bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mechanism of Ozone Oxidation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons During the Reduction of Coking Wastewater Sludge
Authors: Lin Chong , Liao Jianbo , Wu Haizhen , Wei Chaohai
Published: July 2016

Activated coking wastewater sludge is a significant problem, due to the content of adsorbed hydrophobic organic micro‐pollutants which are adsorbed. Here we discuss an O3 fluidized bed reactor (FBR) process able to stabilize and reduce the coking sludge, and also removing 16 target polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) adsorbed onto the sludge. The degradation efficiencies and influential factors affecting the sludge ozonation, such as the concentration of O3 and of H2O2, UV irradiation, and the initial pH were investigated. The results indicate that the target PAHs present in the activated coking sludge, especially those with high molecular weight can be effectively removed by O3 FBR. However, the concentration of O3 plays an important role in the degradation of the target PAHs because a low concentration can generate an increase in the concentrations of PAHs in the liquid phase of the activated coking sludge. Due to the synergistic effect (S > 0), increasing the concentration of H2O2 and increasing the pH value, can improve the removal of most of the target PAHs. The degradation kinetics of the target PAHs are assigned to a pseudo first‐order model. In this process, the solubilization rate of the activated coking sludge reached about 68.2% and the target PAHs adsorbed on it were removed by >95% at 500 mg O3 g−1 SS.
A New Way to Produce Cellobiose Carbonates Using Green Chemistry
Authors: Khiari R. , Brochier‐Salon M.‐C. , Mhenni M. F. , Mauret E. , Belgacem M. N.
Published: July 2016

The preparation of cellulose derivatives using green (i.e., environmentally friendly) reagents would improve sustainability and reduce concerns arising from the use of non‐green reagents. The objective of this work was to prepare cellobiose carbonate using a green reagent, dimethyl carbonate. The carbonation reaction was carried out in the presence of ethanolic potassium hydroxide solution and dimethyl carbonate for 6 h at a range of temperatures (25–70 °C). A cellobiose derivative was successfully prepared with a recovered yield of more than 70 % and characterized by FTIR and NMR spectroscopy techniques. The presence of a grafted disaccharide with a degree of substitution higher than 2 was determined by 13C NMR analysis. The spectra of the prepared cellobiose carbonate exhibited peaks that were associated with cellulose molecules (C1–C6) and corresponded to carbonate functions at around 159.4 ppm.
Conservation implications of a lack of relationship between baseline glucocorticoids and fitness in a wild passerine
Authors: Madliger Christine L. , Love Oliver P.
Published: July 2016

The application of physiological measures to conservation monitoring has been gaining momentum and, while a suite of physiological traits are available to ascertain disturbance and condition in wildlife populations, glucocorticoids (i.e., GCs; cortisol and corticosterone) are the most heavily employed. The interpretation of GC levels as sensitive indicators of population change necessitates that GCs and metrics of population persistence are linked. However, the relationship between GCs and fitness may be highly context‐dependent, changing direction, or significance, depending on the GC measure, fitness metric, life history stage, or other intrinsic and extrinsic contexts considered. We examined the relationship between baseline plasma corticosterone (CORT) levels measured at two periods of the breeding season and three metrics of fitness (offspring quality, reproductive output, and adult survival) in female Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor). Specifically, we investigated whether (1) a relationship between baseline CORT metrics and fitness exists in our population, (2) whether the inclusion of energetic contexts, such as food availability, reproductive investment, or body mass, could alter or improve the strength of the relationship between CORT and fitness, and (3) whether energetic contexts could better predict fitness compared to CORT metrics. Importantly, we investigated these relationships in both natural conditions and under an experimental manipulation of foraging profitability (feather clipping) to determine the influence of an environmental constraint on GC–fitness relationships. We found a lack of relationship between baseline CORT and both short‐ and long‐term metrics of fitness in control and clipped birds. In contrast, loss in body mass over reproduction positively predicted reproductive output (number of chicks leaving the nest) in control birds; however, the relationship was characterized by a low R2 (5%), limiting the predictive capacity, and therefore the application potential, of such a measure in a conservation setting. Our results stress the importance of ground‐truthing GC–fitness relationships and indicate that baseline GCs will likely not be easily employed as conservation biomarkers across some species and life history stages. Given the accumulating evidence of temporally dynamic, inconsistent, and context‐dependent GC–fitness relationships, placing effort towards directly measuring fitness traits, rather than plasma GC levels, will likely be more worthwhile for many conservation endeavours.
Movement reveals scale dependence in habitat selection of a large ungulate
Authors: Northrup Joseph M. , Anderson Charles R. , Hooten Mevin B. , Wittemyer George
Published: July 2016

