bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The secretin/secretin receptor axis modulates liver fibrosis through changes in transforming growth factor‐β1 biliary secretion in mice
Authors: Wu Nan , Meng Fanyin , Invernizzi Pietro , Bernuzzi Francesca , Venter Julie , Standeford Holly , Onori Paolo , Marzioni Marco , Alvaro Domenico , Franchitto Antonio , Gaudio Eugenio , Glaser Shannon , Alpini Gianfranco
Published: April 2016

The secretin/secretin receptor (SR) axis is up‐regulated by proliferating cholangiocytes during cholestasis. Secretin stimulates biliary proliferation by down‐regulation of let‐7a and subsequent up‐regulation of the growth‐promoting factor, nerve growth factor (NGF). It is not known whether the secretin/SR axis plays a role in subepithelial fibrosis observed during cholestasis. Our aim was to determine the role of the secretin/SR axis in activation of biliary fibrosis in animal models and human primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). Studies were performed in wild‐type (WT) mice with bile duct ligation (BDL), BDL SR−/− mice, or Mdr2−/− mouse models of cholestatic liver injury. In selected studies, the SR antagonist (Sec 5‐27) was used to block the secretin/SR axis. Biliary proliferation and fibrosis were evaluated as well as secretion of secretin (by cholangiocytes and S cells), expression of markers of fibrosis, transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1), transforming growth factor‐β1 receptor (TGF‐β1R), let‐7a, and downstream expression of NGF. Correlative studies were performed in human control and PSC liver tissue biopsies, serum, and bile. SR antagonist reduced biliary proliferation and hepatic fibrosis in BDL WT and Mdr2−/− mice. There was decreased expression of let‐7a in BDL and Mdr2−/− cholangiocytes that was associated with increased NGF expression. Inhibition of let‐7a accelerated liver fibrosis was attributed to cholestasis. There was increased expression of TGF‐β1 and TGF‐β1R. Significantly higher expression of secretin, SR, and TGF‐β1 was observed in PSC patient liver samples compared to healthy controls. In addition, there was higher expression of fibrosis genes and remarkably decreased expression of let‐7a and increased expression of NGF compared to the control. Conclusion: The secretin/SR axis plays a key role in regulating the biliary contribution to cholestasis‐induced hepatic fibrosis. (Hepatology 2016;64:865‐879)
Real‐world effectiveness of ledipasvir/sofosbuvir in 4,365 treatment‐naive, genotype 1 hepatitis C‐infected patients
Authors: Backus Lisa I. , Belperio Pamela S. , Shahoumian Troy A. , Loomis Timothy P. , Mole Larry A.
Published: April 2016

Real‐world effectiveness data are needed to inform hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment decisions. The uptake of ledipasvir/sofosbuvir (LDV/SOF) regimens across health care settings has been rapid, but variations often occur in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to assess sustained virologic response (SVR) of LDV/SOF±ribavirin (RBV) in routine medical practice. This observational, intent‐to‐treat cohort was comprised of 4,365 genotype 1, treatment‐naive, HCV‐infected veterans treated with LDV/SOF±RBV. SVR rates were 91.3% (3,191/3,495) for LDV/SOF and 92.0% (527/573) for LDV/SOF+RBV (P = 0.65). African American race (odds ratio 0.70, 95% confidence interval 0.54‐0.90, P  = 0.004) and FIB‐4 >3.25 (odds ratio 0.56, 95% confidence interval 0.43‐0.71, P < 0.001) were independently associated with decreased likelihood of SVR; age, sex, body mass index, decompensated liver disease, diabetes, genotype 1 subtype, and regimen did not predict SVR. In models limited to those who completed 12 weeks of treatment, African American race was no longer a significant predictor of SVR but FIB‐4 >3.25 (odds ratio 0.35, 95% confidence interval 0.24‐0.50, P < 0.001) remained. Among those without cirrhosis (defined by FIB‐4 ≤3.25) and with baseline HCV RNA<6,000,000 IU/mL, SVR rates were 93.2% (1,020/1,094) for those who completed 8 weeks of therapy and 96.6% (875/906) for those who completed 12 weeks of therapy (P = 0.001). Conclusions: In this real‐world cohort, SVR rates with LDV/SOF±RBV nearly matched the rates reported in clinical trials and were consistently high across all subgroups; those without cirrhosis but with HCV RNA<6,000,000 IU/mL were less likely to achieve SVR with 8 weeks compared to 12 weeks of therapy, although the numeric difference in SVR rates was small. (Hepatology 2016;64:405‐414)
Role of MicroRNA 126 in screening, diagnosis, and prognosis of diabetic patients in Egypt
Authors: Rezk Noha A. , Sabbah Norhan A. , Saad Mohamed S.S.
Published: April 2016

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), family of non‐coding small RNAs, play a vital role in the regulation of blood glucose level. We aimed to investigate the relation of serum miRNA‐126 expression with impaired glucose tolerance as well as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with and without complications. One hundred healthy controls, eighty‐six patients with IGT, and one hundred patients with T2DM were recruited in this study. Serum miRNA‐126 expression was assessed by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction. We found a significant decrease of serum miRNA‐126 expression between IGT patients as well as diabetic patients when both compared with controls and between diabetic patients compared to IGT patients. A significant decrease of serum miRNA‐126 expression was detected in diabetic patients with complications compared to those without evident complications especially those with diabetic macrovascular complications and diabetic retinopathy. Serum microRNA‐126 expression could be a good marker for diagnosis of IGT and T2DM as well as for monitoring the outcomes of such disease. © 2016 IUBMB Life, 68(6):452–458, 2016
The effect of local IL‐4 delivery or CCL2 blockade on implant fixation and bone structural properties in a mouse model of wear particle induced osteolysis
Authors: Sato Taishi , Pajarinen Jukka , Behn Anthony , Jiang Xinyi , Lin Tzu‐hua , Loi Florence , Yao Zhenyu , Egashira Kensuke , Yang Fan , Goodman Stuart B.
Published: April 2016

