bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Screening for human papillomavirus‐driven oropharyngeal cancer: Considerations for feasibility and strategies for research
Authors: Kreimer Aimée R. , Shiels Meredith S. , Fakhry Carole , Johansson Mattias , Pawlita Michael , Brennan Paul , Hildesheim Allan , Waterboer Tim
Published: March 2018

The incidence and burden of human papillomavirus (HPV)‐driven oropharyngeal cancer is expected to increase for decades, thus motivating discussions regarding possibilities for screening. This article addresses issues related to the validity and timeliness of screening for HPV‐driven oropharyngeal cancer, and raises important questions, highlights deficits and confusion in the existing literature, and proposes needed steps in the research agenda.
Cancer pain management and the opioid crisis in America: How to preserve hard‐earned gains in improving the quality of cancer pain management
Authors: Paice Judith A.
Published: March 2018

Cancer pain remains a feared consequence of the disease and its treatment. Although prevalent, cancer pain can usually be managed through the skillful application of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions. Unfortunately, access to these therapies has been hampered by interventions designed to contain another serious public health problem: the opioid misuse epidemic. This epidemic and the unintended consequences of efforts to control this outbreak are leading to significant barriers to the provision of cancer pain relief. Oncologists and other professionals treating those with cancer pain will require new knowledge and tools to provide safe and effective pain control while preventing additional cases of substance use disorders (SUDs), helping patients in recovery to maintain sobriety, and guiding those not yet in recovery to seek treatment. How do these 2 serious epidemics intersect and affect oncology practice? First, oncology professionals will need to adopt practices to prevent SUDs by assessing risk and providing safe pain care. Second, oncology practices are likely to see an increased number of patients with a current or past SUD, including opioid misuse. Few guidelines exist for the direct management of pain when opioids may be indicated in these individuals. Third, modified prescribing practices along with the education of patients and families are warranted to prevent the exposure of these medications to unintended persons. Finally, advocacy on behalf of those with cancer pain is imperative to avoid losing access to essential therapies, including opioids, for those who might benefit. Cancer 2018;124:2491‐7. © 2018 American Cancer Society.
Breast cancer‐specific survival by age: Worse outcomes for the oldest patients
Authors: Freedman Rachel A. , Keating Nancy L. , Lin Nancy U. , Winer Eric P. , Vaz‐Luis Ines , Lii Joyce , Exman Pedro , Barry William T.
Published: March 2018

BACKGROUND

Although breast cancer often is perceived to be indolent in older women, breast cancer outcomes in the oldest patients are variable. In the current study, the authors examined breast cancer‐specific death by age, stage, and disease subtype in a large, population‐based cohort.

METHODS

Using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results data, a total of 486,118 women diagnosed with American Joint Committee on Cancer stage I to IV breast cancer between 2000 and 2012 were identified. Using a series of Fine and Gray regression models to account for competing risk, the authors examined the risk of breast cancer‐specific death by age and stage (I‐IV) for subcohorts with hormone receptor (HR)‐positive, HR‐negative, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2‐positive, and triple‐negative disease, adjusting for demographic and clinical variables.

RESULTS

Overall, 18% of women were aged 65 to 74 years, 13% were aged 75 to 84 years, and 4% were aged ≥85 years. Regardless of stage of disease within the HR‐positive and HR‐negative cohorts, patients aged ≥75 years (vs those aged 55‐64 years) experienced a higher adjusted hazard of breast cancer‐specific death, which was particularly evident for those with early‐stage, HR‐positive disease (hazard ratio for those aged 75‐84 years, 1.88 [95% confidence interval, 1.68‐2.09] and hazard ratio for those aged ≥85 years, 3.59 [95% confidence interval, 3.12‐4.13] [both for stage I disease]). In the cohorts with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2‐positive and triple‐negative disease, women aged ≥70 years had a consistently higher risk of breast cancer‐specific death across disease stages (vs those aged 51‐60 years), with the exception of stage IV triple‐negative disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Older patients experience worse breast cancer outcomes, regardless of disease subtype and stage. With an increasing number of older patients anticipated to develop breast cancer in the future, addressing disparities for older patients must emerge as a clinical and research priority. Cancer 2018;124:2184‐91. © 2018 American Cancer Society.
Ratiometric Piezochromism of Electrospun Polymer Films: Intermolecular Interactions for Enhanced Sensitivity and Color Difference
Authors: Yang Heyi , Sun Zhanghua , Lv Chunyan , Qile Moge , Wang Kai , Gao Huiwen , Zou Bo , Song Qingbao , Zhang Yujian
Published: March 2018

