bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ru@RuO2 Core‐Shell Nanorods: A Highly Active and Stable Bifunctional Catalyst for Oxygen Evolution and Hydrogen Evolution Reactions
Authors: Jiang Rongzhong , Tran Dat T. , Li Jiangtian , Chu Deryn
Published: April 2019

Ru@RuO2 core‐shell nanorods were successfully synthesized by heat‐treating Ru nanorods with air oxidation through an accurate control of the temperature and time. The structure, composition, dimension, and adsorption property of the core‐shell nanorods were well characterized with XRD and TEM. The catalytic activity and stability were electrochemically evaluated with a rotating disk electrode, a rotating ring‐disk electrode, and chronopotentiometric methods. The Ru@RuO2 nanorods reveal excellent bifunctional catalytic activity and robust stability for both oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The overpotentials for OER and HER are 320 mV and 137 mV at the current density of 10 mA cm−2, respectively. The catalytic activity of Ru@RuO2 nanorods for OER is 6.5 times higher than that of the state‐of‐the‐art catalyst IrO2 according to the catalytic current density measured at 1.60 V (versus RHE). The catalytic activity of Ru@RuO2 nanorods for HER is comparable to 40% Pt/C by comparing the catalytic current densities at −0.2 V.
Considering long‐memory when testing for changepoints in surface temperature: A classification approach based on the time‐varying spectrum
Authors: Beaulieu Claudie , Killick Rebecca , Ireland David , Norwood Ben
Published: April 2019

Changepoint models are increasingly used to represent changes in the rate of warming in surface temperature records. On the opposite hand, a large body of literature has suggested long‐memory processes to characterize long‐term behavior in surface temperatures. While these two model representations provide different insights into the underlying mechanisms, they share similar spectrum properties that create “ambiguity” and challenge distinguishing between the two classes of models. This study aims to compare the two representations to explain temporal changes and variability in surface temperatures. To address this question, we extend a recently developed time‐varying spectral procedure and assess its accuracy through a synthetic series mimicking observed global monthly surface temperatures. We vary the length of the synthetic series to determine the number of observations needed to be able to accurately distinguish between changepoints and long‐memory models. We apply the approach to two gridded surface temperature data sets. Our findings unveil regions in the oceans where long‐memory is prevalent. These results imply that the presence of long‐memory in monthly sea surface temperatures may impact the significance of trends, and special attention should be given to the choice of model representing memory (short versus long) when assessing long‐term changes.
Formation of magnesite and hydromagnesite from direct aqueous carbonation of thermally activated lizardite
Authors: Abu Fara Ammar , Rayson Mark R. , Brent Geoff F. , Oliver Timothy K. , Stockenhuber Michael , Kennedy Eric M.
Published: April 2019

This work examines factors, which can influence the formation of magnesium (Mg) carbonate phases produced during direct aqueous carbonation of heat‐activated lizardite, hydromagnesite, and the targeted magnesite phase. Carbon dioxide mass transfer and mixing during the course of the reaction was examined by varying impeller positioning and stirring speed of the dual impeller reactor. From a practical perspective, this provides some insight into the importance of reactor design, to achieve the highest possible magnesite yield. At the lowest stirring speed studied (100 rpm), two Mg‐carbonate phases were observed in all samples. By simply increasing the stirring speed, hydromagnesite was observed only during the initial stages of reaction and magnesite formation dominated thereafter. Higher yields of carbonate were obtained for the intermediate and maximum stirring speeds (450 and 600 rpm), respectively. Positioning of the uppermost impeller near to the liquid surface was also found to favor the formation of magnesite. Thermodynamic simulations (using OLIAnalyzer 9.2) were in a good agreement with the experimental results.
Investigation of methane/drilling mud phase behavior and its influence to hydrocarbon drilling activity
Authors: Feng Jian , Fu Jianhong , Chen Ping , Xu Liqun
Published: April 2019

Knowledge of methane dissolution behavior in drilling mud is of major importance to early kick detection and well control operation in oil and gas drilling industry. In this work, methane solubility experiments in water‐based and oil‐based muds were conducted over wide ranges of temperature and pressure conditions. The influences of mud compositions and methane phases were investigated accordingly. It is found that methane solubility in water‐based mud is minimal and can be ignored. The data in oil‐based mud were analyzed using different equation of state and mixing rules. Our results show that the combination of our novel binary interaction parameter equations, Peng‐Robinson equation, and van der Waals2 mixing rule provides a very good representation of our data as well as those available in the literature. With the proposed model, the annulus methane solubility profile of a deepwater well in South China Sea was predicted, which provides a better understanding of the annulus flow behavior and further improve the safety of drilling operation.
Quantifying the extent of morphological homoplasy: A phylogenetic analysis of 490 characters inDrosophila
Authors: Al Sayad Sinan , Yassin Amir
Published: April 2019

