bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of heterobiaryls via Suzuki‐Miyaura coupling reaction of potassium aryltrifluoroborates with heteroaryl halides in aqueous systems
Authors: Liu Leifang , Zhao Kai , Li Wenbo , Liu Mingli , Chen Yuting , Dong Yan
Published: February 2019

A variety of heterobiaryl compounds have been synthesized by the Suzuki‐Miyaura coupling reactions of heteroaryl halides with potassium aryltrifluoroborates. Pd (OAc)2 was found to be highly efficient for the Suzuki‐Miyaura coupling reactions of various heteroaryl halides with potassium aryltrifluoroborates in aqueous systems, delivering the corresponding heterobiaryl compounds in good to excellent yields.
A novel modeling and controlling approach for high‐order nonlinear systems
Authors: Chen Lei , Yan Yan , Sun Changyin
Published: February 2019

This paper proposes a completely data–driven control law for a class of high–order nonlinear systems based on their virtual characteristic models. With sampled–data techniques and estimation methods, a novel lower–order adaptive characteristic model is constructed to reduce the system complexities. Moreover, a corresponding sliding mode control law is designed, which can guarantee tracking errors of the resulting closed‐loop system converging into a predefined bound in finite time. The practical examples are provided to illuminate the effectiveness of the proposed approaches.
Availability and Utility of Peer Review and Emotional Support for Paediatricians Involved in Safeguarding in the UK
Authors: Richardson Michelle , Josty Tamsin
Published: February 2019

Key Practitioner Messages

This survey suggests that peer review is widely available to responding UK paediatricians, and is considered very useful for maintaining skills, knowledge and confidence.

Peer review is less effective at meeting clinicians' emotional support needs, with many relying instead on discussions with colleagues, family and friends, raising confidentiality concerns.

The majority of survey respondents would value access to some form of additional skilled support such as formal debriefing or psychologist‐ or counsellor‐mediated input.
Unprecedented Diastereoselective Arylogous Michael Addition of Unactivated Phthalides
Authors: Sicignano Marina , Schettini Rosaria , Sica Luisa , Pierri Giovanni , De Riccardis Francesco , Izzo Irene , Maity Bholanath , Minenkov Yury , Cavallo Luigi , Della Sala Giorgio
Published: February 2019

The first highly enantioselective arylogous Michael reaction (AMR) of 3‐unsubstituted phthalides has been described. This phase‐transfer methodology, which uses catalytic amounts of KOH/18‐crown‐6 catalyst in mesitylene in the presence of N,O‐bis(trimethylsilyl)acetamide (BSA), gives access to a broad range of 3‐monosubstituted phthalides with high levels of syn diastereoselectivity and good yields, starting from 3‐unsubstituted derivatives and diverse α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl compounds. The reaction also applies to unactivated 3‐alkyl phthalides to afford 3,3‐dialkyl derivatives. A plausible mechanism has been suggested. DFT analysis of possible transition states gives a rationale of the high syn diastereoselectivity observed and its correlation with the solvent's dielectric constant.
Identification of an Overlooked Halogen‐Bond Synthon and Its Application in Designing Fluorescent Materials
Authors: Cheng Lu , Zhu Bingqing , Ma Xiaoyu , Zhang Zaiyong , Wang Jian‐rong , Zhang Qi , Mei Xuefeng
Published: February 2019

Research on new supramolecular synthons facilitates the progress of materials design. Herein, the ability of sp2 carbonyl oxygen atoms to act as halogen‐bond acceptors was established through cocrystallization. Four sets of carbonyl compounds, including aldehydes, ketones, esters, and amides, were selected as halogen‐bond acceptors. In the absence of strong hydrogen bonds, 14 out of 16 combinations of halogen‐bond donors and acceptors could form cocrystals, whereby the supramolecular synthon C=O⋅⋅⋅X acts as the main interaction. Further, the geometric parameters of the C=O⋅⋅⋅X interaction were statistically revealed on the basis of the crystallographic database. The bifurcated interaction mode that has been observed in other halogen‐bond synthons rarely occurs in the case of C=O⋅⋅⋅X. The robustness of C=O⋅⋅⋅X makes its application in crystal engineering possible and opens up new opportunities in designing multicomponent fluorescent materials, as indicated by multicolor emission of cocrystals D through C=O⋅⋅⋅X interactions.
Yttrium‐Mediated Ring‐Opening Copolymerization of Oppositely Configurated 4‐Alkoxymethylene‐β‐Propiolactones: Effective Access to Highly Alternated Isotactic Functional PHAs
Authors: Ligny Romain , Guillaume Sophie M. , Carpentier Jean‐François
Published: February 2019