Modulation of macrophage polarization and prevention of CCL2‐induced macrophage chemotaxis are emerging strategies to reduce wear particle induced osteolysis and aseptic total joint replacement loosening. In this study, the effect of continuous IL‐4 delivery or bioactive implant coating that constitutively releases a protein inhibitor of CCL2 signaling (7ND) on particle induced osteolysis were studied in the murine continuous femoral intramedullary particle infusion model. Polyethylene particles with or without IL‐4 were infused into mouse distal femurs implanted with hollow titanium rods using subcutaneous infusion pumps. In another experimental group, particles were infused into the femur through a 7ND coated rod. After 4 weeks, fixation of the implant was assessed using a pullout test. The volume of trabecular bone and the geometry of the local cortical bone were assessed by µCT and the corresponding structural properties of the cortical bone determined by torsional testing. Continuous IL‐4 delivery led to increased trabecular bone volume as well as enhanced local bone geometry and structural properties, while 7ND implant coating did not have effect on these parameters. The results suggest that local IL‐4 treatment is a promising strategy to mitigate wear particle induced osteolysis. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 104A: 2255–2262, 2016.
Stiffness‐controlled three‐dimensional collagen scaffolds for differentiation of human Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stem cells into cardiac progenitor cells
Authors: Lin Yun‐Li , Chen Chie‐Pein , Lo Chun‐Min , Wang Hwai‐Shi
Published: April 2016

Stem cell‐based regenerative therapy has emerged as a promising treatment for myocardial infarction. The aim of this study is to develop stiffness‐controlled collagen scaffolds to allow proliferation and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cell (MSCs) into cardiac progenitor cells. In this study transforming growth factor β2 (TGF‐β2), was used to induce stem cell differentiation into cardiac lineage cells. Collagen scaffolds were cross‐linked with cross‐linkers, 1‐Ethyl‐3‐(3‐dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC), and N‐Hydroxysuccinimide (NHS). The results showed that collagen scaffolds cross‐linked with 25/50 and 50/50 of EDC mM/NHS mM cross‐linkers exhibited little difference in shape and size, the scaffold cross‐linked with 50/50 of cross‐linkers demonstrated better interconnectivity and higher Young's modulus (31.8 kPa) than the other (15.4 kPa). SEM observation showed that MSCs could grow inside the scaffolds and interact with collagen scaffolds. Furthermore, greater viability and cardiac lineage differentiation were achieved in MSCs cultured on stiffer scaffolds. The results suggest that three‐dimensional type I collagen scaffolds with suitable cross‐linking to adjust for stiffness can affect MSC fate and direct the differentiation of MSCs into cardiac progenitor cells with/without TGF‐β2. These stiffness‐controlled collagen scaffolds hold great potential as carriers for delivering MSCs differentiated cardiac progenitor cells into infracted hearts. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 104A: 2234–2242, 2016.
Enzymatic Synthesis of Novel Bavachinin Glucoside by UDP‐glycosyltransferase
Authors: Dai Yiqun , Ma Tao , Ge Min , Li Jing , Huo Qiang , Li Hong‐Mei , Zhang Xinyu , Liu Hao , Wu Cheng‐Zhu
Published: April 2016

Bavachinin, a member of the flavanone subclass of flavonoids, has long been considered to have various biological activities. Here, the synthesis of novel bavachinin glucoside by the in vitro glycosylation reaction was successfully achieved using a UDP‐glucosyltransferase YjiC, from Bacillus licheniformis DSM‐13. The chemical structure of bavachinin glucoside was characterized based on spectroscopic techniques as bavachinin‐4′‐O‐ß‐D‐glucopyranoside (1). The water‐solubility of bavachinin‐4′‐O‐ß‐D‐glucopyranoside was found to be 9.96 μM, about 10 times higher than bavachinin. In addition, compound 1 showed moderate anti‐proliferative activity against four human tumor cell lines, with IC50 values ranging from 48.5 to 61.4 μM.
Predictors of Treatment Attrition Among Adult Outpatients With Clinically Significant Suicidal Ideation
Authors: Hom Melanie A. , Joiner Thomas E.
Published: April 2016

Objective

To identify demographic, diagnostic, and personality factors that predict treatment dropout in a sample of outpatients with clinically significant suicidal ideation.

Method

A total of 287 adult outpatients at elevated risk for suicide completed self‐report measures of demographics, suicidal and depression symptoms, and personality characteristics at treatment intake. Clinician‐assessed psychiatric diagnoses and ratings of overall functioning also were collected.

Results

Lower overall functioning (odds ratio [OR] = .947; 95% confidence interval [CI] [.909, .987]) and the presence of a substance use disorder (OR = 4.543; 95% CI [1.058, 19.499]) were the most robust predictors of attrition. Dropouts also were more likely to have a depressive disorder, more comorbid diagnoses, and more severe depression and suicidal symptoms.