Homoplasy is a fundamental phenomenon in evolutionary biology but an appraisal of its extent at the morphological level is still lacking. Here, we analyzed the evolution of 490 morphological characters conceptualized among 56 drosophilid species. We found that two thirds of morphological changes were homoplastic and that the level of homoplasy depended on the stage of development and the type of the organ, with the adult terminalia being the least homoplastic. In spite of its predominance at the character change level, homoplasy accounts for only ∼13% of between species similarities in pairwise comparisons. These results provide empirical insights on the limits of morphological changes and the frequency of recurrent evolution.
Microbiological characteristics of smoked and smoked–dried fish processed in Benin
Authors: Anihouvi Dona Gildas Hippolyte , Kpoclou Yénoukounmè Euloge , Abdel Massih Marleen , Iko Afé Ogouyôm Herbert , Assogba Mahunan François , Covo Melvina , Scippo Marie‐Louise , Hounhouigan Djidjoho Joseph , Anihouvi Victor , Mahillon Jacques
Published: April 2019

This study aimed to assess the microbiological status of smoked fish (SF) and smoked–dried fish (SDF) processed in Benin, and to identify the contamination factors associated with these products. A total of 66 fish samples, including fresh fish and processed fish, were randomly collected from different processing sites and markets for microbial characterization using standard methods. The aerobic mesophilic bacteria (AMB) density varied from 2.9 to 9.5 Log10 CFU/g. Enterobacteriaceae, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Clostridium perfringens, yeasts, and molds were present in 63.9%, 27.8%, 55.6%, 58.3%, 61.1%, and 77.8% of samples, respectively, while no Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus were found. The majority (66.7%) of SF samples and 22.2% of SDF samples were not compliant with the acceptable limit of <7.0 Log10 CFU/g recommended by the Health Protection Agency for AMB, whereas the Enterobacteriaceae counts exceeded the recommended level of 4.0 Log10 CFU/g for 50% of SF and 5.6% of SDF samples. Likewise, 38.9% of SF samples were not compliant for E. coli. Microbiological hazard analysis of practices allowed to identify the sensitive steps where hygiene measures need to be emphasized for an improved quality control.
Effects of synbiotics containing Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis GCL2505 and inulin on intestinal bifidobacteria: A randomized, placebo‐controlled, crossover study
Authors: Anzawa Daisuke , Mawatari Takashi , Tanaka Yoshiyuki , Yamamoto Mio , Genda Tomomi , Takahashi Shota , Nishijima Tomohiko , Kamasaka Hiroshi , Suzuki Satoru , Kuriki Takashi
Published: April 2019

A number of studies have shown the bifidogenic effects of either probiotic bifidobacteria or inulin, and this bifidogenic shift in the composition of the colonic microbiota is likely the basis for their positive impact on human health. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of synbiotics containing the probiotic bacterium Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis (B. lactis) GCL2505 and inulin on the levels of intestinal bifidobacteria compared with B. lactis GCL2505 alone. A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, crossover trial was carried out involving 60 healthy subjects with a tendency for constipation using fermented milk containing B. lactis GCL2505 and inulin (synbiotic), only B. lactis GCL2505 (probiotic), and placebo. Fecal samples were collected at the end of each 2‐week intervention period, and the bifidobacterial count was analyzed by quantitative real‐time PCR. The numbers of total bifidobacteria and B. lactis in feces were significantly increased during the probiotic and synbiotic intake periods compared with the placebo intake period. Furthermore, the numbers of total bifidobacteria and endogenous bifidobacteria were significantly higher in the synbiotic intake period compared with the probiotic intake period, while there was no difference in the number of B. lactis. These results suggested that the synbiotics containing B. lactis GCL2505 and inulin had a greater effect on the number of bifidobacteria than a drink containing probiotics alone and could be useful for the improvement of the intestinal environment.
Assessment and design of an engineering structure with polymorphic uncertainty quantification
Authors: Papaioannou Iason , Daub Marco , Drieschner Martin , Duddeck Fabian , Ehre Max , Eichner Lukas , Eigel Martin , Götz Marco , Graf Wolfgang , Grasedyck Lars , Gruhlke Robert , Hömberg Dietmar , Kaliske Michael , Moser Dieter , Petryna Yuri , Straub Daniel
Published: April 2019

Engineers are faced with the challenge of supporting decision making under uncertainty. Engineering decisions often depend on model‐based predictions of the performance of the engineering system of interest. Input uncertainties of models can be categorized into two distinct types: aleatory (random/irreducible) or epistemic (reducible). Polymorphic uncertainty quantification (UQ) can be used to treat aleatory and epistemic uncertainties in a unified framework. The polymorphic UQ framework employs probability theory to model aleatory variables and alternative approaches (interval, fuzzy, Bayesian probabilistic, and combinations thereof) to model epistemic variables. This paper compares different polymorphic UQ approaches with respect to their ability to support a simple engineering decision. The comparison is based on a test‐bed example, whereby aleatory variables are defined in terms of probability distributions and epistemic variables are described based on limited information (sparse data or intervals). Two challenges related to common engineering decisions (safety assessment and reliability‐based design) serve as a basis for the comparison. Five independent research groups applied different models to describe the epistemic parameters based on a subjective interpretation of the given information. The comparison of the results reveals a strong influence of both the subjective choices on the models of the epistemic variables and the chosen basis for assessing the performance of the structure on the obtained decision outcomes.
PRRX‐NCOA1/2 rearrangement characterizes a distinctive fibroblastic neoplasm
Authors: Lacambra Maribel D. , Weinreb Ilan , Demicco Elizabeth G. , Chow Chit , Sung Yun‐Shao , Swanson David , To Ka‐Fai , Wong Kwok‐Chuen , Antonescu Cristina R. , Dickson Brendan C.
Published: April 2019

