bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Homogenization‐based design of surface textures in hydrodynamic lubrication
Authors: Waseem A. , Temizer İ. , Kato J. , Terada K.
Published: March 2016

An optimization framework is developed for surface texture design in hydrodynamic lubrication. The microscopic model of the lubrication interface is based on the Reynolds equation, and the macroscopic response is characterized through homogenization. The microscale setting assumes a unilateral periodic texture but implicitly accounts for the bilateral motion of the surfaces. The surface texture in a unit cell is described indirectly through the film thickness, which is allowed to vary between prescribed minimum and maximum values according to a morphology variable distribution that is obtained through the filtering of a design variable. The design and morphology variables are discretized using either element‐wise constant values or through first‐order elements. In addition to sharp textures, which are characterized by pillars and holes that induce sudden transitions between extreme film thickness values, the framework can also attain a variety of non‐standard smoothly varying surface textures with a macroscopically isotropic or anisotropic response. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The prevalence and validity of high, biologically implausible values of weight, height, and BMI among 8.8 million children
Authors: Freedman David S. , Lawman Hannah G. , Pan Liping , Skinner Asheley C. , Allison David B. , McGuire Lisa C. , Blanck Heidi M.
Published: March 2016

Objective

This study assessed the prevalence and consistency of high values of weight, height, and BMI considered to be biologically implausible (BIV) using cut points proposed by WHO among 8.8 million low‐income children (13.7 million observations).

Methods

Cross‐sectional and longitudinal analyses were performed among 2‐ to 4‐year‐olds who were examined from 2008 through 2011.

Results

Overall, 2.7% of the body size measurements were classified as BIVs; 95% of these BIVs were very high. Among the subset of children (3.6 million) examined more than once, most of those who initially had a high weight or BMI BIV also had a high BIV at the second examination; odds ratios were >250. Based on several alternative classifications of BIVs, the current cut points likely underestimate the prevalence of obesity by about 1%.

Conclusions

Many of the extremely high values of body size currently flagged as BIVs are unlikely to be errors. Increasing the z‐score cut points or using a percentage of the maximum values in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, could improve the balance between removing probable errors and retaining those that are likely correct.
The impact of continued intervention on weight: Five‐year results from the weight loss maintenance trial
Authors: Coughlin Janelle W. , Brantley Phillip J. , Champagne Catherine M. , Vollmer William M. , Stevens Victor J. , Funk Kristine , Dalcin Arlene T. , Jerome Gerald J. , Myers Valerie H. , Tyson Crystal , Batch Bryan C. , Charleston Jeanne , Loria Catherine M. , Bauck Alan , Hollis Jack F. , Svetkey Laura P. , Appel Lawrence J. ,   the Weight Loss Maintenance Collaborative Research Group
Published: March 2016

Objective

In the Weight Loss Maintenance (WLM) Trial, a personal contact (PC) intervention sustained greater weight loss relative to a self‐directed (SD) group over 30 months. This study investigated the effects of continued intervention over an additional 30 months and overall weight change across the entire WLM Trial.

Methods

WLM had 3 phases. Phase 1 was a 6‐month weight loss program. In Phase 2, those who lost ≥4 kg were randomized to a 30‐month maintenance trial. In Phase 3, PC participants (n = 196, three sites) were re‐randomized to no further intervention (PC‐Control) or continued intervention (PC‐Active) for 30 more months; 218 SD participants were also followed.

Results

During Phase 3, weight increased 1.0 kg in PC‐Active and 0.5 kg in PC‐Control (mean difference 0.6 kg; 95% CI:−1.4 to 2.7; P = 0.54). Mean weight change over the entire study was −3.2 kg in those originally assigned to PC (PC‐Combined) and −1.6 kg in SD (mean difference −1.6 kg; 95% CI:−3.0 to −0.1; P = 0.04).

Conclusions

After 30 months of the PC maintenance intervention, continuation for another 30 months provided no additional benefit. However, across the entire study, weight loss was slightly greater in those originally assigned to PC.
Body shape, adiposity index, and mortality in postmenopausal women: Findings from the Women's Health Initiative
Authors: Thomson Cynthia A. , Garcia David O. , Wertheim Betsy C. , Hingle Melanie D. , Bea Jennifer W. , Zaslavsky Oleg , Caire‐Juvera Graciela , Rohan Thomas , Vitolins Mara Z. , Thompson Patricia A. , Lewis Cora E.
Published: March 2016

Objective

Studies evaluating the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and mortality demonstrate a U‐shaped association. To expand, this study evaluated the relationship between adiposity indices, a body shape index (ABSI) and body adiposity index (BAI), and mortality in 77,505 postmenopausal women.

Methods

A prospective cohort analysis was conducted in the Women's Health Initiative to ascertain the independent relationships between adiposity indices and mortality in order to inform on the clinical usefulness of alternate measures of mortality risk. ABSI (waist circumference (cm)/[BMI2/3 × height (cm)1/2]), BAI (hip circumference (cm)/[height (m)1.5] ‐ 18), weight, BMI, and waist circumference (WC) were evaluated in relation to mortality risk using adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression models.