Conclusions

Findings suggest that clinician‐assessed poorer overall functioning and a substance use disorder diagnosis are risk factors for attrition among suicidal individuals, above and beyond other symptom measures. Further research is warranted to investigate attrition in additional outpatient samples.
Production of organics from CO2 by microbial electrosynthesis (MES) at high temperature
Authors: Faraghiparapari Neda , Zengler Karsten
Published: April 2016

BACKGROUND

Microbial electrosynthesis (MES), a process by which microorganisms reduce carbon dioxide to multi‐carbon compounds using electrical current as energy source, has so far been demonstrated at temperatures ranging from 25 °C to 37 °C. Elevated operating temperatures, however, could improve overall performance and product recovery. Here the effect of temperature on MES by the acetogenic thermophiles Moorella thermoacetica and Moorella thermoautotrophica is investigated.

RESULTS

Experiments were performed at operating temperatures ranging from 25 °C to 70 °C to determine the optimum operating temperature for MES. Optimal performance was observed to be close to the optimum growth temperatures reported for these strains. Production rate and activation energy of acetate at 60 °C was 6.9 ± 0.6 mM m−2 d−1 and 45.1 ± 3.8 kJ mol−1 for M. thermoacetica and 11.6 ± 0.9 mM m−2 d−1 and 58.9 ± 2.5 kJ mol−1 for M. thermoautotrophica with columbic efficiencies (CE) of 79 ± 15% and 72 ± 4%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Considering CE and acetate production rate during MES, M. thermoautotrophica outperformed M. thermoacetica over a wide range of operating temperatures. Current‐dependent reduction of CO2 also occurred below the minimum growth temperature of these strains, suggesting that MES is non‐growth associated. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Characterizing and exploring the mechanism of formation of corrosion scales by reusing advanced‐softened, silica‐rich, oilfield‐produced water (ASOW) in a steam‐injection boiler
Authors: Dai Xiaohu , Xu Ying , Shen Danni , Zhai Xiaoyu , Dong Bin , Lin Senming
Published: April 2016

BACKGROUND

Corrosion scales, which very strongly affect the thermal efficiency and security of boilers, are formed on the furnace tubes of the radiant section during the process of reusing advanced‐softened, silica‐rich, oilfield‐produced water (ASOW) as boiler feedwater in oilfields. To evaluate the reuse and to explore the composition and formation of corrosion scales a 16‐month pilot‐scale test was conducted.

RESULTS

The silicon content and total hardness in the boiler feedwater were 238.93 mg L−1 and 0.031 mg L−1, respectively. Morphology and compositions of the corrosion scales were determined by scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM‐EDS), inductively coupled plasma–mass spectroscopy (ICP‐MS), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). These were measured both during the early stage of steam injection (ESSI) and the later stage of steam injection (LSSI). Iron oxides (Fe3O4, Fe2O3) were the main crystalline phases identified in the ESSI, while Acmite (NaFeSi2O6) was the primary crystalline phase in the LSSI. Based on the results, formation of the main corrosion scales are explained.

CONCLUSION

It can be concluded that NaFeSi2O6 is the reaction product of Fe2O3, H2SiO3 (gas), and Na2CO3 in the saturated steam. These results can offer an important reference for reusing the ASOW as feedwater and for reducing the corrosion scales in steam‐injection boiler. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
The value of FDG‐PET in the staging of gastric adenocarcinoma: A single institution retrospective review
Authors: Serrano Oscar K. , Love Charito , Goldman Inessa , Huang Kevin , Ng Nicole , Abraham Tony , Da Silva Raphaella , Friedmann Patricia , Libutti Steven K. , Kennedy Timothy J.
Published: April 2016

Background

The value of FDG‐PET in the staging of gastric adenocarcinoma (GA) has been subject to debate.

Methods

We performed a retrospective review of GA patients between 2006 and 2014 and identified those who had a CT and FDG‐PET before initiating treatment. CT and FDG‐PET images were analyzed by a blinded body radiologist and nuclear physician, respectively. Disease stage was assessed, looking at primary tumor (PT), locoregional (LLN) and distant lymph node disease (DLN), and metastasis (M).

Results

We identified 608 patients who had biopsy‐proven GA and 207 (34.0%) had a CT and FDG‐PET as part of their staging work‐up. Of these, imaging from 166 (27.3%) patients was available for review. CT identified PT, LLN, DLN, and M in 120 (72.3%), 84 (50.6%), 25 (15.1%), and 32 (19.3%) patients, respectively; while FDG‐PET identified PT, LLN, DLN, and M in 125 (75.3%), 78 (47.0%), 41 (24.7%), and 27 (16.3%) of patients, respectively. FDG‐PET up‐staged 31 (18.7%) patients while it down‐staged 17 (10.2%) patients. Of patients who were up‐staged, 20 (64.5%) developed progressive disease.