The ring‐opening copolymerization (ROCOP) of functional 4‐alkoxymethylene‐β‐propiolactones (BPLORs) by yttrium‐bisphenolate complexes was investigated. The ROCOP of equimolar mixtures of BPLORs of opposite configurations, namely (R)‐BPLOR1/(S)‐BPLOR2 [R1, R2=OMe, OAllyl, OCH2Ph (=OBn), OSiMe2tBu (=OTBDMS)], by the syndioselective Y{ONOOcum}/iPrOH catalyst/initiator system affords P(HBOR1‐alt‐HBOR2) copolymers with high alternation degrees (altern.=89–94 %), as determined by comprehensive kinetic, 13C{1H} NMR spectroscopy, MALDI‐ToF MS and ESI MS/MS fragmentation studies. The ROCOP of the (R)‐BPLOMe/(S)‐BPLOTBDMS combination, featuring a large difference in the substituents’ bulkiness, constitutes the only observed exception to this trend (altern.=64 %). On the other hand, the isoselectivity of the Y{ONNOCl}/iPrOH catalyst/initiator system has been exploited to generate, in a one‐pot/one‐step procedure, original mixtures of isotactic poly(hydroxyalkanoate)s (PHAs). This system efficiently transforms equimolar mixtures of (R)‐BPLOAll/(S)‐BPLOMe into a 1:1 mixture of the corresponding isotactic iso‐(R)‐PHBOAll and iso‐(S)‐PHBOMe homopolymers; almost no copolymerization defects are observed. This new approach has been extended successfully to the ROCOP of equimolar mixtures of racemic monomers, rac‐BPLOAll/rac‐BPLOMe.
Pharmacokinetics, Food Effect, Ketoconazole Interaction, and Safety of JTK‐853, a Novel Nonnucleoside HCV Polymerase Inhibitor, After Ascending Single and Multiple Doses in Healthy Subjects
Authors: Tamaki Sekihiro , Shibata Tsutomu , Hunt Thomas , Gerhardt Barbara , Yamada Hiroyuki , Pai Sudhakar M.
Published: February 2019

Pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of JTK‐853, a novel HCV polymerase inhibitor, were evaluated in single and multiple ascending dose (SAD, MAD) studies, with food‐ and ketoconazole‐related effects on exposure to JTK‐853 and its active (CYP3A4 mediated) metabolite M2. JTK‐853 was safe and well tolerated in both studies. In the SAD study, at doses >1600 mg (with standard breakfast [SBF]), JTK‐853 exposure did not increase further, was substantially higher (AUCinf increase: 3‐ to 8‐fold) with SBF (vs fasted), with a moderate increase in AUCinf (approximately 1.5‐fold [1600 mg]) with a high‐fat breakfast (vs SBF). In the SAD study (400–1600 mg, SBF), mean effective half‐life (t1/2(eff)) of JTK‐853 was 8.3 to 10.9 hours, and 20.3 to 27.3 hours in the MAD study (twice daily dosing, fed condition), with 2‐ to 3‐fold accumulation in exposure (AUCtau). At steady‐state, AUCtau increased dose proportionally, and was approximately 2‐fold higher with ketoconazole coadministration. Metabolite M2 (equipotent to JTK‐853 in vitro) did not contribute significantly to parent drug exposure and decreased with increase in dose, repeated dosing, and ketoconazole coadministration. Trial simulation‐based ratios (n = 1000/dose level) of trough JTK‐853 plasma concentrations to the in vitro EC90 for HCV genotype 1b were assessed for dose selection in a separate proof‐of‐concept study in patients. The studies enabled delineation of key drug attributes for further assessments in the target population.
Give or take? Consumers' ambivalent perspectives on the relationship between a firm's corporate social responsibility engagement and its responsible tax payments
Authors: Toder‐Alon Anat , Rosenstreich Eyal , Te'eni Harari Tali
Published: February 2019

The present study examines the mechanisms of the halo effect and the scepticism effect as alternative explanations for the association between a firm's corporate social responsibility (CSR) engagement and consumers' perceptions of its tax behaviour. The authors conduct two experimental studies to examine the impact of a company's CSR domain on consumers' perceptions of its tax practices (Study 1) and the impact of a company's CSR engagement and tax practices on consumers' evaluations of that company (Study 2). It was found that consumers' perceptions of a firm's tax practices critically depend on CSR domains. Specifically, when inferring tax perceptions from CSR engagement, consumers factor in their perceptions of the greater direct reputational benefits that firms derive from external CSR engagement (environmental and philanthropic CSR) compared with those they derive from internal CSR engagement (activities focused on intraorganisational stakeholders). Suggestions for managerial implications and future research are also discussed.
Platelet Flow Cytometry: Instrument Setup, Controls, and Panel Performance
Authors: Spurgeon Benjamin E.J. , Naseem Khalid M.
Published: February 2019

Platelet flow cytometry is widely used in cardiovascular medicine as the platelet surface is rich in clinical biomarkers. Surface profiling is critical in disease management, but current assays can abet clinical errors as they are suboptimal and prone to bias. Accordingly, the technical and analytical advances that can be used to create high quality assays with minimal error and maximal sensitivity were reviewed. Specifically, the best practices for instrument setup, quality control, panel design, titration, gating, and compensation were described. Adherence to these practices will enhance the validity and reliability of platelet flow cytometry in clinical/research settings. © 2019 International Clinical Cytometry Society
A few north Appalachian populations are the source of European black locust
Authors: Bouteiller Xavier Paul , Verdu Cindy Frédérique , Aikio Emmi , Bloese Paul , Dainou Kasso , Delcamp Adline , De Thier Olivier , Guichoux Erwan , Mengal Coralie , Monty Arnaud , Pucheu Marion , van Loo Marcela , Josée Porté Annabel , Lassois Ludivine , Mariette Stéphanie
Published: February 2019