Results

ABSI showed a linear association with mortality (HR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.28‐1.47 for quintile 5 vs. 1) while BMI and BAI had U‐shaped relationships with HR of 1.30; 95% CI, 1.20‐1.40 for obesity II/III BMI and 1.06, 95% CI, 0.99‐1.13 for BAI. Higher WC (HR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.13‐1.29 for quintile 5 vs. 1) showed relationships similar to BMI.

Conclusions

ABSI appears to be a clinically useful measure for estimating mortality risk, perhaps more so than BAI and BMI in postmenopausal women.
Powder binders used for the manufacturing of wind turbine rotor blades. Part 1. Characterization of resin‐binder interaction and preform properties
Authors: Schmidt Stefan , Mahrholz Thorsten , Kühn Alexandra , Wierach Peter
Published: March 2016

Glass fiber reinforced plastics (GFRP) are the predominant materials used for wind turbine rotor blades. To manufacture blades in a vacuum‐assisted resin infusion process (VARI), a binder is needed for fiber fixation and preform stability. Moreover, solubility and mechanical compatibility of the binder and the epoxy resin matrix are important parameters for processability and the mechanical properties of the composite. The present study therefore characterized and evaluated five chemically different binders with regard to their solubility in a rotor‐blade‐proven epoxy resin using microscopy, viscometry, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The solubility tests enabled a binder‐classification into critically soluble (KE‐60, Epikote 05390), strongly soluble (Grilon MS), partially soluble (D 2433E), and nonsoluble (K‐140) binder types. In subsequent mechanical and thermo‐mechanical testing of resin‐binder plates, the strongly soluble binder Grilon MS showed the best performance, followed by the nonsoluble binder K‐140 and the partially soluble binder D 2433E. These results suggest that binders developing no interfaces within the resin should be preferred. Furthermore, interply adhesion for these three binders was investigated in a peeling test using fiber preforms. It was found that differences in peel strength might be controlled predominantly by different kinds of binder layer formations, but also to some extent by the different binder‐fiber interaction (binder and fiber sizing correlation). Best performance was shown by D 2433E, followed by Grilon MS and K‐140. All in all, the soluble binder Grilon MS exhibited the best results in mechanical testing of resin‐binder plates and is therefore expected to also show the best mechanical performance in GFRP laminates. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:708–717, 2018. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers
Structural properties of the multiwall carbon nanotubes/poly(methyl methacrylate) nanocomposites: Effect of the multiwall carbon nanotubes covalent functionalization
Authors: Brković Danijela V. , Pavlović Vladimir B. , Pavlović Vera P. , Obradović Nina , Mitrić Miodrag , Stevanović Sanja , Vlahović Branislav , Uskoković Petar S. , Marinković Aleksandar D.
Published: March 2016

The structural characteristics of polymer nanocomposites with functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in poly(methyl methacrylate) matrix have been studied in relation to nanofiller loading and surface functionality. Different functional groups have been covalently attached on the MWCNTs sidewalls in order to induce interfacial interactions at nanofiller/polymer interface, which resulted in an improved nanomechanical features. Structural properties of nanocomposites, studied with XRD and Raman analysis, indicated the most pronounced decrease in a degree of amorphousness for samples containing 0.5 and 1 wt% of MWCNTs functionalized with dapsone (dapson‐MWCNT) and diethyl malonate (dem‐MWCNT). SEM and TEM micrographs confirmed improved dispersibility of the MWCNTs modified with aromatic structure of dapsone inside PMMA matrix. A significant increase in a glass transition temperature of over 60°C has been found for the 1 wt% dapson‐MWCNT nanocomposite. Additional modification of dapson‐MWCNT by further increasing aromaticity and voluminosity of attached moiety (fid‐MWCNT), showed 30°C increases in a glass transition temperature at 4 wt% of nanofiller loading, which is similar to shift of 37°C with loading of MWCNTs modified with ester terminal group. A maximum increase of 56% of reduced modulus and 86% of hardness was obtained for 1 wt% loading of dapson‐MWCNT nanofiller. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:E472–E489, 2017. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers
MALDI mass spectrometry imaging of N‐glycans on tibial cartilage and subchondral bone proteins in knee osteoarthritis
Authors: Briggs Matthew T. , Kuliwaba Julia S. , Muratovic Dzenita , Everest‐Dass Arun V. , Packer Nicolle H. , Findlay David M. , Hoffmann Peter
Published: March 2016

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non‐invasive technique routinely used to investigate pathological changes in knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients. MRI uniquely reveals zones of the most severe change in the subchondral bone (SCB) in OA, called bone marrow lesions (BMLs). BMLs have diagnostic and prognostic significance in OA, but MRI does not provide a molecular understanding of BMLs. Multiple N‐glycan structures have been observed to play a pivotal role in the OA disease process. We applied matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) of N‐glycans to formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded (FFPE) SCB tissue sections from patients with knee OA, and liquid chromatography‐electrospray ionization‐tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐ESI‐MS/MS) was conducted on consecutive sections to structurally characterize and correlate with the N‐glycans seen by MALDI‐MSI. The application of this novel MALDI‐MSI protocol has enabled the first steps to spatially investigate the N‐glycome in the SCB of knee OA patients.
Polyisobutylene‐paclitaxel conjugates with pendant carboxylic acids and polystyrene chains: Towards multifunctional stent coatings with slow drug release
Authors: Trant John F. , Abd Rabo Moustafa Mahmoud M. , Sran Inderpreet , Gillies Elizabeth R.
Published: March 2016