Conclusions

Our findings support the use of FDG‐PET as a valuable adjunct to CT in the staging of GA, as it changed the stage in 48 (28.9%) patients. J. Surg. Oncol. 2016;113:640–646. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Analysis of forchlorfenuron and thidiazuron in fruits and vegetables by surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy after selective solid‐phase extraction with modified β‐cyclodextrin
Authors: Chen Xiaoman , Yan Kuanglin , Xiao Xiaohua , Li Gongke
Published: April 2016

β‐Cyclodextrin and its derivatives can selectively bind to various organic molecules in its cavity and provide good applications in sample preparation. Surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy is a sensitive technique and has received increasing attention in the last decade. Herein, 3,5‐dimethyl phenyl carbamoylated β‐cyclodextrin bonded silica gel was used as a ssorbent in solid‐phase extraction to selectively enrich forchlorfenuron and thidiazuron followed by determination with surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy. It showed excellent selectivity for forchlorfenuron and thidiazuron and the adsorption capacities were 40.0 and 30.0 μg/g, respectively. A rapid and sensitive method based on the modified β‐cyclodextrin solid‐phase extraction coupled with surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy was developed. The linear ranges were 30.0–300.0 μg/L for forchlorfenuron and thidiazuron at 1005 and 640 cm−1, respectively. Both of the limits of detection were 15.0 μg/L, which were significantly lower than the maximum permitted by the National Standard. The recoveries of forchlorfenuron and thidiazuron were 78.9–87.9% for the spiked grape, kiwi, cucumber and tomato, with relative standard deviations of 8.1–13.2%. The results show that this method is sensitive, selective, and relatively time saving, and has great potential in the analysis of trace amounts of plant growth regulators in fruits and vegetables.
Dual‐template magnetic molecularly imprinted particles with multi‐hollow structure for the detection of dicofol and chlorpyrifos‐methyl
Authors: Yang Tao , Feng Shun , Lu Yi , Yin Chao , Wang Jide
Published: April 2016

In this work, a novel dual‐template magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer particle for dicofol and chlorpyrifos‐methyl was prepared through oil‐in‐water emulsifier‐free emulsion technology. The resulting magnetic particles were characterized with electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X‐ray diffraction. It was found that as‐prepared particles were well‐shaped spheres with multi‐hollow structures and of a size around 125 μm. Meanwhile it showed a good magnetic sensitivity. The results testified that multi‐hollow magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers possessed excellent recognition capacity and fast kinetic binding behavior to the objective molecules. The maximum binding amounts toward dicofol and chlorpyrifos‐methyl were 31.46 and 25.23 mg/g, respectively. The feasibility of the use of the particles as a solid‐phase extraction sorbent was evaluated. Satisfactory recoveries ranging from 90.62 to 111.47 and 91.07 to 94.03% were obtained for dicofol and chlorpyrifos‐methyl, respectively, spiked at three concentration levels from real samples. The Langmuir isotherm equation provided an excellent fit to the equilibrium sorption data of either dicofol or chlorpyrifos‐methyl. It provided a novel way to advise dual‐template magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer particles to adsorb pesticides with high selectivity.
Over‐vibration induced blood perfusion and vascular permeability changes may lead to vocal edema
Authors: Wang Jiajia , Devine Erin , Fang Rui , Jiang Jack J.
Published: April 2016

Objectives/Hypothesis

To observe blood perfusion and vascular permeability changes under varying vibration frequency exposures.

Study Design

Animal model.

Methods

Blood perfusion was measured using laser Doppler flowmetry in eight rabbit auricular vessels (four rabbits) under nonvibration, and 62.5‐Hz/1‐mm, 125‐Hz/1‐mm, and 250‐Hz/0.5‐mm vibration frequency/amplitude exposures. Another 12 rabbits were randomly divided into vibration only and vibration with histamine groups. After 3 hours of continuous 125‐Hz, 1‐mm amplitude vibration of the auricle, vascular permeability was analyzed by absorbance of Evans blue–albumin complex.

Results

Significantly lower blood perfusion was observed in the vibration group, compared with no vibration exposure controls. Blood perfusion decreased 29 ± 16% as the vibration frequency was increased from 62.5 Hz to 125 Hz with the vibration amplitude constant at 1 mm. When the frequency was increased from 125 Hz to 250 Hz, while the amplitude was decreased from 1 mm to 0.5 mm, blood flow perfusion further decreased 29 ± 29%, and the decline tendency in blood perfusion showed no significant difference (P = .992). Meanwhile, in the vibration with histamine group, vascular permeability of the vibrated ears increased significantly compared to the nonvibrated ears (P = .005).

Conclusions

Overvibration of the vocal folds due to voice overuse or abuse may significantly reduce blood perfusion, and increase vascular permeability in the vocal fold in inflammatory situations, which may lead to the formation of vocal edema.

Level of Evidence

NA Laryngoscope, 127:148–152, 2017
Arytenoid adduction combined with nerve‐muscle pedicle flap implantation or type I thyroplasty
Authors: Kodama Narihiro , Kumai Yoshihiko , Sanuki Tetsuji , Yumoto Eiji
Published: April 2016

Objectives/Hypothesis

To evaluate vocal function after refined nerve‐muscle pedicle (NMP) flap implantation with arytenoid adduction (AA) compared with type I thyroplasty with AA for patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP) and to evaluate the degree of patient satisfaction following the refined NMP with AA.

Study Design

A retrospective review of clinical records of 52 patients with UVFP who received AA + NMP (NMP group, n = 40) or AA + type I thyroplasty (type I group, n = 12) as a single‐stage operation between April 1999 and December 2011.

Methods

Evaluation of vocal fold vibration, aerodynamic analysis, perceptual evaluation, acoustic analysis, and subjective assessment were performed preoperatively and at two different postoperative periods (short term: within 3 months and long term: >12 months).

