification proceeds efficiently when implant size is limited (≤30 mm3), but chondrogenesis and matrix synthesis are impaired in the center of larger implants, leading to a fibrotic core. Increasing the level of angiogenic growth factors does not improve this outcome, because this strategy enhances peripheral bone formation, but disrupts the conversion of cartilage into bone in the center, resulting in a fibrotic core, even in small implants. On the other hand, activation of hypoxia signaling in cells before implantation stimulates chondrogenesis and matrix production, which culminates in enhanced bone formation throughout the entire implant. Together, our results show that induction of angiogenesis alone may lead to adverse effects during endochondral bone repair, whereas activation of hypoxia signaling represents a superior therapeutic strategy to improve endochondral bone regeneration in large tissue-engineered implants. © 2018 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Microwave‐Assisted Synthesis and Spectral Characterization of Biological Activity Heterocyclic Thiosemicarbazone and Its Organometallic Derivatives
Authors: Zayed Mohie E. M.
Published: November 2018

The thiosemicarbazone coordinates to metal through the thionic sulfur and the azomethine nitrogen. The thiosemicarbazone was obtained by the thiosemicarbazide with 3‐acetyl‐2,5‐dimethylfuran by microwave irradiation. Metal complexes were prepared by the reaction of thiosemicarbazone with metal salts. IR, 1H, 13C NMR, FAB‐mass spectroscopic methods, and elemental analysis elucidated the structure of these compounds. The antibacterial activity of these compounds were first tested in vitro by the disk diffusion assay against two Gram‐positive and two Gram‐negative bacteria, and then minimum inhibitory concentration was determined, chloramphenicol as reference drug. The results showed that copper (II) metal complex of the thiosemicarbazone (1.1) is a better inhibitor as compared with chloramphenicol.
Green Synthesis of Pyrazole and Oxazole Derivatives
Authors: Toche Raghunath B. , Patil Vasant M. , Chaudhari (Patil) Sunita A. , Chavan Satish M. , Sabnis Ram W.
Published: November 2018

New intermediate 3‐methyl‐5‐oxopyrazol propanenitrile was synthesized by one pot three component reactions using ethyl cyanoacetate, hydrazine hydrate, and ethyl acetoacetate and was used for the synthesis of new oxazole and pyrazole derivatives. All reactions were carried out using eco‐friendly solvents and without catalyst.
Synthesis and Antibacterial Activity of Novel (4‐Fluorophenyl)(4‐(naphthalen‐2‐yl)‐6‐aryl‐2‐thioxo‐2,3‐dihydropyrimidin‐1(6H)‐yl)methanone Derivatives
Authors: Sekhar Thuraka , Thriveni Pinnu , Hari Krishna Mypati , Ramesh Kolluri , Jasmine Sk Md , Allam Uday Sankar
Published: November 2018

A novel series of (4‐fluorophenyl)(4‐(naphthalen‐2‐yl)‐6‐aryl‐2‐thioxo‐2,3‐dihydropyrimidin‐1(6H)‐yl)methanone derivatives were synthesized from reaction of 6‐(naphthalen‐2‐yl)‐4‐aryl‐3,4‐dihydropyrimidine‐2(1H)‐thiones with 4‐fluorobenzoylchloride in dichloromethane in the presence of triethylamine. The synthesized compounds were screened for antibacterial activity against Gram positive bacteria, namely, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC25923 and Listeria monocytogenes MTCC657, and Gram negative bacteria, namely, Escherichia coli ATCC25922 and Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC700603, respectively. Some of the tested compounds showed significant antimicrobial activity.
Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Novel Pyrazole, Oxazole, and Pyridine Derivatives as Potential Anticancer Agents Using Mixed Chalcone
Authors: Ahmed Marwa H. , El‐Hashash Maher A. , Marzouk Magda I. , El‐Naggar Abeer M.
Published: November 2018