Drug‐eluting stents are used in the treatment of atherosclerosis, where the incorporation of anti‐proliferative or anti‐inflammatory drugs decreases the rate of restenosis, the recurrence of artery narrowing. However, these stents can suffer from limitations such as drug depletion and delamination of the drug‐eluting coating from the stent surface. Described here is an approach aimed at addressing these issues. Starting from a maleic anhydride adduct of polyisobutylene (PIB) prepared from butyl rubber, ring opening using paclitaxel (PTX) or a combination of PTX and polystyrene (PS) afforded covalent conjugates of PTX and PIB or PIB‐PS graft copolymers bearing pendant carboxylic acids. When coated on stainless steel, the drug release was slower than that from a control coating that ressembles a clinical formulation comprising a physical mixture of a PS‐PIB‐PS triblock copolymer (SIBS) and PTX. The PTX conjugates also exhibited enhanced adhesion to stainless steel and increased tensile strength in comparison with the starting rubber. Cytotoxicity assays indicated that the materials did not leach toxic levels of PTX into cell culture media. Nevertheless, they were capable of inhibiting the adhesion and proliferation of C2C12 cells on their surfaces. These properties are advantageous for the potential application of the materials as stent coatings. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016, 54, 2209–2219
Electrical bending instability in electrospinning visco‐elastic solutions
Authors: Shariatpanahi S. Peyman , Bonn Daniel , Ejtehadi Mohammad R. , Zad Azam Iraji
Published: March 2016

The electrical bending instability in charged liquid jets is the phenomenon determining the process of electrospinning. A model of this phenomenon is lacking however, mostly due to the complicated interplay between the viscosity and elasticity of the solution. To investigate the bending instability, we performed electrospinning experiments with a solution of polyethylene oxide in water/ethanol. Using a fast camera and sensitive multimeter, we deduced an experimental dispersion relation describing the helix pitch length as a function of surface charge. To understand this relation, we developed a theoretical model for the instability for a wide range of visco‐elastic materials, from conducting to nonconducting. The theoretical dispersion relation shows good agreement with the experimental results. Using the new model, we find that the elastic tension in the visco‐elastic threads plays an important role in triggering the instability. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016, 54, 1036–1042
On the ability of molecular dynamics force fields to recapitulate NMR derived protein side chain order parameters
Authors: O'Brien Evan S. , Wand A. Joshua , Sharp Kim A.
Published: March 2016

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have become a central tool for investigating various biophysical questions with atomistic detail. While many different proxies are used to qualify MD force fields, most are based on largely structural parameters such as the root mean square deviation from experimental coordinates or nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) chemical shifts and residual dipolar couplings. NMR derived Lipari–Szabo squared generalized order parameter (O2) values of amide NH bond vectors of the polypeptide chain were also often employed for refinement and validation. However, with a few exceptions, side chain methyl symmetry axis order parameters have not been incorporated into experimental reference sets. Using a test set of five diverse proteins, the performance of several force fields implemented in the NAMDD simulation package was examined. It was found that simulations employing explicit water implemented using the TIP3 model generally performed significantly better than those using implicit water in reproducing experimental methyl symmetry axis O2 values. Overall the CHARMM27 force field performs nominally better than two implementations of the Amber force field. It appeared that recent quantum mechanics modifications to side chain torsional angles of leucine and isoleucine in the Amber force field have significantly hindered proper motional modeling for these residues. There remained significant room for improvement as even the best correlations of experimental and simulated methyl group Lipari–Szabo generalized order parameters fall below an R2 of 0.8.
Resurfaced cell‐penetrating nanobodies: A potentially general scaffold for intracellularly targeted protein discovery
Authors: Bruce Virginia J. , Lopez‐Islas Monica , McNaughton Brian R.
Published: March 2016

By virtue of their size, functional group diversity, and complex structure, proteins can often recognize and modulate disease‐relevant macromolecules that present a challenge to small‐molecule reagents. Additionally, high‐throughput screening and evolution‐based methods often make the discovery of new protein binders simpler than the analogous small‐molecule discovery process. However, most proteins do not cross the lipid bilayer membrane of mammalian cells. This largely limits the scope of protein therapeutics and basic research tools to those targeting disease‐relevant receptors on the cell surface or extracellular matrix. Previously, researchers have shown that cationic resurfacing of proteins can endow cell penetration. However, in our experience, many proteins are not amenable to such extensive mutagenesis. Here, we report that nanobodies—a small and stable protein that can be evolved to recognize virtually any disease‐relevant receptor—are amenable to cationic resurfacing, which results in cell internalization. Once internalized, these nanobodies access the cytosol. Polycationic resurfacing does not appreciably alter the structure, expression, and function (target recognition) of a previously reported GFP‐binding nanobody, and multiple nanobody scaffolds are amenable to polycationic resurfacing. Given this, we propose that polycationic resurfaced cell‐penetrating nanobodies might represent a general scaffold for intracellularly targeted protein drug discovery.
Efficient Generation and Selection of Virtual Populations in Quantitative Systems Pharmacology Models
Authors: Allen RJ , Rieger TR , Musante CJ
Published: March 2016