Results

All parameters except for glottal gap of the vocal fold vibration, maximum phonation time (MPT), and mean airflow rate revealed significant improvement between the short‐ and long‐term assessments in the NMP group. On the contrary, the type I group did not show significant change of any parameters during postoperative periods. In the NMP group, the measurements for regularity of the vocal fold vibration and MPT at the long‐term assessment were significantly favorable compared with the type I group. In the NMP group, subjective assessment (Voice Handicap Index‐10 and Voice‐Related Quality of Life) revealed significant improvement between the short‐ and long‐term assessments.

Conclusions

In comparison with the type I group, significant improvement of vocal function patient satisfaction during the long‐term follow‐up period after AA combined with the refined NMP was confirmed.

Level of Evidence

4. Laryngoscope, 127:159–166, 2017
The starship children's hospital tonsillectomy: A further 10 years of experience
Authors: Mahadevan Murali , van der Meer Graeme , Gruber Maayan , Reed Peter , Jackson Conor , Brown Colin , Mills Nikki , Salkeld Lesley J. , Neeff Michel , Evans Jan , Anderson Brian , Barber Colin
Published: April 2016

Objectives/Hypothesis

Tonsillectomy as a day‐stay procedure remains controversial, although it is an established procedure in New Zealand. We reviewed our last 10 years' experience.

Methods

A prospective audit was used to determine unplanned conversion from day‐stay to overnight hospital admission rates and the incidence of postoperative complications.

Results

There were 5,400 tonsillectomies performed over the 10‐year study period (January 2004–January 2015); 71% as outpatients. The unplanned conversion rate to overnight stay was 0.4%. The median age of day‐stay patients was 6.5 years (range 13 months–15 years) compared with those admitted for overnight stay (5 years; range 8 months–15 years). The primary postoperative bleed rate was 0.5% (confidence interval [CI] 0.3%–0.7%), and the combined primary and secondary posttonsillectomy bleed rate was 4.3% (CI 3.8%–5.0%). The rate of patients returning with postoperative complications within 1 month of surgery was 6.3% (CI 5.6%–7.0%).

Conclusion

Day‐stay tonsillectomy in the pediatric population is safe when performed using the described guidelines in a facility with appropriate resources.

Level of Evidence

4. Laryngoscope, 126:E416–E420, 2016
Exome Sequencing Identifies a Novel Homozygous Missense ATP13A2 Mutation
Authors: Abbas Masoom M. , Govindappa Shyla T. , Sheerin Una‐Marie , Bhatia Kailash P. , Muthane Uday B.
Published: April 2016

View Supplementary Video 1
Vascularized fibular grafts extended with vascularized periosteum in children
Authors: Soldado Francisco , Diaz‐Gallardo Paula , Sena‐Cabo Lidia , Torner Ferran , Bergua‐Domingo Josep , Mascarenhas Vasco V. , Knorr Jorge
Published: April 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this report is to evaluate the results of extending vascularized fibular grafts (VFG) with vascularized periosteum (VPG) in bone defect reconstruction in children.

Methods

Retrospective study of 10 children, mean age at surgery was 9.8 years (range, 4–16 years). Origin of one defect was oncological (n = 5), septical (n = 2), traumatic (n = 2), or congenital (n = 1). In five cases the flap consisted of a VFG and a vascularized epiphyseal transfer (VFET) in five. Mean bone defect was 8.5 cm .Mean length of the vascularized periosteal extension was 5.5 cm (range 3.5–8) for VFET, 4.8 cm for VFG (range 3–8). Bone union was assessed with monthly radiographs.

Results

Radiographs showed a periosteal callus at 4 weeks in all cases. Bone union was achieved at a mean of 8.4 weeks (range 4–12). Donor site complications included two cases of flexor hallucis longus contracture, and one case of surgical wound marginal necrosis following FVG. One transient tibialis anterior weakness and one tibialis anterior contracture occurred following VFET harvest. None required surgical treatment. Mean follow‐up was 28.7 months (range 7–72).

Conclusions

The association of a vascularized periosteal extension with fibular flaps seems to accelerate flap to recipient bone union. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 37:410–415, 2017.
A fast chemical exchange saturation transfer imaging scheme based on single‐shot spatiotemporal encoding
Authors: Huang Jianpan , Zhang Miao , Lu Jianhua , Cai Congbo , Chen Lin , Cai Shuhui
Published: April 2016

Purpose

To design a new approach that can not only keep the spatial and temporal resolution but also have better built‐in immunity to magnetic field inhomogeneity and chemical shift effects than the single‐shot echo planar imaging (EPI) for chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) MRI.

Method

The single‐shot spatiotemporally encoded (SPEN) MRI sequence was combined with a continuous wave saturation pulse for fast CEST MRI (CEST‐SPEN MRI). The resulting images were super‐resolved reconstructed by a hybrid method that solves the l1 norm minimization together with total variation (TV) regularization. Partial Lorentzian fitting was used to analyze the subsequent Z‐spectra.

Results

Experimental results of a creatine phantom and in vivo tumor rat brains show that CEST‐SPEN MRI has good capability in providing CEST‐based and NOE‐based contrast images.

