bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Is there added value in obtaining cervical spine MRI in the assessment of nontraumatic angiographically negative subarachnoid hemorrhage? A retrospective study and meta-analysis of the literature
Authors: Sadigh Gelareh , Holder Chad A. , Switchenko Jeffrey M. , Dehkharghani Seena , Allen Jason W.
Published: October 2017

OBJECTIVE

Diagnostic algorithms for nontraumatic angiographically negative subarachnoid hemorrhage (AN-SAH) vary, and the optimal method remains subject to debate. This study assessed the added value of cervical spine MRI in identifying a cause for nontraumatic AN-SAH.

METHODS

Consecutive patients 18 years of age or older who presented with nontraumatic SAH between February 1, 2009, and October 31, 2014, with negative cerebrovascular catheter angiography and subsequent cervical MRI were studied. Patients with intraparenchymal, subdural, or epidural hemorrhage; recent trauma; or known vascular malformations were excluded. All cervical MR images were reviewed by two blinded neuroradiologists. The diagnostic yield of cervical MRI was calculated. A literature review was conducted to identify studies reporting the diagnostic yield of cervical MRI in patients with AN-SAH. The weighted pooled estimate of diagnostic yield of cervical MRI was calculated.

RESULTS

For all 240 patients (mean age 53 years, 48% male), catheter angiography was performed within 4 days after admission (median 12 hours, interquartile range [IQR] 10 hours). Cervical MRI was performed within 19 days of admission (median 24 hours, IQR 10 hours). In a single patient, cervical MRI identified a source for SAH (cervical vascular malformation). Meta-analysis of 7 studies comprising 538 patients with AN-SAH produced a pooled estimate of 1.3% (95% confidence interval 0.5%–2.5%) for diagnostic yield of cervical MRI. No statistically significant between-study heterogeneity or publication bias was identified.

CONCLUSIONS

Cervical MRI following AN-SAH, in the absence of findings to suggest spinal etiology, has a very low diagnostic yield and is not routinely necessary.
Potential utility of FLAIR in MRI-negative Cushing’s disease
Authors: Chatain Grégoire P. , Patronas Nicholas , Smirniotopoulos James G. , Piazza Martin , Benzo Sarah , Ray-Chaudhury Abhik , Sharma Susmeeta , Lodish Maya , Nieman Lynnette , Stratakis Constantine A. , Chittiboina Prashant
Published: October 2017

OBJECTIVE

Accurate presurgical localization of microadenomas in Cushing’s disease (CD) leads to improved remission rates and decreased adverse events. Volumetric gradient recalled echo (3D-GRE) MRI detects pituitary microadenomas in CD in up to 50%–80% cases as a focus of hypointensity due to delayed contrast wash-in. The authors have previously reported that postcontrast FLAIR imaging may be useful in detecting otherwise MRI-negative pituitary microadenomas as foci of hyperintensity. This reflects theoretically complementary imaging of microadenomas due to delayed contrast washout. The authors report on the diagnostic accuracy and clinical utility of FLAIR imaging in the detection of microadenomas in patients with CD.

METHODS

The authors prospectively analyzed imaging findings in 23 patients (24 tumors) with biochemically proven CD who underwent transsphenoidal surgery for CD. Preoperatively, the patients underwent pituitary MRI with postcontrast FLAIR and postcontrast 3D-GRE sequences.

RESULTS

Postcontrast FLAIR hyperintensity was detected in macroadenomas, and in 3D-GRE–positive or –negative microadenomas. Overall, 3D-GRE was superior in detecting surgically and histopathologically confirmed, location-concordant microadenomas. Of 24 pituitary adenomas, 18 (75%; sensitivity 82%, positive predictive value 95%) were found on 3D-GRE, and 13 (50% [1 was false positive]; sensitivity 55%, positive predictive value 92%) were correctly identified on FLAIR. The stand-alone specificity of 3D-GRE and FLAIR was similar (50%). These results confirm the superiority of 3D-GRE as a stand-alone imaging modality. The authors then tested the utility of FLAIR as a complementary tool to 3D-GRE imaging. All 5 patients with negative 3D-GRE MRI displayed a distinct focus of FLAIR enhancement. Four of those 5 cases (80%) had location-concordant positive histopathological results and achieved postsurgical biochemical remission. The remaining patient was not cured, because resection did not include the region of FLAIR hyperintensity.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that delayed microadenoma contrast washout may be detected as FLAIR hyperintensity in otherwise MRI-negative CD cases. The authors propose adding postcontrast FLAIR sequences to complement 3D-GRE for surgical planning in patients with CD.

Clinical trial registration no.: NIH protocol 03-N-0164, NCT00060541 (clinicaltrials.gov)
Effect of body mass index on outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage treated with clipping versus coiling
Authors: Rinaldo Lorenzo , Hughes Joshua D. , Rabinstein Alejandro A. , Lanzino Giuseppe
Published: October 2017

OBJECTIVE

It has been suggested that increased body mass index (BMI) may confer a protective effect on patients who suffer from aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). Whether the modality of aneurysm occlusion influences the effect of BMI on patient outcomes is not well understood. The authors aimed to compare the effect of BMI on outcomes for patients with aSAH treated with surgical clipping versus endovascular coiling.

