bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A comparative study of the effect of Bio‐Oss® in combination with concentrated growth factors or bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells in canine sinus grafting
Authors: Wang Fang , Li Qiong , Wang Zuolin
Published: September 2016

Background

To compare the effects of Bio‐Oss® in combination with concentrated growth factors (CGFs) and bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on bone regeneration for maxillary sinus floor augmentation in beagle dogs.

Methods

Six beagle dogs received bilateral maxillary sinus floor augmentation. Venous blood drawn from dogs was collected and centrifuged to obtain CGFs. BMSCs derived from canine bone marrow were cultured using density gradient centrifugation. The suspension of BMSCs was added onto Bio‐Oss® granules at a density of 2 × 106 cells/ml, and the BMSCs/Bio‐Oss® constructs were incubated for an additional 4 h before use. Twelve sinuses were grafted with a mixture of CGFs/Bio‐Oss®, BMSCs/Bio‐Oss® construct, or Bio‐Oss® alone. Six months later, the bone formation of bilateral sinuses was evaluated by Micro‐CT, microhardness test, histological examination, and histomorphometry.

Results

No adverse effect was found in these dogs. The dome‐shaped augmentation protruded into the sinus cavity. Micro‐CT revealed that there was significant difference in BV/TV but not in Tb. N, between groups A, B, and C. The extent of microhardness in groups A and B was significantly higher than in group C. The proportion of newly formed bone in groups A and B showed significant difference when compared to group C (P ≤ 0.01). The amount of residual grafts in groups A and B was significantly lower than in group C.

Conclusions

Grafting with Bio‐Oss® in combination with CGFs can increase new bone formation more efficiently than using Bio‐Oss® alone in a canine model.
Support From Parents and Teachers in Relation to Psychosomatic Health Complaints Among Adolescents
Authors: Kjellström Jannike , Modin Bitte , Almquist Ylva B
Published: September 2016

This study explores the relative contribution of parental and teacher support to adolescents’ psychosomatic health complaints, with a particular focus on gender and age differences. Based on a survey of 49,172 ninth‐ and eleventh‐grade students in Stockholm (2006–2014), structural equation modeling results demonstrated negative associations between parental and teacher support on psychosomatic health complaints. Parental support had a stronger association with the outcome among girls than boys. It was also more important than teacher support for psychosomatic health complaints. Parental support was more important for younger girls’ health compared to older girls, with opposite patterns for teacher support. These findings highlight the need to consider gender and age to understand the links between social support and health during adolescence.
Associations Between Victimization and Adolescents' Self‐Reported Responses to Peer Provocation Are Moderated by Peer‐Reported Aggressiveness
Authors: Dirks Melanie A. , Cuttini Laura A. , Mott Addison , Henry David B.
Published: September 2016

Many early adolescents experience peer victimization, but little research has examined how they respond to aggression by peers. Thus, in a large sample of early adolescents (N = 648; M age = 12.96; SD = 0.30; 52.0% female), we examined (1) the associations between peer‐reported victimization and self‐reported responses to peer provocation, and (2) whether these associations were moderated by peer‐reported aggression. In particular, we predicted that the reported use of assertion, a strategy generally viewed as socially skillful, would be associated with less victimization, but only for youth low on peer‐reported aggression. Results were consistent with this hypothesis. Moreover, seeking adult intervention was associated with greater victimization for youth high on peer‐reported aggression. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Cultivating Conformists or Raising Rebels? Connecting Parental Control and Autonomy Support to Adolescent Delinquency
Authors: Brauer Jonathan R.
Published: September 2016

This study investigates short‐term and long‐term associations between parenting in early adolescence and delinquency throughout adolescence using data from the National Longitudinal Surveys. Multilevel longitudinal Poisson regressions show that behavioral control, psychological control, and decision‐making autonomy in early adolescence (ages 10–11) are associated with delinquency trajectories throughout adolescence (ages 10–17). Path analyses reveal support for three mediation hypotheses. Parental monitoring (behavioral control) is negatively associated with delinquency in the short term and operates partly through changes in self‐control. Parental pressure (psychological control) shows immediate and long‐lasting associations with delinquency through changes in self‐control and delinquent peer pressures. Decision‐making autonomy is negatively associated with delinquency in the long term, yet may exacerbate delinquency in early adolescence by increasing exposure to delinquent peers.
Residential Mobility and Adolescent Achievement and Behavior: Understanding Timing and Extent of Mobility
Authors: Anderson Sara , Leventhal Tama
Published: September 2016

Residential mobility is generally viewed as an adverse event for adolescents' development. Less is known about whether moving during adolescence, childhood, or both periods explains this connection and whether the extent of mobility matters. Analytic shortcomings with much of the research call into question extant findings. We examined associations between childhood, adolescent, and child–adolescent mobility and adolescents' achievement (math and reading) and behavior problems (internalizing and externalizing). With a multisite, longitudinal sample (N = 1,056), we employed propensity score methods, which mitigate concerns about selection bias on observed variables, to investigate relationships. Results suggest that multiple, child–adolescent movers had more internalizing problems in adolescence than their stable peers, but did not differ on externalizing problems or achievement.
Where are threatened ferns found? Global conservation priorities for pteridophytes
Authors: Brummitt Neil , Aletrari Elina , Syfert Mindy M. , Mulligan Mark
Published: September 2016