Conclusions

Compared with CEST‐EPI, CEST‐SPEN MRI has better immunity to magnetic field inhomogeneity and provides better contrast images within identical acquisition time, especially under an identical inhomogeneous field. Magn Reson Med 77:1786–1796, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
Schur complement‐based domain decomposition preconditioners with low‐rank corrections
Authors: Li Ruipeng , Xi Yuanzhe , Saad Yousef
Published: April 2016

This paper introduces a robust preconditioner for general sparse matrices based on low‐rank approximations of the Schur complement in a Domain Decomposition framework. In this ‘Schur Low Rank’ preconditioning approach, the coefficient matrix is first decoupled by a graph partitioner, and then a low‐rank correction is exploited to compute an approximate inverse of the Schur complement associated with the interface unknowns. The method avoids explicit formation of the Schur complement. We show the feasibility of this strategy for a model problem and conduct a detailed spectral analysis for the relation between the low‐rank correction and the quality of the preconditioner. We first introduce the SLR preconditioner for symmetric positive definite matrices and symmetric indefinite matrices if the interface matrices are symmetric positive definite. Extensions to general symmetric indefinite matrices as well as to nonsymmetric matrices are also discussed. Numerical experiments on general matrices illustrate the robustness and efficiency of the proposed approach. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
What factors influence ward nurses’ recognition of and response to patient deterioration? An integrative review of the literature
Authors: Massey Debbie , Chaboyer Wendy , Anderson Vinah
Published: April 2016

Aim

In this integrative review, we aimed to: first, identify and summarize published studies relating to ward nurses' recognition of and response to patient deterioration; second, to critically evaluate studies that described or appraised the practice of ward nurses in recognizing and responding to patient deterioration; and third, identify gaps in the literature for further research.

Design

An integrative review.

Methods

The Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) Ovid Medline, Informit and Google Scholar databases were accessed for the years 1990–2014. Data were extracted and summarized in tables and then appraised using the Mixed Method Appraisal Tool. Data were grouped into two domains; recognizing and responding to deterioration and then thematic analysis was used to identify the emerging themes.

Results

Seventeen studies were reviewed and appraised. Recognizing patient deterioration was encapsulated in four themes: (1) assessing the patient; (2) knowing the patient; (3) education and (4) environmental factors. Responding to patient deterioration was encapsulated in three themes; (1) non‐technical skills; (2) access to support and (3) negative emotional responses.

Conclusion

Issues involved in timely recognition of and response to clinical deterioration remain complex, yet patient safety relies on nurses’ timely assessments and actions.
Schedule for personality assessment from notes and documents (SPAN‐DOC): Preliminary validation, links to the ICD‐11 classification of personality disorder, and use in eating disorders
Authors: Kim Youl‐Ri , Tyrer Peter , Lee Hong‐Seock , Kim Sung‐Gon , Connan Frances , Kinnaird Emma , Olajide Kike , Crawford Mike
Published: April 2016

Background

The underlying core of personality is insufficiently assessed by any single instrument. This has led to the development of instruments adapted for written records in the assessment of personality disorder.

Aims

To test the construct validity and inter‐rater reliability of a new personality assessment method.

Method

This study (four parts) assessed the construct validity of the Schedule for Personality Assessment from Notes and Documents (SPAN‐DOC), a dimensional assessment from clinical records. We examined inter‐rater reliability using case vignettes (Part 1) and convergent validity in three ways: by comparison with NEO Five‐Factor Inventory in 130 Korean patients (Part 2), with agreed ICD‐11 personality severity levels in two populations (Part 3) and determining its use in assessing the personality status in 90 British patients with eating disorders (Part 4).

Results

Internal consistency (alpha = .90) and inter‐rater reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient ≥ .88) were satisfactory. Each factor in the five‐factor model of personality was correlated with conceptually valid SPAN‐DOC variables. The SPAN‐DOC domain traits in those with eating disorders were categorized into 3 clusters: self‐aggrandisement, emotionally unstable, and anxious/dependent.

Conclusions

This study provides preliminary support for the usefulness of SPAN‐DOC in the assessment of personality disorder. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
SAINTq: Scoring protein‐protein interactions in affinity purification – mass spectrometry experiments with fragment or peptide intensity data
Authors: Teo Guoci , Koh Hiromi , Fermin Damian , Lambert Jean‐Philippe , Knight James D.R. , Gingras Anne‐Claude , Choi Hyungwon
Published: April 2016

SAINT (Significance Analysis of INTeractome) is a probabilistic method for scoring bait‐prey interactions against negative controls in affinity purification – mass spectrometry (AP‐MS) experiments. Our published SAINT algorithms use spectral counts or protein intensities as the input for calculating the probability of true interaction, which enables objective selection of high‐confidence interactions with false discovery control. With the advent of new protein quantification methods such as Data Independent Acquisition (DIA), we redeveloped the scoring method to utilize the reproducibility information embedded in the peptide or fragment intensity data as a key scoring criterion, bypassing protein intensity summarization required in the previous SAINT workflow. The new software package, SAINTq, addresses key issues in the interaction scoring based on intensity data, including treatment of missing values and selection of peptides and fragments for scoring each prey protein. We applied SAINTq to two independent DIA AP‐MS data sets profiling the interactome of MEPCE and EIF4A2 and that of 14‐3‐3β, and benchmarked the performance in terms of recovering previously reported literature interactions in the iRefIndex database. In both data sets, the SAINTq analysis using the fragment‐level intensity data led to the most sensitive detection of literature interactions at the same level of specificity. This analysis outperforms the analysis using protein intensity data summed from fragment intensity data that is equivalent to the model in SAINTexpress.
One‐Step Scalable Production of Co1−xS/Graphene Nanocomposite as High‐Performance Bifunctional Electrocatalyst
Authors: Xu Yuqi , Hao Yongchao , Zhang Guoxin , Jin Xiuyan , Wang Lin , Lu Zhiyi , Sun Xiaoming
Published: April 2016