Many piezochromic luminescent (PCL) dyes are known for their fluorescent switching capacity in the powdered phase, but they are usually difficult to utilize practically owing to poor mechanical properties. Herein, a nanofiber film fabricated through an electrospinning process is doped with PCL dye. The electrospun film not only reveals the mechanics of macromolecular materials, but also achieves precise, gradient pressure recognition (ratiometric PCL behavior). The PCL sensitivity and color difference of the dye in a crystalline state are calculated to be 15.7 nm GPa−1 and 149 nm, respectively. The sensitivity of an electrospun film containing 0.1 % (w/w) dye decreased to 3.6 nm GPa−1. Moreover, the individual effects of molecular conformation and intermolecular interaction on the PCL properties have been clearly distinguished through in situ high‐pressure experiments. Intermolecular interactions play a more significant role in PCL color difference and sensitivity. The film fabricated through an electrospinning process contributes to understanding of the working mechanism and real applications of piezochromic materials.
Enhancing the Lithium Storage Performance of Graphene/SnO2 Nanorods by a Carbon‐Riveting Strategy
Authors: Liu Xianghong , Ma Tiantian , Sun Li , Xu Yongshan , Zhang Jun , Pinna Nicola
Published: March 2018

Graphene/metal oxide (MO) nanocomposites hold great promise for application as anodes in lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). However, the restacking of graphene during subsequent processing remains a challenge to overcome for enhanced lithium storage properties. Herein, the fabrication of sandwich‐architecture carbon‐riveted graphene/SnO2 nanorods, in which the SnO2 nanorods are confined in the nanospaces formed by the carbon layers on graphene, by a two‐step hydrothermal process followed by thermal treatment, is reported. Electrochemical tests show that the carbon‐riveted nanolayers significantly improve the lithium storage performance of graphene/SnO2. The nanocomposite displays a high reversible capacity of 815 mAh g−1 after 150 cycles at 100 mA g−1 and high cycling stability at 1000 mA g−1. This work provides an efficient way to manipulate graphene/MO‐based nanocomposites for LIBs with improved performance.
Low‐Cost K4Fe(CN)6 as a High‐Voltage Cathode for Potassium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Pei Yuhou , Mu Chaonan , Li Haixia , Li Fujun , Chen Jun
Published: March 2018

Potassium‐ion batteries (KIBs) are of interest for large‐scale electrical energy storage, owing to the abundance of K resources and potential high energy density. Low‐cost cathodes with high performance are crucial for KIBs. Herein, K4Fe(CN)6 is shown to be a low‐cost and high‐voltage cathode for KIBs. It can deliver a high voltage of approximately 3.6 V and a discharge capacity of 65.5 mAh g−1 with a lifespan of 400 cycles of discharge and charge. This is attributed to the strong σ bonds between C atoms and Fe and to the reduced particle size and good contact with conductive carbon brought about by ball milling, which benefit both the K+ ion and the electronic conduction. The [Fe(CN)6]3−/4− redox couple is found to be responsible for charge compensation upon reversible extraction/insertion of K+ from/into K4Fe(CN)6. The high voltage and stability of K4Fe(CN)6 will make it a promising low‐cost cathode for KIBs and encourage more investigations into high‐performance cathode materials.
Stability of a slab collisional microtearing mode
Authors: Hamed M. , Muraglia M. , Camenen Y. , Garbet X.
Published: March 2018

The stability of a collisional microtearing mode (MTM) is investigated by means of linear gyro‐kinetic simulations and a theoretical linear dispersion relation. The electric potential fluctuations and the magnetic curvature are neglected in the simulations to match the theoretical model assumptions. In these conditions, the stability domain, the mode growth rate, and the mode frequency predicted by the theory and the simulations are in satisfactory agreement. The radial structure of the mode has been also investigated, and the localization of the parallel current around the resonant surface predicted by the theory is recovered by the simulations.
Resonant decay of a Langmuir wave in the presence of dust grains in a cylindrical plasma
Authors: Gahlot Ajay , Sharma Suresh C.
Published: March 2018

The resonant parametric decay of a Langmuir wave into a backward propagating Langmuir wave and an ion acoustic (IA) wave is studied in a cylindrical dusty plasma. The analysis shows that the frequency of the IA mode decreases with the parameter δc (where δc is the ratio of the ion density to the electron density) for negatively charged dust grains. The growth rate of the resonance decay instability (RDI) and the threshold required for its onset also decrease with δc and are strongly dependent on the electron to ion temperature ratio for both positively and negatively charged dust grains. The results obtained also illustrate the dependence of the threshold of the resonance decay instability (μth) on the plasma cylinder radius.
A scheme to enhance the conversion efficiency of slow‐wave electron cyclotron masers in the large signal approximation
Authors: Zhang Yu‐Fei , Wang Kang , Li Yong‐Ming , Jing Jian
Published: March 2018

Based on the anomalous Doppler effect, we propose a scheme to improve the practicability of slow‐wave electron cyclotron masers in the large signal approximation. This scheme simultaneously contains the tapered guiding magnetic field and tapered refractive index. Numerical calculations show that this scheme enables the conversion efficiency to reach a higher value within a shorter time than previous schemes. Besides, this scheme also works well in the cases of THz wave band and beam axial‐velocity spread.
Antibody‐based cell‐surface proteome profiling of metastatic breast cancer primary explants and cell lines
Authors: Donnenberg Vera S. , Zhang Jayce Jieming , Moravcikova Erika , Meyer Ernest Michael , Lu Haihui , Carson Christian T. , Donnenberg Albert D.
Published: March 2018