Ecological processes operate across temporal and spatial scales. Anthropogenic disturbances impact these processes, but examinations of scale dependence in impacts are infrequent. Such examinations can provide important insight to wildlife–human interactions and guide management efforts to reduce impacts. We assessed spatiotemporal scale dependence in habitat selection of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in the Piceance Basin of Colorado, USA, an area of ongoing natural gas development. We employed a newly developed animal movement method to assess habitat selection across scales defined using animal‐centric spatiotemporal definitions ranging from the local (defined from five hour movements) to the broad (defined from weekly movements). We extended our analysis to examine variation in scale dependence between night and day and assess functional responses in habitat selection patterns relative to the density of anthropogenic features. Mule deer displayed scale invariance in the direction of their response to energy development features, avoiding well pads and the areas closest to roads at all scales, though with increasing strength of avoidance at coarser scales. Deer displayed scale‐dependent responses to most other habitat features, including land cover type and habitat edges. Selection differed between night and day at the finest scales, but homogenized as scale increased. Deer displayed functional responses to development, with deer inhabiting the least developed ranges more strongly avoiding development relative to those with more development in their ranges. Energy development was a primary driver of habitat selection patterns in mule deer, structuring their behaviors across all scales examined. Stronger avoidance at coarser scales suggests that deer behaviorally mediated their interaction with development, but only to a degree. At higher development densities than seen in this area, such mediation may not be possible and thus maintenance of sufficient habitat with lower development densities will be a critical best management practice as development expands globally.
What explains patterns of species richness? The relative importance of climatic‐niche evolution, morphological evolution, and ecological limits in salamanders
Authors: Kozak Kenneth H. , Wiens John J.
Published: July 2016

A major goal of evolutionary biology and ecology is to understand why species richness varies among clades. Previous studies have suggested that variation in richness among clades might be related to variation in rates of morphological evolution among clades (e.g., body size and shape). Other studies have suggested that richness patterns might be related to variation in rates of climatic‐niche evolution. However, few studies, if any, have tested the relative importance of these variables in explaining patterns of richness among clades. Here, we test their relative importance among major clades of Plethodontidae, the most species‐rich family of salamanders. Earlier studies have suggested that climatic‐niche evolution explains patterns of diversification among plethodontid clades, whereas rates of morphological evolution do not. A subsequent study stated that rates of morphological evolution instead explained patterns of species richness among plethodontid clades (along with “ecological limits” on richness of clades, leading to saturation of clades with species, given limited resources). However, they did not consider climatic‐niche evolution. Using phylogenetic multiple regression, we show that rates of climatic‐niche evolution explain most variation in richness among plethodontid clades, whereas rates of morphological evolution do not. We find little evidence that ecological limits explain patterns of richness among plethodontid clades. We also test whether rates of morphological and climatic‐niche evolution are correlated, and find that they are not. Overall, our results help explain richness patterns in a major amphibian group and provide possibly the first test of the relative importance of climatic niches and morphological evolution in explaining diversity patterns.
Structure and Magnetocaloric Effect of Two Kinds of Ln–MnII Heterometallic Coordination Polymers Produced by Fractional Crystallization
Authors: Xiong Gang , You Li‐xin , Ren Bao‐yi , He Yong‐ke , Wang Shu‐ju , Sun Ya‐guang
Published: July 2016

Two series of Ln–MnII heterometallic coordination polymers (HCPs), [Ln8Mn3(µ3‐OH)8(IN)14Cl6(H2O)16]n(OH)2n·5nDMF·8nH2O {Ln = Gd (1); Ln = Dy (2)} and [Ln2Mn(IN)6Cl2(H2O)4]n·2nDMF {Ln = Gd (3); Ln = Dy (4), IN = isonicotinic cation}, were synthesized by using fractional crystallization and structurally characterized. Polymers 1 and 2 are isostructural and form a 2D double layer of [Ln4(µ3‐OH)4] cubane and Mn(IN)4Cl2 units, whereas 3 and 4 are isomorphic and form a four‐connected cds‐type 3D framework assembled from paddle‐wheel binuclear Ln2(COO)4 units and planar Mn(IN)4Cl2 units. Polymers 1–4 exhibited large magnetic entropy changes of 42.0, 16.7, 31.5, and 16.6 J kg–1 K–1, respectively (ΔH = 7 T). In addition, compounds 2 and 4 displayed field‐induced slow magnetic relaxation behavior.
Glucose solution is more effective in relieving pain in neonates than non‐nutritive sucking: A randomized clinical trial
Authors: Lima A.G.C.F. , Santos V.S. , Nunes M.S. , Barreto J.A.A , Ribeiro C.J.N. , Carvalho J. , Ribeiro M.C.O.
Published: July 2016

Background

Few studies have compared the analgesic effect of 25% glucose and non‐nutritive sucking. We compared the analgesic effect of 25% glucose and non‐nutritive sucking in newborns undergoing hepatitis B vaccination. Our hypothesis is that 25% glucose is more effective in relieving pain than non‐nutritive sucking.

Methods

A randomized clinical trial with 78 healthy newborns was performed. Neonates were assigned randomly to receive 25% glucose (G25) and non‐nutritive sucking (NNS). Pain was assessed using the Neonatal Infant Pain Scale (NIPS) before and during the immunization procedure. In addition, we evaluated various physiological parameters and crying time.

Results

Neonates who received 25% glucose registered lower NIPS scores than those from the NNS group [mean (SD), 3.3 (2.1) vs. 5.6 (1.6), p < 0.001]. The crying time was shorter among newborns in the G25 group than in the NNS and control groups.

Conclusion

The use of 25% glucose before the vaccination procedure was more effective in relieving acute pain, with newborns in the G25 group registering scores two times lower on the NIPS scale. The clinical practice of administering 25% glucose is therefore a suggested nondrug measure for pain relief during painful procedures.