The role of evolution in biological invasion studies is often overlooked. In order to evaluate the evolutionary mechanisms behind invasiveness, it is crucial to identify the source populations of the introduction. Studies in population genetics were carried out onRobinia pseudoacaciaL., a North American tree which is now one of the worst invasive tree species in Europe. We realized large‐scale sampling in both the invasive and native ranges: 63 populations were sampled and 818 individuals were genotyped using 113 SNPs. We identified clonal genotypes in each population and analyzed between and within range population structure, and then, we compared genetic diversity between ranges, enlarging the number of SNPs to mitigate the ascertainment bias. First, we demonstrated that European black locust was introduced from just a limited number of populations located in the Appalachian Mountains, which is in agreement with the historical documents briefly reviewed in this study. Within America, population structure reflected the effects of long‐term processes, whereas in Europe it was largely impacted by human activities. Second, we showed that there is a genetic bottleneck between the ranges with a decrease in allelic richness and total number of alleles in Europe. Lastly, we found more clonality within European populations. Black locust became invasive in Europe despite being introduced from a reduced part of its native distribution. Our results suggest that human activity, such as breeding programs in Europe and the seed trade throughout the introduced range, had a major role in promoting invasion; therefore, the introduction of the missing American genetic cluster to Europe should be avoided.
Prairie plant phenology driven more by temperature than moisture in climate manipulations across a latitudinal gradient in the Pacific Northwest, USA
Authors: Reed Paul B. , Pfeifer‐Meister Laurel E. , Roy Bitty A. , Johnson Bart R. , Bailes Graham T. , Nelson Aaron A. , Boulay Margaret C. , Hamman Sarah T. , Bridgham Scott D.
Published: February 2019

Plant phenology will likely shift with climate change, but how temperature and/or moisture regimes will control phenological responses is not well understood. This is particularly true in Mediterranean climate ecosystems where the warmest temperatures and greatest moisture availability are seasonally asynchronous. We examined plant phenological responses at both the population and community levels to four climate treatments (control, warming, drought, and warming plus additional precipitation) embedded within three prairies across a 520 km latitudinal Mediterranean climate gradient within the Pacific Northwest, USA. At the population level, we monitored flowering and abundances in spring 2017 of eight range‐restricted focal species planted both within and north of their current ranges. At the community level, we used normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) measured from fall 2016 to summer 2018 to estimate peak live biomass, senescence, seasonal patterns, and growing season length. We found that warming exerted a stronger control than our moisture manipulations on phenology at both the population and community levels. Warming advanced flowering regardless of whether a species was within or beyond its current range. Importantly, many of our focal species had low abundances, particularly in the south, suggesting that establishment, in addition to phenological shifts, may be a strong constraint on their future viability. At the community level, warming advanced the date of peak biomass regardless of site or year. The date of senescence advanced regardless of year for the southern and central sites but only in 2018 for the northern site. Growing season length contracted due to warming at the southern and central sites (~3 weeks) but was unaffected at the northern site. Our results emphasize that future temperature changes may exert strong influence on the timing of a variety of plant phenological events, especially those events that occur when temperature is most limiting, even in seasonally water‐limited Mediterranean ecosystems.
Phylofactorization: a graph partitioning algorithm to identify phylogenetic scales of ecological data
Authors: Washburne Alex D. , Silverman Justin D. , Morton James T. , Becker Daniel J. , Crowley Daniel , Mukherjee Sayan , David Lawrence A. , Plowright Raina K.
Published: February 2019

The problem of pattern and scale is a central challenge in ecology. In community ecology, an important scale is that at which we aggregate species to define our units of study, such as aggregation of “nitrogen fixing trees” to understand patterns in carbon sequestration. With the emergence of massive community ecological data sets, there is a need to objectively identify the scales for aggregating species to capture well‐defined patterns in community ecological data. The phylogeny is a scaffold for identifying scales of species‐aggregation associated with macroscopic patterns. Phylofactorization was developed to identify phylogenetic scales underlying patterns in relative abundance data, but many ecological data, such as presence‐absences and counts, are not relative abundances yet may still have phylogenetic scales capturing patterns of interest. Here, we broaden phylofactorization to a graph‐partitioning algorithm identifying phylogenetic scales in community ecological data. As a graph‐partitioning algorithm, phylofactorization connects many tools from data analysis to phylogenetically informed analyses of community ecological data. Two‐sample tests identify five phylogenetic factors of mammalian body mass which arose during the K‐Pg extinction event, consistent with other analyses of mammalian body mass evolution. Projection of data onto coordinates connecting the phylogeny and graph‐partitioning algorithm yield a phylogenetic principal components analysis which refines our understanding of the major sources of variation in the human gut microbiome. These same coordinates allow generalized additive modeling of microbes in Central Park soils, confirming that a large clade of Acidobacteria thrive in neutral soils. The graph‐partitioning algorithm extends to generalized linear and additive modeling of exponential family random variables by phylogenetically constrained reduced‐rank regression or stepwise factor contrasts. All of these tools can be implemented with the R package phylofactor.
Probing Magnetic Excitations in CoII Single‐Molecule Magnets by Inelastic Neutron Scattering
Authors: Stavretis Shelby E. , Cheng Yongqiang , Daemen Luke L. , Brown Craig M. , Moseley Duncan H. , Bill Eckhard , Atanasov Mihail , Ramirez‐Cuesta Anibal J. , Neese Frank , Xue Zi‐Ling
Published: February 2019