Flow cytometric cell surface proteomics provides a new and powerful tool to determine changes accompanying neoplastic transformation and invasion, providing clues to essential interactions with the microenvironment as well as leads for potential therapeutic targets. One of the most important advantages of flow cytometric cell surface proteomics is that it can be performed on living cells that can be sorted for further characterization and functional studies. Here, we document the surface proteome of clonogenic metastatic breast cancer (MBrCa) explants, which was strikingly similar to that of normal mesenchymal stromal cells (P = 0.017, associated with Pearson correlation coefficient) and transformed mammary epithelial cells (P = 0.022). Markers specifically upregulated on MBrCa included CD200 (Ox2), CD51/CD61 (Integrin α5/β3), CD26 (dipeptidyl peptidase‐4), CD165 (c‐Cbl), and CD54 (ICAM‐1). Proteins progressively upregulated in a model of neoplastic transformation and invasion included CD26, CD63 (LAMP3), CD105 (Endoglin), CD107a (LAMP1), CD108 (Semaphorin 7A), CD109 (Integrin β4), CD151 (Raph blood group), and disialoganglioside G2. The proteome of the commonly used cell lines MDA‐MB‐231, MCF7, and BT‐474 were uncorrelated with that of MBrCa (P = 1.0, 1.0, 0.9, respectively). The comparison has demonstrated the mesenchymal nature of clonogenic cells isolated by short‐term culture of metastatic breast cancer, provided several leads for biomarkers and potential targets for anti‐invasive therapy, including CD200, and highlighted the limitations of breast cancer cell lines for representing the cell surface biology of breast cancer. © 2017 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
An extended ECC‐based anonymity‐preserving 3‐factor remote authentication scheme usable in TMIS
Authors: Chandrakar Preeti , Om Hari
Published: March 2018

A telecare medicine information system (TMIS) helps in providing an efficient communication platform to patients from home to consult doctors at a clinical center. In TMIS, the patient's confidentiality, security, and mutual authentication are very crucial; so remote authentication plays a vital role for verifying the legitimacy of patients. Recently, Amin and Biswas have devised a remote authentication protocol for TMIS, claiming it to be secured from various malicious vulnerabilities. We examine this protocol and find that it is not able to withstand many attacks that include off‐line and online password‐guessing, identity‐guessing, user impersonation, privileged insider, and known session key temporary information attacks. We propose a 3‐factor–based authentication protocol for TMIS by overcoming these security shortcomings. We present its security verification in formal and informal ways, which assert its resistivity against various security threats. We use the Burrows‐Abadi‐Needham logic for validating it, and with the Automated Validation of Internet Security Protocols and Applications tool, it is simulated. Further, the performance evaluation and the security functionalities justify high degree of security with efficient complexity.
Non‐dominated sorting particle swarm optimization (NSPSO) and network security policy enforcement for Policy Space Analysis
Authors: Sureshkumar Thathan , Lingaraj Mani , Anand Bojan , Premkumar Thathan
Published: March 2018

Network operators depend on security services with the aim of safeguarding their IT infrastructure. Various types of network security policies are employed on a global scale and are disseminated among several security middleboxes implemented in networks. But, owing to the complications in security policies, it is not quite efficient to directly use the path‐wise enforcement schemes that are prevalent. The major motivation of this work is to improve security levels and solve the policy enforcement problem. For the first time, this work reports the issue of policy enforcement on middleboxes. The major contribution of this work is to design security policy enforcement as a Weighted K Set Covering Problem, and we designed a Policy Space Analysis (PSA) tool intended for a group of operations in the security policy. This PSA tool was developed based on range‐signified hyper‐rectangles, which are indexed by the Hilbert R‐tree. Leveraging the PSA, we first investigated the topological features of various kinds of policies. Balancing the PSA tool in a non‐dominated sorting particle swarm optimization technique exposes the intrinsic difficulties of this security strategy and provides guidance for designing the enforcement approach. In addition, in this research, a new fuzzy rule‐based classification system is introduced for packet classification. A scope‐wise policy enforcement algorithm was proposed, which chooses a moderate number of enforcement network nodes for deploying multiple policy subsets in a greedy manner. This scheme is much quicker compared with the first one and therefore has found its application in real‐time deployments.
Are zooplankton communities structured by taxa ecological niches or by hydrological features?
Authors: Le Coz M. , Chambord S. , Souissi S. , Meire P. , Ovaert J. , Buffan‐Dubau E. , Prygiel J. , Azémar F. , Sossou A.C. , Lamothe S. , Julien F. , Ouddane B. , Net S. , Dumoulin D. , Tackx M.
Published: March 2018

This study aimed to clarify the mechanisms that structure zooplankton communities in a lowland river network. Fourteen stations on the Scheldt upper river basin (France/Belgium) were sampled during 4 campaigns in 2014–2015.

Firstly, a niche analysis of zooplankton taxa was conducted for April and September 2014 using the outlying mean index (OMI) ordination technique. Then, application of Hutchinson's niche and of Hubbell's neutral theories to zooplankton community of the river network was tested for April and June 2015. We subsequently tested whether the taxa ecological preferences revealed were reflected in the April and June 2015 zooplankton spatial distributions.