Significance

Neonates who received 25% glucose registered lower NIPS scores than those from the NNS group; the crying time was shorter among newborns in the G25 group than in the NNS and control groups; the use of 25% glucose before the vaccination procedure was more effective in relieving acute pain.
Chronic postsurgical pain in patients 5 years after cardiac surgery: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Gjeilo K.H. , Stenseth R. , Wahba A. , Lydersen S. , Klepstad P.
Published: July 2016

Background

Chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) is a common complication after many surgical procedures, including cardiac surgery. The prevalence of CPSP after cardiac surgery ranges from 9.5% to 56%. Most studies on CPSP after cardiac surgery are retrospective and long‐term prospective studies are scarce. The aim of this study was to follow CPSP and health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) prospectively in a cohort of patients, emphasizing the prevalence from 12 months to 5 years.

Methods

A total of 534 patients (23% ≥75 years, 67% men) were consecutively included before surgery. Study‐specific questionnaires and the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) were used to measure CPSP at baseline, 12 months and 5‐year follow‐up. Short‐Form Health Survey (SF‐36) was used to measure HRQOL.

Results

Among 458 patients who were alive after 5 years, 82% responded (n = 373). The majority, 89.8% (335/373), did not report CPSP, neither 12 months nor 5 years after surgery. Among the 38 patients who reported CPSP after 12 months, 24 (63%) patients did not report CPSP after 5 years. The overall prevalence of CPSP after 5 years was 3.8% (14/373). Patients reporting CPSP and resolved CPSP had lower scores on HRQOL and more pain preoperatively than patients who did not report CPSP.

Conclusions

The prevalence of CPSP was lower in this study than previously reported. Among the patients reporting CPSP at 12 months, 63% did not report CPSP after 5 years. Hence, the observed decline in CPSP is in line with studies evaluating CPSP in noncardiac surgery.

Significance

The prevalence of chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) at 5 years after surgery of 3.8% is lower than previously reported. The majority of patients reporting CPSP after 12 months did not report CPSP after 5 years.
Child attention to pain and pain tolerance are dependent upon anxiety and attention control: An eye‐tracking study
Authors: Heathcote L.C. , Lau J.Y.F. , Mueller S.C. , Eccleston C. , Fox E. , Bosmans M. , Vervoort T.
Published: July 2016

Background

Pain is common and can be debilitating in childhood. Theoretical models propose that attention to pain plays a key role in pain outcomes, however, very little research has investigated this in youth. This study examined how anxiety‐related variables and attention control interacted to predict children's attention to pain cues using eye‐tracking methodology, and their pain tolerance on the cold pressor test (CPT).

Methods

Children aged 8–17 years had their eye‐gaze tracked whilst they viewed photographs of other children displaying painful facial expressions during the CPT, before completing the CPT themselves. Children also completed self‐report measures of anxiety and attention control.

Results

Findings indicated that anxiety and attention control did not impact children's initial fixations on pain or neutral faces, but did impact how long they dwelled on pain versus neutral faces. For children reporting low levels of attention control, higher anxiety was associated with less dwell time on pain faces as opposed to neutral faces, and the opposite pattern was observed for children with high attention control. Anxiety and attention control also interacted to predict pain outcomes. For children with low attention control, increasing anxiety was associated with anticipating more pain and tolerating pain for less time.

Conclusions

This is the first study to examine children's attention to pain cues using eye‐tracking technology in the context of a salient painful experience. Data suggest that attention control is an important moderator of anxiety on multiple outcomes relevant to young people's pain experiences.

Significance

This study uses eye tracking to study attention to pain cues in children. Attention control is an important moderator of anxiety on attention bias to pain and tolerance of cold pressor pain in youth.
Activation of ephrinB–EphB receptor signalling in rat spinal cord contributes to maintenance of diabetic neuropathic pain
Authors: Deng X.‐T. , Wu M.‐Z. , Xu N. , Ma P.‐C. , Song X.‐J.
Published: July 2016

Background

Diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP) is severe and intractable in clinic. The specific cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying DNP remain elusive and its treatment are limited. We investigated roles of EphB1 receptor in the development of DNP.

Methods

Diabetic neuropathic pain was produced in male, adult, Sprague‐Dawley rats by a single i.p. streptozotocin (STZ) or alloxan. Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry were used to analyse expression of EphB1 receptor as well as the activation of the glial cells and the pro‐inflammatory cytokines in the spinal cord. DNP manifested as mechanical allodynia, which was determined by measuring incidence of foot withdrawal in response to mechanical indentation of the hind paw by an electro von Frey filament.

Results

Diabetic neuropathic pain and high blood glucose were exhibited simultaneously in around 70% of animals that received i.p. STZ or alloxan. Phosphorylation of EphB1, activation of the astrocytes and microglial cells, and level of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α and interleukin (IL)‐1β in the spinal cord were significantly increased in rats with DNP. Spinal blocking EphB1 receptor activation in the late phase after STZ injection significantly suppressed the established mechanical allodynia as well as activation of the astrocytes and microglial cells and activity of TNF‐α and IL‐1β. However, spinal treatment of EphB1‐Fc in the early phase after STZ injection did not prevent the induction of DNP.

