bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Within‐generation consequences of postsettlement mortality for trait composition in wild populations: An experimental test
Authors: Ciotti Benjamin J. , Planes Serge
Published: February 2019

There is a critical need to understand patterns and causes of intraspecific variation in physiological performance in order to predict the distribution and dynamics of wild populations under natural and human‐induced environmental change. However, the usual explanation for trait differences, local adaptation, fails to account for the small‐scale phenotypic and genetic divergence observed in fishes and other species with dispersive early life stages. We tested the hypothesis that local‐scale variation in the strength of selective mortality in early life mediates the trait composition in later life stages. Through in situ experiments, we manipulated exposure to predators in the coral reef damselfish Dascyllus aruanus and examined consequences for subsequent growth performance under common garden conditions. Groups of 20 recently settled D. aruanus were outplanted to experimental coral colonies in Moorea lagoon and either exposed to natural predation mortality (52% mortality in three days) or protected from predators with cages for three days. After postsettlement mortality, predator‐exposed groups were shorter than predator‐protected ones, while groups with lower survival were in better condition, suggesting that predators removed the longer, thinner individuals. Growth of both treatment groups was subsequently compared under common conditions. We did not detect consequences of predator exposure for subsequent growth performance: Growth over the following 37 days was not affected by the prior predator treatment or survival. Genotyping at 10 microsatellite loci did indicate, however, that predator exposure significantly influenced the genetic composition of groups. We conclude that postsettlement mortality did not have carryover effects on the subsequent growth performance of cohorts in this instance, despite evidence for directional selection during the initial mortality phase.
Electro‐osmotic surface effects generation in an electrokinetic‐based transport device: A comparison of RF and MW plasma generating sources
Authors: Adekanmbi Ezekiel O. , Dustin Jeremiah , Srivastava Soumya K.
Published: February 2019

It is a common practice in insulator‐based dielectrophoretic separation to use and reuse PDMS‐constructed microdevice for an extended period of time while performing biological and technical replicate experiments. This is usually done to rule out any effects of device variation on separation efficiency. Ensuring that all experimental conditions remain the same is critical to the conclusion that can be drawn from such repeated experiments. One important contributing factor to the flow of materials within the device is electro‐osmotic velocity, which stems from the surface condition of the device construction materials. In this paper, we present an affordable microwave‐based (MESA‐Mgen) oxygen plasma cleaner developed for approximately less than $100 using readily obtainable parts from an average local hardware store with no specialized tools. This low‐cost room‐air microwave plasma generator was designed using an R‐4055, 400 W, 2450 MHz half‐pint household microwave oven (Sharp®) for exploring the possibility of sealing polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) devices onto glass with minimal budgetary commitment. Microfluidic channels generated using MESA‐Mgen were evaluated for their electro‐osmotic velocities while factors including contact angles, storage‐solvent, half‐way hydrophobicity period were also explored with MESA‐Mgen, and the results were compared to those obtained from the commercially available plasma cleaner (COM‐PC). These outcomes revealed that the MESA‐Mgen induced hydrophilicity and ensured leak‐free sealing of PDMS substrates in a manner comparable with the COM‐PC.
Lead your department to reach high‐performance levels by following Blue Angel's leadership strategies
Authors: McCarthy Claudine
Published: February 2019

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Greg Wooldridge, former commanding officer with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, will never forget his first time stepping up to the crowd line to sign autographs for the kids as they watched in awe.
Effect of the catechol‐O‐methyltransferase Val 158Met polymorphism on theory of mind in obesity
Authors: Caldú Xavier , Ottino‐González Jonatan , Sánchez‐Garre Consuelo , Hernan Imma , Tor Encarnació , Sender‐Palacios María‐José , Dreher Jean‐Claude , Garolera Maite , Jurado María Ángeles
Published: February 2019

Obesity is often accompanied with psychosocial adjustment problems, such as difficulties in social interactions and social withdrawal. A key aspect of social cognition is theory of mind, which allows inferring mental states, feelings, motivations, and beliefs of others and to use this information to predict their future behaviour. Theory of mind is highly dependent on prefrontal dopaminergic neurotransmission, which is regulated by catechol‐O‐methyltransferase (COMT) activity. We aimed at determining whether theory of mind is altered in obesity and if this ability is modulated by COMT. Fifty patients with obesity and 47 normal‐weight individuals underwent the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test, the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, and the Vocabulary subscale of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. The genotype for the COMT Val 158Met functional polymorphism was determined for all subjects. Patients with obesity obtained significantly lower scores in the negative items of the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test than normal‐weight subjects. Further, an interaction effect was observed between group and COMT genotype. Specifically, the presence of the Met allele was associated to a better identification of negative mental states only in patients with obesity. Our results indicate that obesity is accompanied with difficulties in theory of mind and that this ability is influenced by the COMT genotype.
An integrated performance evaluation of ED‐based spectrum sensing over α−κ−μ and α−κ−μ‐Extreme fading channels
Authors: Rasethuntsa Tau Raphael , Kumar Sandeep
Published: February 2019