In April 2015, zooplankton community dissimilarity (Bray–Curtis distance) was more influenced by environmental conditions than by hydrological distance, in accordance with niche theory. In June 2015, a stronger influence of neutral processes was suggested by an important role of hydrology. In 2014 samples, 17 over 32 taxa presented significant marginality relying on the considered environmental parameters. This specialization was reflected in the 2015 community patterns, particularly in April. During this month, local environmental parameters were more influencing than hydrology, probably related to a higher environmental heterogeneity than in June 2015.

Although zooplankters are often considered to be generalists and opportunists, mainly dependent of river hydrology, these results showed that even for passive dispersers in highly connected systems, niche processes contribute to community structuring by local filtering. Determination of species niche parameters is thus important to understand observed community patterns but also changes in species distribution relative to environmental and hydrological changes.
Evolution of tar ball aggregates in Caspian Sea: Implications of connectionist tools linked with image analysis
Authors: Sayyad Amin Javad , Zendehboudi Sohrab , Mohamadi Esmat
Published: March 2018

Intensive petroleum activities in the Caspian Sea lead to a considerable oil pollution in the various parts of this region. Tar balls stranded on the south coast of the Caspian Sea evidently cause (and accelerate) this serious environmental threat. In this study, a poloxamine copolymeric surfactant is used to agglomerate tar balls in a system containing the solvent, antisolvent, and Caspian Sea tar balls. This research work is conducted to determine the cumulative size distribution of tar balls in the presence of a poloxamine copolymer. The evolution of tar ball aggregates is experimentally and theoretically investigated and the steady‐state size distribution of the tar balls is estimated by Back Propagation Artificial Neural Network (ANN‐BP) and a new evolutionary algorithm, called Imperialist Competitive Algorithm (ICA). The average size of tar ball aggregates increases with time and reaches a maximum value. It then declines and eventually approaches a steady‐state condition so that an almost constant size for the particles is attained. The statistical analysis shows a good agreement between the predicted values (obtained by the neural network combined with ICA, known as ANN‐ICA) and the real data for the steady‐state size distribution of the aggregates. This research study can considerably help to further understand evolution of tar balls (that hit the beaches) and consequently to find effective and economical ways for tar balls removal from the beaches. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 37: 1901–1907, 2018
Social identity–aware opportunistic routing in mobile social networks
Authors: Wang Ranyin , Wang Xiaoming , Hao Fei , Zhang Lichen , Liu Sen , Wang Liang , Lin Yaguang
Published: March 2018

Mobile social networks, as a type of delay‐tolerant networks, are composed of nodes with different social properties in which information can be shared among them through opportunistic links. In such networks, it is important to analyze social properties of mobile nodes for transmitting information because they lack a stable source‐to‐destination delivery path and connect intermittently. Many social‐aware routing algorithms have been proposed to address these problems. However, these algorithms fail to achieve an optimal performance since they ignored an important social property, social identity. In this paper, we propose a social identity–aware opportunistic routing algorithm by considering social identities and social influences of mobile nodes in mobile social networks. It is shown that the social identity–aware opportunistic routing algorithm substantially improves the routing performance compared with the existing algorithms according to the simulation results in 2 real‐world human contact traces.
Emotional distress with dementia: A systematic review using corpus‐based analysis and meta‐ethnography
Authors: Petty Stephanie , Harvey Kevin , Griffiths Amanda , Coleston Donna Maria , Dening Tom
Published: March 2018

Objective

More understanding is needed about the emotional experiences of dementia from the perspective of the individual. This understanding can then inform the provision of health care to meet individual needs. This systematic review aimed to present all available descriptions of emotional distress and explanations for emotional distress experienced by individuals with dementia, articulated personally and by others.

Methods

A systematic mixed‐method review identified literature that was screened and quality appraised. Data were analysed quantitatively and qualitatively using corpus‐based methods and meta‐ethnography.

Results

The 121 included studies showed that individuals with dementia have expressed emotional distress comprehensibly. Family, professional caregivers, clinicians, and academic writers have also observed and described extreme emotional experiences. Feeling fearful and lonely were predominant and show the importance of anxiety in dementia. Explanations for emotional distress included threats to universal, human needs for identity, belonging, hope, and predictability.

