bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis, characterization, and gas transport properties of new semifluorinated poly(ether imide)s containing cardo moiety
Authors: Chatterjee Rimpa , Ghosh Sipra , Bisoi Soumendu , Banerjee Susanta
Published: May 2017

A series of new semifluorinated poly(ether imide)s (PEI)s was synthesized from a diamine monomer, 9,9‐bis‐[3‐phenyl‐4‐{2′‐trifluoromethyl‐4′‐(4′′‐aminophenyl)phenoxy} phenyl]fluorene on reaction with three different aromatic dianhydrides namely, 4,4′‐(4,4′‐isopropylidenediphenoxy)bis(phthalic anhydride), 4,4'‐(hexafluoro‐isopropylidene)diphthalic anhydride, and 4,4'‐oxydiphthalic anhydride. The PEIs were well characterized by elemental analysis, spectroscopic, thermal, mechanical, electrical, and optical techniques. The synthesized PEIs showed high glass transition temperature (Tg up to 288 °C) and high thermal stability (Td,10 up to 521 °C under synthetic air), high tensile strength, up to 76 MPa and low dielectric constant (ɛ) (2.35–2.61 at 1 MHz). The membranes prepared from these polymers were studied for their gas permeability for four different gases CO2, O2, N2, and CH4. The PEI membranes showed high gas permeability (PCO2 up to 70.3 and PO2 up to 16.7 Barrer) and high permselectivity (PCO2/PCH4 up to 73.6 and PO2/PN2 up to 13.4); for the O2/N2 gas pair the PEIs surpassed the present upper boundary limit of 2008 drawn by Robeson. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 45213.
A social inequality of motivation? The relationship between beliefs about academic success and young people's educational attainment
Authors: Smith Jonathan F. , Skrbiš Zlatko
Published: May 2017

Meritocratic ideals, which emphasise individual responsibility and self‐motivation, have featured prominently in discourses about Australia's international competitiveness in academic achievement. Young people are often encouraged to attribute academic success and failure to individual factors such as hard work and talent, and to downplay extrinsic factors such as luck, task difficulty, or broader structural advantages and disadvantages. Using longitudinal data on a large, single‐age cohort (n=2,145) of young Australians participating in the Social Futures and Life Pathways (‘Our Lives’) project, we analyse the relationship between attributions for academic success across their final years of secondary schooling and how they related to educational attainment at the end of school. The belief that hard work would lead to academic success was widespread within the sample and positively associated with subsequent educational performance. Most students also emphasised the importance of having a supportive family, despite this being negatively associated with performance. Consistent with claims about a ‘social inequality of motivation’, the findings suggest that emphasising meritocracy may compound the disadvantages of young people from less educated or vocational backgrounds, and those living in rural and regional Australia, whilst impacting unevenly on males' and females' academic performance.
Surgical resection for Bismuth type IV perihilar cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Ebata T , Mizuno T , Yokoyama Y , Igami T , Sugawara G , Nagino M
Published: May 2017

Background

Bismuth type IV perihilar cholangiocarcinoma has traditionally been categorized as unresectable disease. The aim of this study was to review experience with a resection-based strategy in patients who have type IV perihilar cholangiocarcinoma.

Methods

Medical records of consecutive patients with a diagnosis of type IV perihilar cholangiocarcinoma between 2006 and 2015 were reviewed retrospectively. Primary outcomes assessed were surgical results and long-term survival.

Results

Of the 332 patients with type IV tumour, 216 (65·1 per cent) underwent resection. Left hepatic trisectionectomy was the most common procedure (112 patients). Combined vascular resection was performed in 131 patients. Median duration of operation was 607 (range 356–1045) min, and blood loss was 1357 (209–10 349) ml. Complications of Clavien–Dindo grade III or more developed in 90 patients (41·7 per cent) and four (1·9 per cent) died from complications within 90 days. Survival rates were better for the 216 patients whose tumours were resected than for the 116 patients with unresected tumours (32·8 versus 1·5 per cent at 5 years; P < 0·001). Patients with pN0 M0 disease after resection had a favourable 5-year survival rate of 53 per cent. Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage, blood transfusion, lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis were identified as independent negative prognostic factors for survival.

Conclusion

Although resection for type IV tumour is technically demanding with high morbidity, it can be performed with low mortality and offers better survival probability in selected patients.
A “tetra‐axial” system in transfemoral lead extraction
Authors: Isawa Tsuyoshi , Yamada Takashi , Honda Taku , Yamaya Kazuhiro , Ootomo Tatsushi
Published: May 2017

Key Clinical Message

Pacemaker lead extractors must become familiar with transfemoral approaches for lead extraction as a bail‐out procedure for a failed superior approach. We presented a “tetra‐axial” system for transfemoral lead extraction. This system would be more widely applicable in cases with difficulties in extraction, resulting in more procedural success.
Ruthenium Oxide Incorporated One‐Dimensional Cobalt Oxide Composite Nanowires as Lithium–Oxygen Battery Cathode Catalysts
Authors: Kim Youngmin , Park Jong Hoon , Kim Jong Guk , Noh Yuseong , Kim Yoongon , Han Hyunsu , Kim Won Bae
Published: May 2017