METHODS

The authors retrospectively reviewed the outcomes for patients admitted to their institution for the management of aSAH treated with either clipping or coiling. BMI at the time of admission was recorded and used to assign patients to a group according to low or high BMI. Cutoff values for BMI were determined by classification and regression tree analysis. Predictors of poor functional outcome (defined as modified Rankin Scale score > 2 measured ≥ 90 days after the ictus) and posttreatment cerebral hypodensities detected during admission were then determined separately for patients treated with clipping or coiling using stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

Of the 469 patients admitted to the authors’ institution with aSAH who met the study’s inclusion criteria, 144 were treated with clipping and 325 were treated with coiling. In the clipping group, the frequency of poor functional outcome was higher in patients with BMI ≥ 32.3 kg/m2 (47.6% vs 19.0%; p = 0.007). In contrast, in the coiling group, patients with BMI ≥ 32.3 kg/m2 had a lower frequency of poor functional outcome at ≥ 90 days (5.8% vs 30.9%; p < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, high BMI was independently associated with an increased (OR 3.92, 95% CI 1.20–13.41; p = 0.024) and decreased (OR 0.13, 95% CI 0.03–0.40; p < 0.001) likelihood of poor functional outcome for patients treated with clipping and coiling, respectively. For patients in the surgical group, BMI ≥ 28.4 kg/m2 was independently associated with incidence of cerebral hypodensities during admission (OR 2.44, 95% CI 1.16–5.25; p = 0.018) on multivariate analysis. For patients treated with coiling, BMI ≥ 33.2 kg/m2 was independently associated with reduced odds of hypodensities (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.21–0.89; p = 0.021).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study suggest that BMI may differentially affect functional outcomes after aSAH, depending on treatment modality. These findings may aid in treatment selection for patients with aSAH.
A Markov chain analysis of NFL overtime rules
Authors: Martin Renee , Timmons Logan , Powell Megan
Published: October 2017

In this paper, we consider the National Football League’s rules for overtime. We use Markov chain models to represent sudden death, modified sudden death 15-minute overtime, the newly changed modified sudden death 10-minute overtime, and our theoretical alternative modified sudden death. Through our model analysis, we find the average length of overtime and the probability of the team possessing the ball first during overtime winning the game. Our analysis shows that the modified sudden death rule change increased the average overtime from 7 minutes 1 second to 7 minutes 37 seconds and that the probability of the team possessing the ball first winning decreased from 59.9% to 55.4%. Furthermore, we predict the 10-minute overtime change will result in the team possessing the ball first winning 54.1% of the time and the probability of a game ending in a tie increasing to 11.2% from under 2% in the current 15-minute overtime. Finally, we propose a system where both teams are required to possess the ball at least once before the game ends and conclude this system would increase the average overtime length to 7 minutes 57 seconds and the probability of the team possessing the ball first winning would be 54.7%.
Who’s good this year? Comparing the information content of games in the four major US sports
Authors: Wolfson Julian , Koopmeiners Joseph S. , DiLernia Andrew
Published: October 2017

In all four major North American professional sports (baseball, basketball, football, and hockey), the primary aim of the regular season is to identify the best teams. Yet the number of regular season games used to distinguish between the teams differs dramatically between the sports, ranging from 16 (football) to 82 (basketball and hockey) to 162 (baseball). While length of season is partially determined by factors including travel logistics, rest requirements, playoff structure and television contracts, from a statistical perspective the 10-fold difference in the number of games between leagues suggests that some league’s games are more “informative” than others. In this paper, we propose a method to quantify the amount of information games yield about the relative strengths of the teams involved. Our strategy is to estimate a predictive accuracy curve which assesses how well simple paired comparison models fitted from X% of games within a season predict the outcomes of the remaining (100 -  X)% of games, across multiple values of X. We compare predictive accuracy curves between seasons within each sport and across all sports, and find dramatic differences in the amount of information yielded by game results in the four major North American sports leagues.
The ‘Chaldee Manuscript’, William Hone, and Late Georgian Religious Parody
Authors: Strachan John
Published: October 2017

This article analyses Blackwood's notorious ‘Translation from an Ancient Chaldee Manuscript’ (1817), contextualising the satire in the light of religious parody, ancient and modern – but in particular the latter – and arguing that there were specific reasons why a post-Napoleonic magazine might have used this particular form at this particular moment. It examines the publication, publicity, and purposes of the ‘Chaldee’, a key part of William Blackwood's reboot of his failing magazine in October 1817, and the contemporary religious parody of the radical pressman William Hone, which led, three times, to his prosecution and acquittal, and which directly informed that most famous part of Blackwood's succès de scandale.
Reading Stratigraphical Woodscapes in Thomas Hardy's The Woodlanders
Authors: Burton Anna
Published: October 2017

In The Woodlanders (1887), Hardy uses the texture of Hintock woodlands as more than description: it is a terrain of personal association and local history, a text to be negotiated in order to comprehend the narrative trajectory. However, upon closer analysis of these arboreal environs, it is evident that these woodscapes are simultaneously self-contained and multi-layered in space and time. This essay proposes that through this complex topographical construction, Hardy invites the reader to read this text within a physical and notional stratigraphical framework. This framework shares similarities with William Gilpin's picturesque viewpoint and the geological work of Gideon Mantell: two modes of vision that changed the observation of landscape in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. This comparative discussion at once reviews the perception of the arboreal prospect in nineteenth-century literary and visual cultures, and also questions the impact of these modes of thought on the woodscapes of The Woodlanders.
Strata of the Soul: The Queer Archaeologies of Vernon Lee and Oscar Wilde
Authors: Blumberg Angie
Published: October 2017