Fibroblastic/myofibroblastic neoplasms represent a broad, and occasionally diagnostically challenging, category of soft tissue neoplasms. A subset of these tumors defy conventional classification. However, with the advent of next‐generation sequencing, the identification of disease‐defining molecular alterations is gradually improving their subclassification. Following identification of two index cases of a distinctive fibroblastic neoplasm with a fusion gene involving PRRX1 and NCOA1, we performed a retrospective review to further characterize this entity. We identified two additional cases, including one with a fusion between PRRX1 and NCOA2. The average patient age was 38 years, and three patients were female. Two tumors occurred on the neck, and the others involved the groin and thigh. Tumors were centered in the subcutis and ranged from 2.3 to 14.0 cm (average 5.8 cm). Morphologically, they were predominantly hypocellular, with focal hypercellularity. They were composed of monomorphic spindle‐stellate cells with a vague fascicular pattern. The nuclei were bland with only rare mitotic activity, and occasional multinucleation. The intervening stroma was typically abundant and ranged from myxoid to collagenous, with frequent rope‐like collagen bundles. Three of the cases had a prominent vasculature ranging from numerous small curvilinear vessels to ectatic and branching staghorn‐like vessels. Immunohistochemistry was negative for desmin, smooth muscle actin, S100, CD34, keratin, and epithelial membrane antigen. Each of the patients was treated by simple excision and none of the tumors were associated with local recurrence or metastasis. Based on their unique morphological and molecular attributes, we believe this represents a novel fibroblastic tumor for which we have tentatively proposed the name “PRRX‐NCOAx‐rearranged fibroblastic tumor.”
Platelets and Platelet‐Derived Extracellular Vesicles in Liver Physiology and Disease
Authors: Balaphas Alexandre , Meyer Jeremy , Sadoul Karin , Fontana Pierre , Morel Philippe , Gonelle‐Gispert Carmen , Bühler Leo H.
Published: April 2019

Beyond their role in hemostasis, platelets are proposed as key mediators of several physiological and pathophysiological processes of the liver, such as liver regeneration, toxic or viral acute liver injury, liver fibrosis, and carcinogenesis. The effects of platelets on the liver involve interactions with sinusoidal endothelial cells and the release of platelet‐contained molecules following platelet activation. Platelets are the major source of circulating extracellular vesicles, which are suggested to play key roles in platelet interactions with endothelial cells in several clinical disorders. In the present review, we discuss the implications of platelet‐derived extracellular vesicles in physiological and pathophysiological processes of the liver.
Noninvasive diagnosis of urothelial cancer in urine using DNA hypermethylation signatures—Gender matters
Authors: Köhler Christina U. , Bonberg Nadine , Ahrens Maike , Behrens Thomas , Hovanec Jan , Eisenacher Martin , Noldus Joachim , Deix Thomas , Braun Katharina , Gohlke Henning , Walter Michael , Tannapfel Andrea , Tam Yu , Sommerer Florian , Marcus Katrin , Jöckel Karl‐Heinz , Erbel Raimund , Cantor Charles R. , Käfferlein Heiko U. , Brüning Thomas
Published: April 2019

Urothelial cancer (UCa) is the most predominant cancer of the urinary tract and noninvasive diagnosis using hypermethylation signatures in urinary cells is promising. Here, we assess gender differences in a newly identified set of methylation biomarkers. UCa‐associated hypermethylated sites were identified in urine of a male screening cohort (n = 24) applying Infinium‐450K‐methylation arrays and verified in two separate mixed‐gender study groups (n = 617 in total) using mass spectrometry as an independent technique. Additionally, tissue samples (n = 56) of mixed‐gender UCa and urological controls (UCt) were analyzed. The hypermethylation signature of UCa in urine was specific and sensitive across all stages and grades of UCa and independent on hematuria. Individual CpG sensitivities reached up to 81.3% at 95% specificity. Albeit similar methylation differences in tissue of both genders, differences were less pronounced in urine from women, most likely due to the frequent presence of squamous epithelial cells and leukocytes. Increased repression of methylation levels was observed at leukocyte counts ≥500/μl urine which was apparent in 30% of female and 7% of male UCa cases, further confirming the significance of the relative amounts of cancerous and noncancerous cells in urine. Our study shows that gender difference is a most relevant issue when evaluating the performance of urinary biomarkers in cancer diagnostics. In case of UCa, the clinical benefits of methylation signatures to male patients may outweigh those in females due to the general composition of women's urine. Accordingly, these markers offer a diagnostic option specifically in males to decrease the number of invasive cystoscopies.
In silico prediction of drug‐induced rhabdomyolysis with machine‐learning models and structural alerts
Authors: Cui Xueyan , Liu Juan , Zhang Jinfeng , Wu Qiuyun , Li Xiao
Published: April 2019