Ruthenium oxide/cobalt oxide composite nanowires (RuO2/Co3O4 NWs) have been synthesized through a simple and efficient electrospinning method for use as bifunctional electrocatalysts in rechargeable lithium–oxygen (Li–O2) battery cathodes. The as‐prepared NWs have been characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and X‐ray absorption near‐edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy. The intrinsic activities of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) over the obtained composite NWs are studied using a rotating‐disk electrode technique. The RuO2/Co3O4 NWs exhibit superior bifunctional electrocatalytic activities for both the ORR and the OER if compared to the activities of the Co3O4 NWs and only Ketjenblack (KB). If the RuO2/Co3O4 NWs are employed as cathode catalysts in Li–O2 cells, great improvements in terms of the discharge capacity, coulombic efficiency, and cycle stability with low discharge‐charge overpotentials are achieved. These can be attributed to the high bifunctional catalytic activities of the RuO2/Co3O4 composite NWs.
Photoisomerization of Bis(tridentate) 2,6‐Bis(1H‐pyrazol‐1‐yl)pyridine Ligands Exhibiting a Multi‐anthracene Skeleton
Authors: Šalitroš Ivan , Fuhr Olaf , Gál Miroslav , Valášek Michal , Ruben Mario
Published: May 2017

A novel molecular design is described where two peripheral moieties made of 2,6‐bis(1H‐pyrazol‐1‐yl)pyridine are linked through multi‐1,8‐diethynylanthracene moieties. The optimized synthesis of the three isostructural analogues 1 a, 1 b, and 1 c, containing the anthraquinone, anthracene, and 10‐methoxyanthracene units, respectively, is reported. The resulting spatial face‐to‐face arrangement of the peripheral anthracene rings enables to trigger the intramolecular [4+4] photocycloaddition affording the isomers P1 b and P1 c, which can be thermally cleaved back to the original anthracene derivatives 1 b and 1 c, respectively. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction studies confirm the expected molecular structures of compounds 1 a–1 c as well as of their corresponding isomers P1 b and P1 c. The spectral, optical, and electrochemical properties of all synthesized compounds are investigated and discussed.
Removal of Heavy Metals and Pharmaceuticals From Contaminated Water Using Waste Sludge – Kinetics and Mechanisms
Authors: Brnardić Ivan , Ćurković Lidija , Sofilić Tahir , Pavlović Dragana M. , Matijašić Gordana , Grčić Ivana , Rađenović Ankica
Published: May 2017

The aim of this study was to investigate the adsorption of heavy metals (CrTOT, Ni2+, Cu2+, and Zn2+) in wastewater originated from galvanization process and pharmaceuticals (ciprofloxacin and dexamethasone) in aqueous solutions on waste sludge. To get the insight in the adsorption process, the adsorption kinetics and mechanisms are described. The physico‐chemical properties of the waste sludge were determined by scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction technique, energy dispersion X‐ray spectrometry, surface area and gas adsorption porosimetry, and laser diffraction. The adsorption on waste sludge was performed as batch tests and the concentration of heavy metals and pharmaceuticals was monitored by atomic absorption spectrometry and UV/Vis spectrophotometry, respectively. The rates of pharmaceuticals adsorption dependent on different initial concentration were explained. The kinetics of heavy metal ions and pharmaceuticals adsorption on the sludge was analyzed using four different models. The pseudo second‐order model assuming chemical adsorption as the rate limiting process showed the best agreement. Furthermore, the results revealed that the adsorption involves complex processes, including film diffusion and intraparticle diffusion. The investigated industrial waste sludge is a promising non‐hazardous and a low cost sorbent with relatively high surface area which can be used for removal of heavy metal ions (CrTOT, Ni2+, Cu2+, and Zn2+), and pharmaceuticals (ciprofloxacin and dexamethasone) from wastewater.
Hazard assessment of nickel nanoparticles in soil—The use of a full life cycle test with Enchytraeus crypticus
Authors: Santos Fátima C.F. , Gomes Susana I.L. , Scott-Fordsmand Janeck J. , Amorim Mónica J.B.
Published: May 2017

Nanoparticles (NPs) such as nickel (Ni) are widely used in several applications. Nevertheless, the environmental effects of Ni NPs are still poorly understood. In the present study, the toxicity of Ni NPs and nickel nitrate (NiNO3) was assessed using the standard test species in soil ecotoxicology, Enchytraeus crypticus (Oligochaeta), in a full life cycle test, adding the endpoints hatching, growth, and time to reach maturity, besides survival and reproduction as in the standard Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Guideline 220 and/or International Organization for Standardization 16387. For Ni NPs, the Ni in soil and in soil solution was concentration- and time-dependent, with a relatively higher soil solution content in the lower and shorter exposure concentrations and times. Overall, NiNO3 was more toxic than Ni NPs, and toxicity seemed to occur via different mechanisms. The former caused reduced hatching (50% effect concentration [EC50] = 39 mg Ni/kg soil), and the negative effects remained throughout the life cycle, in all measured endpoints (growth, maturation, survival, and reproduction). For Ni NPs, hatching was the most sensitive endpoint (EC50 = 870 mg Ni/kg soil), although the organisms recovered; that is, additional endpoints across the life cycle showed that this effect corresponded to a delay in hatching because organisms survived and reproduced at concentrations up to 1800 mg Ni/kg soil. On the other hand, the lowest tested concentration of Ni NPs (100 mg Ni/kg soil) caused reproduction effects similar to those at higher concentrations (1000 and 1800 mg Ni/kg soil). The present results show that the potential implications of a nonmonotonic dose response should be considered when assessing the risks of Ni NP exposure in soil. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:2934–2941. © 2017 SETAC
Body Size and the Risk of Primary Hyperparathyroidism in Women: A Cohort Study
Authors: Vaidya Anand , Curhan Gary C , Paik Julie M , Wang Molin , Taylor Eric N
Published: May 2017