This essay explores Vernon Lee's ‘Amour Dure’ and ‘Prince Alberic and the Snake Lady’, as well as Oscar Wilde's ‘The Sphinx’, ‘The Truth of Masks’, and ‘The Portrait of Mr. W. H.’ to uncover how writers at the turn of the twentieth century represented encounters with material artefacts of the past to facilitate the expression of queer identity and experience. While Lee's stories address derelict material remains to expose neglected individual histories, illustrating unconventional relationships through temporal collision, Wilde's ‘The Sphinx’ adopts the exoticism of ancient Egypt to more explicitly discuss sexual transgression. Furthermore, through ‘The Truth of Masks’ and ‘The Portrait of Mr. W. H.’, Wilde can be seen to employ archaeological experience to envision queer desire. In their appropriation of the mysteries of the buried past to suggest non-normative desires buried within the self, these late-Victorian works constitute a precursor to major concepts generally associated with the twentieth century, including Freud's analogy between archaeology and psychoanalysis, and the rise of queer archaeology in the late 1980s.
Possession, Trance, and Reincarnation: Confrontations with Ancient Egypt in Edwardian Fiction
Authors: Fleischhack Maria
Published: October 2017

Egyptianising fantastic fiction was a widely popular genre at the advent of the twentieth century, and, customarily, Egyptian characters act as a foil to the Western protagonists. This essay uses three Edwardian Egyptianising stories – Bram Stoker's The Jewel of Seven Stars (1903; 1912), Guy Boothby's ‘A Professor of Egyptology’ (1904), and H. Rider Haggard's ‘Smith and the Pharaohs’ (1912–13) – to demonstrate how these critical voices address the anxieties of the fin de siècle: issues including gender inequality, imperial arrogance, and archaeological entitlement. The Egyptian characters have the ability to hypnotise or psychologically influence the Western protagonists, highlighting their helplessness when confronted with the ancient Other. Simultaneously, a deep connection between archaeological and psychological discoveries (and thus antiquity and modernity) comes to light.
Word and beyond-word issues in morphological processing
Authors: Voga Madeleine , Giraudo Hélène
Published: October 2017

Despite intensive study of morphological effects using various on-line techniques such as masked priming, psycholinguistic accounts of morphological processing have not yet managed to grasp the complexity of the various kinds of relationships between words. We focus on three issues related to aspects of processing that have not been given much importance but can considerably influence the effects we observe. The first issue to be dealt with is the role of frequency of the lexical items used and particularly the role of prime-target relative frequency. Second, ‘morphological’ effects with nonwords (e.g. sportation –sport), which are very often interpreted as if the status of possible word did not exist. Finally, the role of a novel variable, pseudo-family size, reflecting the influence of formally related but morphologically unrelated word forms, providing evidence for interference/competition during the early stages of morphological processing. These factors suggest that the complex set of activation/inhibition related to the lexical environment of the word-to-be-identified should be taken into account, and that morphological processing models should try to introduce factors related to the paradigmatic structure of language.
Development and Bioanalytical Applications of a White Light Reflectance Spectroscopy Label-Free Sensing Platform
Authors: Koukouvinos Georgios , Petrou Panagiota , Goustouridis Dimitrios , Misiakos Konstantinos , Kakabakos Sotirios , Raptis Ioannis
Published: October 2017

The development of a sensing platform based on white light reflectance spectroscopy (WLRS) is presented. The evolution of the system, from polymer film characterization and sensing of volatile organic compounds to biosensor for the label-free determination of either high (e.g., proteins) or low molecular weight analytes (e.g., pesticides), is described. At the same time, the passage from single to multi-analyte determinations, and from a laboratory prototype set-up to a compact device appropriate for on-site determination, is outlined. The improvements made on both the sensor and the optical set-up, and the concomitant advances in the analytical characteristics and the robustness of the assays performed with the different layouts, are also presented. Finally, the future perspectives of the system, aiming for the creation of a standalone instrument to be used by non-experts, will be discussed.
Sustainable Building Assessment of Colonial Shophouses after Adaptive Reuse in Kuala Lumpur
Authors: Al-Obaidi Karam , Wei Sim , Ismail Muhammad , Kam Kenn
Published: October 2017