Recent efforts to improve the representation of plant species included on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species through the IUCN Sampled Red List Index (SRLI) for Plants have led to the assessment of almost 1000 additional species of pteridophytes and lycophytes under IUCN Red List criteria. Species were selected at random from all lineages of pteridophytes and lycophytes and are taxonomically as well as ecologically representative of pteridophyte and lycophyte diversity. 16% of pteridophyte and lycophyte species are globally threatened with extinction and 22% are of elevated conservation concern (threatened or Near Threatened); of species of pteridophytes and lycophytes previously included on the Red List, 54% were considered threatened. Over half of pteridophyte and lycophyte species assessed for the SRLI use estimates of range size; therefore the method used to measure range may affect the Red List category assigned. We evaluated this using two alternative metrics for estimating range, species distribution modelling (SDM) and ecologically suitable habitat (ESH), for 227 species endemic to the Neotropical biogeographic realm. Differences between range estimates were small when ranges were small but increased with increasing range size. For 58 (25.6%) species alternative modelling techniques result in the species meeting the threshold for a different IUCN Red List category from using extent of occurrence. Modelling threatened species distributions also highlights priority areas for conservation in tropical and subtropical montane forests that are the most species‐rich habitat for small‐range pteridophyte and lycophyte species, but which are now increasingly subject to rapid conversion to agriculture.
Community‐based real‐world treatment outcomes of sofosbuvir/ledipasvir in Asians with chronic hepatitis C virus genotype 6 in the United States
Authors: Wong R. J. , Nguyen M. T. , Trinh H. N. , Huynh A. , Ly M. T. , Nguyen H. A. , Nguyen K. K. , Yang J. , Garcia R. T. , Levitt B. , da Silveira E. , Gish R. G.
Published: September 2016

Sofosbuvir/ledipasvir (SOF/LDV) is the first all‐oral ribavirin‐free treatment approved for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 6, offering a safe and highly efficacious treatment option. Large studies evaluating real‐world outcomes of this regimen are lacking. We aim to evaluate real‐world treatment outcomes for HCV genotype 6. A retrospective cohort study evaluated 65 adults (age ≥18) with chronic HCV genotype 6 treated with SOF/LDV without ribavirin at a community gastroenterology clinic in the United States from November 2014 to May 2016. Rates of undetectable virus at week 4 on treatment, at end of treatment (EOT) and SVR12 were stratified by the presence of cirrhosis and prior treatment (treatment naïve vs treatment experienced). Among 65 patients with chronic HCV genotype 6 treated with SOF/LDV (52.3% male, mean age 66.3 years [SD 9.7], 41.5% cirrhosis and 15.4% treatment experienced), 97.3% had undetectable virus at week 4 on treatment, 96.9% had undetectable virus at EOT and 95.3% achieved SVR12. SVR12 was 100% in females vs 91.2% in males, P=.096, and 92.3% in patients with cirrhosis vs 97.4% in those without cirrhosis, P=.347. Resistance testing of treatment failures was attempted but unsuccessful due to lack of conforming primers to define the possible resistance mutations. Among the largest U.S. community‐based real‐world cohort of Asian chronic HCV genotype 6 patients treated with all‐oral SOF/LDV without ribavirin, SVR12 was similar to SVR12 reported in clinical trials, confirming the safety and effectiveness of this regimen and validating current HCV genotype 6 treatment guideline recommendations.
Direct antiviral agent treatment of chronic hepatitis C results in rapid regression of transient elastography and fibrosis markers fibrosis‐4 score and aspartate aminotransferase‐platelet ratio index
Authors: Bachofner Jacqueline A. , Valli Piero V. , Kröger Arne , Bergamin Irina , Künzler Patrizia , Baserga Adriana , Braun Dominique , Seifert Burkhardt , Moncsek Anja , Fehr Jan , Semela David , Magenta Lorenzo , Müllhaupt Beat , Terziroli Beretta‐Piccoli Benedetta , Mertens Joachim C.
Published: September 2016

Background

Novel direct antiviral agents (DAA) targeting hepatitis C virus (HCV) have revolutionized the treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection (CHC). Rates of sustained virological response (SVR) to treatment have drastically improved since introduction of DAA. Transient Elastography (TE) is an ultrasound based, non‐invasive technique to assess liver stiffness (LS). We examined the changes in TE values and fibrosis scores FIB‐4 and APRI after DAA treatment of CHC.

Methods

549 patients who received a DAA based treatment for CHC were screened and 392 were included. TE values recorded prior to therapy and within 18 months after therapy were evaluated. In addition, FIB‐4 and APRI scores were calculated and histopathological results were recorded if available.

Results

Median TE prior to DAA treatment was 12.65 kPa (IQR 9.45‐19.2 kPa) and decreased to 8.55 kPa (IQR 5.93‐15.25) post‐treatment. This finding is statistically significant (P<.001) and equals a TE regression of 32.4% after DAA treatment. Median FIB‐4 and APRI values significantly decreased from 2.54 (IQR 1.65‐4.43) and 1.10 (IQR 0.65‐2.43) to 1.80 (IQR 1.23‐2.84, P<.001) and 0.43 (IQR 0.3‐0.79, P<.001) respectively.