Invited for the cover of this issue are groups of Zi‐Ling Xue from the University of Tennessee, Yongqiang Cheng, Luke Daemen, Timmy Ramirez‐Cuesta of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Craig Brown of the NIST Center for Neutron Research and the University of Delaware, Eckhard Bill of Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion, and Mihail Atanasov and Frank Neese of Max Planck Institute for Coal Research and Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (MA). The cover image shows the use of inelastic neutron scattering (INS) to probe the Zeeman splitting of a single‐molecule magnet (SMM) inside a magnetic field.
Simple and Sensitive Determination of Sibutramine in Slimming Tea Beverages Using a Carbon Screen‐printed Electrode with Adsorptive Stripping Voltammetry
Authors: Lima Amanda B. , dos Santos Wallans T. P. , Compton Richard G.
Published: February 2019

The stimulant sibutramine is an anorexic agent found as an adulterant in natural products and multivitamins supplements used for weight‐loss. In this work, a carbon graphite screen‐printed electrode (SPE‐Gr) with adsorptive stripping pulse differential voltammetry (AdSDPV) is presented for the sensitive and simple detection of sibutramine in slimming tea beverages. The proposed electrochemical method shows a linear working range from 2.0 to 120 μM with a low LOD (0.3 μM) for sibutramine determination in slimming tea samples. The analytical performance of the SPE‐Gr with AdSDPV for sibutramine detection suggests its possible application as an easy, fast and low‐cost method to analyse adulterated tea samples with this stimulant at low levels (<0.1 %).
Developing a Coupled Statistical and Monte Carlo Approach for Geometric Modeling and Optimizing of Infiltrated Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Electrode
Authors: Tafazoli M. , Shakeri M. , Baniassadi M. , Babaei A. , Safdari M.
Published: February 2019

This study proposes a novel geometric simulation methodology to estimate the performance of solid oxide fuel cells (SFOCs) electrodes using Monte‐Carlo approach coupled with a statistical algorithm to add infiltrated particles in the form of discrete voxels. Electrochemical performance of these infiltrated electrodes is then characterized by direct evaluation of triple phase boundary (TPB) density and active surface density of the particles. Study results, in agreement with experiment and analytical models, illustrate that there is an optimum point for particle loading, which is strongly depended on the backbone properties and particle aggregation behavior. Study also indicates that the reduction rate of the gas transport factor after adding particles strongly depends on the backbone porosity and the distribution of the particles. Further, it is shown that the average shape of aggregated particles alters the TPB density and gas transport behavior, but particle agglomeration always increases the surface density of particles. Finally, the geometric results are compared with electrochemical tests qualitatively and proposed theories in literature quantitatively. A case study is also performed to compare geometric properties of a realized model with a real reconstructed infiltrated electrode.
Intraoperative electron beam radiotherapy for locoregionally persistent or recurrent head and neck cancer
Authors: Wald Patrick , Grecula John , Walston Steve , Wei Lai , Bhatt Aashish , Martin Douglas , Bonomi Marcelo , Rocco James , Old Matthew , Teknos Theodoros , Blakaj Dukagjin
Published: February 2019

Background

To report our institutional experience with intraoperative radiotherapy for persistent or recurrent head and neck cancer.

Methods

Sixty‐one patients were treated with salvage surgery and intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT). Fifty‐eight patients (95%) had previously received external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) as a component of their definitive therapy. Forty‐four patients (72%) had squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Surgical margins were positive in 28 patients (46%). IORT was prescribed to a median dose of 12.5 Gy (range, 10‐17.5). Twenty‐three patients (38%) received a course of postoperative EBRT (median 45 Gy). Clinical outcomes were retrospectively reviewed and univariate analysis was performed using log‐rank tests to correlate clinical outcomes with histology, surgical margin, and adjuvant therapy.

Results

Median follow‐up among surviving patients was 15.9 months. Median progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 9.8 and 19.1 months, respectively. One‐ and 2‐year rates of locoregional control (LRC) were 59% and 35%, respectively. One‐ and 2‐year rates of PFS were 39% and 19%, respectively. One‐ and 2‐year rates of OS were 62% and 42%, respectively. Overall survival was better for non‐SCC histology (P = .03). For SCC patients, negative surgical margin showed a trend toward improved PFS (P = .09) and OS (P = .06). There was one grade‐5 toxicity due to carotid rupture.

Conclusions

IORT has shown effective LRC and OS with an acceptably low rate of severe toxicity at our institution. OS was significantly better for non‐SCC histology. For SCC patients, there is a trend toward improved PFS and OS associated with negative surgical margins.
Hypopharyngeal cancer treatment: Does initial surgery confer survival benefit?
Authors: Tassler Andrew B. , Gooding William E. , Ferris Robert L.
Published: February 2019

Background

Organ preservation protocols have increasingly been applied for the treatment of head and neck cancers, including hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HSCC). We sought to evaluate whether patients treated with primary surgery followed by adjuvant therapy had survival benefit over patients treated with initial nonsurgical modalities.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed patients with new diagnosis of HSCC at the University of Pittsburgh (1994‐2014) treated with either primary total laryngectomy with pharyngectomy or organ preservation.