Conclusions

EphB1 receptor activation in the spinal cord is critical to the maintenance, but not induction of diabetic pain. EphB1 receptor may be a potential target for relieving the established diabetic pain.

Significance

Activation of EphB1 receptor in the spinal cord is critical to maintaining the established diabetic neuropathic pain, but not to diabetic pain induction. Spinal blocking EphB1 receptor activation suppresses ongoing diabetic neuropathic pain.
Not all that glitters is gold: A guide to the critical interpretation of drug trials in epilepsy
Authors: Perucca Emilio , Wiebe Samuel
Published: July 2016

Clinical trials represent the best source of evidence on which to base treatment decisions. For such evidence to be utilized meaningfully, however, it is essential that results are interpreted correctly. This requires a good understanding of strengths and weaknesses of the adopted design, the clinical relevance of the outcome measures, and the many factors that could affect such outcomes. As a general rule, uncontrolled studies tend to provide misleading evidence as a result of the impact of confounders such as regression to the mean, patient‐related bias, and observer bias. On the other hand, although randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are qualitatively superior, aspects of their execution may still decrease their validity. Bias and decreased validity in RCTs may occur by chance alone (for example, treatment groups may not necessarily be balanced for important variables despite randomization) or because of specific features of the trial design. In the case of industry‐driven studies, bias often influences the outcome in favor of the sponsor's product. Factors that need to be carefully scrutinized include (1) the purpose for which the trial is conducted; (2) potential bias due to unblinding or lack of blinding; (3) the appropriateness of the control group; (4) the power of the study in detecting clinically relevant differences; (5) the extent to which eligibility criteria could affect outcomes and be representative of routine clinical practice; (6) whether the treatments being compared are used optimally in terms of dosing, duration of treatment, and other variables; (7) the appropriateness of the statistical comparisons; (8) the clinical relevance of the outcome measures and whether all key outcome information is reported (for example, responder rates in completers); and (9) potential bias in the way results are presented and discussed. This article discusses each of these aspects and illustrates the discussion with examples taken from published antiepileptic drug trials.
Fragment-based approach to calculate hydrophobicity of anionic and nonionic surfactants derived from chromatographic retention on a C18 stationary phase
Authors: Hammer Jort , Haftka Joris J.-H. , Scherpenisse Peter , Hermens Joop L.M. , de Voogt Pim W.P.
Published: July 2016

To predict the fate and potential effects of organic contaminants, information about their hydrophobicity is required. However, common parameters to describe the hydrophobicity of organic compounds (e.g., octanol–water partition constant [KOW]) proved to be inadequate for ionic and nonionic surfactants because of their surface-active properties. As an alternative approach to determine their hydrophobicity, the aim of the present study was therefore to measure the retention of a wide range of surfactants on a C18 stationary phase. Capacity factors in pure water (k′0) increased linearly with increasing number of carbon atoms in the surfactant structure. Fragment contribution values were determined for each structural unit with multilinear regression, and the results were consistent with the expected influence of these fragments on the hydrophobicity of surfactants. Capacity factors of reference compounds and log KOW values from the literature were used to estimate log KOW values for surfactants (log KOWHPLC). These log KOWHPLC values were also compared to log KOW values calculated with 4 computational programs: KOWWIN, Marvin calculator, SPARC, and COSMOThermX. In conclusion, capacity factors from a C18 stationary phase are found to better reflect hydrophobicity of surfactants than their KOW values. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:329–336. © 2016 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of SETAC.
Flammability of natural plant and animal fibers: a heat release survey
Authors: Galaska Mary L. , Horrocks A. Richard , Morgan Alexander B.
Published: July 2016

With increased interest in sustainable materials for use in building materials and clothing, there is a renewal in the use of natural fibers (plant or animal‐based) versus synthetic fibers in a variety of applications. However, there is not as much information available on the flammability of these natural fibers especially when they are used in products where purification techniques used in conventional textile processing are not required. The literature to date suggests that all of the fibers can be grouped into two categories: cellulosic and animal, with the assumption that regardless of original species, the flammability is similar for fibers within each category. In this report, we have conducted a survey via microcombustion calorimetry to determine if all cellulose‐based and all protein‐based fibers are the same from a heat release perspective. Our findings show that this is not the case, and there are notable differences in fiber types within each genus. Further, how the natural fiber has been treated prior to use can have some dramatic effects on heat release caused by residual impurity content. The results in this paper suggest that there is more to be learned about these natural fiber types in regards to their inherent flammability. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Generalization of the Recursive Integration Method for the Analytic Valuation of American Options
Authors: Chang Lung‐Fu , Guo Jia‐Hau , Hung Mao‐Wei
Published: July 2016

This article provides a general accelerated recursive integration method for pricing American options based on stochastic volatility and double jump processes. Our proposed model is a generalization of the recursive integral representation method. American option prices can be evaluated by the sum of a corresponding European option price and an early exercise premium integral. Numerical results show that our proposed method is efficient and accuracy in pricing American options with stochastic volatility and double jump processes. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 36:887–901, 2016
Novel approach to the design of potential bioactive alkaloid anabasine conjugates using click chemistry methodology
Authors: Artyushin Oleg I. , Vinogradova Natalya M. , Sharova Elena V. , Genkina Galina K. , Brel Valery K.
Published: July 2016