Conclusion

Patients with SVR after DAA therapy showed significant regression of TE values. Rapid decrease in TE was in concordance with regression of validated fibrosis scores FIB‐4 and APRI. It remains to be examined whether this indicates a true regression of fibrosis or merely resolution of chronic liver inflammation with subsequent improvement of TE values and laboratory parameters.
Identification of aminopyrimidine‐sulfonamides as potent modulators of Wag31‐mediated cell elongation in mycobacteria
Authors: Singh Vinayak , Dhar Neeraj , Pató János , Kolly Gaëlle S. , Korduláková Jana , Forbak Martin , Evans Joanna C. , Székely Rita , Rybniker Jan , Palčeková Zuzana , Zemanová Júlia , Santi Isabella , Signorino‐Gelo François , Rodrigues Liliana , Vocat Anthony , Covarrubias Adrian S. , Rengifo Monica G. , Johnsson Kai , Mowbray Sherry , Buechler Joseph , Delorme Vincent , Brodin Priscille , Knott Graham W. , Aínsa José A. , Warner Digby F. , Kéri György , Mikušová Katarína , McKinney John D. , Cole Stewart T. , Mizrahi Valerie , Hartkoorn Ruben C.
Published: September 2016

There is an urgent need to discover new anti‐tubercular agents with novel mechanisms of action in order to tackle the scourge of drug‐resistant tuberculosis. Here, we report the identification of such a molecule – an AminoPYrimidine‐Sulfonamide (APYS1) that has potent, bactericidal activity against M. tuberculosis. Mutations in APYS1‐resistant M. tuberculosis mapped exclusively to wag31, a gene that encodes a scaffolding protein thought to orchestrate cell elongation. Recombineering confirmed that a Gln201Arg mutation in Wag31 was sufficient to cause resistance to APYS1, however, neither overexpression nor conditional depletion of wag31 impacted M. tuberculosis susceptibility to this compound. In contrast, expression of the wildtype allele of wag31 in APYS1‐resistant M. tuberculosis was dominant and restored susceptibility to APYS1 to wildtype levels. Time‐lapse imaging and scanning electron microscopy revealed that APYS1 caused gross malformation of the old pole of M. tuberculosis, with eventual lysis. These effects resembled the morphological changes observed following transcriptional silencing of wag31 in M. tuberculosis. These data show that Wag31 is likely not the direct target of APYS1, but the striking phenotypic similarity between APYS1 exposure and genetic depletion of Wag31 in M. tuberculosis suggests that APYS1 might indirectly affect Wag31 through an as yet unknown mechanism.
Identification of risk factors for moral distress in nurses: basis for the development of a new assessment tool
Authors: Schaefer Rafaela , Zoboli Elma Lourdes Campos Pavone , Vieira Margarida
Published: September 2016

This article proposes to identify risk factors for moral distress from the literature, validate them through expert analysis and provide the basis for a new tool to assess the risk of moral distress among nurses. Moral distress is related to the psychological, emotional and physiological aspects of nursing. It arises from constraints caused by various circumstances and can lead to significant negative consequences. A scoping review and validation through expert analysis were used. The research question guiding this study was as follows: What is known about risk factors for moral distress in nursing? The research was conducted using multiple sources including electronic databases and lists of references from relevant literature. The final sample consisted of 38 studies. A validation analysis was conducted by experts during December 2014 and June 2015. To exclude a risk factor item, at least 80% of the experts had to agree with the exclusion. In total, 53 risk factors for moral distress were identified, reviewed by the experts and grouped to form a new instrument that may help to identify risk for moral distress and to address its consequences.
Similar below‐ground carbon cycling dynamics but contrasting modes of nitrogen cycling between arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal forests
Authors: Lin Guigang , McCormack M. Luke , Ma Chengen , Guo Dali
Published: September 2016

Compared with ectomycorrhizal (ECM) forests, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) forests are hypothesized to have higher carbon (C) cycling rates and a more open nitrogen (N) cycle.

To test this hypothesis, we synthesized 645 observations, including 22 variables related to below‐ground C and N dynamics from 100 sites, where AM and ECM forests co‐occurred at the same site.

Leaf litter quality was lower in ECM than in AM trees, leading to greater forest floor C stocks in ECM forests. By contrast, AM forests had significantly higher mineral soil C concentrations, and this result was strongly mediated by plant traits and climate. No significant differences were found between AM and ECM forests in C fluxes and labile C concentrations. Furthermore, inorganic N concentrations, net N mineralization and nitrification rates were all higher in AM than in ECM forests, indicating ‘mineral’ N economy in AM but ‘organic’ N economy in ECM trees.