Results

One hundred thirty‐seven patients were identified. Surgical cases were more likely to be of advanced T stage. Initial surgery was more likely to be performed in the earlier years of the cohort. After adjusting for this imbalance using a propensity score, primary surgery was associated with improved survival compared with nonoperative therapy (P = 0.02).

Conclusions

Due to its survival advantage, primary surgery followed by adjuvant treatment should be considered as a viable treatment of HSCC.
Does frontal brain activity mediate the effect of depression prevention in adolescents? A pilot study
Authors: Pössel Patrick , Roane Sarah J. , Hautzinger Martin
Published: February 2019

We investigated whether (a) depression prevention was associated with depressive symptoms and medial‐frontal alpha asymmetry in adolescents; (b) alpha asymmetry mediated the association between participation in a prevention program and depressive symptoms; and (c) gender affects these associations. In our randomised control group study, we compared a universal prevention program (n = 40 adolescents, 14 females) with a non‐intervention control condition (n = 39 adolescents, 20 females) in German secondary school students (mean age: 13.53 years, SD = 0.53). We collected data at baseline, post‐intervention, 6‐month, and 12‐month follow‐up using the Self‐Rating Questionnaire for Depressive Disorders (SBB‐DES) and resting medial‐frontal alpha activity on F3 and F4. We found that girls benefitted from participating in the prevention program in regards to their depressive symptoms at 12‐month follow‐up but not alpha asymmetry. In boys, participation in the prevention program was associated with their alpha asymmetry at 6‐month follow‐up but not their depressive symptoms. Alpha asymmetry did not mediate the effects of the prevention program on depressive symptoms in either gender. Although participation in the prevention program was associated with both depressive symptoms and alpha asymmetry, those associations seem independent from each other. Possible explanations for this result pattern are discussed.
Role of therapeutic plasma exchange in snake bite associated thrombotic microangiopathy—A case report with review of literature
Authors: Mohan Ganesh , Guduri Pruthvi Raj , Shastry Shamee
Published: February 2019

Post snake bite renal failure due to thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) is often overlooked and not considered as a separate entity while managing the patient. This case report highlights the efficacy of Therapeutic Plasma Exchange in managing the post envenomation TMA. Anti‐snake venom was administered following severe hematotoxic envenomation, but later on developed acute kidney injury and hence hemodialysis was done for 2 days without much improvement. On third day of bite, diagnosis of TMA was made from microangiopathic hemolytic picture in peripheral blood smear, thrombocytopenia and renal failure. Therapeutic plasma exchange with human albumin solution was started on a daily basis and after 3 cycles, patient's condition improved as shown by the laboratory parameters. Though this entity is not well defined, the supporting evidence is found in few reports of published literature. Hence, we propose plasma exchange as an adjunctive therapeutic option in post snake TMA.
LncRNA SNHG16 aggravates tumorigenesis and development of hepatocellular carcinoma by sponging miR‐4500 and targeting STAT3
Authors: Lin Qing , Zheng Hongying , Xu Jianjun , Zhang Feng , Pan Huazheng
Published: February 2019

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver tumor and becomes a lethal malignancy on account of high mortality and increasing incidence. A growing body of studies has proved that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) participate in the development of diverse cancers. Although it has been commonly accepted that SNHG16 is a procancer gene in numerous cancers, the regulatory mechanism of SNHG16 in HCC still needs more explorations. In this study, our results delineated that SNHG16 presented much higher expression levels in HCC tissues and cells, particularly in advanced stages of HCC. Enhanced SNHG16 expression was strongly related to poor prognosis. SNHG16 facilitated HCC progression by promoting cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial‐mesenchymal transition process as well as inhibiting cell apoptosis. SNHG16 served as a sponge for miR‐4500 in HCC and miR‐4500 neutralized the influences of SNHG16 knockdown on HCC. SNHG16 was confirmed to compete with signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) to bind with miR‐4500. SNHG16 aggravated the development of HCC via sponging miR‐4500 so as to upregulate STAT3. In other words, this study was the first to investigate the potential mechanism of SNHG16 in HCC and verified SNHG16 exerted its carcinogenesis by miR‐4500/STAT3 axis, suggesting SNHG16 may be a new underlying therapeutic target for HCC treatment.
Inflammatory cytokines in bladder cancer
Authors: Shadpour Pejman , Zamani Mojtaba , Aghaalikhani Nazi , Rashtchizadeh Nadereh
Published: February 2019