Herein, a strategy for one‐step fabrication of cobalt sulfide/graphene (Co1−xS/G) nanocomposite as bifunctional catalyst for oxygen catalysis is demonstrated. The one‐step fabrication method involves annealing the mixture of cobalt salt, thioacetamide, and graphene oxide with the assistance of small amount of glycol without any further purification steps. The Co1−xS/G shows a morphology with small‐sized Co1−xS nanocrystals strongly and uniformly anchored on the graphene surface. Systematically electrochemical studies demonstrate that the Co1−xS/G with optimized components shows superior catalytic activities toward oxygen reduction and oxygen evolution, which are comparable or even superior to commercial Pt/C and Ir/C catalysts. As a result, the potential hysteresis of Co1−xS/G is the lowest among all the samples. The facile operability of the fabrication method and the high bifunctional activity of Co1−xS/G may pave one practical way for broad applications including fuel cell, metal‐O2 battery, and water electrolysis.
Spectroscopic and positron lifetime measurements of hydrogenated single walled carbon nanohorns
Authors: Budziak Andrzej , Dryzek Jerzy , Juszyńska‐Gałązka Ewa , Krawczyk Jan , Parlińska Magdalena , Wójcik Dominik , Cios Grzegorz
Published: April 2016

The hydrogenated and non‐hydrogenated single walled carbon nanohorns (SWCNH) are studied. SWCNH with the density of 0.75 g cm−3 showed the maximum differential hydrogen uptake capacities of 1.4 wt.% at 77 K. The temperature Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectra for non‐hydrogenated and hydrogenated samples revealed differences in the vibrational mode bands. The hydrogenation of SWCNH hardly affected the positron lifetime spectra. Only small shift of pattern was observed in the X‐ray diffraction measurements at 300 K. Obtained results were compared to these for other carbon nanomaterials.
Amphiphilic Graft Copolymers as a Versatile Binder for Various Electrodes of High‐Performance Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Lee Jung‐In , Kang Hyojin , Park Kwang Hyun , Shin Myoungsoo , Hong Dongki , Cho Hye Jin , Kang Na‐Ri , Lee Jungho , Lee Sang Myeon , Kim Ju‐Young , Kim Choon Ki , Park Hyesung , Choi Nam‐Soon , Park Soojin , Yang Changduk
Published: April 2016

It is known that grafting one polymer onto another polymer backbone is a powerful strategy capable of combining dual benefits from each parent polymer. Thus amphiphilic graft copolymer precursors (poly(vinylidene difluoride)‐graft‐poly(tert‐butylacrylate) (PVDF‐g‐PtBA)) have been developed via atom transfer radical polymerization, and demonstrated its outstanding properties as a promising binder for high‐performance lithium‐ion battery (LIB) by using in situ pyrolytic transformation of PtBA to poly(acrylic acid) segments. In addition to its superior mechanical properties and accommodation capability of volume expansion, the Si anode with PVDF‐g‐PtBA exhibits the excellent charge and discharge capacities of 2672 and 2958 mAh g−1 with the capacity retention of 84% after 50 cycles. More meaningfully, the graft copolymer binder shows good operating characteristics in both LiN0.5M1.5O4 cathode and neural graphite anode, respectively. By containing such diverse features, a graft copolymer‐loaded LiN0.5M1.5O4/Si‐NG full cell has been successfully achieved, which delivers energy density as high as 546 Wh kg−1 with cycle retention of ≈70% after 50 cycles (1 C). For the first time, this work sheds new light on the unique nature of the graft copolymer binders in LIB application, which will provide a practical solution for volume expansion and low efficiency problems, leading to a high‐energy‐density lithium‐ion chemistry.
Integrating run‐time changes into system and software process enactment
Authors: Tran Hanh Nhi , Hajmoosaei Mojtaba , Percebois Christian , Front Agnes , Roncancio Claudia
Published: April 2016

In System and Software Engineering development, unforeseen changes occurring during process enactment are almost inevitable but often poorly managed due to a lack of efficient mechanisms for spontaneously handling these run‐time changes. We proposed a change‐aware process management system that allows process actors reporting emergent changes, analyzing possible impacts, and notifying people affected by the changes. To this end, we integrated a Change Management Component with a Process Management System. The Process Management System monitors process enactment and uses the run‐time process information to construct a Process dependency graph (PDG) representing the dependencies among the elements of running processes. The Change Management Component captures change requests sent asynchronously, then reasons the PDG to determine impacted elements. Our PDG reflects the information of process instances and therefore can uncover the intra‐process or inter‐processes dependencies that are invisible on process models. We implemented a prototype named CAPE based on the platform jBPM and the graph database Neo4j. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Turn from “What” to “How”: Garfinkel's Reach Beyond Description
Authors: Fenstermaker Sarah
Published: April 2016

John Heritage described Harold Garfinkel's central question as “how do social actors come to know, and know in common what they are doing and the circumstances in which they are doing it.” The case of Agnes illuminates the methods by which members produce intelligible actions and recognizable—even “natural”—gender orderliness. With this central interest as a starting point, this article offers some observations about transgender women in prison and their creative adaptation to life behind bars.
A New Priority
Authors: Dougherty Stahl Katherine A.
Published: April 2016

Teachers in primary classrooms who are emphasizing high‐level comprehension of complex texts are seeing young children hit comprehension thresholds that were previously only visible among older readers. However, most primary level reading interventions focus on word recognition skills or reading increasingly difficult leveled texts. This article describes the assessment procedures needed to identify the children who need additional support and to diagnose their specific comprehension needs. It also describes research‐validated protocols for improving narrative comprehension and informational text comprehension.
Response to Intervention
Authors: Dougherty Stahl Katherine A.
Published: April 2016