Greater body weight and fat mass have been associated with higher serum parathyroid hormone levels and a higher prevalence of primary hyperparathyroidism (P-HPTH) in women. However, prospective studies to evaluate whether greater body size associates with a higher incidence of developing P-HPTH have not been reported. We investigated whether greater body size was independently associated with a higher risk for developing P-HPTH in women. We conducted a prospective cohort study of 85,013 female participants in the Nurses’ Health Study I followed for up to 26 years. Body size was measured via multiple metrics: weight, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference (WC). Weight and BMI were assessed every 2 years from 1986 to 2012, and WC was assessed in 1986, 1996, and 2000. Detailed dietary and demographic exposures were quantified via validated biennial questionnaires. Incident cases of P-HPTH were confirmed by individual medical record review. Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate whether WC, weight, and BMI were independent risk factors for developing P-HPTH. Models were adjusted for demographic variables, comorbidities, medications, intakes of calcium and vitamin D, and exposure to ultraviolet light. We confirmed 491 incident cases of P-HPTH during 2,128,068 person-years of follow-up. The multivariable-adjusted relative risks for incident P-HPTH increased across quartiles of WC: Q1, ref; Q2, 1.34 (0.97, 1.86); Q3, 1.70 (1.24, 2.31); Q4, 2.27 (1.63, 3.18); p trend < 0.001. Similarly, the multivariable-adjusted risks for incident P-HPTH increased across quartiles of weight: Q1, ref; Q2, 1.23 (0.92, 1.65); Q3, 1.63 (1.24, 2.14); Q4, 1.65 (1.24, 2.19); p trend < 0.001. A similar but statistically non-significant trend was observed across quartiles of BMI (p trend = 0.07). In summary, body size may be an independent and modifiable risk factor for developing P-HPTH in women. © 2017 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Computing the Extended Synthesis: Mapping the Dynamics and Conceptual Structure of the Evolvability Research Front
Authors: Nuño de la Rosa Laura
Published: May 2017

Since the late 1970s, the field of evolutionary biology has undergone empirical and theoretical developments that have threaten the pillars of evolutionary theory. Some evolutionary biologists have recently argued that evolutionary biology is not experiencing a paradigm shift, but an expansion of the modern synthesis. Philosophers of biology focusing on scientific practices seem to agree with this pluralistic interpretation and have argued that evolutionary theory should rather be seen as an organized network of multiple problem agendas with diverse disciplinary contributors. In this paper, I apply a computational analysis to study the dynamics and conceptual structure of one of the main emerging problem agendas in evolutionary biology: evolvability. I have used CiteSpace, an application for visualizing and analyzing trends and patterns in scientific literature that applies cocitation analysis to identify scientific specialities. I analyze the main clusters of the evolvability cocitation network with the aim to identify the main research lines and the interdisciplinary relationships that structure this research front. I then compare these results with the existing classifications of evolvability concepts, and identify four main conceptual tensions within the definitions of evolvability. Finally, I argue that there is a lot of usefulness in the inconsistency in which the term evolvability is used in biological research. I claim that evolvability research has set up “trading zones” in biology that make possible interdisciplinary exchanges.
Low level light‐minoxidil 5% combination versus either therapeutic modality alone in management of female patterned hair loss: A randomized controlled study
Authors: Esmat Samia M. , Hegazy Rehab A. , Gawdat Heba I. , Abdel Hay Rania M. , Allam Riham S. , El Naggar Rofaida , Moneib Hoda
Published: May 2017

Background

Female pattern hair loss (FPHL) is the most common form of hair loss in women. Nevertheless, its management represents a real challenge. Among the FDA approved therapeutic modalities for FPHL are topical minoxidil and more recently low‐level light therapy (LLLT).

Aim of Work

Assess the efficacy and safety of LLLT in comparison to topical minoxidil 5% and to a combination of both therapies in the treatment of FPHL.

Patients and Methods

This study included 45 female patients with proven FPHL. They were randomly divided into three equal groups, where group (i) patients were instructed to apply topical minoxidil 5% twice daily, group (ii) patients received LLLT using the helmet iGrow® device for 25 minutes 3 days weekly, and group (iii) patients received a combination of both topical minoxidil 5% twice daily and LLLT for 25 minutes 3 days weekly for 4 months (study duration). Evaluation was done according to clinical, dermoscopic (folliscopic), and ultrasound bio‐microscopic (UBM) parameters. Patient satisfaction and side effects were reported.

Results

The efficacy and safety of both topical minoxidil and LLLT were highlighted with comparable results in all parameters. The combination group (iii) occupied the top position regarding Ludwig classification and patient satisfaction. UBM and dermoscopic findings showed significant increase in the number of regrowing hair follicles at 4 months in all groups, whereas only UBM showed such significant increase at 2 months in the combination group (iii). A non‐significant increase in the hair diameter was also documented in the three groups.