New pyrazole, oxazole, and pyridine derivatives bearing naphthalene and furan moieties have been prepared by condensing 3‐(furan‐2‐yl)‐1‐(naphthalen‐2‐yl)prop‐2‐en‐1‐one 1 with different nitrogen and carbon nucleophiles such as hydrazine, hydroxylamine, cyclohexanone, cyclopentanone, ethyl cyanoacetate, and malononitrile, respectively. Cyclization of chalcone 1 with malononitrile in refluxing ethanol and ammonium acetate gave the corresponding dihydropyridine, which was condensed with different carbon electrophilic reagents such as ethyl cyanoacetate, ethyl acetoacetate, formamide, and acetic anhydride to yield the pyridine derivatives 13–16. Elemental and spectroscopic evidences characterized all the newly synthesized compounds. All of the newly synthesized compounds were tested in vitro for their anti‐proliferative activities against HePG‐2 and MCF‐7 cell lines. Compounds 11, 8, and 15 displayed promising growth inhibitory effect toward the two cell lines compared with the standard drug doxorubicin.
Ciprofloxacin–Isatin Hybrids and Their Antimycobacterial Activities
Authors: Xu Zhi , Zhao Shi‐Jia , Deng Jia‐Lun , Wang Qin , Lv Zao‐Sheng
Published: November 2018

A series of diethylene glycol tethered ciprofloxacin–isatin hybrids 5a–j were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their in vitro antimycobacterial activity against both drug‐sensitive and multidrug‐resistant (MDR) Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains in this paper. The preliminary results revealed that all hybrids with greater lipophilicity than the parent ciprofloxacin displayed considerable activity against the tested strains with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) in a range of 1.56–64 μg/mL. In particular, hybrid 5f (MIC: 1.56 and 2 μg/mL) with low cytotoxicity in VERO cell line was comparable with the parent ciprofloxacin (MIC: 0.78 and 2 μg/mL) against M. tuberculosis H37Rv and MDR tuberculosis strains and ≥16‐fold more potent than isoniazid and rifampicin (MIC: >128 and 32 μg/mL, respectively) against MDR tuberculosis, suggesting that it may serve as a new and promising candidate for further study.
New Route for the Synthesis of Hetaryl‐1,5‐benzodiazepines: Part 2
Authors: Ahmed Abdelraheem M. , Abdel‐Ghany H. , Moustafa H. M. , Khodairy A.
Published: November 2018

1,2,4‐Triazin‐3‐ylthio‐, 1,2,4‐triazepin‐3‐ylthio‐, 1,2,4‐triazol‐3‐ylthio‐, and 1,2,4,3‐triazaphosphol‐5‐ylthio‐1,5‐benzodiazepines 4–20 were prepared via the reaction of 2‐oxo‐4‐phenyl‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐1,5‐benzodiazepin‐3‐ylhydrazonothiocarbamate (2) with halocompounds, dicarbonyl compounds, enaminones, 4‐chlorobenzaldehyde, 4‐chlorobenzylidenemalononitriles, N,N‐dimethylformamide dimethylacetal, carbon disulfide, and 2,4‐bis(4‐methoxyphenyl)‐1,3,2,4‐dithiadiphosphetane‐2,4‐disulfide (Lawesson's reagent).
Gene expression in hip soft tissues in incipient canine hip dysplasia and osteoarthritis
Authors: Todhunter Rory J. , Garrison Susan J. , Jordan Julie , Hunter Linda , Castelhano Marta G. , Ash Kristian , Meyers‐Wallen Vicki , Krotscheck Ursula , Hayward Jessica J. , Grenier Jennifer
Published: November 2018

Canine hip dysplasia and developmental dysplasia of the human hip share demographic, phenotypic, and clinical features including the predisposition to develop osteoarthritis in affected joints. To support the results of genetic mapping studies for CHD and its concomitant osteoarthritis with functional information, we performed RNA‐seq on hip capsule and teres ligament of affected and unaffected dogs. RNA seq showed that expressed genes segregated according age, capsule or ligament, and hip phenotype. Expression ofHHIP,DACT2, andWIF1was significantly higher in capsule from control hips than dysplastic hips indicating a disruption of the hedgehog signaling pathway. Expression ofSPON1, a key component of the WNT pathway, was increased significantly in both dysplastic capsule and ligament whileFBN2andEMILIN3were significantly increased in dysplastic capsule. Of genes associated with human hip osteoarthritis, expression ofACAN,IGF1,CILP2,COL11A1,COL8A1, andHAPLNwas increased significantly in dysplastic capsule. The significant increase in expression ofPLA2F,TNFRSF,TMEM, andIGFBPin dysplastic capsule indicated an injury response. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed that genes involved in extracellular matrix structure, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, myogenesis, growth factor signaling, cancer and immune pathways were enriched in dysplastic capsule. For teres ligament from dysplastic joints, genes in retinoic signaling pathways and those encoding extracellular matrix molecules, but not proteoglycans, were enriched. Hip tissues respond to abnormal mechanics early in dysplastic hip development and these pathways present targets for intervention in the early synovitis and capsulitis secondary to canine and human hip dysplasia. © 2018 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 37:313–324, 2019.
Simultaneous quantification of N‐butylthiophosphoric triamide and dicyandiamide in urea formulation by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Yogesha Subbaiah , Arun Kumar , Shetty Sharankumar G. , Ravi Hegde , Ramesh Narayana
Published: November 2018