Anabasine‐containing azides and acetylenes were used as building blocks in copper(I)‐catalyzed 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition reactions with a series of acetylenes and azides via click methodology to provide a range of anabasine conjugates being potential ligands for neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.
Ecosystem services in risk assessment and management
Authors: Munns Wayne R , Poulsen Veronique , Gala William R , Marshall Stuart J , Rea Anne W , Sorensen Mary T , von Stackelberg Katherine
Published: July 2016

The ecosystem services (ES) concept holds much promise for environmental decision making. Even so, the concept has yet to gain full traction in the decisions and policies of environmental agencies in the United States, Europe, and elsewhere. In this paper we examine the opportunities for and implications of including ES in risk assessments and the risk management decisions that they inform. We assert that use of ES will: 1) lead to more comprehensive environmental protection; 2) help to articulate the benefits of environmental decisions, policies, and actions; 3) better inform the derivation of environmental quality standards; 4) enable integration of human health and ecological risk assessment; and 5) facilitate horizontal integration of policies, regulations, and programs. We provide the technical basis and supporting rationale for each assertion, relying on examples taken from experiences in the United States and European Union. Specific recommendations are offered for use of ES in risk assessment and risk management, and issues and challenges to advancing use of ES are described together with some of the science needed to improve the value of the ES concept to environmental protection. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2017;13:62–73. © 2016 SETAC.

Key Points

The ecosystem services concept can improve environmental protection. The concept has not yet gained full traction in decisions and policies in the United States, Europe, and elsewhere. We assert that 5 aspects of risk assessment and management will be improved by considering ecosystem services more explicitly and make recommendations specific to each phase of the risk assessment and management process.
Elucidating the Role of Protandim and 6‐Gingerol in Protection Against Osteoarthritis
Authors: Abusarah Jamilah , Benabdoune Houda , Shi Qin , Lussier Bertrand , Martel‐Pelletier Johanne , Malo Michel , Fernandes Julio C. , de Souza Fátima Pereira , Fahmi Hassan , Benderdour Mohamed
Published: July 2016

Protandim and 6‐gingerol, two potent nutraceuticals, have been shown to decrease free radicals production through enhancing endogenous antioxidant enzymes. In this study, we evaluated the effects of these products on the expression of different factors involved in osteoarthritis (OA) process. Human OA chondrocytes were treated with 1 ng/ml IL‐1β in the presence or absence of protandim (0–10 μg/ml) or 6‐gingerol (0–10 μM). OA was induced surgically in mice by destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM). The animals were treated weekly with an intraarticular injection of 10 μl of vehicle or protandim (10 μg/ml) for 8 weeks. Sham‐operated mice served as controls. In vitro, we demonstrated that protandim and 6‐gingerol preserve cell viability and mitochondrial metabolism and prevented 4‐hydroxynonenal (HNE)‐induced cell mortality. They activated Nrf2 transcription factor, abolished IL‐1β‐induced NO, PGE2, MMP‐13, and HNE production as well as IL‐β‐induced GSTA4‐4 down‐regulation. Nrf2 overexpression reduced IL‐1β‐induced HNE and MMP‐13 as well as IL‐1β‐induced GSTA4‐4 down‐regulation. Nrf2 knockdown following siRNA transfection abolished protandim protection against oxidative stress and catabolism. The activation of MAPK and NF‐κB by IL‐1β was not affected by 6‐gingerol. In vivo, we observed that Nrf2 and GSTA4‐4 expression was significantly lower in OA cartilage from humans and mice compared to normal controls. Interestingly, protandim administration reduced OA score in DMM mice. Altogether, our data indicate that protandim and 6‐gingerol are essential in preserving cartilage and abolishing a number of factors known to be involved in OA pathogenesis. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 1003–1013, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Narratives of Violence, Pathology, and Empowerment: Mental Health Needs Assessment of Home‐Based Female Sex Workers in Rural India
Authors: Sardana Srishti , Marcus Marina , Verdeli Helen
Published: July 2016

This study explores the narratives of psychological distress and resilience among a group of female sex workers who use residential spaces to attend to clients in rural India. The narratives reflect the lived experiences of these women. They describe the women's reasons for opting into sex work; guilt, shame, and stigma related to their sex worker status; experiences with intimate partner and domestic violence; health‐related problems; communication with their family members about their sex worker status; mental health referral practices among the women; and elements of resilience and strength that they experience within themselves and within their community of fellow sex workers. The article also offers elements of our own experiences of recruiting the women to participate in the focus group, training local outreach workers in conducting focus group discussions, and forging a collaboration with a local community‐based organization to highlight important barriers, challenges, and strategies for planning a group‐based discussion to explore the mental health needs of home‐based sex workers.
Combined treatment, based on lysomustine administration with mesenchymal stem cells expressing cytosine deaminase therapy, leads to pronounced murine Lewis lung carcinoma growth inhibition
Authors: Krassikova Lyudmila S. , Karshieva Saida S. , Cheglakov Ivan B. , Belyavsky Alexander V.
Published: July 2016

Background

The combination of stem cell‐based gene therapy with chemotherapy comprises an advantageous strategy that results in a reduction of system toxicity effects and an improvement in the general efficacy of treatment. In the present study, we estimated the efficacy of adipose tissue‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (AT‐MSCs) expressing cytosine deaminase (CDA) combined with lysomustine chemotherapy in mice bearing late stage Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC).