Drug‐induced rhabdomyolysis (DIR) is a serious adverse reaction and can be fatal. In the present study, we focused on the modeling and understanding of the molecular basis of DIR of small molecule drugs. A series of machine‐learning models were developed using an Online Chemical Modeling Environment platform with a diverse dataset. A total of 80 machine‐learning models were generated. Based on the top‐performing individual models, a consensus model was also developed. The consensus model was available at https://ochem.eu/model/32214665, and the individual models can be accessed with the corresponding model IDs on the website. Furthermore, we also analyzed the difference of distributions of eight key physicochemical properties between rhabdomyolysis‐inducing drugs and non‐rhabdomyolysis‐inducing drugs. Finally, structural alerts responsible for DIR were identified from fragments of the Klekota‐Roth fingerprints.
Efficacy and safety of long pulse 1064 and 2940 nm lasers in noninvasive lipolysis and skin tightening
Authors: Vas Krisztina , Besenyi Zsuzsanna , Urbán Szabolcs , Badawi Ashraf , Pávics László , Erős Gábor , Kemény Lajos
Published: April 2019

Noninvasive body shaping is becoming a growing demand. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of the combined treatments of 1064 nm Nd:YAG and 2940 nm Er:YAG in noninvasive lipolysis and skin tightening. Ten females were enrolled, and all women's side of the waist or the lower part of the abdomen were treated. In the first step, the 1064 nm Nd:YAG was used. As a second step, the 2940 nm Er:YAG laser was applied. Each woman was treated four times, once every 2 weeks. The effects were determined by comparative photo documentation, waist circumference measurement, two‐dimensional B‐mode ultrasonography and low‐dose native computer tomography (CT), whereas body fat was monitored with bioelectric impedance. The tissue firmness was measured by ultrasound shear wave elastography. Combined laser treatment significantly reduced waist circumference and total body fat. Ultrasonography has revealed that the treatment considerably decreased fat thickness and improved skin stiffness in the treated region. Subcutaneous fat volume, measured by low‐dose CT, displayed a moderate decrease in the waist region. The combined 1064 nm Nd:YAG and 2940 nm Er:YAG laser treatment results in the reduction of fat tissue and tightens the skin as confirmed by objective measurements.
In vitroandin vivoassessment of CaP materials for bone regenerative therapy. The role of multinucleated giant cells/osteoclasts in bone regeneration
Authors: Bighetti Ana Carolina Cestari , Cestari Tania Mary , Santos Paula Sanches , Arantes Ricardo Vinicius Nunes , Paini Suelen , Assis Gerson Francisco , Costa Bruna Carolina , de Oliveira Flávia Amadeu , Tokuhara Cintia Kazuko , de Oliveira Rodrigo Cardoso , Taga Rumio
Published: April 2019

In this work, bone formation/remodeling/maturation was correlated with the presence of multinucleated giant cells (MGCs)/osteoclasts (tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase [TRAP]‐positive cells) on the surface of beta‐tricalcium phosphate (β‐TCP), sintered deproteinized bovine bone (sDBB), and carbonated deproteinized bovine bone (cDBB) using a maxillary sinus augmentation (MSA) in aNew Zealandrabbit model. Microtomographic, histomorphometric, and immunolabeling for TRAP‐cells analyses were made at 15, 30, and 60 days after surgery. In all treatments, a faster bone formation/remodeling/maturation and TRAP‐positive cells activity occurred in the osteotomy region of the MSA than in the middle and submucosa regions. In the β‐TCP, the granules were rapidly reabsorbed by TRAP‐positive cells and replaced by bone tissue. β‐TCP enabled quick bone regeneration/remodeling and full bone and marrow restoration until 60 days, but with a significant reduction in MSA volume. In cDBB and sDBB, the quantity of TRAP‐positive cells was smaller than in β‐TCP, and these cells were associated with granule surface preparation for osteoblast‐mediated bone formation. After 30 days, more than 80% of granule surfaces were surrounded and integrated by bone tissue without signs of degradation, preserving the MSA volume. Overall, the materials tested in a standardized preclinical model led to different bone formation/remodeling/maturation within the same repair process influenced by different microenvironments and MGCs/osteoclasts. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 108B:282–297, 2020.
Magnetic resonance imaging: Proton density fat fraction for assessment of pancreatic fatty infiltration during progression of T2DM bama minipigs
Authors: Chen Yidi , Jiang Zijian , Long Liling , Miu Yongjian , Zhang Ling , Zhong Delin , Tang Qin
Published: April 2019

Background

Recent studies have highlighted the correlation between diabetes and pancreatic fat infiltration. However, pancreatic fat content (PFC) is rarely confirmed by pathological results, and a change of PFC during progression of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is currently controversial.

Purpose

To evaluate the relationship of MRI‐pancreatic proton density fat fraction to serologic changes and histology in an experimental model of diabetes.

Study Type

Prospective animal study.

Animal Model

Thirteen Bama pigs were randomly assigned to diabetes (n= 7) or control (n= 6) groups. Pigs in the diabetic group received high‐fat/high‐sugar feed, combined with three doses of streptozotocin injections.

Field Strength/Sequence

3.0T, IDEAL‐IQ sequence.

Assessment

Starting in the fifth month, biochemical changes were evaluated; all pigs underwent axial MRI with the IDEAL‐IQ sequence to measured pancreatic fat fraction (PFF). PFC was measured by the Soxhlet extraction method. Pancreatic fat distribution and pancreas islet morphology were observed by histopathology.

Statistical Tests

A Mann–WhitneyU‐test, independent‐samplest‐test, Pearson correlation, Spearman correlation, single‐measure intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were performed.