AM and ECM forests show systematic differences in mineral vs organic N cycling, and thus mycorrhizal type may be useful in predicting how different tree species respond to multiple environmental change factors. By contrast, mycorrhizal type alone cannot reliably predict below‐ground C dynamics without considering plant traits and climate.
Climate forcing and infectious disease transmission in urban landscapes: integrating demographic and socioeconomic heterogeneity
Authors: Santos‐Vega Mauricio , Martinez Pamela P. , Pascual Mercedes
Published: September 2016

Urbanization and climate change are the two major environmental challenges of the 21st century. The dramatic expansion of cities around the world creates new conditions for the spread, surveillance, and control of infectious diseases. In particular, urban growth generates pronounced spatial heterogeneity within cities, which can modulate the effect of climate factors at local spatial scales in large urban environments. Importantly, the interaction between environmental forcing and socioeconomic heterogeneity at local scales remains an open area in infectious disease dynamics, especially for urban landscapes of the developing world. A quantitative and conceptual framework on urban health with a focus on infectious diseases would benefit from integrating aspects of climate forcing, population density, and level of wealth. In this paper, we review what is known about these drivers acting independently and jointly on urban infectious diseases; we then outline elements that are missing and would contribute to building such a framework.
The novel use of inter‐maxillary fixation screws as denture abutments in a Parkinson's patient
Authors: Beech A. , Farrier J.
Published: September 2016

A 67‐year‐old male patient presented to our department with severe mentalis spasm secondary to Parkinson's disease unable to retain upper and lower complete dentures. Injection of the mentalis muscle with Botulinum Toxin (Botox®) gave limited improvement. Restrictions on the placement of dental implants within our Trust meant we were unable to offer them to the patient. We, therefore, placed two titanium IMF screws into both the mandibular and maxillary alveolar ridges. The patient's existing dentures were modified to accommodate the IMF screws enabling pleasing denture retention. The screw placement and denture addition procedures were carried out with excellent healing and no complications. The IMF screws remain stable in situ 9 months after placement. This technique for retaining complete dentures in a Parkinson's patient is simple and cost‐effective, with the added advantage of being easily reversible as their use does not prevent future implant placement.
Impact of Retailers with Knowledge of Supplier's Inventory on Supply Chain Performance
Authors: Jain Apurva , Mamani Hamed , Moinzadeh Kamran
Published: September 2016

We model a supply chain consisting of a supplier and multiple retailers facing deterministic demand. We denote some retailers as strategic in the sense that given the supplier inventory information, they will implement the optimal stocking policy by incorporating such information. On the other hand, some retailers are denoted as naïve in the sense that they ignore supply information and resort to a simplistic ordering policy. Naïve retailers learn the optimal policy over time and adjust their orders accordingly. We study the dynamics of this game and investigate the impact of such strategic and naïve retailers on the cost, ordering pattern and stocking policies of all parties. We analyze the supply chain under two scenarios: the centralized supply chain where the objective is to minimize the total supply chain cost, and the decentralized supply chain where each self‐interested player minimizes its own cost in a Stackelberg game setting. We fully characterize the optimal policies under both centralized and decentralized scenarios and show that, surprisingly, the supply chain might be better off by virtue of naïve retailers. The result is driven by the fact that strategic and naïve players’ decisions shift the positioning of inventory in the supply chain with its final impact being determined by the relative costs of different retailer‐types. Our results also offer managerial insights into how access to supply information can improve supply chain performance.
Organization of Public Safety Networks: Spillovers, Interoperability, and Participation
Authors: Liu Yipeng , Guo Hong , Nault Barrie R.
Published: September 2016

We analyze trade‐offs in the organization of public safety networks when network assets are distributed across districts and a district values network assets in its own and other districts. Comparing centralized, decentralized, and mixed organization forms, we capture two critical properties: interoperability among distributed technology‐based network assets and the ability of districts to opt‐in or opt‐out of the centralized form. We model the provision of public safety networks, where network assets are chosen by each district or by a federal government, where these assets have a positive cross‐district spillover that depends on interoperability, where investments in effort can be made to improve interoperability, and where districts can opt‐in or opt‐out of centralized provision. With the adoption of centralized, decentralized, or mixed provision as a result of districts' opt‐in or opt‐out choices, we identify conditions that determine when the districts deviate from the social optimum and thus regulatory intervention is beneficial to incent the socially optimal organization form. We show how the socially optimal organization form can be achieved through policy instruments such as a sharing rule for the cost of interoperability effort and direct government grants.
Mitigating Supply Uncertainty: The Interplay Between Diversification and Pricing
Authors: Li Tao , Sethi Suresh P. , Zhang Jun
Published: September 2016

We consider a firm's sourcing problem from one reliable supplier and one unreliable supplier in two price‐setting scenarios. In the committed pricing scenario, the firm makes the pricing decision before the supply uncertainty is resolved. In the responsive pricing scenario, the firm's pricing decision is made after the supply uncertainty is resolved. For the committed pricing scenario, we develop a condition on supply uncertainty that guarantees the unimodality of the firm's objective function. By comparing the firm's optimal diversification decisions in the two pricing scenarios, we examine the interplay of supply diversification strategy and responsive pricing strategy in mitigating supply uncertainty. While both strategies are effective in mitigating supply uncertainty, we show that they are not necessarily substitutes. The relationship between these two strategies depends on two adverse effects caused by supply uncertainty: the lost‐revenue effect and the lost‐goodwill effect. More specifically, when the lost‐revenue effect dominates the lost‐goodwill effect, these two strategies are complements; otherwise, they are substitutes. Furthermore, we examine the impact of market size, price sensitivity, supplier reliability, and failure rebate on the interplay between these two strategies, and discuss the implications of our results. Finally, we extend our analysis to the case of two unreliable suppliers and show that the insights regarding the interplay between diversification and pricing continue to hold.
Multistage Stochastic Optimization for Production‐Inventory Planning with Intermittent Renewable Energy
Authors: Golari Mehdi , Fan Neng , Jin Tongdan
Published: September 2016