A new liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method employing a mixed‐mode zwitterionic stationary phase was developed for simultaneous determination of urease inhibitor (N‐butylthiophosphoric triamide) and nitrification inhibitor (dicyandiamide) in urea fertilizer. Molecular modeling based on density functional theory calculations was employed to provide an insight into the interaction mechanism of urea, dicyandiamide, and N‐butylthiophosphoric triamide with zwitterionic stationary phase in chromatographic separation system. The detection of analytes was performed on a triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer in multiple reaction monitoring mode using positive electrospray ionization. The ion transitions monitored were m/z 85→68 for dicyandiamide and m/z 168.2→74 for N‐butylthiophosphoric triamide, respectively. The standard calibration curves of dicyandiamide and N‐butylthiophosphoric triamide were linear over the range of 1.0 ̶ 15 ppm (coefficient of determination = 0.9984), 0.05 ̶ 1 ppm (coefficient of determination = 0.9995), with limit of detection of 25 and 5 ppb, respectively. The recoveries of low, middle, and high concentrations were from 96.7 to 105.8% for N‐butylthiophosphoric triamide and 94.4 to 105.8% for dicyandiamide with accuracy (relative error %) of ≤5.8% and ≤5.8%, the precision (coefficients of variation) was ≤2.0% and ≤2.9%, respectively. The validated method was successfully applied on real urea samples to determine N‐butylthiophosphoric triamide and dicyandiamide simultaneously.
Voice outcomes after endoscopic sinus surgery in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis
Authors: Hall Christian A. , Hernandez Stephen C. , Barry Rachel A. , Zito Brittany A. , McWhorter Andrew J. , Fink Daniel S. , Barham Henry P.
Published: November 2018

Objectives/Hypothesis

The purpose of this study was to assess voice outcomes after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP).

Study Design

Individual cohort study.

Methods

A study was performed of patients with CRSwNP who underwent ESS from July 2015 to May 2016 at a tertiary referral medical center. The main outcome measures were subjective improvement in patient‐reported outcomes, using the 22‐item Sino‐Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT‐22) and 10‐item Voice Handicap Index (VHI‐10).

Results

A total of 50 patients (age 47.9 years; 48% female), 66% revision and 34% primary, were available at a follow‐up of 3 months. At the 3‐month follow‐up, both SNOT‐22 and VHI‐10 scores were improved from preoperative values (−41.8 and −14.7, respectively).

Conclusions

Successful treatment of sinonasal disease can help to improve voice outcomes in patients with CRSwNP. There are inherent differences in the long‐term outcomes of the results beyond 3 months based on practice patterns of ongoing medical management, but our results are interesting in that they show early improvement in voice outcomes.

Level of Evidence

2b Laryngoscope, 129:299–302, 2019
Characterization of aged rat vocal fold fibroblasts
Authors: Kawai Yoshitaka , Kishimoto Yo , Sogami Tohru , Suzuki Ryo , Tsuji Takuya , Hiwatashi Nao , Tateya Ichiro , Kanemaru Shin‐Ichi , Nakamura Tatsuo , Omori Koichi , Hirano Shigeru
Published: November 2018

Objectives/Hypothesis

To elucidate the aging physiology of the vocal folds, we examined the characters of aged vocal fold fibroblasts (VFFs) in various conditions.

Study Design

In vitro study.