Results

During the development of T2DM, the PFF, weight, fasting blood glucose (FBG), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TCHO), low‐density lipoprotein (LDL), and HOMA‐IR (insulin resistance) of the experimental group showed an upward trend; fasting insulin (INS), high‐density lipoprotein (HDL), and HOMA‐β showed decreasing trends. At the end of the fifteenth month, FBG (mmol/L) was 18.06 ± 6.03 and 5.06 ± 1.41 (P< 0.001), PFF (%) was 36.52 ± 4.07 and 27.75 ± 3.73 (P= 0.002), INS (mU/L) was 21.59 ± 2.93 and 29.32 ± 3.27 (P= 0.001), HOMA‐IR was 16.83 ± 4.22 and 6.70 ± 2.45 (P< 0.001), HOMA‐β was 1.50 ± 0.24 and 2.77 ± 0.45 (P< 0.001), between the experimental and control groups. There were strong and moderate positive correlations between PFF and PFC (r= 0.968,P< 0.001), and FBG (r= 0.657,P= 0.015), and HOMA‐IR (r= 0.608,P= 0.028).

Data Conclusion

MRI‐proton density fat fraction can measure the fat content of the pancreas with great accuracy and repeatability; PFF is a potential biomarker that can reflect the different stages of diabetes development.

Level of Evidence:2

Technical Efficacy:Stage 2

J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019;50:1905–1913.
Clinical educators’ attitudes towards the use of technology in the clinical teaching environment. A mixed methods study
Authors: McInerney John , Druva Ruth
Published: April 2019

Introduction

In healthcare, there is ongoing flux in expectations for students and practitioners. Establishing integrated systems of monitoring and evidencing students’ development is imperative. With current trends towards the use of technology in tertiary education, online learning environments (OLEs) could constitute more effective evidencing of student progress in the clinical environment. However, there is little research exploring clinical educators' experiences with implementing technology in clinical education.

The research aimed to:

Examine clinical educators’ attitudes towards technology and its use in clinical education.

Explore clinical educators’ experiences of implementing technologies in a clinical environment.

Methods

A mixed methods approach was taken to explore the aims. A previously validated technology attitude survey (TAS) was used with slight modifications, as well as open‐ended qualitative responses. These explored clinical educators’ experiences of the implementation of one specific OLE (PebblePad™) in their clinical environments. The survey was sent to clinical educators involved in the supervision of Medical Imaging students on clinical placement.

Results

Clinical educators play pivotal roles in students’ professional development and, given current trends in tertiary education, are under increasing pressure to utilise OLEs. This poses particular challenges in clinical environments. Irrespective of the challenges, successful implementation of technology in any environment is dependent on the attitudes of the users.

Conclusions

Clinical environments have specific challenges when implementing technology such as access to computers and time constraints on practitioners. Even with positive attitudes towards technology, a change in pedagogical outlook when using technology in clinical teaching is necessary.
A comparative study of the electrospray ionization response of β‐O‐4′ lignin model compounds
Authors: Asare Shardrack O. , Lynn Bert C.
Published: April 2019

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry has recently become the technique of choice for rapid characterization of lignin degradation products. However, the fundamental question of the relationship between lignin structure and ionization efficiency has not been explored. In this work, we studied the electrospray ionization response of five structurally similar β‐O‐4′ model lignin compounds using lithium cationization in the positive electrospray ionization mode. The studied compounds have the same β‐O‐4′ backbone structure but differ at the α‐position by increasing nonpolar side chains. Our results show a correlation between the ionization response and the length of the nonpolar side chain, with analytes having the longest side chain recording the highest ESI response in the full scan mode. Factors affecting the formation of analyte ions and analyte cluster ions were also studied. We have shown for the first time in this work that the introduction of a nonpolar group onto a β‐O‐4′ lignin compound can increase the lithium cationization ESI response in the positive ion mode.
Leptomeningeal anastomosis and early ischemic lesions on diffusion‐weighted imaging in male murine focal cerebral ischemia
Authors: Saito Moeko , Ishizuka Kentaro , Hoshino Takao , Toi Sono , Kitagawa Kazuo
Published: April 2019

Leptomeningeal anastomosis is a key factor for determining early ischemic lesions on diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) in human stroke. However, few studies have validated this relationship in an experimental model. This study sought to clarify the involvement of leptomeningeal anastomosis in early ischemic lesions using a murine model. Adult male C57BL/6 mice were subjected to unilateral common carotid artery (CCA) occlusion or sham surgery. Seven or 14 days later, the middle cerebral artery (MCA) was occluded for 45 min. In the first experiment, the leptomeningeal collaterals were visualized using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) DWI. In the second experiment, DWI was performed immediately after MCA occlusion, and the infarct sizes were determined 24 hr after recirculation. Unilateral CCA occlusion reduced the size of early ischemic lesions, enlarged the pial vessel diameter, and mitigated infarct size. The relationship between the DWI lesion size and pial vessel diameter was significant (r = 0.84, p < 0.01). The association between infarct size and DWI lesion size was also significant (r = 0.96, p < 0.01). In conclusion, involvement of the collateral circulation in early ischemic lesions was evident in the murine model. Both MRI and evaluation of leptomeningeal anastomosis could be used to develop a novel strategy targeting enhancement of the collateral circulation.
Rivals or allies: How performance‐prove goal orientation influences knowledge hiding
Authors: Zhu Yue , Chen Tingting , Wang Mo , Jin Yanghua , Wang Yongyue
Published: April 2019