The presence of inflammatory cells and their products in the tumor microenvironment plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of a tumor. Releasing the cytokines from a host in response to infection and inflammation can inhibit tumor growth and progression. However, tumor cells can also respond to the host cytokines with increasing the growth/invasion/metastasis. Bladder cancer (BC) is one of the most common cancers in the world. The microenvironment of a bladder tumor has been indicated to be rich in growth factors/inflammatory cytokines that can induce the tumor growth/progression and also suppress the immune system. On the contrary, modulate of the cancer progression has been shown following upregulation of the cytokines‐related pathways that suggested the cytokines as potential therapeutic targets. In this study, we provide a summary of cytokines that are involved in BC formation/regression with both inflammatory and anti‐inflammatory properties. A more accurate understanding of tumor microenvironment creates favorable conditions for cytokines targeting to treat BC.
Dual‐probe polarization spectroscopy as a concept for combustion diagnostics
Authors: Kiefer Johannes
Published: February 2019

Studying the line‐broadening effects of combustion intermediates in flames is the key to derive quantitative information via spectroscopic techniques. In this communication, an extension to polarization spectroscopy via employing two probe beams, one of which is copropagating whereas the other one is counterpropagating to the pump beam, is proposed. This gives rise to dual‐probe polarization spectroscopy, which enables recording a Doppler‐broadened and a Doppler‐free signal simultaneously.
Nanoscale Film Morphology and n‐Type Digital Memory Characteristics of π‐Conjugated Donor–Acceptor Alternating Copolymer Based on Thiophene and Thiadiazole Units
Authors: Lee Hoyeol , Kim Yongjin , Fukuta Seijiro , Kim Hwajeong , Kim Youngkyoo , Higashihara Tomoya , Ree Moonhor
Published: February 2019

Various molecular weight π‐conjugated donor–acceptor polymers based on thiadiazole and thiophene units are investigated with respect to nanoscale film morphology and digital memory performance. Interestingly, all polymers reveal excellent n‐type digital permanent memory characteristics, which are governed by the combination of Ohmic and trap‐limited space charge limited conductions via a hopping process using thiadiazole and thiophene units as charge traps and stepping stones. The digital memory performance is significantly influenced by the film morphology details that vary with the polymer molecular weight as well as the film thickness. A higher population of face‐on structure formation, as well as higher molecular weight, provides a wider film thickness window of digital memory operation. Overall, π‐conjugated PBTDzTV polymers are suitable for the production of high‐performance, programmable n‐type permanent memory devices with very low power consumption.
Optimal control and sensitivity analysis of SIV→HIV dynamics with effects of infected immigrants in sub‐Saharan Africa
Authors: Sule Amiru , Abdullah Farah Aini
Published: February 2019

Regional migration has become an underlying factor in the spread of HIV transmission. In addition, immigrants with HIV status has contributed with high‐risk of sexually transmitted infection to its “destination” communities and promotes dissemination of HIV. Efforts to address HIV/AIDS among conflict‐affected populations should be properly addressed to eliminate potential role of the spread of the disease and risk of exposure to HIV. Motivated from this situation, HIV‐infected immigrants factor to HIV/SIV transmission link will be investigated in this research and examine its potential effect using optimal control method. Nonlinear deterministic mathematical model is used which is a multiple host model comprising of humans and chimpanzees. Some basic properties of the model such as invariant region and positivity of the solutions will be examined. The local stability of the disease‐free equilibrium was examined by computing the basic reproduction number, and it was found to be locally asymptotically stable when ℜ0<1 and unstable otherwise. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to determine the parameters that help most in the spread of the virus. Pontryagin's maximum principle is used to obtain the optimality conditions for controlling the disease spread. Numerical simulation was conducted to obtain the analytical results. The results shows that combination of public health awareness, treatment, and culling help in controlling the HIV disease spread.
Identification of microRNAs for regulating adenosine monophosphate‐activated protein kinase expression in immature boar Sertoli cells in vitro
Authors: Zhang Jiao Jiao , Yang Wei Rong , Wang Yi , Chen Liang , Jeong Dong Kee , Wang Xian Zhong
Published: February 2019

Adenosine monophosphate‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) plays a key role in cellular energy homeostasis and cell proliferation. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) function as posttranscriptional regulators of gene expression in biological processes. It is unclear to whether miRNAs are involved in AMPK‐regulated Sertoli cell (SC) proliferation. To further understand the regulation of miRNAs in the immature boar SC proliferation, 5‐aminoimidazole‐4‐carboxamide‐1‐β‐D‐ribofuranoside (AICAR) was added to activate AMPK. By an Illumina small RNA deep sequencing, we obtained sequences and relative expression levels of 272 known mature miRNAs, among which 9 miRNAs were significantly upregulated whereas 16 miRNAs were downregulated following the AICAR treatment. The results identified 38 conserved miRNAs, with 8 significantly downregulated miRNAs whereas no upregulated miRNAs. Gene Ontology enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses suggested that miR‐1285 was involved in many activities and pathways associated with cell proliferation via targeting on AMPKα2. We validated that AICAR significantly downregulated miR‐1285 level in SCs. Transfection of miR‐1285 mimic increased the SC viability and cell cycle progression but reduced AMPKα2 mRNA and protein levels, indicating that miR‐1285 is involved in the immature boar SC proliferation via downregulating AMPKα2 expression.
Expression and characterization of the cyp19a gene and its responses to estradiol/letrozole exposure in Chinese soft‐shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis)
Authors: Liang Hong W. , Meng Yan , Cao Li H. , Li Xiang , Zou Gui W.
Published: February 2019