Quantitative systems pharmacology models mechanistically describe a biological system and the effect of drug treatment on system behavior. Because these models rarely are identifiable from the available data, the uncertainty in physiological parameters may be sampled to create alternative parameterizations of the model, sometimes termed “virtual patients.” In order to reproduce the statistics of a clinical population, virtual patients are often weighted to form a virtual population that reflects the baseline characteristics of the clinical cohort. Here we introduce a novel technique to efficiently generate virtual patients and, from this ensemble, demonstrate how to select a virtual population that matches the observed data without the need for weighting. This approach improves confidence in model predictions by mitigating the risk that spurious virtual patients become overrepresented in virtual populations.
Numerical investigation of nanoscale double‐gate junctionless MOSFET with drain and source extensions including interfacial defects
Authors: Bentrcia Toufik , Djeffal Fayçal , Arar Djemai , Meguellati M.
Published: March 2016

The use of uniformly doped channel, source and drain regions presents the well‐known problem of the high series resistance associated to the extensions, which degrades the electrical performance of the nanoscale multi‐gate junctionless MOSFETs. Therefore, new designs and accurate investigation of nanoscale double gate junctionless (DGJ) MOSFET including the defects at the interface Si/SiO2 are required for the comprehension of the fundamentals of such device behavior against the ageing phenomenon. Based on 2D numerical investigation of a nanoscale DGJ MOSFET, in the present work a numerical study for I‐V and small signal characteristics, by including both the highly doped extension regions and the interfacial defects, is presented. The investigated design, which is a technologically feasible technique by introducing only one ion implantation step, provides a good solution to improve the device immunity against the interfacial defects under critical conditions, where the channel length is taken equals to 10 nm. In this context, I‐V, analog and linearity characteristics are investigated by an appropriate 2‐D numerical modeling, where the obtained results are compared with those of the conventional DGJ MOSFETs. (© 2016 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Modelling PK/QT relationships from Phase I dose‐escalation trials for drug combinations and developing quantitative risk assessments of clinically relevant QT prolongations
Authors: Sinclair Karen , Kinable Els , Grosch Kai , Wang Jixian
Published: March 2016

In current industry practice, it is difficult to assess QT effects at potential therapeutic doses based on Phase I dose‐escalation trials in oncology due to data scarcity, particularly in combinations trials. In this paper, we propose to use dose‐concentration and concentration‐QT models jointly to model the exposures and effects of multiple drugs in combination. The fitted models then can be used to make early predictions for QT prolongation to aid choosing recommended dose combinations for further investigation. The models consider potential correlation between concentrations of test drugs and potential drug–drug interactions at PK and QT levels. In addition, this approach allows for the assessment of the probability of QT prolongation exceeding given thresholds of clinical significance. The performance of this approach was examined via simulation under practical scenarios for dose‐escalation trials for a combination of two drugs. The simulation results show that invaluable information of QT effects at therapeutic dose combinations can be gained by the proposed approaches. Early detection of dose combinations with substantial QT prolongation is evaluated effectively through the CIs of the predicted peak QT prolongation at each dose combination. Furthermore, the probability of QT prolongation exceeding a certain threshold is also computed to support early detection of safety signals while accounting for uncertainty associated with data from Phase I studies. While the prediction of QT effects is sensitive to the dose escalation process, the sensitivity and limited sample size should be considered when providing support to the decision‐making process for further developing certain dose combinations. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Systematic Review on the Health Effects of Plums (Prunus domestica and Prunus salicina)
Authors: Igwe Ezinne O. , Charlton Karen E.
Published: March 2016

In recent times, plums have been described as foods with health‐promoting properties. Research on the health effects of plum continue to show promising results on its antiinflammatory, antioxidant and memory‐improving characteristics. The increased interest in plum research has been attributed to its high phenolic content, mostly the anthocyanins, which are known to be natural antioxidants.

A systematic review of literature was carried out to summarize the available evidence on the impact of plums (Prunus species; domestica and salicina) on disease risk factors and health outcomes.

A number of databases were searched according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses guidelines for relevant studies on plum health effects in vitro, animal studies and clinical trials.

A total of 73 relevant peer‐reviewed journal articles were included in this review. The level of evidence remains low. Of the 25 human studies, 6 were confirmatory studies of moderate quality, while 19 were exploratory. Plums have been shown to possess antioxidant and antiallergic properties, and consumption is associated with improved cognitive function, bone health parameters and cardiovascular risk factors. Most of the human trials used the dried version of plums rather than fresh fruit, thus limiting translation to dietary messages of the positioning of plums in a healthy diet.