Conclusion

LLLT is an effective and safe tool with comparable results to minoxidil 5% in the treatment of FPHL. Owing to the significantly better results of combination therapy, its usage is recommended to hasten hair regrowth. Lasers Surg. Med. 49:835–843, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Gaining Insights into Specific Drug Formulation Additives for Solubilizing a Potential Anti‐Alzheimer Disease Drug B4A1
Authors: Lawatscheck Carmen , Pickhardt Marcus , Grafl Anna , Linkert Katharina , Polster Frank , Mandelkow Eckhard , Börner Hans G.
Published: May 2017

The pharmacological profiles of small molecule drugs are often challenged by their poor water solubility. Sequence‐defined peptides attached to poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) offer opportunities to overcome these difficulties by acting as drug‐specific formulation additives. The peptide‐PEG conjugates enable specific, noncovalent drug binding via tailored peptide/drug interactions as well as provide water solubility and drug shielding by well‐solvated PEG‐blocks. A systematic set of specific solubilizers for B4A1 as a potential anti‐Alzheimer disease drug is synthesized and variations involve the length of the PEG‐blocks as well as the sequences of the peptidic drug‐binding domain. The solubilizer/B4A1 complexes are studied in order to understand contributions of both PEG and peptide segments on drug payload capacities, drug/carrier aggregate sizes, and influences on inhibition of the Tau‐protein aggregation in an in vitro assay.

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The Formation of OTDD Network Structure in PS‐b‐PI‐b‐PDMS Triblock Terpolymer
Authors: Wang Yi‐Chin , Inoue Ayano , Hasegawa Hirokazu , Takenaka Mikihito
Published: May 2017

Ordered tricontinuous double‐diamond (OTDD) morphology is formed in cast film of polystyrene‐block‐polyisoprene‐block‐polydimethylsiloxane triblock terpolymer from toluene solution, though OTDD structure is not an equilibrium structure in triblock terpolymer. The small‐angle X‐ray scattering study revealed the following two‐step microphase separation during solvent cast: In the early stage of the cast process, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) segregates from the other two components and self‐assembles into hexagonally packed PDMS cylinders in polystyrene (PS)/polyisoprene (PI) matrix with being PS and PI in disordered state. Subsequently, the second‐step microphase separation is induced between PS and PI as toluene evaporates gradually during solvent‐cast process. Since the kinetic barrier of transition from cylinder to gyroid is higher than that from cylinder to OTDD, the metastable OTDD is formed.

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Acute pressure changes in the brain are correlated with MR elastography stiffness measurements: initial feasibility in an in vivo large animal model
Authors: Arani Arvin , Min Hoon‐Ki , Fattahi Nikoo , Wetjen Nicholas M. , Trzasko Joshua D. , Manduca Armando , Jack Clifford R. , Lee Kendall H. , Ehman Richard L. , Huston John
Published: May 2017

Purpose

The homeostasis of intracranial pressure (ICP) is of paramount importance for maintaining normal brain function. A noninvasive technique capable of making direct measurements of ICP currently does not exist. MR elastography (MRE) is capable of noninvasively measuring brain tissue stiffness in vivo, and may act as a surrogate to measure ICP. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of changing ICP on brain stiffness using MRE in a swine model.

Methods

Baseline MRE measurements were obtained, and then catheters were surgically placed into the left and right lateral ventricles of three animals. ICP was systematically increased over the range of 0 to 55 millimeters mercury (mmHg), and stiffness measurements were made using brain MRE at vibration frequencies of 60 hertz (Hz), 90 Hz, 120 Hz, and 150 Hz.

Results

A significant linear correlation between stiffness and ICP in the cross‐subject comparison was observed for all tested vibrational frequencies (P ≤ 0.01). The 120 Hz (0.030 ± 0.004 kilopascal (kPa)/mmHg, P < 0.0001) and 150 Hz (0.031 ± 0.008 kPa/mmHg, P = 0.01) vibrational frequencies had nearly identical slopes, which were approximately two‐ to three‐fold higher than the 90 Hz (0.017 ± 0.002 kPa/mmHg, P < 0.0001) and 60 Hz (0.009 ± 0.002 kPa/mmHg, P = 0.001) slopes, respectively.

Conclusion

In this study, MRE demonstrated the potential for noninvasive measurement of changes in ICP. Magn Reson Med 79:1043–1051, 2018. © 2017 The Authors Magnetic Resonance in Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution‐NonCommercial‐NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non‐commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.
Organizing pneumonia as an extraintestinal manifestation of Crohn's disease in a child
Authors: Inoue Kenji , Kusunoki Takashi , Fujii Tatsuya
Published: May 2017

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder with an unknown etiology that commonly involves the gastrointestinal tract, and bronchopulmonary manifestations only occur in 0.4% of cases. There have not been any reports about pulmonary involvement in pediatric CD patients. We experienced a 14‐year‐old boy with Crohn's disease diagnosed with organizing pneumonia by chest CT‐guided biopsy examination. His pneumonia was intractable despite the administration of multiple antibiotics, and steroid therapy was very effective. In pediatric patients with CD whose lung disease does not respond to antibiotics, OP should be considered as a possible diagnosis.
On the location dynamics of highly educated people migrating to peripheral regions of Denmark
Authors: Hansen Høgni Kalsø , Aner Louise G.
Published: May 2017