Conclusions

The variable and personal emotional experiences of individuals with dementia are well described and should not continue to be overlooked. Limitations, future research, and clinical implications are discussed.
Aberrant functional network connectivity in psychopathy from a large (N = 985) forensic sample
Authors: Espinoza Flor A. , Vergara Victor M. , Reyes Daisy , Anderson Nathaniel E. , Harenski Carla L. , Decety Jean , Rachakonda Srinivas , Damaraju Eswar , Rashid Barnaly , Miller Robyn L. , Koenigs Michael , Kosson David S. , Harenski Keith , Kiehl Kent A. , Calhoun Vince D.
Published: March 2018

Psychopathy is a personality disorder characterized by antisocial behavior, lack of remorse and empathy, and impaired decision making. The disproportionate amount of crime committed by psychopaths has severe emotional and economic impacts on society. Here we examine the neural correlates associated with psychopathy to improve early assessment and perhaps inform treatments for this condition. Previous resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies in psychopathy have primarily focused on regions of interest. This study examines whole‐brain functional connectivity and its association to psychopathic traits. Psychopathy was hypothesized to be characterized by aberrant functional network connectivity (FNC) in several limbic/paralimbic networks. Group‐independent component and regression analyses were applied to a data set of resting‐state fMRI from 985 incarcerated adult males. We identified resting‐state networks (RSNs), estimated FNC between RSNs, and tested their association to psychopathy factors and total summary scores (Factor 1, interpersonal/affective; Factor 2, lifestyle/antisocial). Factor 1 scores showed both increased and reduced functional connectivity between RSNs from seven brain domains (sensorimotor, cerebellar, visual, salience, default mode, executive control, and attentional). Consistent with hypotheses, RSNs from the paralimbic system—insula, anterior and posterior cingulate cortex, amygdala, orbital frontal cortex, and superior temporal gyrus—were related to Factor 1 scores. No significant FNC associations were found with Factor 2 and total PCL‐R scores. In summary, results suggest that the affective and interpersonal symptoms of psychopathy (Factor 1) are associated with aberrant connectivity in multiple brain networks, including paralimbic regions.
Alcohol and injury risk at a Western Australian school Leavers Festival
Authors: Enkel Stephanie , Nimmo Lauren , Jancey Jonine , Leavy Justine
Published: March 2018

Background

Leavers Festivals have become an institution for Australian youth to celebrate the completion of secondary school. Reported hazardous consumption of alcohol by leavers has focused concern on risk‐taking behaviour. In response to this, campaigns such as “Don't Drink and Drown” have targeted youth to reduce alcohol consumption during aquatic activities. This research investigated intended and actual alcohol consumption, particularly during aquatic activities at a Leavers Festival located in the coastal town of Dunsborough, southern Western Australia.

Method

In November 2016, 549 leavers aged 17 or 18 years completed a paper‐based survey over a four‐day period during the Festival.

Results

Overall, 90% of leavers reported intending to drink during the Festival, with expected average daily consumption being seven to nine standard drinks; reported daily consumption was five to six standard drinks (P < 0.001). Of the 29% of leavers who consumed alcohol around water during Leavers, 47% had done so while swimming. About 91% were aware of the campaign “Don't Drink and Drown.”

Conclusion

Awareness of the “Don't Drink and Drown” campaign and knowledge of risks associated with alcohol consumption and swimming were relatively high. Intention and actual consumption of alcohol did not correlate, with daily consumption less than anticipated.

So what

Leavers appear to have a reasonable level of awareness and knowledge of the risks associated with alcohol consumption and aquatic activities, which may reflect the impact of education campaigns. However, this knowledge is not always translated into nonrisky aquatic behaviour.
Do private hospitals outperform public hospitals regarding efficiency, accessibility, and quality of care in the European Union? A literature review
Authors: Kruse Florien M. , Stadhouders Niek W. , Adang Eddy M. , Groenewoud Stef , Jeurissen Patrick P.T.
Published: March 2018

European countries have enhanced the scope of private provision within their health care systems. Privatizing services have been suggested as a means to improve access, quality, and efficiency in health care. This raises questions about the relative performance of private hospitals compared with public hospitals. Most systematic reviews that scrutinize the performance of the private hospitals originate from the United States. A systematic overview for Europe is nonexisting. We fill this gap with a systematic realist review comparing the performance of public hospitals to private hospitals on efficiency, accessibility, and quality of care in the European Union. This review synthesizes evidence from Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Greece, Austria, Spain, and Portugal. Most evidence suggests that public hospitals are at least as efficient as or are more efficient than private hospitals. Accessibility to broader populations is often a matter of concern in private provision: Patients with higher social‐economic backgrounds hold better access to private hospital provision, especially in private parallel systems such as the United Kingdom and Greece. The existing evidence on quality of care is often too diverse to make a conclusive statement. In conclusion, the growth in private hospital provision seems not related to improvements in performance in Europe. Our evidence further suggests that the private (for‐profit) hospital sector seems to react more strongly to (financial) incentives than other provider types. In such cases, policymakers either should very carefully develop adequate incentive structures or be hesitant to accommodate the growth of the private hospital sector.
Hillslope water tracks in the High Arctic: Seasonal flow dynamics with changing water sources in preferential flow paths
Authors: Paquette Michel , Fortier Daniel , Vincent Warwick F.
Published: March 2018