Previous research suggests that performance‐prove goal orientation is positively related to knowledge hiding. However, we argue that this effect depends on the focus of performance feedback (i.e., individual‐ and group‐focused feedback), which shapes the nature of the competitive expression of performance‐prove goal orientation (i.e., intragroup and intergroup oriented). We conducted three studies to test our theoretical model. The results of Study 1 with time‐lagged data from 128 part‐time MBA students showed that performance‐prove goal orientation was positively related to knowledge hiding when performance feedback focused more (vs. less) on individual performance but was negatively related to knowledge hiding when performance feedback focused more (vs. less) on group performance. Study 2 replicated these moderation findings in an experimental study of 210 undergraduate students. Study 3 again replicated the moderation effects using multisource data from 317 employees and their supervisors. It also included creativity as an outcome of knowledge hiding and illustrated the distal consequence of the moderation effects of individual‐ and group‐focused performance feedback. We then discussed the implications for the theory and practice of performance‐prove goal orientation and knowledge hiding.
Evidence‐Based Strategies and Recommendations for Preservation of Central Venous Access in Children
Authors: Baskin Kevin M. , Mermel Leonard A. , Saad Theodore F. , Journeycake Janna M. , Schaefer Carrie M. , Modi Biren P. , Vrazas John I. , Gore Beth , Drews Barbie B. , Doellman Darcy , Kocoshis Samuel A. , Abu‐Elmagd Kareem M. , Towbin Richard B. ,   Venous Access: National Guideline and Registry Development (VANGUARD) Initiative Affected Persons Advisory Panel
Published: April 2019

Children with chronic illness often require prolonged or repeated venous access. They remain at high risk for venous catheter–related complications (high‐risk patients), which largely derive from elective decisions during catheter insertion and continuing care. These complications result in progressive loss of the venous capital (patent and compliant venous pathways) necessary for delivery of life‐preserving therapies. A nonstandardized, episodic, isolated approach to venous care in these high‐need, high‐cost patients is too often the norm, imposing a disproportionate burden on affected persons and escalating costs. This state‐of‐the‐art review identifies known failure points in the current systems of venous care, details the elements of an individualized plan of care, and emphasizes a patient‐centered, multidisciplinary, collaborative, and evidence‐based approach to care in these vulnerable populations. These guidelines are intended to enable every practitioner in every practice to deliver better care and better outcomes to these patients through awareness of critical issues, anticipatory attention to meaningful components of care, and appropriate consultation or referral when necessary.*
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Expectations of Parenthood and Children's Development
Authors: Wamser‐Nanney Rachel
Published: April 2019

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may increase the risk of adverse parenting‐related outcomes. Research has not determined if PTSD symptoms correspond with more negative expectations of parenthood and unrealistic beliefs regarding children's developmental milestones. Negative and unrealistic preparenthood and developmental expectations are tied to problematic parenting‐related outcomes; thus, these beliefs are important to examine within the context of PTSD. The aim of the current study was to examine whether PTSD is related to negative parenthood expectations as well as more unrealistic perceptions of children's development. Included in the study were 368 trauma‐exposed adults who had yet to become parents (Mage  = 25.92 years, SD  = 7.11; 68.2% female; 63.8% White). Structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed that probable PTSD was associated with more negative parenting expectations, βs = −.08–−.16. Alterations in cognitions and mood were associated with more negative perceptions of parenthood, βs = .10–−.31. However, higher levels of intrusion symptoms were related to more positive expectations of parenthood and more realistic development expectations, βs = .17–.25. The data were a satisfactory fit for the model. Thus, PTSD may be relevant in understanding perceptions of parenthood, which may be important to address and ultimately improve parenting outcomes among parents with PTSD.
Effect of early tracheostomy in mechanically ventilated patients
Authors: Dochi Hirotomo , Nojima Masanori , Matsumura Michiya , Cammack Ivor , Furuta Yasushi
Published: April 2019

Objective

To investigate the effect of the timing of tracheostomy in patients who required prolonged mechanical ventilation using two methods: analysis of early versus late tracheostomy and landmark analysis.

Study Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Methods

Patients who were emergently intubated and admitted into the intensive care unit or high dependency unit between January 2011 and August 2016, with or without tracheostomy, were included. In the early and late tracheostomy analysis, all patients were divided into early (≤10 days, n = 88) and late (>10 days, n = 132) groups. In the landmark analysis, 198 patients requiring ventilation for more than 10 days were divided into early tracheostomy (≤10 days, n = 57) and nonearly tracheostomy (>10 days, n = 141) groups. We compared 60‐day ventilation withdrawal rate and 60‐day mortality.

Results

Early tracheostomy was a significant factor for early ventilation withdrawal, as shown by log‐rank test results (early and late tracheostomy: P = .001, landmark: P = .021). Multivariable analysis showed that the early group was also associated with a higher chance of ventilation withdrawal in each analysis (early and late tracheostomy: adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 1.69, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.20–2.39, P = .003; landmark: aHR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.06–2.38, P = .027). Early tracheostomy, however, was not associated with improved 60‐day mortality (early and late tracheostomy: aHR = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.46–1.69, P = .71; landmark: aHR = 1.46; 95% CI = 0.58–3.66; P = .42).