Evidence on the health effect of plums has not been extensively studied, and the available evidence needs further confirmation. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
In situ and ex situ functionalization of nanostructured gallium oxy‐hydroxide with a porphyrin dye
Authors: Pearce Brady L. , Berg Nora G. , Rahn Matthew S. , Ivanisevic Albena
Published: March 2016

The surface attachment of a porphyrin dye to nanocrystalline GaOOH was performed using two routes of solution‐based functionalization. The first method of functionalization utilized an in situ incorporation of dissolved porphyrin salt in solution during the microwave synthesis step. Additionally, synthesized GaOOH nanorods were mixed in porphyrin solution after the microwave process to make an ex situ GaOOH/TTP‐PO­3. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the presence of expected surface species and provided evidence of increased surface coverage of TTP‐PO3 on GaOOH in the ex situ­ GaOOH/TTP‐PO3 as compared to the in situ one. Size and morphology changes were investigated using SEM and, along with analysis of XRD, the in situ samples showed larger crystallite sizes. This was confirmed with PL due to the higher bandgap energy evident in the ex situ GaOOH/TTP‐PO3 compared to the in situ sample. A stability study was performed using fluorescence spectroscopy which indicated no leaching of porphyrin from the in situ GaOOH/TTP‐PO3. However, porphyrin leaching was evident from the ex situ GaOOH/TTP‐PO3 sample. The stability of the in situ GaOOH/TTP‐PO3 makes it attractive for a number of interfacial applications. SCANNING 38:671–683, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Chemistry and electronics of single layer MoS2 domains from photoelectron spectromicroscopy using laboratory excitation sources
Authors: Frégnaux M. , Kim H. , Rouchon D. , Derycke V. , Bleuse J. , Voiry D. , Chhowalla M. , Renault O.
Published: March 2016

In the recent context of emerging two‐dimensional (2D) materials, a comprehensive set of spatially resolved photoelectron spectroscopic techniques providing information ranging from surface chemical states to electronic band structure must be available at the practical level (i.e. from laboratory‐based instrumentation) for a better understanding of their outstanding properties. We highlight recent capabilities of X‐ray PhotoElectron Emission Microscopy (XPEEM) and reciprocal‐space VUV‐PEEM (kPEEM) for addressing this issue, with a report on microscopic analyses of chemical vapor deposited (CVD) molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) domains. These include band structure imaging with event‐counting detection allowing to perform angle‐resolved ultra‐violet photoelectron spectroscopy (ARUPS) in a parallel way with energy resolution of 200 meV and less, and k resolution of 0.05 Å−1. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A multivariate cure model for left‐censored and right‐censored data with application to colorectal cancer screening patterns
Authors: Hagar Yolanda C. , Harvey Danielle J. , Beckett Laurel A.
Published: March 2016

We develop a multivariate cure survival model to estimate lifetime patterns of colorectal cancer screening. Screening data cover long periods of time, with sparse observations for each person. Some events may occur before the study begins or after the study ends, so the data are both left‐censored and right‐censored, and some individuals are never screened (the ‘cured’ population). We propose a multivariate parametric cure model that can be used with left‐censored and right‐censored data. Our model allows for the estimation of the time to screening as well as the average number of times individuals will be screened. We calculate likelihood functions based on the observations for each subject using a distribution that accounts for within‐subject correlation and estimate parameters using Markov chain Monte Carlo methods. We apply our methods to the estimation of lifetime colorectal cancer screening behavior in the SEER‐Medicare data set. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of a diet high in resistant starch on fermentation end‐products of protein and mucin secretion in the colons of pigs
Authors: Zhou Liping , Fang Lingdong , Sun Yue , Su Yong , Zhu Weiyun
Published: March 2016

The fermentation of protein in the hindgut of humans and animals is associated closely with the host health. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of long‐term intake of a diet high in resistant starch (RS) on the fermentation end‐products of protein and mucin secretion in the colons of pigs. Thirty‐six Duroc × Landrace × Large White growing barrows were randomly allocated to corn starch (CS) and raw potato starch (RPS, high in RS) groups. Pigs in the CS group were offered a corn–soybean‐based diet, while pigs in the RPS group were put on a diet in which 230 g/kg (growing) or 280 g/kg (finishing) purified CS was replaced with purified RPS during a 100‐day trial. At the age of 170 days, the digesta and mucosa samples from the colons of pigs were collected for the chemical and gene expression analysis. Results showed that long‐term intake of RPS diet increased crude protein and mucin contents in the colons of pigs (p < 0.05), and decreased total amino acids, ammonia‐nitrogen, tryptamine, tyramine, branched‐chain fatty acid, phenol, cresol, indole, and skatole concentrations (p < 0.05) when compared with the CS diet. Real‐time PCR assay showed that RPS diet up‐regulated the expression of mucin genes MUC4, MUC5AC, and MUC12 in the colons of pigs (p < 0.05). These results suggest that long‐term intake of RS diet may improve the hindgut health by increasing the mucin secretion and reducing the harmful fermentation of protein although causing more nitrogen losses in pigs.
Concise Review: The Bystander Effect: Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Mediated Lung Repair
Authors: Savukinas Ulrika Blank , Enes Sara Rolandsson , Sjöland Annika Andersson , Westergren-Thorsson Gunilla
Published: March 2016

Mesenchymal stem or stromal cells (MSCs), a heterogeneous subset of adult stem/progenitor cells, have surfaced as potential therapeutic units with significant clinical benefit for a wide spectrum of disease conditions, including those affecting the lung. Although MSCs carry both self-renewal and multilineage differentiation abilities, current dogma holds that MSCs mainly contribute to tissue regeneration and repair by modulating the host tissue via secreted cues. Thus, the therapeutic benefit of MSCs is thought to derive from so called bystander effects. The regenerative mechanisms employed by MSCs in the lung include modulation of the immune system as well as promotion of epithelial and endothelial repair. Apart from secreted factors, a number of recent findings suggest that MSCs engage in mitochondrial transfer and shedding of membrane vesicles as a means to enhance tissue repair following injury. Furthermore, it is becoming increasingly clear that MSCs are an integral component of epithelial lung stem cell niches. As such, MSCs play an important role in coupling information from the environment to stem and progenitor populations, such that homeostasis can be ensured even in the face of injury. It is the aim of this review to outline the major mechanisms by which MSCs contribute to lung regeneration, synthesizing recent preclinical findings with data from clinical trials and potential for future therapy.
Targeting IκB kinase β in Adipocyte Lineage Cells for Treatment of Obesity and Metabolic Dysfunctions
Authors: Helsley Robert N. , Sui Yipeng , Park Se-Hyung , Liu Zun , Lee Richard G. , Zhu Beibei , Kern Philip A. , Zhou Changcheng
Published: March 2016