Methods

Adipose tissue‐derived mesenchymal stem cells were transfected with non‐insert plasmid construct transiently expressing fused cytosine deaminase‐uracil phosphoribosyltransferase protein (CDA/UPRT) or the same construct fused with Herpes Simplex Virus Type1 tegument protein VP22 (CDA/UPRT/VP22). Systemic administration of 5‐fluorocytosine (5FC) and lysomustine was implemented after a single intratumoral injection of transfected AT‐MSCs.

Results

We demonstrated that direct intratumoral transplantation of AT‐MSCs expressing CDA/UPRT or CDA/UPRT/VP22 followed by systemic administration of 5FC resulted in a significant tumor growth inhibition. There was a 56% reduction in tumor volume in mice treated by AT‐MSCs‐CDA/UPRT + 5FC or with AT‐MSCs‐CDA/UPRT/VP22 + 5FC compared to control animals grafted with lung carcinoma alone. Transplantation of AT‐MSCs‐CDA/UPRT + 5FC and AT‐MSCs‐CDA/UPRT/VP22 + 5FC prolonged the life span of mice bearing LLC by 27% and 31%, respectively. Co‐administration of lysomustine and AT‐MSCs‐CDA/UPRT + 5FC led to tumor growth inhibition (by 86%) and life span extension (by 60%) compared to the control group.

Conclusions

Our data indicate that a combination CDA/UPRT‐expressing AT‐MSCs with lysomustine has a superior antitumor effect in the murine lung carcinoma model compared to monotherapies with transfected AT‐MSCs or lysomustine alone, possibly because of a synergistic effect of the combination therapy. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The petrosal bone and bony labyrinth of early to middle Miocene European deer (Mammalia, Cervidae) reveal their phylogeny
Authors: Mennecart Bastien , Rössner Gertrud E. , Métais Grégoire , DeMiguel Daniel , Schulz Georg , Müller Bert , Costeur Loïc
Published: July 2016

Deer (Cervidae) have a long evolutionary history dating back to the Early Miocene, around 19 million years ago. The best known fossils to document this history belong to European taxa, which all bear cranial appendages more or less similar to today's deer antlers. Despite the good fossil record, relationships of the earliest stem deer and earliest crown deer are much debated. This hampers precise calibration against the independent evidence of the fossil record in molecular clock analyses. While much has been written on the Early and Middle Miocene deer, only two phylogenetic analyses have been performed on these taxa to date mostly based on cranial appendage characters. Because the petrosal bone and bony labyrinth have been shown to be relevant for phylogeny in ruminants, we describe for the first time these elements for four iconic early cervids from Europe (Procervulus dichotomus, Heteroprox larteti, Dicrocerus elegans and Euprox furcatus) and include them in a phylogenetic analysis based on the ear region exclusively. The analysis recovered E. furcatus in a sister position to the living red deer (Cervus elaphus). Further, it placed D. elegans in a sister position to Euprox + Cervus and a clade Procervulinae that includes P. dichotomus and H. larteti, in sister position to all other deer. The inclusion of E. furcatus in crown Cervidae, which was previously suggested based on antler morphology, cannot be ruled out here but needs a more comprehensive comparison to other crown deer to be confirmed. J. Morphol. 277:1329–1338, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Community pharmacy staff motivations and barriers to working with mental health consumers
Authors: Knox Kathy , Hattingh Laetitia , Wheeler Amanda J.
Published: July 2016

Background

Mental health is an Australian national priority area, yet evidence indicates pharmacy staff members focus more frequently on other chronic diseases. A need was identified to facilitate community pharmacy staff engagement with mental health initiatives.

Aim

This study explored community pharmacy staff motivations and barriers to working with mental health consumers and carers.

Method

A questionnaire assessing baseline attitudes, knowledge and skills towards mental illness was completed by 791 community pharmacy staff members. Participants rated their agreement with statements regarding factors that motivate them (11 items) or present a barrier to working with mental health consumers and carers (12 items) on a 7‐point Likert scale. Qualitative comments were invited.

Results

In total, 465 pharmacists (58.8%) and 326 support staff (41.2%) completed the questionnaire. Statements reflecting motivations were strongly endorsed: 83% of participants agreed that they were motivated to work with mental health consumers and carers, and 96% agreed that community pharmacists are integral members of the healthcare team. The most frequently endorsed barriers related to lack of training to assist people and belief that consumers feel ashamed about their illness. Themes that emerged from qualitative comments identified staff skills and knowledge as both motivators and barriers.