Methods

VFFs from young (12‐week‐old) and aged (19‐month‐old) Sprague‐Dawley rats were compared. Proliferative capacity, ratio of myofibroblast to fibroblast, myofibroblast function, and extracellular matrix production were examined in the following conditions: naïve, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) supplemented, and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) supplemented.

Results

Aged VFFs demonstrated reduced proliferation by cell counting, though the ratio of Ki‐67–positive cells showed no difference. Aged VFFs exhibited an increased expression of α‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA); however, they demonstrated no enhanced contractile ability in a gel contraction assay. Type I collagen protein was increased age dependently, accompanied with decreased Mmp1 and unchanged Col1a1 transcription. Type I collagen protein and α‐SMA represented quite similar reduction patterns to bFGF or HGF administration.

Conclusions

The following possible characteristics of aged VFFs were implied: long duration of mitosis, increased myofibroblast population size with certain dysfunctions, reduced type I collagen turnover, and correlation between α‐SMA expression and type I collagen metabolism. Further investigations of these features will help to clarify presbyphonia's pathology and establish treatment strategies.

Level of Evidence

NA Laryngoscope, 129:E94–E101, 2019
Mortality associated with tracheostomy complications in the United States: 2007–2016
Authors: Cramer John D. , Graboyes Evan M. , Brenner Michael J.
Published: November 2018

Objectives/Hypothesis

To investigate patterns of tracheostomy‐associated death in the United States.

Study Design

Retrospective database review.

Methods

We used Multiple Cause‐of‐Death data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to determine cumulative national mortality associated with tracheostomy complications in the United States from 2007 to 2016. Using International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision data, we investigated how frequently tracheostomy‐related complications were reported in cause of death data. We then compared the characteristics of patients with tracheostomy‐related mortality to patients reported to have died of other causes.

Results

Over the 10‐year period studied, we identified 623 tracheostomy‐related deaths (537 adults and 86 children) out of 25,587,306 total deaths reported. Although absolute mortality was higher in adults, the reported base rate of tracheostomy complication–associated mortality was tenfold higher in children. Most tracheostomy‐related deaths occurred in a hospital facility (74.5% in adults). Deaths associated with tracheostomy complications were significantly more common for African American children (odds ratio [OR]: 2.02, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.26‐3.24) and adults (OR: 1.59, 95% CI: 1.29‐1.96) or in Hispanic adults (OR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.06‐1.89). Deaths related to a tracheostomy complication more commonly occurred on the weekend (OR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.04‐1.49) and in the most recent 2‐year period (OR: 1.31, 95% CI: 1.03‐1.68). Adults with a bachelor's, master's or doctorate degree were significantly less likely to have mortality associated with a tracheostomy‐related complication (OR: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.39‐0.75).

Conclusions

Tracheostomy‐related complications were implicated in the deaths of a significant number of individuals. Several demographic groups had increased likelihood of tracheostomy‐related mortality. Future research is necessary to develop targeted interventions to decrease harm.

Level of Evidence

NA Laryngoscope, 129:619–626, 2019
Changing trends in management of vestibular schwannoma: A National Cancer Database study
Authors: Bashjawish Bassel , Kılıç Suat , Baredes Soly , Eloy Jean Anderson , Liu James K. , Ying Yu‐Lan Mary
Published: November 2018

Objective

To describe changes in management trends of vestibular schwannoma (VS) and the effects of median income, education level, insurance status, and tumor size on receipt of treatment.

Methods

Cross‐sectional analysis using the National Cancer Database from 2004 to 2014. All patients with a diagnosis of VS were identified between 2004 and 2014. Trends in treatment modality over time were analyzed. Correlation between demographics, institution type, median income, education level, and insurance status were assessed using univariate and multivariate logistic regressions.

Results

Of the 22,290 VS patients identified, 16,011 (71.8%) received treatment, whereas 6,279 (28.2%) received observation. Management trend analysis over the 11‐year period revealed patients with tumor size < 1 cm are more frequently observed (34.6% of cases in 2004 vs. 60.8% of cases in 2014) and less frequently received surgery (34.6% vs. 16.8%). Multivariate analysis showed observation was more frequently used in patients ≥ 65 years; black patients; and those on Medicaid, Medicare, and noninsured (P < 0.0001). All tumors > 2 cm were more likely to be treated with surgery, specifically subtotal resections (P < 0.0001). Patients treated at nonacademic centers were more likely to receive linear accelerator, or LINAC (Accuray Incorporated, Sunnyvale, CA) therapy than Gamma Knife (Elekta, Stockholm, Sweden) (P < 0.0001).