Kuala Lumpur, as a major capital city, has undergone a drastic transformation in the past ten years. Many heritage buildings have been sacrificed for urban renewal projects. Those located in the touristic heritage zones within Kuala Lumpur were being converted by their owners into hotels and cafés to meet current demands to sustain their incomes. This approach, however, creates several physical and environmental issues within the new adaptation. The aim of this study is to evaluate the building performance of heritage shophouses that were adapted into budget hotels. The research focuses on two case studies in a strategic and historical location of Jalan Sultan, Kuala Lumpur. At the initial stage, interviews and physical surveys were done to determine the context of this study. The authors of this research then used a triangulation method through indoor environmental condition assessment, measurements of indoor environmental conditions and occupant survey to determine the indoor building performance after the adaption. Results showed that adaptive reuse heritage buildings can perform and meet new indoor environmental requirements, but many sensitive design judgments need to be made before the adaptive reuse renovation. The research found that the use of natural light, natural ventilation, recycled materials and water efficiency have been neglected and thus, they should be prioritized and preserved to ensure a successful change of use. Conserving existing heritage buildings, while incorporating new usages with acceptable comfort, is in line with the principle of sustainability.
Improved Catalytic Performance of Lipase Supported on Clay/Chitosan Composite Beads
Authors: Tu Ni , Shou Jianxin , Dong Huaping , Huang Jin , Li Yimin
Published: October 2017

Clay/chitosan composite beads were prepared and used as the carrier to support lipase by adsorption, to improve the activity and stability of lipase in the hydrolysis of olive oil. Under conditions of pH 6.0, 25 °C and adsorption for 10 h, immobilized lipases on chitosan bead (CB–lipase) and three clay/chitosan composite beads, at different clay to chitosan proportions of 1:8 (CCB-8-lipase), 1:5 (CCB-5-lipase) and 1:3 (CCB-3-lipase), were prepared. By comparing the activity of these immobilized lipases, CCB-5-lipase showed the highest activity, followed by CCB-8-lipase > CCB-3-lipase > CB-lipase; this improvement was attributed to the synergetic effect of enrichment of olive oil by clay at the reaction surface and better biocompatibility of chitosan with lipase molecules. The optimum pH and temperature in the reaction respectively changed from 7.0 and 30 °C for free lipase to 7.5 and 35 °C for immobilized forms. Furthermore, the thermal stability and repeated usability of these immobilized lipases were sequenced as CCB-3-lipase > CCB-5-lipase > CCB-8-lipase > CB–lipase, due to greater rigidity of immobilized lipase with the addition of clay, which was further confirmed by SEM. The study shows that the incorporation of clay with chitosan creates a good synergetic effect to improve the catalytic performance of immobilized lipase on clay/chitosan composite.
Kovacs-Like Memory Effect in Athermal Systems: Linear Response Analysis
Authors: Plata Carlos , Prados Antonio
Published: October 2017

We analyze the emergence of Kovacs-like memory effects in athermal systems within the linear response regime. This is done by starting from both the master equation for the probability distribution and the equations for the physically-relevant moments. The general results are applied to a general class of models with conserved momentum and non-conserved energy. Our theoretical predictions, obtained within the first Sonine approximation, show an excellent agreement with the numerical results. Furthermore, we prove that the observed non-monotonic relaxation is consistent with the monotonic decay of the non-equilibrium entropy.
Complexity-Entropy Maps as a Tool for the Characterization of the Clinical Electrophysiological Evolution of Patients under Pharmacological Treatment with Psychotropic Drugs
Authors: Diaz Juan , Mateos Diego , Boyallian Carina
Published: October 2017

In the clinical electrophysiological practice, reading and comparing electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings are sometimes insufficient and take too much time. Tools coming from the information theory or nonlinear systems theory such as entropy and complexity have been presented as an alternative to address this problem. In this work, we introduce a novel method—the permutation Lempel–Ziv Complexity vs. Permutation Entropy map. We apply this method to the EEGs of two patients with specific diagnosed pathologies during respective follow up processes of pharmacological changes in order to detect alterations that are not evident with the usual inspection method. The method allows for comparing between different states of the patients’ treatment, with a healthy control group, given global information about the signal, supplementing the traditional method of visual inspection of EEG.
Stationary Wavelet Singular Entropy and Kernel Extreme Learning for Bearing Multi-Fault Diagnosis
Authors: Rodriguez Nibaldo , Cabrera Guillermo , Lagos Carolina , Cabrera Enrique
Published: October 2017

The behavioural diagnostics of bearings play an essential role in the management of several rotation machine systems. However, current diagnostic methods do not deliver satisfactory results with respect to failures in variable speed rotational phenomena. In this paper, we consider the Shannon entropy as an important fault signature pattern. To compute the entropy, we propose combining stationary wavelet transform and singular value decomposition. The resulting feature extraction method, that we call stationary wavelet singular entropy (SWSE), aims to improve the accuracy of the diagnostics of bearing failure by finding a small number of high-quality fault signature patterns. The features extracted by the SWSE are then passed on to a kernel extreme learning machine (KELM) classifier. The proposed SWSE-KELM algorithm is evaluated using two bearing vibration signal databases obtained from Case Western Reserve University. We compare our SWSE feature extraction method to other well-known methods in the literature such as stationary wavelet packet singular entropy (SWPSE) and decimated wavelet packet singular entropy (DWPSE). The experimental results show that the SWSE-KELM consistently outperforms both the SWPSE-KELM and DWPSE-KELM methods. Further, our SWSE method requires fewer features than the other two evaluated methods, which makes our SWSE-KELM algorithm simpler and faster.
The Effect of Intra-articular Injection of Autologous Microfragmented Fat Tissue on Proteoglycan Synthesis in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis
Authors: Hudetz Damir , Borić Igor , Rod Eduard , Jeleč Željko , Radić Andrej , Vrdoljak Trpimir , Skelin Andrea , Lauc Gordan , Trbojević-Akmačić Irena , Plečko Mihovil , Polašek Ozren , Primorac Dragan
Published: October 2017