IκB kinase β (IKKβ), a central coordinator of inflammation through activation of nuclear factor-κB, has been identified as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of obesity-associated metabolic dysfunctions. In this study, we evaluated an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) inhibitor of IKKβ and found that IKKβ ASO ameliorated diet-induced metabolic dysfunctions in mice. Interestingly, IKKβ ASO also inhibited adipocyte differentiation and reduced adiposity in high-fat (HF)-fed mice, indicating an important role of IKKβ signaling in the regulation of adipocyte differentiation. Indeed, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genomic deletion of IKKβ in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes blocked these cells differentiating into adipocytes. To further elucidate the role of adipose progenitor IKKβ signaling in diet-induced obesity, we generated mice that selectively lack IKKβ in the white adipose lineage and confirmed the essential role of IKKβ in mediating adipocyte differentiation in vivo. Deficiency of IKKβ decreased HF-elicited adipogenesis in addition to reducing inflammation and protected mice from diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance. Further, pharmacological inhibition of IKKβ also blocked human adipose stem cell differentiation. Our findings establish IKKβ as a pivotal regulator of adipogenesis and suggest that overnutrition-mediated IKKβ activation serves as an initial signal that triggers adipose progenitor cell differentiation in response to HF feeding. Inhibition of IKKβ with antisense therapy may represent as a novel therapeutic approach to combat obesity and metabolic dysfunctions.
Estrogen and ERα enhanced β‐catenin degradation and suppressed its downstream target genes to block the metastatic function of HA22T hepatocellular carcinoma cells via modulating GSK‐3β and β‐TrCP expression
Authors: Chen Yu‐Feng , Velmurugan Bharath Kumar , Wang Hwai‐Lee , Tu Chuan‐Chou , Che Ray‐Jade , Chen Ming‐Cheng , Jen Long‐Bin , Vishwanadha Vijaya Padma , Hsu Hsi‐Hsien , Huang Chih‐Yang
Published: March 2016

In our previous experiments, we found β‐catenin was highly expressed in the tumor area with high invasive ability and poor prognosis. In this study, we have examined the mechanism by which ERα regulates β‐catenin expression as well as the metastasis ability of hepatocellular cancer HA22T cells. To identify whether the anticancer effect of estrogen and ERα is mediated through suppression of β‐catenin expression, we co‐transfected pCMV‐β‐catenin and ERα into HA22T cells, and determined the cell motility by wound healing, invasion, and migration assays. Results showed that estrogen and/or ERα inhibited β‐catenin gene expression and repressed HA22T cell motility demonstrated that similar data was observed in cells expressing the ERα stable clone. Moreover, we examined the protein‐protein interaction between ERα and β‐catenin by immunostain, co‐immunoprecipitation, and Western blotting. E2 enhanced the binding of ERα with β‐catenin and then triggered β‐catenin to bind with E3 ligase (βTrCP) to promote β‐catenin degradation. Finally by employing systematic ChIP studies, we showed ERα can interact directly with the β‐catenin promoter region following E2 treatment. All our results reveal that estrogen and ERα blocked metastatic function of HA22T cells by modulating GSK3β and βTrCP expression and further enhanced β‐catenin degradation and suppressed its downstream target genes. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 32: 519–529, 2017.
Port cities and urban waterfronts: how localized planning ignores water as a connector
Authors: Hein Carola
Published: March 2016

People have redesigned coastlines, creating ports, shaping waterfronts, and building cities to connect water and land. Specialists from many disciplines have explored the function and design of the water–land transition over many centuries. Among them is planning, a discipline that engages both with the functionality of working ports and the design of the waterfront for the urban public. In order to explore the development of working ports and the revitalization of abandoned inner‐city waterfronts since the 1960s, this paper reviews planning and planning history literature in regard to the specific appreciation of water. It first examines the planning of ports and its focus on improving the speed, safety, and logistics, assigning water an industrial role. Second, it reflects on the design of post‐industrial waterfront spaces, which ascribes a more aesthetic and symbolic as well as leisure‐related role to water. Third, it points to the recent reconnection of cruise shipping with inner‐city waterfront redevelopment and the coastline in general. In conclusion, the paper underscores localized perceptions of water in planning literature and the need to recognize how interconnected water systems connect otherwise separated areas along the same coastline. It argues for the integrated planning of port, waterfront, and city in conjunction with a comprehensive study of the environmental and ecological role of water in each of those places, both as a resource they share and, with climate change, a risk to which they must collectively respond. WIREs Water 2016, 3:419–438. doi: 10.1002/wat2.1141

This article is categorized under:

Engineering Water > Planning Water

Human Water > Water as Imagined and Represented
The specification and wiring of mammalian cutaneous low‐threshold mechanoreceptors
Authors: Olson William , Dong Peter , Fleming Michael , Luo Wenqin
Published: March 2016

The mammalian cutaneous low‐threshold mechanoreceptors (LTMRs) are a diverse set of primary somatosensory neurons that function to sense external mechanical force. Generally, LTMRs are composed of Aβ‐LTMRs, Aδ‐LTMRs, and C‐LTMRs, which have distinct molecular, physiological, anatomical, and functional features. The specification and wiring of each type of mammalian cutaneous LTMRs is established during development by the interplay of transcription factors with trophic factor signalling. In this review, we summarize the cohort of extrinsic and intrinsic factors generating the complex mammalian cutaneous LTMR circuits that mediate our tactile sensations and behaviors. WIREs Dev Biol 2016, 5:389–404. doi: 10.1002/wdev.229

This article is categorized under:

Gene Expression and Transcriptional Hierarchies > Cellular Differentiation

Signaling Pathways > Cell Fate Signaling

Nervous System Development > Vertebrates: Regional Development
Demography of Oenocarpus bataua and implications for sustainable harvest of its fruit in western Amazon
Authors: Isaza Carolina , Martorell Carlos , Cevallos Daniela , Galeano Gloria , Valencia Renato , Balslev Henrik
Published: March 2016

Oenocarpus bataua is the seventh most abundant tree in the Amazon and one of the most used palms in the region. The main resource obtained from the species is the fruits that are harvested from wild populations for human consumption. Across its distribution area adults are most frequently felled to obtain the racemes, which may affect the palm's populations. In this paper we studied the demography of two populations of Oenocarpus bataua to assess the harvest potential of its fruits and the density variation in different habitats in the western Amazon to estimate fruit yields in different forest types. Non‐inundated lands held the greatest densities with an average of 11 adults ha−1 (0–132 adults ha−1). The population finite growth rate (λ) in Amacayacu, Colombia, was 0.9103 because of slow growth and low survival of stemless individuals and low recruitment. On the contrary, in Yasuní, Ecuador, we found a growing population with λ = 1.0368. According to our simulations, adult felling reduced transient population growth (λt) in both populations, especially when harvest was frequent even at low intensities. In Amacayacu a simulated harvest of 60 % year−1 of the fruits by climbing did not modify λt substantially, while in Yasuní, a regime of 80 % of annual harvest did not diminish λt below one and the initial number of adults. The results help to understand the demography of useful palms and to address sustainable management. For instance high yields can be obtained by shifting to non‐destructive harvest techniques that can meet the increasing demand and maintain the populations.
Satellite Shows Earth's Magnetic Field Bent During a Solar Storm
Authors: Zastrow Mark
Published: March 2016

When solar storms strike, they weaken Earth's defenses against harmful radiation. New satellite measurements reveal just how much.
Promotion of tumour proliferation, migration and invasion bymiR-92bin targeting RECK in osteosarcoma
Authors: Zhou Zhenhua , Wang Zhiwei , Wei Haifeng , Wu Sujia , Wang Xudong , Xiao Jianru
Published: March 2016

MicroRNAs play important roles in the development of cancers. Although miR-92b has been reported to promote the tumorigenesis of some cancers, its role in osteosarcoma remains unknown. In the present study, we focused on the expression, function and mechanisms of miR-92b in osteosarcoma development. The miRNA miR-92b was up-regulated in osteosarcoma cell lines and tissues; miR-92b up-regulation correlated with poor prognosis in osteosarcoma. Overexpression of miR-92b promoted osteosarcoma cell proliferation, migration and invasion, which was abrogated by miR-92b inhibition. Reversion-inducing, cysteine-rich protein with kazal motifs (RECK) was identified as the direct and functional target of miR-92b in osteosarcoma. Importantly, restoring RECK expression abrogated increases in cell growth, motility and invasiveness induced by miR-92b. RECK was down-regulated in osteosarcoma tissues, and its expression level negatively correlated with miR-92b. Collectively, our results indicate that miR-92b acts as an oncogenic miRNA and may be a therapeutic target in osteosarcoma.
40-Hz Sinusoidal Auditory Steady-State Response and Tone Burst Auditory Brainstem Response Using a Kalman Filter to Determine Thresholds Pre- and Post-Myringotomy With Grommet Tube in Children With Mild, Low-Frequency Conductive Hearing Loss
Authors: Kaf Wafaa A. , Mohamed Enass S. , Elshafiey Hamza
Published: March 2016

Purpose

Accurate estimation of mild, low-frequency hearing loss is difficult in young children. This study aimed to determine the accuracy of 40-Hz sinusoidal auditory steady-state response (sASSR) compared with tone burst auditory brainstem response (TB-ABR) to detect mild, low-frequency hearing loss in children with otitis media with effusion and to measure postoperative thresholds.

Methods

Thresholds at 500 and 4000 Hz were measured behaviorally and electrophysiologically using TB-ABR and 40-Hz sASSR with a Kalman filter in 26 children with otitis media with effusion. Recording was conducted preoperatively and postoperatively while children were actively awake. Repeated measures mixed analyses of variance were conducted to determine effects among measures and the two test frequencies.