A growing number of companies install wind and solar generators in their energy‐intensive facilities to attain low‐carbon manufacturing operations. However, there is a lack of methodological studies on operating large manufacturing facilities with intermittent power. This study presents a multi‐period, production‐inventory planning model in a multi‐plant manufacturing system powered with onsite and grid renewable energy. Our goal is to determine the production quantity, the stock level, and the renewable energy supply in each period such that the aggregate production cost (including energy) is minimized. We tackle this complex decision problem in three steps. First, we present a deterministic planning model to attain the desired green energy penetration level. Next, the deterministic model is extended to a multistage stochastic optimization model taking into account the uncertainties of renewables. Finally, we develop an efficient modified Benders decomposition algorithm to search for the optimal production schedule using a scenario tree. Numerical experiments are carried out to verify and validate the model integrity, and the potential of realizing high‐level renewables penetration in large manufacturing system is discussed and justified.
The National Wealth–Income Ratio in Greece, 1974–2013
Authors: Charalampidis Nikolaos
Published: September 2016

Can the rise of wealth–income ratios observed in rich economies be found in the case of Greece as well? This paper uses a generalization of a two‐good wealth accumulation equation to estimate the evolution of the national wealth–income ratio, and finds that, similarly to the European evidence, the ratio rises from about 280 percent in the 1970s to about 500 percent on the eve of the current financial crisis. On average, during 1974–96, the saving‐induced wealth growth cancels out the capital losses, whereas in the subsequent decade, 1997–2007, the balance changes considerably when the saving effect vanishes and the prolonged capital gains result in a rising wealth–income ratio. During the recession, income falls faster than wealth. The results remain robust to several alterations of the benchmark framework.
Ability emotional intelligence and its relation to aggression across time and age groups
Authors: García‐Sancho Esperanza , Salguero José M. , Fernández‐Berrocal Pablo
Published: September 2016

Emotional Intelligence (EI) has been associated with several indicators of psychosocial adjustment, including aggressive behavior, but the relevant research has been mostly cross‐sectional, focused on adults, and limited to trait EI measures (García‐Sancho, Salguero & Fernández‐Berrocal, 2014; Mayer, Roberts & Barsade, ). The present work explored the relationship between Ability Emotional Intelligence (AEI) and aggression in both adults and adolescents using cross‐sectional and longitudinal designs. We conducted two studies. Study 1 aimed to provide preliminary evidence about the relationship between AEI and aggression in adults. As literature has shown personality traits act as a strong predictor of aggression, study 1 also examined the potential incremental validity of AEI beyond personality traits in 474 undergraduate students (M = 22.76, SD = 5.13). The results indicated AEI explains a significant amount of unique variance for physical aggression, but not for verbal aggression after controlling personality traits. Study 2 aimed a longitudinal analysis of the relationship between EI and aggression in 151 adolescents (M = 14.74, SD = 0.84). AEI predicted physical aggression over time, but it did not predict verbal aggression. Results from both studies suggest a negative and significant relationship between AEI and physical aggression, however contrary our expectations, it did not for verbal aggression. These results highlight the important explanatory role of emotional abilities in physical aggressive conducts and the implications of these findings are discussed.
Exploring a Multi‐modal Experimental Approach to Investigation of Local Embedment Behaviour of Wood under Steel Dowels
Authors: Lederer W. , Bader T. K. , Muszyński L. , Eberhardsteiner J.
Published: September 2016

A multi‐modal experimental approach for analysing the embedment behaviour of timber connections with steel dowels is proposed in this study. In this approach, a standard mechanical embedment test on single‐dowel connections is combined with an optical measurement of surface deformations of the connection based on digital image correlation principle and an X‐ray micro‐computed tomography examination of the deformations in the dowel‐wood interface. The latter is conducted on cylindrical cores including the dowel hole, physically extracted from the loaded specimen at three characteristic points of the load‐deformation curves. The major challenge of this procedure is disrupted load transfer between the cylindrical core specimens and the external material they were plugged in for further analysis. Despite its challenges and limitations, the method revealed a potential for an unprecedented insight into the micromechanics of dowel connections and for effective correlation of the micro‐level observations with the external macroscopic load‐deformation characteristics.
Tumor‐associated antigens: Tn antigen, sTn antigen, and T antigen
Authors: Fu C. , Zhao H. , Wang Y. , Cai H. , Xiao Y. , Zeng Y. , Chen H.
Published: September 2016

Glycosylation is one of the major posttranslational modifications of proteins. N‐glycosylation (Asn‐linked) and O‐glycosylation (Ser/Thr‐linked) are the two main forms. Abnormal O‐glycosylation is frequently observed on the surface of tumor cells, and is associated with an adverse outcome and poor prognosis in patients with cancer. O‐glycans (Tn, sTn, and T antigen) can be synthesized in the Golgi apparatus with the aid of several glycosyltransferases (such as T‐synthase and ST6GalNAc‐I) in a suitable environment. The unique molecular chaperone of T‐synthase is Cosmc, which helps T‐synthase to fold correctly in the endoplasmic reticulum. Dysregulation of these glycosyltransferases, molecular chaperones, or the environment is involved in the dysregulation of O‐glycans. Tn, sTn, and T antigen neo‐ or over‐expression occurs in many types of cancer including gastric, colon, breast, lung, esophageal, prostate, and endometrial cancer. This review discusses the major synthetic pathway of O‐glycans and the mechanism by which Tn, sTn, and T antigens promote tumor metastasis.
Complement C3 inhibitor Cp40 attenuates xenoreactions in pig hearts perfused with human blood
Authors: Abicht Jan‐Michael , Kourtzelis Ioannis , Reichart Bruno , Koutsogiannaki Sophia , Primikyri Alexandra , Lambris John D. , Chavakis Triantafyllos , Holdt Lesca , Kind Alexander , Guethoff Sonja , Mayr Tanja
Published: September 2016

Background

The complement system plays a crucial role in acute xenogeneic reactions after cardiac transplantation. We used an ex vivo perfusion model to investigate the effect of Cp40, a compstatin analog and potent inhibitor of complement at the level of C3.