Preferential subsurface flow paths known as water tracks are often the principal hydrological pathways of headwater catchments in permafrost areas, exerting an influence on slope physical and biogeochemical processes. In polar deserts, where water resources depend on snow redistribution, water tracks are mostly found in hydrologically active areas downslope from snowdrifts. Here, we measured the flow through seeping water track networks and at the front of a perennial snowdrift, at Ward Hunt Island in the Canadian High Arctic. We also used stable isotope analysis to determine the origin of this water, which ultimately discharges into Ward Hunt Lake. These measurements of water track hydrology indicated a glacio‐nival run‐off regime, with flow production mechanisms that included saturation overland flow (return flow) in a low sloping area, throughflow or pipe‐like flow in most seepage locations, and infiltration excess overland flow at the front of the snowdrift. Each mechanism delivered varying proportions of snowmelt and ground water, and isotopic compositions evolved during the melting season. Unaltered snowmelt water contributed to >90% of total flow from water track networks early in the season, and these values fell to <5% towards the end of the melting season. In contrast, infiltration excess overland flow from snowdrift consisted of a steady percentage of snowmelt water in July (mean of 69%) and August (71%). The water seeping at locations where no snow was left in August 2015 was isotopically enriched, indicating a contribution of the upper, ice‐rich layer of permafrost to late summer discharge during warmer years. Air temperature was the main driver of snowmelt, but the effect of slope aspect on solar radiation best explained the diurnal discharge variation at all sites. The water tracks in this polar desert are part of a patterned ground network, which increases connectivity between the principal water sources (snowdrifts) and the bottom of the slope. This would reduce soil–water interactions and solute release, thereby favouring the low nutrient status of the lake.
Analysing the influences of ENSO and PDO on water discharge from the Yangtze River into the sea
Authors: Peng Jun , Luo Xiangxin , Liu Feng , Zhang Zihao
Published: March 2018

The El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) are two important climate oscillations that affect hydrological processes at global and regional scales. However, few studies have attempted to identify their single and combined influences on water discharge variability at multiple timescales. In this study, we examine temporal variation in water discharge from the Yangtze River into the sea and explore the influence of the ENSO and the PDO on multiscale variations in water discharge over the last century. The results of the wavelet transform analysis of the water discharge series show significant periodic variations at the interannual timescale of 2 to 8 years and the decadal timescale of 15 to 17 years. Water discharge tended to be higher during the La Niña–PDO cold phase and lower during the El Niño–PDO warm phase. The results of the cross wavelet spectrum and wavelet coherence analyses confirm the relationship between the interannual (i.e., 2 to 8 years) and decadal (i.e., 15 to 17 years) periodicities in water discharge with the ENSO and the PDO, respectively. As an important large‐scale climate background, the PDO can modulate the influence of the ENSO on water discharge variability. In general, the warm PDO enhances the influence of El Niño events, and the cold PDO enhances the influence of La Niña events. Our study is helpful in understanding the influencing mechanism of climate change on hydrological processes and provides an important scientific guideline for water resource prediction and management.
Red blood cell membrane damage by light‐induced thermal gradient under optical trap
Authors: Chowdhury Aniket , Waghmare Deepak , Dasgupta Raktim , Majumder Shovan K.
Published: March 2018

Rapid membrane damage of optically trapped red blood cells (RBCs) was observed at trapping powers ≥280 mW. An excellent agreement between the estimated laser‐induced thermal gradient across trapped cell's membrane and that typically required for membrane electropermeabilization suggests a mechanism involving temperature gradient‐induced electropermeabilization of membrane. Also the rapid collapse of the trapped cell due to membrane rupture was seen to cause shock waves in the surroundings permeabilizing nearby untrapped cells. When the experiments were carried out with RBCs collected from type II diabetic patients, a noticeable change in the damage rate compared to normal RBCs was seen suggesting a novel optical diagnosis method for the disease.
Steered molecular dynamics simulations for uncovering the molecular mechanisms of drug dissociation and for drug screening: A test on the focal adhesion kinase
Authors: Wong Chung F.
Published: March 2018

Drug‐binding kinetics could play important roles in determining the efficacy of drugs and has caught the attention of more drug designers. Using the dissociation of 1H‐pyrrolo[2,3‐b]‐pyridines from the focal adhesion kinase as an example, this work finds that steered molecular dynamics simulations could help screen compounds with long‐residence times. It also reveals a two‐step mechanism of ligand dissociation resembling the release of ADP from protein kinase A reported earlier. A phenyl group attaching to the pyrrole prolongs residence time by creating a large activation barrier for transition from the bound to the intermediate state when it becomes exposed to the solvent. Principal component analysis shows that ligand dissociation does not couple with large‐scale collective motions of the protein involving many of its amino acids. Rather, a small subset of amino acids dominates. Some of these amino acids do not contact the ligands directly along the dissociation pathways and could exert long‐range allosteric effects. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The CDKN2A polymorphisms and the susceptibility of HBV‐related gestational diabetes mellitus
Authors: Wang Shuzhen , Liu Jie , Wang Qiaolian , Du Jianguo , Wang Beibei
Published: March 2018

Background

Single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were discovered in HBV‐related gestational diabetes mellitus, but it still unclear whether these SNPs are associated with the susceptibility of HBV‐related gestational diabetes mellitus.

Methods

The investigation of the association between CDKN2A polymorphisms and occurrence of HBV‐related gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in Chinese was assessed in the case‐control study. A total of 480 pregnant patients with HBV and 530 pregnant controls were consecutively recruited from January 2015 to December 2016. Polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphisms (PCR‐RFLP) method was applied to measure genotyping for the detection of CDKN2A.