Conclusion

For patients requiring ventilation, performing tracheostomy within 10 days of admission was independently associated with shortened duration of mechanical ventilation; 60‐day mortality was not associated with the timing of tracheostomy.

Level of Evidence

2b
Observations of radiatively driven convection in a deep lake
Authors: Austin Jay A.
Published: April 2019

Observations of radiatively driven convection in deep, ice‐free Lake Superior from a set of moorings and an autonomous glider are used to characterize the spatial and temporal scales of the phenomenon. The moored observations show that instability builds at the surface on scales of hours, water near the bottom of the lake begins warming roughly 6 h after sunup, and the water column homogenizes a few hours after sundown. Glider observations suggest the existence of distinct convective chimneys, which carry warmed water to depth with horizontal scales on the order of tens of meters. Patches of photoquenched phytoplankton coincide with patches of anomalously warm water, providing a secondary tracer of water recently in the euphotic zone, and provide insight into the vertical development of convective chimneys. An analysis of the abundance of convective chimneys is used to estimate the lateral scale of convective cells, which appears to be on the order of 50 m.
Bioactive peptides and proteins as alternative antiplatelet drugs
Authors: Rengasamy Kannan R.R. , Khan Haroon , Ahmad Imad , Lobine Devina , Mahomoodally Fawzi , Suroowan Shanoo , Hassan Sherif T.S. , Xu Suowen , Patel Seema , Daglia Maria , Nabavi Seyed Mohammad , Pandian Shunmugiah Karutha
Published: April 2019

Antiplatelet drugs reduce the risks associated with atherothrombotic events and show various applications in diverse cardiovascular diseases including myocardial infarctions. Efficacy of the current antiplatelet medicines including aspirin, clopidogrel, prasugrel and ticagrelor, and the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antagonists, are limited due to their increased risks of bleeding, and antiplatelet drug resistance. Hence, it is important to develop new effective antiplatelet drugs, with fewer side‐effects. The vast repertoire of natural peptides can be explored towards this goal. Proteins and peptides derived from snake venoms and plants represent exciting candidates for the development of novel and potent antiplatelet agents. Consequently, this review discusses multiple peptides that have displayed antiplatelet aggregation activity in preclinical drug development stages. This review also describes the antiplatelet mechanisms of the peptides, emphasizing the signaling pathways intervened by them. Also, the hurdles encountered during the development of peptides into antiplatelet drugs have been listed. Finally, hitherto unexplored peptides with the potential to prevent platelet aggregation are explored.
New Jersey parity law to improve patient care, hold insurers accountable
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: April 2019

Legislation to require insurance companies to treat mental health conditions and substance use disorders (SUDs) the same as they would physical conditions has been signed into law by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. The state parity law holds managed care organizations accountable and expands the definition of mental health conditions that must be covered, including eating disorders and post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Global campaign to amplify efforts to change MH conversation
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: April 2019

Increasing knowledge and awareness about a given topic serves the basis for many public health campaigns over any given period of time. However, launching a campaign over the course of one designated week to change the culture of mental health globally is at the heart of a new and bold initiative by Give an Hour, a national network of mental health professionals who provide free and confidential care to veterans, their families and other populations.
A modification of the factorization method for scatterers with different physical properties
Authors: Furuya Takashi
Published: April 2019

We study an inverse acoustic scattering problem by the factorization method when the unknown scatterer consists of two objects with different physical properties. Especially, we consider the following two cases: One is the case when each object has the different boundary condition, and the other one is when different penetrability. Our idea here is to modify the far‐field operator depending on the cases to avoid unnecessary a priori assumptions.
Free‐breathing cine imaging with motion‐corrected reconstruction at 3T using SPiral Acquisition with Respiratory correction and Cardiac Self‐gating (SPARCS)
Authors: Zhou Ruixi , Yang Yang , Mathew Roshin C. , Mugler John P. , Weller Daniel S. , Kramer Christopher M. , Ahmed Abdul Haseeb , Jacob Mathews , Salerno Michael
Published: April 2019

Purpose

To develop a continuous‐acquisition cardiac self‐gated spiral pulse sequence and a respiratory motion‐compensated reconstruction strategy for free‐breathing cine imaging.

Methods

Cine data were acquired continuously on a 3T scanner for 8 seconds per slice without ECG gating or breath‐holding, using a golden‐angle gradient echo spiral pulse sequence. Cardiac motion information was extracted by applying principal component analysis on the gridded 8 × 8 k‐space center data. Respiratory motion was corrected by rigid registration on each heartbeat. Images were reconstructed using a low‐rank and sparse (L+S) technique. This strategy was evaluated in 37 healthy subjects and 8 subjects undergoing clinical cardiac MR studies. Image quality was scored (1–5 scale) in a blinded fashion by 2 experienced cardiologists. In 13 subjects with whole‐heart coverage, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) from SPiral Acquisition with Respiratory correction and Cardiac Self‐gating (SPARCS) was compared to that from a standard ECG‐gated breath‐hold balanced steady‐state free precession (bSSFP) cine sequence.