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the leading musculoskeletal disorders in the adult population. It is associated with cartilage damage triggered by the deterioration of the extracellular matrix tissue. The present study explores the effect of intra-articular injection of autologous microfragmented adipose tissue to host chondrocytes and cartilage proteoglycans in patients with knee OA. A prospective, non-randomized, interventional, single-center, open-label clinical trial was conducted from January 2016 to April 2017. A total of 17 patients were enrolled in the study, and 32 knees with osteoarthritis were assessed. Surgical intervention (lipoaspiration) followed by tissue processing and intra-articular injection of the final microfragmented adipose tissue product into the affected knee(s) was performed in all patients. Patients were assessed for visual analogue scale (VAS), delayed gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of cartilage (dGEMRIC) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) glycans at the baseline, three, six and 12 months after the treatment. Magnetic resonance sequence in dGEMRIC due to infiltration of the anionic, negatively charged contrast gadopentetate dimeglumine (Gd-DTPA2−) into the cartilage indicated that the contents of cartilage glycosaminoglycans significantly increased in specific areas of the treated knee joint. In addition, dGEMRIC consequently reflected subsequent changes in the mechanical axis of the lower extremities. The results of our study indicate that the use of autologous and microfragmented adipose tissue in patients with knee OA (measured by dGEMRIC MRI) increased glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content in hyaline cartilage, which is in line with observed VAS and clinical results.
Effects of Conjugated Linoleic Acid Supplementation on the Expression Profile of miRNAs in Porcine Adipose Tissue
Authors: Wang Qi , Qi Renli , Liu Hong , Wang Jing , Huang Wenming , Yang Feiyun , Huang Jinxiu
Published: October 2017

Conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs) play a major role in adipocyte differentiation and lipid metabolism in animals. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) appear to be involved in many biological processes in adipose tissue. However, the specific influence on miRNAs by CLA supplementation in porcine adipose tissue remains unclear. Thus, we continuously added 1.5% CLA to the pig diet from the embryo stage to the finishing period and conducted a high-throughput sequencing approach to analyse the changes in adipose tissue miRNAs. We identified 283 known porcine miRNAs, and 14 miRNAs were differentially expressed in response to CLA treatment. A Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis showed that the targets of the 14 differentially expressed miRNAs were involved in the Wnt signalling pathway. The CLA treatment downregulated the gene expression of PPARγ, C/EBPα, FAS, and FATP1 in both subcutaneous and abdominal fat tissues; the analysis showed that ssc-miR-21 expression was significantly correlated with PPARγ expression (p<0.05), and speculated that ssc-miR-21 might influence adipogenesis through PPARγ. In conclusion, our study analysed the miRNA profiles in porcine adipose tissues by CLA treatment, and demonstrated that miRNAs are important regulators of fat lipogenesis. This study provides valuable information for the molecular regulatory mechanism of CLA on adipose tissue.
Chromosomal Evolution in Chiroptera
Authors: Sotero-Caio Cibele , Baker Robert , Volleth Marianne
Published: October 2017

Chiroptera is the second largest order among mammals, with over 1300 species in 21 extant families. The group is extremely diverse in several aspects of its natural history, including dietary strategies, ecology, behavior and morphology. Bat genomes show ample chromosome diversity (from 2n = 14 to 62). As with other mammalian orders, Chiroptera is characterized by clades with low, moderate and extreme chromosomal change. In this article, we will discuss trends of karyotypic evolution within distinct bat lineages (especially Phyllostomidae, Hipposideridae and Rhinolophidae), focusing on two perspectives: evolution of genome architecture, modes of chromosomal evolution, and the use of chromosome data to resolve taxonomic problems.
Nanocomposites for Machining Tools
Authors: Sidorenko Daria , Loginov Pavel , Mishnaevsky Leon , Levashov Evgeny
Published: October 2017

Machining tools are used in many areas of production. To a considerable extent, the performance characteristics of the tools determine the quality and cost of obtained products. The main materials used for producing machining tools are steel, cemented carbides, ceramics and superhard materials. A promising way to improve the performance characteristics of these materials is to design new nanocomposites based on them. The application of micromechanical modeling during the elaboration of composite materials for machining tools can reduce the financial and time costs for development of new tools, with enhanced performance. This article reviews the main groups of nanocomposites for machining tools and their performance.
Constraints on Conceptual and Quantitative Modeling of Early Diagenetic Sediment-Hosted Stratiform Copper Mineralization
Authors: Brown Alex
Published: October 2017

Early diagenetic sediment-hosted stratiform copper (eSSC) mineralization results from low-temperature cuprous chloride complexes carried by saline aqueous solution circulating through footwall aquifers. Favorable copper solubilities are attained in moderately oxidizing, near-neutral pH solutions. That specific oxidation level is not determined by co-existence with hematite, with its near-indiscriminant control over Eh. Instead, redbed footwall aquifers are signatures of diagenetic oxidation. Relentless in-situ oxidation of ferrous minerals in redbeds produces pore waters too reduced to transport copper, thus eliminating compaction waters as ore solutions. Continuous early influxes of descending oxygen-rich meteoric waters which have assimilated evaporitic salts may redden aquifers and still retain oxidation levels capable of carrying copper to form downstream eSSCs.
Participation of the Halogens in Photochemical Reactions in Natural and Treated Waters
Authors: Yang Yi , Pignatello Joseph
Published: October 2017