Results

The significant differences in the frequency of CDKN2A genotype distributions, rs10811661 and rs564398, were found by Chi‐square test. Using conditional logistic analysis, individuals carrying the CDKN2A rs10811661 TC and TT genotypes and CDKN2A rs564398 AA and AG genotypes were related to a greater risk of HBV‐related GDM compared with the genotype.

Conclusions

In conclusion, the CDKN2A rs10811661 and rs564398 polymorphisms showed association with a greater risk of HBV‐related GDM in a Chinese population.
A novel mutation in SLC39A14 causing hypermanganesemia associated with infantile onset dystonia
Authors: Juneja Monica , Shamim Uzma , Joshi Aditi , Mathur Aaradhna , Uppili Bharathram , Sairam Smitha , Ambawat Sakshi , Dixit Rashmi , Faruq Mohammed
Published: March 2018

Background

Mutations in SLC39A14 cause a recessive disorder of manganese (Mn) metabolism that manifests as childhood onset progressive neurodegeneration characterized by parkinsonism and dystonia.

Methods

The present study genetically investigated a case of hypermanganesemia. We describe a family where an affected child with a history of progressive neurodegeneration showed symptoms of dystonia with increased levels of blood Mn and altered signal intensities in globus pallidus and dentate nucleus. Whole exome sequencing was conducted to genetically investigate the pathology in the child, which allowed us to identify a novel homozygous causal mutation in SLC39A14.

Results

Insilico modeling of the novel homozygous causal mutation in SLC39A14 predicted that it was deleterious, affecting Mn binding and transportation of metal by transmembrane instability of the protein structure. The clinical features of other reported mutations in SLC39A14 were also reviewed and the clinical spectrum in our case conforms to the described neurological abnormalities.

Conclusions

We conclude that the mutation identified in SLC39A14 in our case is a novel variation linked to recessive disorders of hypermaganesemia and dystonia.
Integrated kinetic energy of Atlantic tropical cyclones in a global ocean surface wind analysis
Authors: Buchanan Sean , Misra Vasubandhu , Bhardwaj Amit
Published: March 2018

The integrated kinetic energy (IKE) of a tropical cyclone (TC), a volume integration of the surface winds around the centre of the TC, is computed from a comprehensive surface wind (National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) cross‐calibrated multi‐platform [CCMP]) analysis available over the global oceans to verify against IKE from wind radii estimates of extended best‐track data maintained by NOAA for the North Atlantic TCs. It is shown that CCMP surface wind analysis severely underestimates IKE largely from not resolving hurricane force winds for majority of the Atlantic TCs, under sampling short‐lived and small‐sized TCs. The seasonal cycle of the North Atlantic TC IKE also verifies poorly in the CCMP analysis. In this article we introduce proxy IKE (PIKE) based on the kinetic energy of the winds at the radius of the last closed isobar (ROCI), which shows promise for a wide range of TC sizes including the smaller‐sized TCs unresolved in the CCMP data set.
Perinatal Outcomes of Fetal Lower Urinary Tract Obstruction After Vesicoamniotic Shunting Using a Double‐Basket Catheter
Authors: Jeong Ba‐Da , Won Hye‐Sung , Lee Mi‐Young
Published: March 2018

Objectives

To evaluate the perinatal survival and renal function of fetuses with lower urinary tract obstruction (LUTO) who underwent vesicoamniotic shunting using a double‐basket catheter

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 32 fetuses with LUTO who underwent vesicoamniotic shunting using a double‐basket catheter between 1998 and 2013.

Results

Among the 32 fetuses examined, 5 died because of termination of pregnancy, and 2 died in utero. The median gestational age at diagnosis was 15.5 (range, 10.0–27.3) weeks, and that at initial shunting was 17.1 (range, 12.3–32.2) weeks. Shunt dislocation or occlusion occurred in 18 of 42 procedures (42.8%). The median gestational age at delivery for the 25 live births was 35.5 (range, 28–40) weeks. Postnatal diagnosis revealed posterior urethral valves in 15 fetuses, a cloacal anomaly in 7, and urethral stenosis in 3. Three neonatal deaths occurred, resulting in an overall perinatal survival rate of 68.8% (22 of 32). The rates of normal renal function were 40.6% (13 of 32) at 28 days and 40% (10 of 25) at 2 years after birth. The absence of oligohydramnios after shunting was the only prognostic factor for normal renal function at 2 years (P < .05).

Conclusions

Vesicoamniotic shunting may be helpful for fetuses with LUTO.
Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Recurrence: Low Yield of Neck Ultrasound With an Undetectable Serum Thyroglobulin Level
Authors: Epstein Samantha , McEachern Rachel , Khot Rachita , Padia Shetal , Patrie James T. , Itri Jason N.
Published: March 2018

Objectives

To assess the yield of neck ultrasound (US) when serum thyroglobulin (Tg) is undetectable (<0.1 ng/mL) compared to elevated serum Tg in patients with differentiated papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) treated with thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine 131 (RAI) ablation.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was conducted from 2010 through 2015 at an academic institution evaluating US results in patients with serum Tg levels obtained within 6 months of a neck US examination after thyroidectomy and RAI. The reference standard for recurrence was pathologic results from US‐guided fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) or follow‐up for at least 1 year.