Conclusion

Management of VS is shifting toward increased observation, most significantly in tumors size < 1 cm. Insurance provider plays a significant role on receipt of treatment and modality, whereas income and education do not.

Level of Evidence

NA Laryngoscope, 129:1197–1205, 2019
The role of double diffusion for the heat and salt balance in Lake Kivu
Authors: Sommer Tobias , Schmid Martin , Wüest Alfred
Published: November 2018

Double diffusion in lakes and oceans can transform vertical gradients into staircases of convectively mixed layers separated by thin stable interfaces. Lake Kivu is an outstanding double‐diffusive natural laboratory with > 300 such steps over the permanently stratified deep basin. Here, we use 315 microstructure profiles (225 measured in Rwanda and 90 in the DRC) to shed light on the heat and salt balances of Lake Kivu. Comparing profiles from 2011 and 2015 reveals warming of 8.6 mK yr−1 below 80 m depth and negligible changes in salinity. The double‐diffusive layering is coherent over horizontal distances of 20–30 km and remained unchanged between 2011 and 2015, indicating little variability. The mean estimated dissipation within mixed layers is 1.5 × 10−10 W kg−1. If unshaped Batchelor microstructure spectra are interpreted as nonturbulent, the rescaled dissipation of 0.44 × 10−10 W kg−1 corresponds to a vertical heat flux of 0.10 W m−2, which agrees with the molecular heat flux through the adjacent stable interfaces. Using estimates of upwelling, temporal changes of temperature and salt, and vertical double‐diffusive fluxes, we established heat and salt balances, which require lateral heat and salt inputs. For salt, lateral input of freshwater at the main gradients balances upwelling. For temperature, however, the divergence of the vertical double‐diffusive fluxes can only be balanced by horizontal inputs supplying cool water above and warm water below the main gradients. This suggests that lateral inputs of water at various depths are the main drivers for this unique double‐diffusive phenomenon in Lake Kivu.
δ15N patterns in three subtropical estuaries show switch from nitrogen “reactors” to “pipes” with increasing degradation
Authors: Wells Naomi S. , Eyre Bradley D.
Published: November 2018

Ongoing alterations to estuaries by inland agricultural intensification and coastal development could affect their capacity to regulate the flux of excess terrestrial nitrogen (N) to the coastal ocean. Here, a new multiform δ15N metric was developed to measure how “pristine,” moderately impacted, and highly degraded estuaries recycle (assimilation, mineralization) and remove (denitrification, anaerobic ammonium oxidation) N. Organic (dissolved and particulate, δ15N and δ13C) and inorganic (nitrate and ammonium, δ15N and δ18O) N forms were measured over the salinity gradient in the wet and dry season in subtropical estuaries receiving increasing terrestrial N loads (pristine: 16 kg N d−1, moderate: 150 kg N d−1, degraded: 630 kg N d−1). The difference in the inorganic vs. organic pool δ15N composition increased between the pristine (0 ± 2‰), moderate (10 ± 6‰), and degraded (20 ± 8‰) systems, indicating that N recycling decreased as degradation increased. The N2O concentrations, NO3− dual isotope values, and offsets between “measured” and “mixing expected” δ15N values further revealed that microbial processes removed up to 30% of the N load entering the moderately degraded estuary, but only 9% in the highly degraded estuary. Hydrologic differences (depth and flushing times [FTs]) could not fully explain these shifts in N fate between the estuaries and seasons, which instead aligned with nonlinear increases in phytoplankton biomass and light penetration with increasing N loads. These isotopic indicators provide direct evidence that estuaries switch from “reactors” that assimilate and remove terrestrial N to “pipes” that transport N directly to sea as degradation increases.
Corrosion resistance enhancement of chemically oxidized titanium through NaOH and H2O2 exposure
Authors: Prando Davide , Nicolis Davide , Bolzoni Fabio , Pedeferri MariaPia , Ormellese Marco
Published: November 2018