Halide ions are ubiquitous in natural waters and wastewaters. Halogens play an important and complex role in environmental photochemical processes and in reactions taking place during photochemical water treatment. While inert to solar wavelengths, halides can be converted into radical and non-radical reactive halogen species (RHS) by sensitized photolysis and by reactions with secondary reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced through sunlight-initiated reactions in water and atmospheric aerosols, such as hydroxyl radical, ozone, and nitrate radical. In photochemical advanced oxidation processes for water treatment, RHS can be generated by UV photolysis and by reactions of halides with hydroxyl radicals, sulfate radicals, ozone, and other ROS. RHS are reactive toward organic compounds, and some reactions lead to incorporation of halogen into byproducts. Recent studies indicate that halides, or the RHS derived from them, affect the concentrations of photogenerated reactive oxygen species (ROS) and other reactive species; influence the photobleaching of dissolved natural organic matter (DOM); alter the rates and products of pollutant transformations; lead to covalent incorporation of halogen into small natural molecules, DOM, and pollutants; and give rise to certain halogen oxides of concern as water contaminants. The complex and colorful chemistry of halogen in waters will be summarized in detail and the implications of this chemistry for global biogeochemical cycling of halogen, contaminant fate in natural waters, and water purification technologies will be discussed.
Rapid Identification of Dipeptidyl Peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) Inhibitory Peptides from Ruditapes philippinarum Hydrolysate
Authors: Liu Rui , Zhou Lei , Zhang Yan , Sheng Nai-Juan , Wang Zhi-Kang , Wu Ti-Zhi , Wang Xin-Zhi , Wu Hao
Published: October 2017

Dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) inhibitory peptides were rapidly identified from Ruditapes philippinarum hydrolysate. The hydrolysate was fractionated by ethanol precipitation and preparative reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The fraction which showed the highest DPP-IV inhibitory activity was then analyzed by a high-throughput nano-liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (nano-LC ESI-MS/MS) method, and the sequences of peptides were identified based on the MS/MS spectra against the Mollusca protein data from the UniProt database. In total, 50 peptides were identified. Furthermore, molecular docking was used to identify potential DPP-IV inhibitors from the identified peptides. Docking results suggested that four peptides: FAGDDAPR, LAPSTM, FAGDDAPRA, and FLMESH, could bind pockets of DPP-IV through hydrogen bonds, π-π bonds, and charge interactions. The four peptides were chemically synthesized and tested for DPP-IV inhibitory activity. The results showed that they possessed DPP-IV inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 168.72 μM, 140.82 μM, 393.30 μM, and >500 μM, respectively. These results indicate that R. philippinarum-derived peptides may have potential as functional food ingredients for the prevention of diabetes.
Chemotaxonomic Classification Applied to the Identification of Two Closely-Related Citrus TCMs Using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS-Based Metabolomics
Authors: Zhao Si-Yu , Liu Zhen-Li , Shu Yi-Song , Wang Meng-Lei , He Dan , Song Zhi-Qian , Zeng Hong-Lian , Ning Zhang-Chi , Lu Cheng , Lu Ai-Ping , Liu Yuan-Yan
Published: October 2017

This manuscript elaborates on the establishment of a chemotaxonomic classification strategy for closely-related Citrus fruits in Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCMs). UPLC-Q-TOF-MS-based metabolomics was applied to depict the variable chemotaxonomic markers and elucidate the metabolic mechanism of Citrus TCMs from different species and at different ripening stages. Metabolomics can capture a comprehensive analysis of small molecule metabolites and can provide a powerful approach to establish metabolic profiling, creating a bridge between genotype and phenotype. To further investigate the different metabolites in four closely-related Citrus TCMs, non-targeted metabolite profiling analysis was employed as an efficient technique to profile the primary and secondary metabolites. The results presented in this manuscript indicate that primary metabolites enable the discrimination of species, whereas secondary metabolites are associated with species and the ripening process. In addition, analysis of the biosynthetic pathway highlighted that the syntheses of flavone and flavone glycosides are deeply affected in Citrus ripening stages. Ultimately, this work might provide a feasible strategy for the authentication of Citrus fruits from different species and ripening stages and facilitate a better understanding of their different medicinal uses.
BACE1 Function and Inhibition: Implications of Intervention in the Amyloid Pathway of Alzheimer’s Disease Pathology
Authors: Koelsch Gerald
Published: October 2017