Methods

Fifteen wild‐type pig hearts were explanted, cardiopleged, and reperfused ex vivo after 150 minutes of cold ischemia. Hearts were challenged in a biventricular working heart mode to evaluate cardiac perfusion and function. In the treatment group (n=5), the complement cascade was blocked at the level of C3 using Cp40, using diluted human blood. Untreated human and porcine blood was used for controls.

Results

Throughout the perfusion, C3 activation was inhibited when Cp40 was used (mean of all time points: 1.11 ± 0.34% vs 3.12 ± 0.48% control activation; P<.01). Compared to xenoperfused controls, the cardiac index improved significantly in the treated group (6.5 ± 4.2 vs 3.5 ± 4.8 mL/min/g; P=.03, 180 minutes perfusion), while the concentration of lactate dehydrogenase as a maker for cell degradation was reduced in the perfusate (583 ± 187 U/mL vs 2108 ± 1145 U/mL, P=.02). Histological examination revealed less hemorrhage and edema, and immunohistochemistry confirmed less complement fragment deposition than in untreated xenoperfused controls.

Conclusions

Cp40 efficiently prevents C3 activation of the complement system, resulting in reduced cell damage and preserved function in wild‐type porcine hearts xenoperfused ex vivo. We suggest that this compstatin analog, which blocks all main pathways of complement activation, could be a beneficial perioperative treatment in preclinical and in future clinical xenotransplantation.
Effect of Solder Joint Thickness on Intermetallic Compound Growth Rate of Cu/Sn/Cu Solder Joints During Thermal Aging
Authors: Zhu Yan , Sun Fenglian
Published: September 2016

The sandwich structure Cu/Sn/Cu solder joints with different thicknesses of the solder layers (δ) are fabricated using a reflow solder method. The microstructure and composition of the solder joints are observed and analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results show that the thickness of intermetallic compound (IMC) and Cu concentration in the solder layers increase with the decrease of δ after reflow. During thermal aging, the thickness of IMC does not increase according to the parabolic rule with the increase of aging time; the solder joint thickness affects markedly the growth rate of IMC layer. At the beginning of thermal aging, the growth rate of IMC in the thinner solder joints (δ ≤ 25 μm) is higher than that in the thicker ones (δ ≥ 30 μm). The growth rate of IMC (δ ≤ 25 μm) decreases in the thinner solder joints, while increases in the thicker solder joints (δ ≥ 40 μm) and is nearly invariable when the δ equals to 30 μm with aging time extending. The growth rate of IMC increases first and then decreases after reaching a peak value with the increase of δ in the later stage during aging. The main control element for IMC growth transfers from Cu to Sn with the reduction of size.
Review of Steel Lazy Wave Riser Concepts for the North Sea
Authors: Felisita Airindy , Tobias Gudmestad Ove , Karunakaran Daniel , Olav Martinsen Lars
Published: September 2016

A steel riser has benefits over a flexible riser in terms of pressure rating and cost. A steel riser in lazy wave configuration (steel lazy wave riser (SLWR)) is often considered as a good alternative solution for harsh environments where large floater excursions take place. The SLWR configuration is achieved by introducing buoyancy modules into a steel catenary riser (SCR). The buoyancy modules act as a damper and isolate the floater motions from the critical touchdown area. Hence, the SLWR generally has better overall performance than an SCR configuration. This paper attempts to analyze the correlation between the geometric shapes of the SLWR configuration with its capability to absorb the dynamic loadings. For deepwater cases, the behavior of the bottom part of the riser is correlated with the velocity experiences at the riser's hang-off location. Hence, the riser's performance is analyzed by comparing the velocity at the riser's hang-off with the velocity at the sag, hog, and near touchdown. The geometric shape of an SLWR is represented by its arch height, which is the vertical distance between the lowest point at the sag and the highest point at the hog bend of a riser. The results show that there is a correlation between the arch height of an SLWR with the riser's strength and wave-induced fatigue performance. SLWR configurations with higher arch generally have greater capability to absorb the dynamic loadings, as indicated by the lower velocities along the riser, which leads to lower stress utilizations and lower fatigue damage.
A Perspective of Energy Codes and Regulations for the Buildings of the Future
Authors: Rosenberg Michael , Jonlin Duane , Nadel Steven
Published: September 2016