Conclusion

The findings identified that both pharmacists and pharmacy support staff required more training, confidence and practical strategies to support best practice in meeting the needs and expectations of mental health consumers and carers.
Array‐fed dual‐polarized wideband fabry–perot antenna based on metasurface
Authors: Qin Fan , Gao Steven , Wei Gao , Luo Qi , Xu Jiadong
Published: July 2016

A high gain dual‐polarized wideband Fabry–Perot (FP) antenna fed by 1 × 2 antenna array is proposed. A metasurface consisting of patch and mesh array is employed as a partially reflective surface, which produces a reflection phase with a positive slope over a wideband frequency range for increasing antenna's gain bandwidth. To obtain dual polarizations and further improve the gain of antenna, a 1 × 2 patch array coupled by two orthogonal slots is designed as the feed of the FP antenna. A prototype is fabricated and measured. The measured results demonstrate that this proposed antenna has a 3‐dB gain bandwidth of 22.2% in both polarizations. The peak gain of 15.7 dBi and 15.2 dBi is obtained at two polarization ports, respectively. Within the 3‐dB gain bandwidth, good impedance matching with high isolation over 35 dB between the two ports is achieved as well. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 58:2316–2321, 2016
Design of a millimeter‐wave wideband bandpass filter with novel‐slotted substrate integrated waveguide
Authors: Dong Kaida , Mo Jingyan , He Yuhong , Ma Zhewang , Yang Xuexia
Published: July 2016

A millimeter‐wave (mmW) wideband band‐pass filter (WBF) is proposed and designed by using novel‐slotted unites etched on the metal planes of SIW cavities in this paper. The novel‐slotted SIW cavity consists of two pairs of same size dumbbell slots etched on both the top and bottom metal planes of the SIW, which acts as a shunt resonator. And there is 90‐degree angle rotated between the novel‐slotted unites on top and bottom planes. The novel‐slotted SIW unit can be used to control the transmission zero and the cutoff frequency at upside. Finally, a five‐order millimeter‐wave wideband band‐pass filter is proposed and fabricated. The measured results show that the filter achieves insertion loss of −1.54 dB at 32.5 GHz, return loss of better than 12.5dB and 3dB fractional bandwidth (FBW) of 34.6%. A good agreement between simulated and measured results verifies the validity of this design methodology. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 58:2406–2410, 2016
Wideband bandpass filter with multiple transmission zeros and compact size
Authors: Deng Kuan , Feng Wenjie
Published: July 2016

A compact wideband bandpass filter with multiple transmission zeros is proposed in this paper. Three transmission zeros in the upper stopband can be realized by different open/shorted stubs. The bandwidths of the bandpass filter can be adjusted easily by changing the characteristic impedance of the open/shorted stubs. A bandpass filter with 3‐dB fractional bandwidth of 110% (0.51 − 1.76 GHz) is fabricated and measured. Good agreement can be observed between simulated and measured performances. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 58:2452–2456, 2016
An ENG metamaterial based wideband electromagnetic cloak
Authors: Sunbeam Islam Sikder , Rashed Iqbal Faruque Mohammd , Tariqul Islam Mohammad
Published: July 2016

Metamaterial‐based single layer rectangular cloaking operation in the epsilon‐negative (ENG) region is experimentally demonstrated. In this study, a new metamaterial unit cell is presented that exhibits epsilon‐negative property in the C‐band of microwave regime. The metamaterial was then utilized in designing a single layer rectangular cloak that hides a metal cylinder in the ENG region of the metamaterial. The cloak provides less than one normalized total scattering width for the cloaked object. The proposed cloaking operation was experimentally demonstrated over a 500 MHz area in the C‐band region of microwave spectra. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 58:2522–2525, 2016
Myostatin inhibitor ACE‐031 treatment of ambulatory boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy: Results of a randomized, placebo‐controlled clinical trial
Authors: Campbell Craig , McMillan Hugh J. , Mah Jean K. , Tarnopolsky Mark , Selby Kathryn , McClure Ty , Wilson Dawn M. , Sherman Matthew L. , Escolar Diana , Attie Kenneth M.
Published: July 2016

Introduction: ACE‐031 is a fusion protein of activin receptor type IIB and IgG1‐Fc, which binds myostatin and related ligands. It aims to disrupt the inhibitory effect on muscle development and provide potential therapy for myopathies like Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Methods: ACE‐031 was administered subcutaneously every 2–4 weeks to DMD boys in a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, ascending‐dose trial. The primary objective was safety evaluation. Secondary objectives included characterization of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Results: ACE‐031 was not associated with serious or severe adverse events. The study was stopped after the second dosing regimen due to potential safety concerns of epistaxis and telangiectasias. A trend for maintenance of the 6‐minute walk test (6MWT) distance in the ACE‐031 groups compared with a decline in the placebo group (not statistically significant) was noted, as was a trend for increased lean body mass and bone mineral density (BMD) and reduced fat mass. Conclusion: ACE‐031 use demonstrated trends for pharmacodynamic effects on lean mass, fat mass, BMD, and 6MWT. Non–muscle‐related adverse events contributed to the decision to discontinue the study. Myostatin inhibition is a promising therapeutic approach for DMD. Muscle Nerve 55: 458–464, 2017
Giant nerves in chronic inflammatory polyradiculoneuropathy
Authors: Grimm Alexander , Schubert Victoria , Axer Hubertus , Ziemann Ulf
Published: July 2016