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a fatal progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by increasing loss in memory, cognition, and function of daily living. Among the many pathologic events observed in the progression of AD, changes in amyloid β peptide (Aβ) metabolism proceed fastest, and precede clinical symptoms. BACE1 (β-secretase 1) catalyzes the initial cleavage of the amyloid precursor protein to generate Aβ. Therefore inhibition of BACE1 activity could block one of the earliest pathologic events in AD. However, therapeutic BACE1 inhibition to block Aβ production may need to be balanced with possible effects that might result from diminished physiologic functions BACE1, in particular processing of substrates involved in neuronal function of the brain and periphery. Potentials for beneficial or consequential effects resulting from pharmacologic inhibition of BACE1 are reviewed in context of ongoing clinical trials testing the effect of BACE1 candidate inhibitor drugs in AD populations.
Feedback System Control Optimized Electrospinning for Fabrication of an Excellent Superhydrophobic Surface
Authors: Yang Jian , Liu Chuangui , Wang Boqian , Ding Xianting
Published: October 2017

Superhydrophobic surface, as a promising micro/nano material, has tremendous applications in biological and artificial investigations. The electrohydrodynamics (EHD) technique is a versatile and effective method for fabricating micro- to nanoscale fibers and particles from a variety of materials. A combination of critical parameters, such as mass fraction, ratio of N, N-Dimethylformamide (DMF) to Tetrahydrofuran (THF), inner diameter of needle, feed rate, receiving distance, applied voltage as well as temperature, during electrospinning process, to determine the morphology of the electrospun membranes, which in turn determines the superhydrophobic property of the membrane. In this study, we applied a recently developed feedback system control (FSC) scheme for rapid identification of the optimal combination of these controllable parameters to fabricate superhydrophobic surface by one-step electrospinning method without any further modification. Within five rounds of experiments by testing totally forty-six data points, FSC scheme successfully identified an optimal parameter combination that generated electrospun membranes with a static water contact angle of 160 degrees or larger. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) imaging indicates that the FSC optimized surface attains unique morphology. The optimized setup introduced here therefore serves as a one-step, straightforward, and economic approach to fabricate superhydrophobic surface with electrospinning approach.
Optimizing the Nutritional Support of Adult Patients in the Setting of Cirrhosis
Authors: Perumpail Brandon , Li Andrew , Cholankeril George , Kumari Radhika , Ahmed Aijaz
Published: October 2017

Aim: The aim of this work is to develop a pragmatic approach in the assessment and management strategies of patients with cirrhosis in order to optimize the outcomes in this patient population. Method: A systematic review of literature was conducted through 8 July 2017 on the PubMed Database looking for key terms, such as malnutrition, nutrition, assessment, treatment, and cirrhosis. Articles and studies looking at associations between nutrition and cirrhosis were reviewed. Results: An assessment of malnutrition should be conducted in two stages: the first, to identify patients at risk for malnutrition based on the severity of liver disease, and the second, to perform a complete multidisciplinary nutritional evaluation of these patients. Optimal management of malnutrition should focus on meeting recommended daily goals for caloric intake and inclusion of various nutrients in the diet. The nutritional goals should be pursued by encouraging and increasing oral intake or using other measures, such as oral supplementation, enteral nutrition, or parenteral nutrition. Conclusions: Although these strategies to improve nutritional support have been well established, current literature on the topic is limited in scope. Further research should be implemented to test if this enhanced approach is effective.
Effects of Maternal Low-Energy Diet during Gestation on Intestinal Morphology, Disaccharidase Activity, and Immune Response to Lipopolysaccharide Challenge in Pig Offspring
Authors: Chen Yuling , Mou Daolin , Hu Liang , Zhen Jie , Che Lianqiang , Fang Zhengfeng , Xu Shengyu , Lin Yan , Feng Bin , Li Jian , Wu De
Published: October 2017

Maternal nutrition during gestation is involved in the offspring’s intestinal development and immunity. The aim of this study was to (1) determine the effects of maternal energy on intestinal digestion and absorption function in offspring, using pigs as a model; and (2) to evaluate the potential effect and mechanisms of maternal energy in modulating immune responses of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenged piglets. After mating, thirty-six nine-parity sows (Landrace × Yorkshire), body weight (BW) (initial body weight 233.56 ± 2.77 kg) were allocated to two dietary treatment groups; a control diet (CON) group and a low-energy diet (LED) group. The nutrient levels of the CON were based on the nutrient recommendations by the National Research Council (NRC, 2012), and contained 3.40 MCal digestible energy (DE)/kg diet and 7.3% crude protein; while the LED contained 3.00 MCal DE/kg diet. The dietary treatments were introduced from day 1 of gestation to farrowing. Intestine samples were collected from the pigs’ offspring at birth, and at weaning (day 28 post-birth). At weaning, male pigs from control and LED groups were intraperitoneally injected with LPS (50 μg/kg body weight) or saline (n = 6), and sacrificed at 4 h post-injection to collect blood, intestine and digesta samples for biochemical analysis. The results indicated that the maternal LED markedly decreased the BW, small intestinal weight, and the ratio of jejunum and ileum villus height to crypt depth in the offspring. Moreover, the activities of lactase and sucrase in newborn piglets’ intestine, and sucrase and maltase in weaning piglet intestine were markedly decreased by the maternal LED. In addition, maternal LED significantly increased the mRNA relative expression of ileal IL-6 and TNF-α in newborn piglets. Plasma IL-1β concentration and colonic Escherichia coli amount were affected by maternal diet (p < 0.05) and LPS challenge (p < 0.001). Maternal LED significant increased the mRNA relative expression of ileal TLR-4, IL-1β and NF-κB as well as decreased ZO-1 in weaning pigs after LPS challenge (p < 0.05). In conclusion, decreasing energy intake could suppress the offspring’s intestinal digestion and absorption function, and increase the susceptibility of weaning piglets to LPS challenge.
Spontaneous Formation of Fractal Aggregates of Au Nanoparticles in Epoxy-Siloxane Films and Their Application as Substrates for NIR Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy
Authors: Basker Dinesh , Saravanamuttu Kalaichelvi
Published: October 2017