Since the late 1990s, the concentration of economic growth has increased in the urban areas of Denmark while peripheral regions of the country struggle with stagnating or decreasing population and increasing unemployment rates. This paper analyses the migration patterns and motives of highly educated people who relocate from urban areas to settle in Denmark's peripheral regions. The study makes a novel empirical contribution to the counter urbanisation literature by using socioeconomic microdata along with interviews to identify trends and motives of counter‐urban migration among highly educated people. The article demonstrates that counter‐urban migration decreases in times of financial crisis, and that the motives for highly educated people to relocate to peripheral areas relate to their preferences for housing conditions, local natural, and social amenities, together with job opportunities. Additionally, age and household composition play important roles in the motives for relocating. While families with children perceive the new location as permanent, the young and newly graduated perceive it as a stepping stone for a future career.
The “three ages” of left‐behind Moroccan wives: Status, decision‐making power, and access to resources
Authors: Lenoël Audrey
Published: May 2017

The migration and development literature increasingly interrogates the effects of emigration on sociocultural change in the countries of origin, especially in relation to gender relations. Various studies conducted in the context of patriarchal societies have posited that male emigration may result in an empowerment of the women staying behind, with very mixed conclusions. Analysing in‐depth interviews with 12 women living in a southwestern Moroccan town in a region of historic emigration to France, this contribution seeks to further this investigation by considering how migration and remittances impact women's bargaining and decision‐making power within the household left behind. It examines how migration affects what is generally regarded as an enabling factor of women's empowerment, that is, the process of household nuclearisation through which migrants' wives can emancipate themselves from the control of their in‐laws and gain more control over finances. It shows how women's power and status change over time, following the important stages of the domestic cycle and the migratory trajectory of their husbands. This paper distinguishes three “ages” for wives left behind, corresponding to different power configurations in the local and transnational households. In contrast with the empowerment hypothesis, the interviews suggest that migration may actually contribute to the resilience of the traditional extended household structure rather than its demise. Overall, this contribution argues that migration systems predicated on a patriarchal social and family order are unlikely to bring about sustainable women's empowerment in the origin household and community.
Concise Review: Wharton's Jelly: The Rich, but Enigmatic, Source of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells
Authors: Davies John E. , Walker John T. , Keating Armand
Published: May 2017

The umbilical cord has become an increasingly used source of mesenchymal stromal cells for preclinical and, more recently, clinical studies. Despite the increased activity, several aspects of this cell population have been under-appreciated. Key issues are that consensus on the anatomical structures within the cord is lacking, and potentially different populations are identified as arising from a single source. To help address these points, we propose a histologically based nomenclature for cord structures and provide an analysis of their developmental origins and composition. Methods of cell isolation from Wharton's jelly are discussed and the immunophenotypic and clonal characteristics of the cells are evaluated. The perivascular origin of the cells is also addressed. Finally, clinical trials with umbilical cord cells are briefly reviewed. Interpreting the outcomes of the many clinical studies that have been undertaken with mesenchymal stromal cells from different tissue sources has been challenging, for many reasons. It is, therefore, particularly important that as umbilical cord cells are increasingly deployed therapeutically, we strive to better understand the derivation and functional characteristics of the cells from this important tissue source.
Solvent‐Free Oxidative Synthesis of 2‐Substituted Benzimidazoles by Immobilized Cobalt Oxide Nanoparticles on Alumina/Silica Support
Authors: Reddy Panyala L. , Arundhathi Racha , Tripathi Mohit , Chauhan Prashant , Yan Ning , Rawat Diwan S.
Published: May 2017

Highly active cobalt oxide nanoparticles supported on alumina/silica (Co3O4@Al2O3/SiO2) were prepared by wet impregnation method and successfully employed for the solvent free (neat) oxidative coupling of benzyl alcohols/amines with o‐phenylenediamines for the synthesis of 2‐substituted benzimidazoles. The catalyst prepared during this study was characterized by various techniques like XRD, XPS, HR‐TEM, SEM‐EDAX, BET surface area and ICP‐AES analysis. Porous alumina/silica (99:1) having high surface area served as a protective heterogeneous support on which the Co3O4 nanoparticles (size 2–3.5 nm) acted as an active catalyst for air‐mediated oxidative coupling. The present methodology offers significant advantages for the preparation of bioactive benzimidazole scaffold and avoids the use of hazardous and toxic reagents/solvents, oxidizing agents and elevated reaction temperatures. Moreover, the catalyst can be recovered by centrifugation and its recyclability was demonstrated up to six successive runs without any appreciable loss in the catalytic activity
Highly Efficient Cofactors of Cu2+‐Dependent Deoxyribozymes
Authors: Han Haiyan , Huang Qiping , Liu Hui , Zhang Jingyan
Published: May 2017