Today's building energy codes focus on prescriptive requirements for features of buildings that are directly controlled by design and construction teams and verifiable by municipal inspectors. Although these code requirements have had a significant impact, they fail to influence a large slice of the building energy use pie—including not only miscellaneous plug loads, cooking equipment, and commercial/industrial processes but the maintenance and optimization of the code-mandated systems as well. Currently, code compliance is verified only through the end of construction, and there are no limits or consequences for the actual energy used in a building after it is occupied. In the future, our suite of energy regulations will likely expand to include building efficiency, energy use, or carbon emission budgets over their full life cycle. Intelligent building systems, extensive renewable energy, and a transition from fossil fuel to electric heating systems will likely be required to meet ultralow-energy targets. This paper considers short and long-term trends in the building industry, lays out the authors' perspectives on how buildings may evolve over the course of the 21st century, and discusses the roles that codes and regulations will play in shaping those buildings of the future.
Crystallization of nanoscale NiTi alloy thin films using rapid thermal annealing
Authors: Hou Huilong , Hamilton Reginald F. , Horn Mark W.
Published: September 2016

This work utilizes short time heat treatments of submicrometer-thickness NiTi alloy films fabricated using biased target ion beam deposition and investigates crystallization. Films were fabricated on Si substrates, and thicknesses were about 150 nm, which were much less than conventional thicknesses on the order of micrometers. To understand the composition dependence, Ni concentrations were varied such that alloys ranged from Ti-rich to near-equiatomic. Rapid thermal annealing was used for the heat treatment and temperatures ranged from 465 up to 540 °C for 10 min. X-ray diffraction measurements for each of the NiTi alloy compositions revealed that the crystallization temperature was equivalent (∼490 °C) and the B2 austenitic atomic crystal structure existed. Evolutions of surface morphologies, measured using atomic force microscopy, as a function of heat treatment temperature confirmed the composition independence of the crystallization temperature. To investigate the structure using transmission electron microscopy, 150 nm-thickness films were also deposited on ultrathin SiN substrates and heat treated, which confirmed equiaxed grains existed. Crystallization and annealing heat treatments for nanoscale films can be carried out for time on the order of minutes, which should curtail detrimental diffusion effects known to compromise shape memory behavior.
An airborne acoustic method to reconstruct a dynamically rough flow surface
Authors: Krynkin Anton , Horoshenkov Kirill V. , Van Renterghem Timothy
Published: September 2016

Currently, there is no airborne in situ method to reconstruct with high fidelity the instantaneous elevation of a dynamically rough surface of a turbulent flow. This work proposes a holographic method that reconstructs the elevation of a one-dimensional rough water surface from airborne acoustic pressure data. This method can be implemented practically using an array of microphones deployed over a dynamically rough surface or using a single microphone which is traversed above the surface at a speed that is much higher than the phase velocity of the roughness pattern. In this work, the theory is validated using synthetic data calculated with the Kirchhoff approximation and a finite difference time domain method over a number of measured surface roughness patterns. The proposed method is able to reconstruct the surface elevation with a sub-millimeter accuracy and over a representatively large area of the surface. Since it has been previously shown that the surface roughness pattern reflects accurately the underlying hydraulic processes in open channel flow [e.g., Horoshenkov, Nichols, Tait, and Maximov, J. Geophys. Res. 118(3), 1864–1876 (2013)], the proposed method paves the way for the development of non-invasive instrumentation for flow mapping and characterization that are based on the acoustic holography principle.
Dysregulation of angiopoietin-1 plays a mechanistic role in the pathogenesis of cerebral malaria
Authors: Higgins Sarah J. , Purcell Lisa A. , Silver Karlee L. , Tran Vanessa , Crowley Valerie , Hawkes Michael , Conroy Andrea L. , Opoka Robert O. , Hay John G. , Quaggin Susan E. , Thurston Gavin , Liles W. Conrad , Kain Kevin C.
Published: September 2016

Angiopoietin-1 is dysregulated in pediatric severe malaria, and targeting it prevents vascular dysfunction and death in a mouse model of cerebral malaria.
Prevention of atherosclerosis by bioactive palmitoleate through suppression of organelle stress and inflammasome activation
Authors: Çimen Ismail , Kocatürk Begüm , Koyuncu Seda , Tufanlı Özlem , Onat Umut I. , Yıldırım Asli D. , Apaydın Onur , Demirsoy Şeyma , Aykut Zaliha G. , Nguyen Uyen T. , Watkins Steven M. , Hotamışlıgil Gökhan S. , Erbay Ebru
Published: September 2016

A bioactive lipokine promotes metabolic resilience of organelles and limits the progression of atherosclerosis.
Nonprogressing HIV-infected children share fundamental immunological features of nonpathogenic SIV infection
Authors: Muenchhoff Maximilian , Adland Emily , Karimanzira Owen , Crowther Carol , Pace Matthew , Csala Anna , Leitman Ellen , Moonsamy Angeline , McGregor Callum , Hurst Jacob , Groll Andreas , Mori Masahiko , Sinmyee Smruti , Thobakgale Christina , Tudor-Williams Gareth , Prendergast Andrew J. , Kloverpris Henrik , Roider Julia , Leslie Alasdair , Shingadia Delane , Brits Thea , Daniels Samantha , Frater John , Willberg Christian B. , Walker Bruce D. , Ndung’u Thumbi , Jooste Pieter , Moore Penny L. , Morris Lynn , Goulder Philip
Published: September 2016

Pediatric HIV patients who do not rapidly develop AIDS are shown to have immunological features similar to nonhuman primates that experience nonpathogenic SIV infection.
A stromal focus reveals tumor immune signatures
Authors: Greene Casey S.
Published: September 2016