Results

Both 40-Hz sASSR and TB-ABR accurately detected preoperative and postoperative thresholds and were within 5–10 dB of the behavioral thresholds at 4000 Hz. At 500 Hz, the mean 40-Hz sASSR threshold was only 5 dB above the behavioral thresholds and 18 dB better than the 500-Hz ABR threshold. Positive correlations were found but not between 40-sASSR and TB-ABR at 500 Hz. Also, the interrater judgment of the response was better for sASSR (89%) than TB-ABR (83%).

Conclusion

The 40-Hz sASSR is more accurate than TB-ABR in determining a mild, low-frequency threshold.
„Kreuzschlitzschraubendreher? – Ich dreh durch!“
Authors: Franken Nicole , Martin Horst , Scheidtmann Klaus
Published: March 2016

Auch Jugendliche können bedingt durch Schlaganfälle oder andere neurologische Ereignisse eine
Aphasie bekommen. Dies bedeutet häufig, dass sie sich von ihren bisherigen Zukunftsplänen
verabschieden und zusammen mit ihren Angehörigen und einem interdisziplinären Reha-Team einen
neuen Lebensentwurf entwickeln müssen. Nachfolgend wird das im Hegau-Jugendwerk Gailingen
entwickelte Konzept „Beruf und Sprache“ (BuS; Abb. 1)
vorgestellt, durch das junge Menschen mit Aphasie (wieder) Ausbildungs- oder Berufsfähigkeit
erlangen können. Exemplarisch wird der Weg einer Patientin vom Erleiden ihres Schlaganfalls bis
ins Berufsleben skizziert.
Determination of the solid surface critical exponent β1 from contact-angle variation on approach to a wetting transition: Cyclohexane/aniline/quartz
Authors: Pallas Norman R.
Published: March 2016

The three-phase contact angle (θ) for the system cyclohexane/aniline/quartz has been measured from drop shapes as a function of temperature on approach to the cyclohexane/aniline upper consolute solution temperature Tc. The experiments employed exacting criteria previously established for thermodynamic-quality measurements at fluid interfaces. A first-order wetting transition from partial wetting to complete wetting was observed at a temperature Tw, 2.12 K below Tc. The contact angle vanishes at Tw, scaling as cos θ ∼ |T − Tc|β1−μ for T < Tw and cos θ = 1.0 for Tw < T < Tc. The experimental results give a value for β1 = 0.74 ± 0.03, in agreement with theoretical calculations. The data clearly rule out higher order contributions to the change in the contact angle near the critical point for this system. These results are in marked contrast to previous measurements on this system from measurements of capillary rise and meniscus curvature.
Mathematical model for self-propelled droplets driven by interfacial tension
Authors: Nagai Ken H. , Tachibana Kunihito , Tobe Yuta , Kazama Masaki , Kitahata Hiroyuki , Omata Seiro , Nagayama Masaharu
Published: March 2016

We propose a model for the spontaneous motion of a droplet induced by inhomogeneity in interfacial tension. The model is derived from a variation of the Lagrangian of the system and we use a time-discretized Morse flow scheme to perform its numerical simulations. Our model can naturally simulate the dynamics of a single droplet, as well as that of multiple droplets, where the volume of each droplet is conserved. We reproduced the ballistic motion and fission of a droplet, and the collision of two droplets was also examined numerically.
Hydrodynamic instabilities of flows involving melting in under-saturated porous media
Authors: Sajjadi M. , Azaiez J.
Published: March 2016

The process of melting in partially saturated porous media is modeled for flow displacements prone to hydrodynamic instabilities due to adverse mobility ratios. The effects of the development of instabilities on the melting process are investigated through numerical simulations as well as analytical solution to unravel the physics of the flow. The effects of melting parameters, namely, the melting potential of the fluid, the rate of heat transfer to the frozen phase, and the saturation of the frozen material along with the parameters defining the viscous forces, i.e., the thermal and solutal log mobility ratios are examined. Results are presented for different scenarios and the enhancement or attenuation of instabilities are discussed based on the dominant physical mechanisms. Beside an extensive qualitative analysis, the performance of different displacement scenarios is compared with respect to the melt production and the extent of contribution of instability to the enhancement of melting. It is shown that the hydrodynamic instabilities tend in general to enhance melting but the rate of enhancement depends on the interplay between the instabilities and melting at the thermal front. A larger melting potential and a smaller saturation of the frozen material tend to increase the contribution of instability to melting.
A new tribological experimental setup to study confined and sheared monolayers
Authors: Fu L. , Favier D. , Charitat T. , Gauthier C. , Rubin A.
Published: March 2016

We have developed an original experimental setup, coupling tribology, and velocimetry experiments together with a direct visualization of the contact. The significant interest of the setup is to measure simultaneously the apparent friction coefficient and the velocity of confined layers down to molecular scale. The major challenge of this experimental coupling is to catch information on a nanometer-thick sheared zone confined between a rigid spherical indenter of millimetric radius sliding on a flat surface at constant speed. In order to demonstrate the accuracy of this setup to investigate nanometer-scale sliding layers, we studied a model lipid monolayer deposited on glass slides. It shows that our experimental setup will, therefore, help to highlight the hydrodynamic of such sheared confined layers in lubrication, biolubrication, or friction on solid polymer.