Deoxyribozymes can catalyze various types of reactions mostly with metal ions as their cofactors. Here we demonstrate that three copper compounds with thiosemicarbazide or semicarbazide ligands, are highly active cofactors of Cu2+‐dependent deoxyribozymes without any additional reagents. The maximum catalytic rate constant of the deoxyribozyme with dichloro(di‐thiosemicarbazide)copper as a cofactor is ∼25‐fold faster than Cu2+ cofactor under the same reaction condition. Using a variety of spectroscopies, electrochemistry, and mutagenesis, we demonstrate that both the three‐dimensional structure and redox potential of the copper center of the cofactors are essential to the catalysis of deoxyribozymes. The cofactor interacts with the enzyme‐substrate complex forming a ternary enzyme‐substrate‐cofactor complex, which is confirmed by changing the structure of the enzyme‐substrate complex through varying the temperature, or mutating the active site of the enzyme and conserved site of the substrate. The result suggests that Cu2+‐dependent deoxyribozyme requires a well‐defined active site to carry out the catalysis proficiently.
Ag(I) Catalyzed Cascade Approach to 2‐(α‐Hydroxyacyl)pyrroles
Authors: Gandhi Soniya , Baire Beeraiah
Published: May 2017

A mild cascade approach for the generation of 2‐(α‐hydroxyacyl)pyrroles under Ag(I) catalysis has been reported. This strategy involves a 5‐exo‐dig cyclization of insitu generated imines from 6‐hydroxyhex‐2‐en‐4‐ynals and primary amines followed by oxidation. The reaction is very general for propargylic alcohols, tethers and primary amines. Efficient synthesis of core structures of pyrrole based bioactive natural products have also been achieved. Control experiments revealed the fact that, presence of excess oxygen and water may favor the competitive formation of the furans over the pyrroles.
Solid‐State NIR‐Luminescence of 1H‐pyrido[1,2,3‐de]quinoxalini‐4‐ium Cationic Dyes.
Authors: Laramée‐Milette Baptiste , Ferreira Janaina G. , Hanan Garry S.
Published: May 2017

New dyes bearing a quinoxalinium core were readily prepared by a simple reaction between 8‐aminoquinoline and the appropriate α‐bromoketone. The intense absorption of the dyes past 500 nm suggest that they could potentially act as efficient organic chromophores. The solid‐state structural characterization revealed that the dyes tends to pack in a head‐to‐tail fashion, where intermolecular pi‐pi interactions lead to the formation of head‐to‐tail assemblies. Most of the dyes were found to be emissive in solution and in the solid‐state (500‐700 nm). Calculations at the density functional theory (DFT) level along with time‐dependent DFT (TD‐DFT) calculations confirmed the ILCT nature of the electronic processes.
Imaging mass spectrometry for metabolites: technical progress, multimodal imaging, and biological interactions
Authors: Ho Ying‐Ning , Shu Lin‐Jie , Yang Yu‐Liang
Published: May 2017

Imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) allows the study of the spatial distribution of small molecules in biological samples. IMS is able to identify and quantify chemicals in situ from whole tissue sections to single cells. Both vacuum mass spectrometry (MS) and ambient MS systems have advanced considerably over the last decade; however, some limitations are still hard to surmount. Sample pretreatment, matrix or solvent choices, and instrument improvement are the key factors that determine the successful application of IMS to different samples and analytes. IMS with innovative MS analyzers, powerful MS spectrum databases, and analysis tools can efficiently dereplicate, identify, and quantify natural products. Moreover, multimodal imaging systems and multiple MS‐based systems provide additional structural, chemical, and morphological information and are applied as complementary tools to explore new fields. IMS has been applied to reveal interactions between living organisms at molecular level. Recently, IMS has helped solve many previously unidentifiable relations between bacteria, fungi, plants, animals, and insects. Other significant interactions on the chemical level can also be resolved using expanding IMS techniques. WIREs Syst Biol Med 2017, 9:e1387. doi: 10.1002/wsbm.1387

This article is categorized under:

Analytical and Computational Methods > Analytical Methods

Laboratory Methods and Technologies > Imaging

Laboratory Methods and Technologies > Metabolomics
Enhanced Recovery After Surgery: Can We Rely on the Key Factors or Do We Need the Bel Ensemble?
Authors: Jurt Jonas , Slieker Juliette , Frauche Pierre , Addor Valerie , Solà Josep , Demartines Nicolas , Hübner Martin
Published: May 2017

Background

The success of enhanced recovery (ERAS) pathways depends on the actual application of the intended protocol (adherence), but its full implementation remains challenging. In order to potentially streamline the pathway, it is indispensable to know the impact of individual items and the entire protocol on clinical outcomes.

Methods

Retrospective analysis including all consecutive colorectal ERAS patients since implementation (May 2011) until February 2014; demographics, adherence and outcomes were retrieved from a prospectively maintained database. Primary outcome was the impact of individual item and of the entire protocol on complications (overall and major) and length of hospital stay. Statistical analysis included logistic multivariate regression and adjustment for confounding factors.