Titanium owes its astounding corrosion resistance to a thin, compact oxide layer that is formed spontaneously when the metal is exposed to the environment. However, even titanium can be subject to corrosion in very aggressive environments. To enhance its corrosion resistance, it is possible to exploit the same mechanism that leads to the formation of the protective oxide layer and force its growth with an external contribution. Oxidation can be easily stimulated with the use of an electrochemical cell. However, when part geometry or dimensions do not allow the immersion in an anodizing bath, chemical oxidation can be used. This study compares corrosion resistance enhancement after NaOH and H2O2 treatment. Treatment duration and temperature, solution concentration, and quantity are optimized to achieve the best corrosion resistance with the least time and chemicals consumption, by maintaining the process easy to perform and safe for the operator.
Investigation of structure and dynamics in a photochromic molecular crystal by NMR crystallography
Authors: Dale Benjamin L. , Halcovitch Nathan R. , Peach Michael J.G. , Griffin John M.
Published: November 2018

A photochromic anil, N‐(3,5‐di‐t‐butylsalicylidene)‐4‐amino‐pyridine, has been studied by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, multinuclear magic‐angle spinning NMR, and first‐principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Interpretation of the solid‐state NMR data on the basis of calculated chemical shifts confirms the structure is primarily composed of molecules in the ground‐state enol tautomer, whereas thermally activated cis‐keto and photoisomerised trans‐keto states exist as low‐level defects with populations that are too low to detect experimentally. Variable temperature 13C NMR data reveal evidence for solid‐state dynamics, which is found to be associated with fast rotational motion of t‐butyl groups and 180° flips of the pyridine ring, contrasting the time‐averaged structure obtained by X‐ray diffraction. Comparison of calculated chemical shifts for the full crystal structure and an isolated molecule also reveals evidence for an intermolecular hydrogen bond involving the pyridine ring and an adjacent imine carbon, which facilitates the flipping motion. The DFT calculations also reveal that the molecular conformation in the crystal structure is very close to the energetic minimum for an isolated molecule, indicating that the ring dynamics arise as a result of considerable steric freedom of the pyridine ring and which also allows the molecule to adopt a favourable conformation for photochromism.
Employing a Nutrition Nurse in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Improved Nutrition and Growth Outcomes in Preterm Neonates
Authors: Aydemir Ozge , Cakık Saglık Adviye , Sekili Zekiye , Tekin Ayşe Neslihan
Published: November 2018

Background

Nutrition nurses are clinical nurse specialists with knowledge and experience in nutrition support. We aimed to investigate the nutrition and growth outcomes after employment of a nutrition nurse in our level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Methods

A retrospective cohort study including preterm neonates < 34 weeks and < 2000 g were conducted. Nutrition and growth outcomes of infants in pre–nutrition‐nurse and post–nutrition‐nurse periods were compared. Primary outcome was presence of postnatal growth retardation (PGR) at term‐equivalent age (body weight < 10 percentile at 40 weeks postmenstrual age).

Results

Infants in pre–nutrition‐nurse (n = 38) and post–nutrition‐nurse (n = 40) periods were similar with regard to gestational age, birth weight, gender, and perinatal characteristics. The initiation of parenteral nutrition after admission to NICU (30.8 ± 24.1 vs 6.7 ± 7.6 hours, P < 0,001) and attainment of full enteral feedings (27.3 ±18.1 vs 18.7 ± 11.3 days, P = 0.034) were earlier in post–nutrition‐nurse period. First feeds were more commonly started with breast milk (29% vs 75%, P < 0.001); breastfeeding was more common at discharge (79% vs 95%, P = 0.045) and longer in duration (6.1 ± 7.3 vs 8.4 ± 6.3 months, P = 0.008) in post–nutrition‐nurse period. Primary outcome PGR at term‐equivalent age was lower in post–nutrition‐nurse period (57.9% vs 27.5%, P = 0.007).

Conclusion

Employing a nutrition nurse improved quality of nutrition support, increased breastfeeding, and decreased PGR in preterm neonates. Further prospective evaluation of outcomes in the presence of a nutrition nurse is needed to generalize these findings to other NICUs.