Response to Intervention (RTI) is a multiple tiered system of instructional interventions that may also serve to identify children with Specific Learning Disabilities (particularly in reading and spelling). This article summarizes the findings of Evaluation of Response to Intervention Practices for Elementary School Reading (Balu, Zhu, Doolittle, Schiller, Jenkins, & Gersten, 2015). It concludes with a list of implications and suggestions for how schools might update and refine their RTI framework based on the federal study's findings.
Adaptive robust polynomial regression for power curve modeling with application to wind power forecasting
Authors: Xu Man , Pinson Pierre , Lu Zongxiang , Qiao Ying , Min Yong
Published: April 2016

Wind farm power curve modeling, which characterizes the relationship between meteorological variables and power production, is a crucial procedure for wind power forecasting. In many cases, power curve modeling is more impacted by the limited quality of input data rather than the stochastic nature of the energy conversion process. Such nature may be due the varying wind conditions, aging and state of the turbines, etc. And, an equivalent steady‐state power curve, estimated under normal operating conditions with the intention to filter abnormal data, is not sufficient to solve the problem because of the lack of time adaptivity. In this paper, a refined local polynomial regression algorithm is proposed to yield an adaptive robust model of the time‐varying scattered power curve for forecasting applications. The time adaptivity of the algorithm is considered with a new data‐driven bandwidth selection method, which is a combination of pilot estimation based on blockwise least‐squares parabolic fitting and the probability integral transform. The regression model is then extended to a more robust one, in which a new dynamic forgetting factor is defined to make the estimator forget the out‐of‐date data swiftly and also achieve a better trade‐off between robustness against noisy data and time adaptivity. A case study based on a real‐world dataset validates the properties of the proposed regression method. Results show that the new method could flexibly respond to abnormal data at different lead times and has better performance than common benchmarks for short‐term forecasting. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Air‐Stable, Well‐Soluble AI2[Nb6Cl18] Cluster Compounds (AI = Organic Cation): A New Route for Preparation, Single‐Crystal Structures, Properties, and ESI‐Mass Spectra
Authors: König Jonas , Dartsch Ina , Topp A. , Guillamón Eva , Llusar Rosa , Köckerling Martin
Published: April 2016

Five niobium cluster compounds of the AI2[Nb6Cl18] type (AI = organic cation: [nPr4N]+, [nBu4N]+, [BMIm]+, [Ph4P]+, and [PPN]+) are obtained through treatment of [Nb6Cl14(H2O)4]·4H2O with excess of thionyl chloride in the presence of an organic chloride, AICl. Single‐crystal structure studies show that the compounds consist of discrete cations and cluster [Nb6Cl18]2– anions. The cluster unit of the hydrated cluster starting material is oxidized by two electrons. Powder diffraction studies and NMR spectroscopic measurements show all compounds to crystallize without co‐crystallized solvent molecules. They are air and water stable. The solubility in organic solvents changes to a great extent on changing the type of cation. The ESI‐MS spectra of [nPr4N]2[Nb6Cl18] and [Ph4P]2[Nb6Cl18] show the pseudomolecular peak of the anionic cluster as well as additional signals, which involve simultaneously chloride mass loss and reduction processes.
THE INTEGRAL COHOMOLOGY OF THE HILBERT SCHEME OF TWO POINTS
Authors: TOTARO BURT
Published: April 2016

The Hilbert scheme$X^{[a]}$of points on a complex manifold$X$is a compactification of the configuration space of$a$-element subsets of$X$. The integral cohomology of$X^{[a]}$is more subtle than the rational cohomology. In this paper, we compute the mod 2 cohomology of$X^{[2]}$for any complex manifold$X$, and the integral cohomology of$X^{[2]}$when$X$has torsion-free cohomology.
The English Project's History of English Punctuation
Authors: Mulvey Christopher
Published: April 2016

The mission of the English Project (www.englishproject.org) is to explore and explain the English language in order to educate and entertain the English speaker, and 2015 was the year of punctuation for the Project because 6 February 2015 was the 500th anniversary of the death of Aldus Manutius. Aldus was a Venetian printer who shaped the comma, invented the semicolon and created italic fonts. He may have been the greatest punctuator of all time. We ‘punctuated’ the year by looking in turn at the full stop, the semicolon, the colon, the comma, the slash, the hyphen, the parenthesis, the exclamation, the apostrophe, the quotation mark and the question mark. Those twelve provide the fundamentals of English language punctuation, and all of them do more than one job. If we had a complete and unambiguous set of punctuation marks, we might need as many as 50, but the writing world does not want the trouble of such precision. In just same way, the writing world has never accepted the need for 44 separate letters to match the 44 separate sounds of the English language. Providing a separate grapheme (letter) for every phoneme (sound) is the linguist's business. Punctuation marks are ambiguous therefore. They suggest rather than define. They rely on context and the quick wittedness of the reader. If precision is needed, there are proofreader's marks. Merriam-Webster lists 42 of them, but proofreading is a special practice. Punctuation marks are a special set of symbols, and of symbols and signs there is no end. Punctuation marks are regularly appropriated by the devisers of computer languages. Punctuation marks can become logotypes – ‘a single piece of type that prints a word’. The exclamation mark can be made to work like &, $, or @. There are fuzzy edges to the subject of punctuation.