Results

There were 328 patients with complete data sets analyzed. A minimally invasive approach [odd ratio (OR) 0.62; confidence interval (CI) 0.4–0.9] was significantly associated with less overall complications. In contrast, the use of prophylactic nasogastric tubes (OR 3.18; CI 1.4–7.4), prophylactic abdominal and pelvic drains (OR 1.96; 1.2–3.2) and intraoperative thoracic epidural analgesia (OR 1.76; CI 1.3–2.4) were associated with more overall complications. Minimal invasive approach was further associated with reduced hospital stay (OR 0.5; CI 0.4–0.7) and less major complications (OR 0.58; CI 0.4–0.8). Higher adherence to the entire ERAS protocol was associated with significantly less complications (P < 0.001) and shorter hospital stay (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Minimally invasive surgery was the single most important component of the ERAS pathway while nasogastric tubes, drains and epidurals should be avoided. Overall, increasing adherence with the protocol was associated with better outcomes and should be the goal.
Perianal leiomyoma
Authors: Santos Bruna Fernandes dos , Boarini Lucas Rodrigues , Oliveira Pietro Dadalto , Formiga Fernanda Belotti , Formiga Galdino José Sitonio , Costa Anderson da Costa Lino
Published: May 2017

Leiomyomas are smooth muscle tumors and may occur in places where these fibers are present, while the anorectal location is rare. They are commonly incidental imaging findings and in most cases, patients are asymptomatic. The therapeutic recommendation is tumor resection and postoperative follow-up. Case report: a 38-year-old Black woman had, one year ago, a swelling in perianal right region, which showed slow and progressive growth. She denied bowel habit alterations, local pain, hematochezia, or tenesmus. Proctologic examination showed a fibroelastic, regular, mobile, painless nodule measuring 10 cm at its largest diameter in the right perianal region, next to the anal verge. The soft tissue ultrasound image identified a solid, hypoechoic, and discreetly vascularized nodule in the perianal, superficial right gluteal region that did not reach the adjacent muscles. A complete resection of perineal tumor was carried out in the ventral position. Histological and immunohistochemical analyses disclosed a leiomyoma with a positive finding for actin smooth muscle and negative for desmin. She is currently asymptomatic and undergoing outpatient follow-up.
The impact of colostomy on the patient's life
Authors: Campos Karis de , Bot Luiz Henrique Benites , Petroianu Andy , Rebelo Priscila Argento , Souza Angela Alves Correia de , Panhoca Ivone
Published: May 2017

Purpose To evaluate the emotional, psychological, sexual, social, and professional impact, before and after surgery, on individuals submitted to a colostomy.

Methods The study was carried out in two stages, with the participation of 15 individuals. First, we evaluated the emotional, psychic, sexual, social, and professional aspects of their lives, in the preoperative period of colostomy surgery. After that, the same aspects were evaluated six months after the surgery. This evaluation was based on the application of a questionnaire with 16 objective questions.

Results Of the interviewees, 53.64% decreased their willingness to go out and do activities outside their homes, with a statistical significance of p = 0.001. Regarding the environment, 53.85% of the interviewees showed a perception of worsening of the environment. About physical activity, 66.65% showed a difference in the performance of physical activity after colostomy, being statistically significant, with p = 0.001. The sports environment did not change in 50% of the participants. Patient sexuality showed a significant decline with statistical significance (p = 0.008).

Conclusion The impact that the colostomy generated on the patients’ lives, regarding the evaluated aspects, was perceptible, being of great importance the careful indication of this procedure to the patient.
Examining the utility of the Hamilton early warning scores (HEWS) at triage: Retrospective pilot study in a Canadian emergency department
Authors: Skitch Steven , Tam Benjamin , Xu Michael , McInnis Laura , Vu Anthony , Fox-Robichaud Alison
Published: May 2017

Objectives

Early warning scores use vital signs to identify patients at risk of critical illness. The current study examines the Hamilton Early Warning Score (HEWS) at emergency department (ED) triage among patients who experienced a critical event during their hospitalization. HEWS was also evaluated as a predictor of sepsis.

Methods

The study population included admissions to two hospitals over a 6-month period. Cases experienced a critical event defined by unplanned intensive care unit admission, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or death. Controls were randomly selected from the database in a 2-to-1 ratio to match cases on the burden of comorbid illness. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate HEWS as a predictor of the likelihood of critical deterioration and sepsis.

Results

The sample included 845 patients, of whom 270 experienced a critical event; 89 patients were excluded because of missing vitals. An ROC analysis indicated that HEWS at ED triage had poor discriminative ability for predicting the likelihood of experiencing a critical event 0.62 (95% CI 0.58-0.66). HEWS had a fair discriminative ability for meeting criteria for sepsis 0.77 (95% CI 0.72-0.82) and good discriminative ability for predicting the occurrence of a critical event among septic patients 0.82 (95% CI 0.75-0.90).

Conclusion

This study indicates that HEWS at ED triage has limited utility for identifying patients at risk of experiencing a critical event. However, HEWS may allow earlier identification of septic patients. Prospective studies are needed to further delineate the utility of the HEWS to identify septic patients in the ED.
Three-dimensional visualization of the interaction of a vortex ring with a stratified interface
Authors: Olsthoorn Jason , Dalziel Stuart B.
Published: May 2017

The study of vortex-ring-induced stratified mixing has long played a key role in understanding externally forced stratified turbulent mixing. While several studies have investigated the dynamical evolution of such a system, this study presents an experimental investigation of the mechanical evolution of these vortex rings, including the stratification-modified three-dimensional instability. The aim of this paper is to understand how vortex rings induce mixing of the density field. We begin with a discussion of the Reynolds and Richardson number dependence of the vortex-ring interaction using two-dimensional particle image velocimetry measurements. Then, through the use of modern imaging techniques, we reconstruct from an experiment the full three-dimensional time-resolved velocity field of a vortex ring interacting with a stratified interface. This work agrees with many of the previous two-dimensional experimental studies, while providing insight into the three-dimensional instabilities of the system. Observations indicate that the three-dimensional instability has a similar wavenumber to that found for the unstratified vortex-ring instability at later times. We determine that the time scale associated with this instability growth has an inverse Richardson number dependence. Thus, the time scale associated with the instability is different from the time scale of interface recovery, possibly explaining the significant drop in mixing efficiency at low Richardson numbers. The structure of the underlying instability is a simple displacement mode of the vorticity field.
A new model of respiration in blastoid (Echinodermata) hydrospires based on computational fluid dynamic simulations of virtual 3D models
Authors: Waters Johnny A. , White Lyndsie E. , Sumrall Colin D. , Nguyen Bonnie K.
Published: May 2017