Results

The self‐gated signal was successfully extracted in all cases and demonstrated close agreement with the acquired ECG signal (mean bias, –0.22 ms). The mean image score across all subjects was 4.0 for reconstruction using the L+S model. There was good agreement between the LVEF derived from SPARCS and the gold‐standard bSSFP technique.

Conclusion

SPARCS successfully images cardiac function without the need for ECG gating or breath‐holding. With an 8‐second data acquisition per slice, whole‐heart cine images with clinically acceptable spatial and temporal resolution and image quality can be acquired in <90 seconds of free‐breathing acquisition.
Mathematical formulation and heuristic algorithm for the block relocation and loading problem
Authors: Zhu Huiling , Ji Mingjun , Guo Wenwen , Wang Qingbin , Yang Yongzhi
Published: April 2019

This study considers the block relocation and loading problem in container terminals. The optimal loading sequence and relocation location are simultaneously decided on the basis of the desired ship‐bay and initial yard space configuration. An integer linear programming model is developed to minimize the number of relocations in the yard space on the basis of no shifts in the ship bay. The accuracy of the model is tested on small‐scale scenarios by using CPLEX. Considering the problem size in the real world, we present a rule‐based heuristic method that is combined with a mathematical model for the removal, loading, and relocation operations. The influence of rules on algorithm performance is also analyzed, and the heuristic algorithm is compared with different types of algorithms in the literature. The extensive numerical experiments show the efficiency of the proposed heuristic algorithm.
Isogeometric topology optimization for continuum structures using density distribution function
Authors: Gao Jie , Gao Liang , Luo Zhen , Li Peigen
Published: April 2019

This paper will propose a more effective and efficient topology optimization method based on isogeometric analysis, termed as isogeometric topology optimization (ITO), for continuum structures using an enhanced density distribution function (DDF). The construction of the DDF involves two steps. (1) Smoothness: the Shepard function is firstly utilized to improve the overall smoothness of nodal densities. Each nodal density is assigned to a control point of the geometry. (2) Continuity: the high‐order NURBS basis functions are linearly combined with the smoothed nodal densities to construct the DDF for the design domain. The nonnegativity, partition of unity, and restricted bounds [0, 1] of both the Shepard function and NURBS basis functions can guarantee the physical meaning of material densities in the design. A topology optimization formulation to minimize the structural mean compliance is developed based on the DDF and isogeometric analysis to solve structural responses. An integration of the geometry parameterization and numerical analysis can offer the unique benefits for the optimization. Several 2D and 3D numerical examples are performed to demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed ITO method, and the optimized 3D designs are prototyped using the Selective Laser Sintering technique.
Cellulose acetate nanocomposite ultrafiltration membranes tailored with hydrous manganese dioxide nanoparticles for water treatment applications
Authors: Vetrivel Selvaraj , Rana Dipak , Sri Abirami Saraswathi Meenakshi Sundaram , Divya Kumar , Kaleekkal Noel Jacob , Nagendran Alagumalai
Published: April 2019

Hydrous manganese dioxide (HMO) nanoparticles incorporated cellulose acetate (CA) composite ultrafiltration (UF) membranes are prepared with the aim of improving the water permeation and BSA contaminant removal. The HMO nanoparticles are synthesized from manganese ion and characterized by FT‐IR, XRD, and FESEM. The effect of variation of HMO on CA membranes is probed using FT‐IR, EDAX, contact angle, SEM, and AFM analysis to demonstrate their chemical functionality, hydrophilicity, and morphology. CA/HMO membranes are showing the enhancement in pure water flux (PWF), water uptake, porosity, hydrophilicity, fouling resistance, BSA rejection, and flux recovery ratio (FRR). CA‐1 membrane displayed higher PWF (143.6 Lm2h−1), BSA rejection (95.9%), irreversible fouling (93.3%), and FRR (93.3%). Overall results confirmed that the CA/HMO nanocomposite UF membranes overcome the bottlenecks and shows potential for water treatment applications.
Polyaniline‐coupled graphene/nickel hydroxide nanohybrids as flame retardant and smoke suppressant for epoxy composites
Authors: Guo Wenwen , Wang Xin , Pan Ying , Cai Wei , Xing Weiyi , Song Lei , Hu Yuan
Published: April 2019

Graphene‐polyaniline/nickel hydroxide ternary hybrid (RGO‐PANI/Ni(OH)2) was synthesized and incorporated into epoxy resin (EP) to improve the fire retardant property. Thermogravimetric analysis results showed that the RGO‐PANI/Ni(OH)2 nanohybrid could catalyze the thermal degradation of epoxy matrix that was essential to trigger the char formation. The char yield of the RGO‐PANI/Ni(OH)2/EP composite was improved compared with that of the samples with graphene and polyaniline only. With 3.0‐wt% RGO‐PANI/Ni(OH)2, significant reduction in peak heat release rate (40%) and peak smoke production rate (36%) was observed in the cone calorimeter tests. Thermogravimetric analysis/infrared spectrometry (TG‐IR) results indicated that the flammable volatiles of the RGO‐PANI/Ni(OH)2/EP composite was reduced compared with those of the EP and RGO‐PANI/EP. The superior flame retardant and smoke suppressant behaviors of the RGO‐PANI/Ni(OH)2 nanohybrid over RGO‐PANI were attributed to the combination of good barrier effect of graphene with catalytic ability of char formation of PANI and metal hydroxide.