We present a facile, inexpensive route to free-standing, thermo-mechanically robust and flexible epoxy-siloxane substrates embedded with fractal aggregates of Au nanoparticles, and demonstrate their efficiency as substrates for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) at NIR wavelengths. The metallodielectric films are prepared by generating Au nanoparticles through the in-situ reduction of gold (III) chloride trihydrate in epoxypropoxypropyl terminated polydimethyl siloxane (EDMS). The metal nanoparticles spontaneously aggregate into fractal structures in the colloid, which could then be drop-cast onto a substrate. Subsequent UV-initiated cationic polymerization of epoxide moieties in EDMS transforms the fluid colloid into a thin, free-standing film, which contains a dense distribution of fractal aggregates of Au nanoparticles. We used electron and optical microscopy as well as UV–Vis–NIR spectrometry to monitor the evolution of nanoparticles and to optically and structurally characterize the resulting films. Raman spectroscopy of the chromophore Eosin Y adsorbed onto the metallodielectric films showed that they are excellent SERS substrates at NIR excitation with an enhancement factor of ~9.3 × 103.
Evolution of Surface Nanopores in Pressurised Gyrospun Polymeric Microfibers
Authors: Illangakoon U. , Mahalingam Suntharavathanan , Matharu Rupy , Edirisinghe Mohan
Published: October 2017

The selection of a solvent or solvent system and the ensuing polymer–solvent interactions are crucial factors affecting the preparation of fibers with multiple morphologies. A range of poly(methylmethacrylate) fibers were prepared by pressurised gyration using acetone, chloroform, N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), ethyl acetate and dichloromethane as solvents. It was found that microscale fibers with surface nanopores were formed when using chloroform, ethyl acetate and dichloromethane and poreless fibers were formed when using acetone and DMF as the solvent. These observations are explained on the basis of the physical properties of the solvents and mechanisms of pore formation. The formation of porous fibers is caused by many solvent properties such as volatility, solubility parameters, vapour pressure and surface tension. Cross-sectional images show that the nanopores are only on the surface of the fibers and they were not inter-connected. Further, the results show that fibers with desired nanopores (40–400 nm) can be prepared by carefully selecting the solvent and applied pressure in the gyration process.
Ranking of Sustainability Indicators for Assessment of the New Housing Development Projects: Case of the Baltic States
Authors: Tupenaite Laura , Lill Irene , Geipele Ineta , Naimaviciene Jurga
Published: October 2017

Sustainable development is inconceivable without healthy real estate market. A housing project can be regarded as sustainable only when all the dimensions of sustainability (environmental, economic, and social) are dealt with. There has been an increased interest in using sustainability indicators for evaluating the impacts of the new development projects. Although international literature is rich in sustainability assessments, there are no tools developed for assessment of new residential projects in the specific context of the Baltic States. Therefore, the aim of this article is to fill this gap and to propose an integrated, hierarchically structured system of sustainability indicators to be used for assessment of the new housing development projects. This aim is achieved through accomplishing three objectives. First, based on a review of literature related to assessing building project performance and sustainable development in construction, the paper proposes an original hierarchically structured system of sustainability indicators suitable for the Baltic context. Second, based on a survey of experts, significances of criteria are estimated by the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method. Finally, paper proposes recommendations to government authorities and real estate developers as to how to enhance the performance of new residential projects according to the principles of sustainability.
Spatiotemporal Variation of Snow Cover in Tianshan Mountains, Central Asia, Based on Cloud-Free MODIS Fractional Snow Cover Product, 2001–2015
Authors: Tang Zhiguang , Wang Xiaoru , Wang Jian , Wang Xin , Li Hongyi , Jiang Zongli
Published: October 2017

The change in snow cover under climate change is poorly understood in Tianshan Mountains. Here, we investigate the spatiotemporal characteristics and trends of snow-covered area (SCA) and snow-covered days (SCD) in the Tianshan Mountains by using the cloud-removed MODIS fractional snow cover datasets from 2001–2015. The possible linkage between the snow cover and temperature and precipitation changes over the Tianshan Mountains is also investigated. The results are as follows: (1) The distribution of snow cover over the Tianshan Mountains exhibits a large spatiotemporal heterogeneity. The areas with SCD greater than 120 days are distributed in the principal mountains with elevations of above 3000 m. (2) In total, 26.39% (5.09% with a significant decline) and 34.26% (2.81% with a significant increase) of the study area show declining and increasing trend in SCD, respectively. The SCD mainly decreases in Central and Eastern Tianshan (decreased by 11.88% and 8.03%, respectively), while it increases in Northern and Western Tianshan (increased by 9.36% and 7.47%). (3) The snow cover variations are linked to the temperature and precipitation changes. Temperature tends to be the major factor effecting the snow cover changes in the Tianshan Mountains during 2001–2015.