Results

Among 76 patients with undetectable serum Tg levels, there were 19 examinations in 18 patients in which US raised the possibility of recurrence. None of these 18 patients had recurrence by FNA (n = 8) or clinical follow‐up of at least 1 year (n = 10). Among 65 patients with elevated serum Tg levels, there were 24 examinations in 22 patients in which US raised the possibility of recurrence. Twelve patients underwent FNA, with 9 patients (34.6%) showing PTC; 7 patients had follow‐up neck US examinations showing stability of findings; and 3 patients were lost to follow up. The yield of neck US was significantly lower when serum Tg was undetectable compared to when levels were elevated (P = .001).

Conclusions

Neck US did not identify recurrent PTC when the serum Tg level was undetectable in patients who underwent total thyroidectomy and RAI therapy. Eliminating neck US when serum TG levels are undetectable could decrease unnecessary imaging examinations without negatively affecting the ability to detect recurrent disease.
The McConnell Sign is Seen in Patients With Acute Chest Syndrome
Authors: McCutcheon John Bates , Schaffer Pascha , Lyon Matthew , Gordon Richard
Published: March 2018

Bedside ultrasound is often used as a part of the evaluation of patients who are critically ill. The McConnell sign is an important echocardiographic finding in some critically ill patients with pulmonary embolism and an acute right ventricular infarct. We present 3 critically ill patients with confirmed acute chest syndrome who showed the McConnell sign on echocardiography. In patients with sickle cell disease presenting with chest pain and shortness of breath, the presence of the McConnell sign does not narrow the differential diagnosis between pulmonary embolism, an acute right ventricular infarct, and acute chest syndrome.
Clinical Value of 3‐Dimensional Ultrasound in Gynecology
Authors: Levine Elliot M. , Fernandez Carlos M. , Miller Daniel , Locher Stephen
Published: March 2018

This report provides examples of using 3‐dimensional ultrasound diagnostically in gynecology. The cost efficiency it provides and the wide range of applications it has support the routine use of this ultrasound technology in the practice of gynecology.
To dam, or not to dam? Abolishment of further flooding impedes the natural revegetation processes after long‐term fluvial deposition of copper tailings
Authors: Nikolic Nina , Kostic Ljiljana , Nikolic Miroslav
Published: March 2018

Long‐term potentials and constraints of nature to spontaneously recover after severe degradation by toxic mine waste, and general principles of mutual modifications of spontaneous vegetation and soils during this process, have remained widely unknown. This study investigates the effect of flooding on natural restoration of a model locality in Eastern Serbia, complexly degraded by 70‐years fluvial deposition of sulfidic copper (Cu) mine tailings in a floodplain along 80 km of the polluted river flow. We analyzed multivariate response of forest vegetation (floristic and structural parameters) together with physical and chemical properties of concomitant soils and sediments. Floods strongly modify the interactions between soil and vegetation. Three very different types of forest vegetation constitute the response of the nature to key soil adverse factors (excessive Cu availability, low nutrients, and low pH); combined with drought, these constraints completely inhibit revegetation. Continual flooding after mine closure, despite the pollution it still brings in, fosters a faster development of highly specialized vegetation and most importantly faster buildup of soil organic matter necessary for phytostabilization of substantial amounts of Cu tailings present in the floodplain. We show that enhanced nutrient fluxes facilitated by natural flooding regime might overrun the constraining effect of deposited Cu also for natural vegetation.
Structural heterogeneity of vegetation fire ash
Authors: Brook Anna , Wittenberg Lea , Kopel Daniella , Polinova Maria , Roberts Dar , Ichoku Charles , Shtober‐Zisu Nurit
Published: March 2018

Any wildfire generates ash, the solid residue derived from burning biomass. Vegetation fire ash consists of charred organic material, charcoal, and inorganic mineral substances. Recent studies identified ash deposits as a dual system: soil and ash strata. The addition of ash to the soil profile alters soil properties and dynamics. A thorough analysis of ash–soil profile reveals a structural appearance of thin laminas. The laminas differ in a variety of physical properties and mineral composition. This research aims at assessing the unique properties of ash–soil profiles by performing an infrared spectroscopic study and statistical analysis. For that purpose, several laboratory experiments were conducted. The paper presents semiquantitative results of spectral analysis calculated by 4 statistical methods. The results indicate a well‐established laminar structure of the ash and evaluate the characteristics of each lamina. The proposed methodology was examined under real‐world conditions; a field experiment of 2‐m2 parcel with in situ O horizon was flamed and burned out. The field samples illustrated the formation of microlaminas, which proved to be similar to the laboratory samples. This detailed approach may promote a better understanding of the complex nature to the ash, the ash–soil interactions and its effect on the edaphic ecosystem.