Introduction: Nerve enlargement (NE) is described in inflammatory and inherited neuropathies. It is commonly multifocal and moderate in the former and homogeneous and generalized in the latter. We describe 4 cases of massive NE in inflammatory neuropathies. Methods: Patients presented with symptoms of polyneuropathy that progressed over months to years. Nerve conduction studies (NCS), laboratory analysis, nerve MRI, and nerve ultrasound were performed. Results: NCS revealed demyelinating neuropathy in all with multifocal conduction blocks or increased terminal latency indices. MRI/ultrasound revealed extensive NE in the roots and nerves. Detailed diagnostics including biopsies, positron emission tomography‐computed tomography, and genetic testing revealed no other pathology. Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy variants were diagnosed in all, and immunotherapies were successfully initiated. Conclusions: MRI and ultrasound contributed to diagnosis and therapy. All patients had giant NE in common, which strongly suggested inherited neuropathy. However, the final diagnosis was inflammatory neuropathy. Impressive NE can occur in immune‐mediated neuropathies and should be carefully differentiated from inherited neuropathies. Muscle Nerve 55: 285–289, 2017
Models of energy homeostasis in response to maintenance of reduced body weight
Authors: Rosenbaum Michael , Leibel Rudolph L.
Published: July 2016

Objective

To test three proposed models for adaptive thermogenesis in compartments of energy expenditure following different degrees of weight loss. Specifically, (1) there is no adaptive thermogenesis [constant relationship of energy expenditure (EE) to metabolic mass]. (2) There is a fixed degree of adaptive thermogenesis once fat stores are below a “threshold.” (3) The degree of adaptive thermogenesis is proportional to weight loss.

Methods

The relationship between weight loss and EE was examined in 17 inpatient subjects with stable weight and obesity studied at usual weight and again following a 10% and a 20% weight loss.

Results

Following initial weight loss (10%), resting (REE) and non‐resting (NREE) EE were significantly below those predicted on the basis of the amount and composition of weight lost. Further reductions below predicted values of NREE but not REE occurred following an additional 10% weight loss. Changes in body weight, composition, and/or energy stores were significantly correlated with changes in EE.

Conclusions

All models are applicable to the decline in EE following weight loss. The disproportionate decline in REE is consistent with a threshold model (no change with further weight loss) while the disproportionate decline in NREE is largely reflective of the degree of weight loss.
A meta‐analysis of the neuropsychological effects of chemotherapy in the treatment of childhood cancer
Authors: Pierson Cory , Waite Erin , Pyykkonen Ben
Published: July 2016

Background

Long‐term neuropsychological deficits associated with pediatric cancers and the related treatments have been consistently reported. Whole brain cranial radiation therapy (CRT) is associated with neurocognitive impairment. As a result, physicians are reticent to use CRT in favor of systemic or intrathecal chemotherapy, which have a less clear impact on cognition.

Procedure

The current meta‐analysis examined post‐treatment neuropsychological performance of children diagnosed with cancer and treated with chemotherapy to better understand the impact of chemotherapy upon cognition. Relevant test scores from 18 empirical studies were utilized and analyzed in comparison to normative data yielding 199 unique effect sizes across nine neurocognitive domains.

Results

Children diagnosed with cancer, who received chemotherapy, demonstrated deficits in attentional capacity (g = −0.277). These deficits are noted in the context of relatively unaffected performance in other domains. When examining potential moderators, those tested more than 5 years after completion of treatment demonstrated better attentional performance than those tested within 5 years of treatment completion.

Conclusions

These deficits in attentional capacity have implications related to the academic success of these children. Given the potential for remediation strategies within this domain, neuropsychological assessment can be an integral aspect of long‐term care plans of survivors of childhood cancer.
Pituitary disorders as a predictor of apathy and executive dysfunction in adult survivors of childhood brain tumors
Authors: Fox Michelle E. , King Tricia Z.
Published: July 2016

Background

The relationship between apathy and endocrine dysfunction, both frequent outcomes of neurological insult, has not yet been investigated in brain tumor survivors. The present study aimed to assess the relationship between pituitary disorders and apathy and other facets of executive function in long‐term adult survivors of childhood brain tumors and to differentiate between apathy and depression in this population.

Procedure

Seventy‐six adult survivors of childhood brain tumors at least 5 years past diagnosis participated. An informant completed the Frontal Systems Behavior Scale (FrSBe), and 75 of the 76 participants completed a Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM‐IV‐TR (SCID). Information on neuroendocrine dysfunction was obtained through medical chart review.

Results

Clinically significant levels of apathy on the FrSBe were identified in 41% of survivors. Pituitary dysfunction significantly explained 9% of the variance in apathy scores and affected whether an individual presented with clinical levels of apathy. Pituitary dysfunction predicted higher levels of executive dysfunction but did not impact whether a participant reached clinical levels of executive dysfunction. A past major depressive episode (MDE) significantly predicted current apathy but showed no relationship with pituitary disorders. Radiation treatment predicted pituitary dysfunction but not the differences in apathy or executive functions.

Conclusions

Apathy and executive dysfunction in survivors of childhood brain tumors are strongly predicted by pituitary dysfunction, and individuals with pituitary dysfunction are more likely to present with clinical levels of apathy as adults. Clinical levels of apathy may present absent of current depression, and pituitary dysfunction impacts apathy uniquely.