Cytochrome P450 aromatase (CYP19) catalyzes the conversion of androgens to estrogens and is critical in sex differentiation. CYP19 exists as the ovarian type and brain type. Herein, we cloned the full‐length ovarian cyp19a gene from the Chinese soft‐shelled turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis (pscyp19a). We determined the distribution of pscyp19a in adult tissue and evaluated its expression during embryonic development, following treatment with 17β‐estradiol (E2) or letrozole (LE). The pscyp19a complementary DNA is 2,285 bp in length and comprises a 1,512 bp open reading frame that encodes a protein of 503 AA. The nucleotide sequence and amino acid of pscyp19a shared significant identity with other vertebrate sequences. Expression of pscyp19a was high in the ovary (p < 0.01), and exhibited modest expression in the female brain and intestine. Expression of pscyp19a displayed significant differences between sexes during early embryo development stages; expression increased gradually during embryonic development in females, but the opposite trend was observed in males. Female embryos treated with different concentrations of E2 and LE displayed altered pscyp19a expression compared with untreated individuals, and E2 clearly induced pscyp19a expression. These results indicate that pscyp19a gene plays important roles in early developmental stages in Chinese soft‐shelled turtle, and may assist future studies on sex differentiation and sex control in this and similar species.
Seismic stability analysis of a rock block using the block theory and Newmark method
Authors: Fu Xiaodong , Sheng Qian , Tang Hua , Chen Jian , Du Yuxiang , Zhang Zhenping , Mei Hongru
Published: February 2019

Seismic stability analysis of a rock block is an important issue in the field of rock mechanics and rock engineering. To solve this problem, the block theory and the Newmark method are combined, and a general method for seismic response of a rock block is introduced. First, the formation method of a three‐dimensional rock block, which includes establishing a topological relationship among the block‐polygon face‐edge‐vertex and dividing a complex block into convex subblocks, is presented, and the simplex integration method is employed to calculate the volume of a rock block and the areas of the polygonal faces. Second, the assumptions and algorithms of the general method for seismic response of a rock block are detailed. The dynamic analysis is carried out in time step. In each time step, the key technologies including analysis of the seismic force and motion mode, trial of the incremental displacement, check for the block entrance, and update of the motion parameters are performed in order. Last, two verification examples and three application examples including a wedge, a rock block of slope, and a combined rock block are used to analyze the correctness and practicality of the general method. The results show that, for a given ground motion record, the Newmark program can effectively simulate the dynamic response process of the motion mode, velocity, and safety factor of the rock block, and the permanent displacement under the earthquake action is obtained, which provides a quantitative parameter to evaluate the dynamic stability of a rock block.
International Continence Society consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of nocturia
Authors: Everaert Karel , Hervé Francois , Bosch Ruud , Dmochowski Roger , Drake Marcus , Hashim Hashim , Chapple Christopher , Van Kerrebroeck Philip , Mourad Sherif , Abrams Paul , Wein Alan
Published: February 2019

Introduction

Patients with nocturia have to face many hurdles before being diagnosed and treated properly. The aim of this paper is to: summarize the nocturia patient pathway, explore how nocturia is diagnosed and treated in the real world and use the Delphi method to develop a practical algorithm with a focus on what steps need to be taken before prescribing desmopressin.

Methods

Evidence comes from existing guidelines (Google, PubMed), International Consultation on Incontinence‐Research Society (ICI‐RS) 2017, prescribing information and a Delphi panel (3 rounds). The International Continence Society initiated this study, the authors represent the ICI‐RS, European Association of Urology, and Society of Urodynamics, Female Pelvic Medicine and Urogenital Reconstruction (SUFU).

Results

Diagnostic packages: consensus on, history taking for all causalities, intake diary (fluid, food) and bladder diary, not for its duration. Pelvic (women) or rectal (men) examination, prostate‐specific antigen, serum sodium check (SSC), renal function, endocrine screening: when judged necessary. Timing or empty stomach when SSC is not important. Therapeutic packages: the safe candidates for desmopressin can be phenotyped as no polydipsia, heart/kidney failure, severe leg edema or obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Lifestyle interventions may be useful. Initiating desmopressin: risk management consensus on three clinical pictures.

Follow‐up of desmopressin therapy: there was consensus on SSC day 3 to 7, and at 1 month. Stop therapy if SSC is <130 mmol/L regardless of symptoms. Stop if SSC is 130 to 135 mmol/L with symptoms of hyponatremia.

Conclusion

A summary of the nocturia patient pathway across different medical specialists is useful in the visualization and phenotyping of patients for diagnosis and therapy. By summarizing basic knowledge of desmopressin, we aim to ease its initiation and shorten the patient journey for nocturia.
Transcriptomic evidence for immaturity induced by antidepressant fluoxetine in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex
Authors: Hagihara Hideo , Ohira Koji , Miyakawa Tsuyoshi
Published: February 2019

Aims

The molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the antidepressant effects of fluoxetine in the brain are not fully understood. Emerging evidence has led to the hypothesis that chronic fluoxetine treatment induces dematuration of certain types of mature neurons in rodents. These studies have focused on the properties of typical molecular and/or electrophysiological markers for neuronal maturation. Nevertheless, it remains unknown whether dematuration‐related phenomena are present at the genome‐wide gene expression level.