Hydrospires are internal structures in blastoids that primarily served a respiratory function. Historically, hydrospires have been modeled as passive-flow respiratory structures with a vertical orientation. This project constructed virtual 3D models of blastoids from legacy acetate peel collections at the Naturalis Museum in the Netherlands. Computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations of the blastoid models reconstructed in living position indicated that hydrospires likely were oriented horizontally when the blastoid was in feeding mode in current velocities>0.5 cm/s to 10 cm/s. In this range of current velocities, passive water flow through the hydrospires did not produce conditions optimized for efficient gas exchange. However, optimal water flow through the hydrospires could be achieved if the excurrent velocity of water exiting the hydrospire through the spiracle was approximately one-half the velocity of ambient environmental currents. Maintaining such a ratio in the dynamic current systems in which blastoids lived suggests that cilia-driven active water flow through the hydrospires is a better model for optimizing respiratory effectiveness.
Hydrospire morphology and implications for blastoid phylogeny
Authors: Bauer Jennifer E. , Sumrall Colin D. , Waters Johnny A.
Published: May 2017

The external expression of hydrospires in blastoids has provided a basis for major and minor group classification in the clade for over a century. Unfortunately, the complete anatomy of the hydrospires has never been comprehensively studied. This study examined and described the internal hydrospires of six spiraculate species by digitally extracting hydrospire data from a legacy data set of serial acetate peels. Although only six models have been currently generated, hydrospire morphology is variable both within and between previously escribed spiraculate families. Hydrospires were found to possess novel characters that were incorporated into a phylogenetic analysis of the six digitally modeled species and several related species. The addition of internal morphology into the phylogenetic analysis provides further resolution between groupings of blastoids.
Post-Traumatic Growth Following Politically Motivated Acts of Violence: 10 Years Post Injury
Authors: Hawley Carolyn E. , Armstrong Amy J. , Shiri Shimon , Czarnota Jenna , Blumenfeld Sara , Schwartz Isabella , Meiner Zeev
Published: May 2017

The study explored posttraumatic growth (PTG) and its relationship with the quality of life (QOL), posttraumatic stress, and resilience among survivors of terror attacks over 10 years post-injury. Participants were patients of Hadassah Medical Center, Israel, who were injured in terror attacks between 2000 and 2004 during the second Intifada. Variables of interest were obtained from a survey and patients' medical files. In total, 42 patients participated, 66% were men, and the average age was 41.4 years. Multivariate analysis was utilized to predict PTG from a variety of demographic variables including gender, ethnicity, relationship status, age, education, income, religiosity, and injury/disability type. Additional primary variables of study included current levels of QOL, posttraumatic stress, and resilience. Results revealed that married/partnered individuals had higher levels of PTG than divorced or single individuals. Findings suggest that social support following trauma is important for PTG and should be prioritized in recovery interventions with trauma survivors.
OPTIMALLY REPLACING MULTIPLE SYSTEMS IN A SHARED ENVIRONMENT
Authors: Abdul-Malak David T. , Kharoufeh Jeffrey P.
Published: May 2017

We consider the problem of optimally replacing multiple stochastically degrading systems using condition-based maintenance. Each system degrades continuously at a rate that is governed by the current state of the environment, and each fails once its own cumulative degradation threshold is reached. The objective is to minimize the sum of the expected total discounted setup, preventive replacement, reactive replacement, and downtime costs over an infinite horizon. For each environment state, we prove that the cost function is monotone nondecreasing in the cumulative degradation level. Additionally, under mild conditions, these monotonicity results are extended to the entire state space. In the case of a single system, we establish that monotone policies are optimal. The monotonicity results help facilitate a tractable, approximate model with state- and action-space transformations and a basis-function approximation of the action-value function. Our computational study demonstrates that high-quality, near-optimal policies are attainable and significantly outperform heuristic policies.
Improving the Electability of Atheists in the United States: A Preliminary Examination
Authors: Franks Andrew S.
Published: May 2017

Decades of polling data and recent research have demonstrated the magnitude of anti-atheist prejudice in the United States and its relationship to perceptions of atheists as immoral and untrustworthy. Across three studies, I examine the malleability of bias against atheists in the context of election politics. Informational manipulations of an atheist candidate's stated values (Study 1) and popularity (Study 2) improve participants’ perceptions of the morality and trustworthiness of and likelihood of voting for that atheist candidate, but religiously affiliated participants still prefer a similarly situated Christian candidate. Study 3 shows that participants are more likely to vote for an atheist when the opposing candidate was described as a theocrat. Implications of this research for ameliorating the under-representation of non-religious individuals in government are discussed.