A computational analysis of cancer biopsies suggests immunotherapy strategies.
Annual Removal of Aboveground Plant Biomass Alters Soil Microbial Responses to Warming
Authors: Xue Kai , Yuan Mengting M. , Xie Jianping , Li Dejun , Qin Yujia , Hale Lauren E. , Wu Liyou , Deng Ye , He Zhili , Van Nostrand Joy D. , Luo Yiqi , Tiedje James M. , Zhou Jizhong
Published: September 2016

Clipping (i.e., harvesting aboveground plant biomass) is common in agriculture and for bioenergy production. However, microbial responses to clipping in the context of climate warming are poorly understood. We investigated the interactive effects of grassland warming and clipping on soil properties and plant and microbial communities, in particular, on microbial functional genes. Clipping alone did not change the plant biomass production, but warming and clipping combined increased the C4peak biomass by 47% and belowground net primary production by 110%. Clipping alone and in combination with warming decreased the soil carbon input from litter by 81% and 75%, respectively. With less carbon input, the abundances of genes involved in degrading relatively recalcitrant carbon increased by 38% to 137% in response to either clipping or the combined treatment, which could weaken long-term soil carbon stability and trigger positive feedback with respect to warming. Clipping alone also increased the abundance of genes for nitrogen fixation, mineralization, and denitrification by 32% to 39%. Such potentially stimulated nitrogen fixation could help compensate for the 20% decline in soil ammonium levels caused by clipping alone and could contribute to unchanged plant biomass levels. Moreover, clipping tended to interact antagonistically with warming, especially with respect to effects on nitrogen cycling genes, demonstrating that single-factor studies cannot predict multifactorial changes. These results revealed that clipping alone or in combination with warming altered soil and plant properties as well as the abundance and structure of soil microbial functional genes. Aboveground biomass removal for biofuel production needs to be reconsidered, as the long-term soil carbon stability may be weakened.

IMPORTANCEGlobal change involves simultaneous alterations, including those caused by climate warming and land management practices (e.g., clipping). Data on the interactive effects of warming and clipping on ecosystems remain elusive, particularly in microbial ecology. This study found that clipping alters microbial responses to warming and demonstrated the effects of antagonistic interactions between clipping and warming on microbial functional genes. Clipping alone or combined with warming enriched genes degrading relatively recalcitrant carbon, likely reflecting the decreased quantity of soil carbon input from litter, which could weaken long-term soil C stability and trigger positive warming feedback. These results have important implications in assessing and predicting the consequences of global climate change and indicate that the removal of aboveground biomass for biofuel production may need to be reconsidered.
Antibiotic Resistance and Regulation of the Gram-Negative Bacterial Outer Membrane Barrier by Host Innate Immune Molecules
Authors: Miller Samuel I.
Published: September 2016

The Gram-negative outer membrane is an important barrier that provides protection against toxic compounds, which include antibiotics and host innate immune molecules such as cationic antimicrobial peptides. Recently, significant research progress has been made in understanding the biogenesis, regulation, and functioning of the outer membrane, including a recent paper from the laboratory of Dr. Brett Finlay at the University of British Columbia (J. van der Heijden et al., mBio 7:e01238-16, 2016, http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/mBio.01541-16). These investigators demonstrate that toxic oxygen radicals, such as those found in host tissues, regulate outer membrane permeability by altering the outer membrane porin protein channels to regulate the influx of oxygen radicals as well as β-lactam antibiotics. This commentary provides context about this interesting paper and discusses the prospects of utilizing increased knowledge of outer membrane biology to develop new antibiotics for antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria.
Dietitians' perceptions and experience of blenderised feeds for paediatric tube-feeding
Authors: Armstrong Janis , Buchanan Elaine , Duncan Hazel , Ross Kathleen , Gerasimidis Konstantinos
Published: September 2016

Objective

There is an emerging interest in the use of blenderised food for tube-feeding (BFTF). This survey explored paediatric dietitians' perceptions and experiences of BFTF use.

Design

A web-based questionnaire was distributed to the Paediatric group of the British Dietetic Association. The survey captured dietitians' personal opinions and experience supporting children on BFTF, and the perceptions of carers.

Results

Of the 77 respondents, 19 were aware of professional guidelines and 63 had never received training on BFTF. Thirty-four would not recommend BFTF and 11 would advise against its use; yet 43 would recommend it to supplement commercial feeds. Fifty-seven would change their perception about BFTF if there were evidence-based guidelines. Forty-four would feel confident to support a patient using BFTF. Forty-three had previous experience supporting a patient with BFTF. The main concerns perceived by dietitians, pertinent to the use of BFTF, were nutritional inadequacy (n=71), tube blockages (n=64) and increased infection risk (n=59) but these were significantly higher than those experienced by themselves in clinical practice (p<0.001 for all three). A reduction in reflux and vomiting and increased carer involvement were the main perceived and observed benefits by both dietitians and carers.

Conclusions

The use of these feeds for tube-fed children is increasingly being seen as a viable choice. Dietitians experienced significantly fewer issues with the use of BFTF in clinical practice compared with their self-reported apprehensions in the survey. Well-controlled studies are now needed to objectively assess the benefits, risks, costs and practicality of BFTF.