Methods

Based on the aforementioned hypothesis, we directly compared transcriptome data between fluoxetine‐treated adult mice and those of naive infants in the hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) to assess similarities and/or differences. We further investigated whether fluoxetine treatment caused dematuration in these brain regions in a hypothesis‐free manner using a weighted gene co‐expression network analysis (WGCNA).

Results

Gene expression patterns in fluoxetine‐treated mice resembled those in infants in the mPFC and, to a large extent, in the hippocampus. The gene expression patterns of fluoxetine‐treated adult mice were more similar to those of approximately 2‐week‐old infants than those of older mice. WGCNA confirmed that fluoxetine treatment was associated with maturation abnormalities, particularly in the hippocampus, and highlighted respective co‐expression modules for maturity and immaturity marker genes in the hippocampus in response to fluoxetine treatment.

Conclusions

Our results strongly support the hypothesis that chronic fluoxetine treatment induces dematuration in the adult mouse brain from a transcriptomic standpoint. Detection of discrete transcriptomic regulatory networks related to fluoxetine treatment may help to further elucidate the mechanisms of antidepressant action.
Prenatal diagnosis of fragile X syndrome: Small meiotic recombination events at the FMR1 locus
Authors: Bacrot Séverine , Monnot Sophie , Haddad Georges , Barcia Giulia , Rachid Myriam , Boisson Marie , Pasquier Nathalie , Rondeau Sophie , Munnich Arnold , Steffann Julie , Bonnefont Jean‐Paul , Raynaud Martine
Published: February 2019

What's already known about this topic?

Fragile X syndrome is caused by an expansion of more than 200 CGG repeats in the FMR1 gene.

CGG repeat instability expresses almost constantly as an expansion.

Significant contraction events have occasionally been reported.

What does this study add?

This study presents an exceptional situation, where maternal transmission of an FMR1‐expanded allele ultimately results in the presence of a normal‐sized allele in the fetus.

We report here two prenatal cases of non‐crossover event at the FMR1 locus.

We offer an algorithm to be used in the context of fragile X syndrome prenatal diagnosis.
Proton Pump Inhibitors and Risk of Acute and Chronic Kidney Disease: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Hart Emily , Dunn Terry E. , Feuerstein Steven , Jacobs David M.
Published: February 2019

Background

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) have been linked to acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD); however, current evidence has only been evaluated in a small number of studies with short follow‐up periods. This study examined the association betweenPPIuse and risk of incidentAKIandCKDin a large population‐based health maintenance organization (HMO) cohort.

Methods

Patients aged 18 years or older, without evidence of preexisting renal disease, started onPPItherapy, and those continuously enrolled for at least 12 months between July 1993 and September 2008 were identified in anHMOdatabase. Incidences ofAKIandCKDwere defined using documentedInternational Classification of Disease, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification(ICD‐9‐CM) codes or a glomerular filtration rate less than 60 ml/min/1.73 m2after initiation ofPPItherapy. Patients withAKIwere followed for up to 90 days (cohort 1), and patients withCKDrequired at least 1 year of follow‐up (cohort 2). Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to adjust for differences in demographics (excluding race), comorbidities, and medication use between groups.

Results

In 93,335 patients in theAKIcohort, 16,593 of whom were exposed toPPIs, the incidence rate ofAKIwas higher in thePPIgroup than nonusers (36.4 vs 3.54 per 1000 person‐years, p<0.0001, respectively). In adjusted models,PPIexposure was associated with an increased risk ofAKI(adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 4.35, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.14–6.04, p<0.0001). In 84,600 patients in theCKDcohort, 14,514 of whom were exposed toPPIs, the incidence rate ofCKDwas higher in thePPIgroup than nonusers (34.3 vs 8.75 per 1000 person‐years, p<0.0001, respectively). In adjusted models,PPIs were associated with a higher risk ofCKDcompared with controls (aOR1.20, 95%CI1.12–1.28, p<0.0001). Associations betweenPPIuse andAKIandCKDpersisted in propensity score‐matched analyses.

Conclusion

The use of PPIs is associated with an increased risk of incidentAKIandCKD. This relationship could have a considerable public health impact; therefore, health care provider education and deprescribing initiatives will be necessary to raise awareness and reduce health care burden.
The impact of teacher–student relationships and classroom engagement on student growth percentiles of 7th and 8th grade students
Authors: Dennie David , Acharya Parul , Greer Deirdre , Bryant Camille
Published: February 2019

The study examined the extent that teacher–student relationships (TSR) influenced basic psychological needs, engagement, and student growth using the self‐systems process model as a framework using structural equation modeling. Based on prior research, it was hypothesized that context (TSR) influenced self (basic psychological needs), which influenced action (engagement), and consequently, influenced outcome (student score and grade point average‐GPA). The findings of the study supported prior research that a TSR positively influenced levels of engagement in the classroom and, consequently, student outcomes as measured by classroom grade point average (GPA) and standardized assessment results. Using an identical methodological setup that substituted student growth percentiles (SGP) for scale scores, it was determined that TSR, basic psychological need satisfaction, and level of engagement do not influence SGP. Implications and potential contributions are discussed.