This paper presents a comparative performance evaluation of energy detector (ED) under the assumption that the propagation signal experiences fading modeled by the nonlinear generalized α−κ−μ or α−κ−μ‐Extreme fading channels. Novel closed‐form analytical expressions for the average probability of detection and the average area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) are derived in terms of the now highly prevalent bivariate Fox H‐function under single‐user spectrum sensing, cooperative spectrum sensing, and square law selection diversity reception. The results derived in the present work are generic as both channel models are compound distributions containing as special cases several other well‐known fading models such as the Nakagami‐m, Rice, the one‐sided Gaussian distribution, and the Weibull distribution, among others. The performance of ED is evaluated by employing the traditional ROC and AUC curves over additive white Gaussian noise by varying model parameters and observing system performances. Analytical results are verified via Monte Carlo simulations in MATLAB®.
Fuzzy Logic‐based Efficient Interest Forwarding (FLEIF) in Named Data Networking
Authors: Qureshi Zeshan , Shah Peer Azmat , ul Hasan Najam , Yasmin Sadaf , Aadil Farhan , Khan Muhammad Fahad , Nam Yunyoung , Shehzad Sehar Farooq
Published: February 2019

Content centric or Named Data Networking (NDN) is expected to replace IP‐based communication in the future Internet architecture. Here, connections are established based on data instead of host addresses. This flexibility helps in decreasing the end‐to‐end delay, as the requested data may be available in any intermediate router's cache. In NDN, a small Interest packet sent on a link results in large sized incoming Data packets on the same link. Therefore, sending multiple Interest packets on a single outgoing face may cause congestion on the returning path. Hence, regulation of Interest packets based on link characteristics is important to avoid congestion. In this paper, an intelligent mechanism based on Neuro‐Fuzzy Logic is proposed for calculating outgoing link prices of each intermediate node. The class of each outgoing link on a router is determined for Interest forwarding in order to avoid congestion. Comparison results show that the proposed method effectively improves throughput by decreasing packet loss ratio.
Association between birth attendant type and delivery site and perinatal outcomes
Authors: Manasyan Albert , Chomba Elwyn , Moore Janet , Wallace Dennis , McClure Elizabeth M. , Koso‐Thomas Marion , Carlo Waldemar A. ,   The NICHD Global Network for Women's and Children's Health Research
Published: February 2019

Objective

To test the hypothesis that modified perinatal mortality, early neonatal mortality, and other measures of perinatal mortality are lower with facility births than with home births among deliveries conducted by traditional birth attendants (TBAs) or nurse‐midwives.

Method

This population‐based observational study used data collected prospectively for home and facility deliveries conducted by TBAs and nurse‐midwives in 13 rural communities in Zambia between September 1, 2009, and December 31, 2015.

Results

We enrolled 48 956 pregnant women. In adjusted analysis, modified perinatal mortality (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.63, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.45–0.88), early neonatal mortality (0.48, 0.33–0.69), and fresh stillbirth/day‐1 neonatal mortality (0.55, 0.38–0.80) were lower among home deliveries than among facility deliveries conducted by TBAs, but did not differ among deliveries conducted by nurse‐midwives. Rates of fresh stillbirth did not differ between home and facility delivery by either TBAs (aOR 1.03, 95% CI 0.64–1.66) or nurse‐midwives (1.19, 0.67–2.10).

Conclusion

Our findings show significant reductions in modified perinatal mortality, early neonatal mortality, and fresh stillbirth/day‐1 neonatal mortality among home deliveries done by TBAs. This may be explained by robust community structures built by our program and referral bias of complicated cases.
The effect of mortality salience on the attitudes toward state control: The case of Russia
Authors: Prusova Irina S. , Gulevich Olga A.
Published: February 2019

Our study examined the effects of mortality salience (MS) on attitudes toward state control in different domains in Russia. Using the theory of Conservatism as Motivated Social Cognition (CMSC) and the Terror Management Theory (TMT), we put forward two alternative hypotheses. Based on the CMSC, MS would enhance the approval of state control in different spheres, while, in line with TMT, the MS effect would be dependent on pre‐existing views. The participants in the study were 450 Russian students who completed a questionnaire to measure attitudes toward state control in six spheres of life (the economy, the mass media, political parties, social organisations, science and education). After a week, they were randomly assigned one of three conditions—MS, frightening, and a neutral condition—and again completed the questionnaire on political attitudes. Our results showed that MS mostly provokes “control shifting,” confirming the CMSC's hypothesis. However, a separate analysis conducted among people with different pre‐existing political attitudes has revealed that “control shifting” is more pronounced for freedom‐oriented participants. We discuss these findings in line with alternative views on the nature of the MS effect and specifics of socio‐political context.
Percutaneous nephrolithotomy in a case of retrorenal colon: A descriptive approach and literature review
Authors: Zgheib Joseph , Abou Zahr Rawad , Issa Bassim , Jabbour Michel
Published: February 2019

Introduction

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy procedure is generally used to treat stones resistant to other treatment modalities. Colonic perforation even though rare, is a serious complication that increases patient's morbidity. This case report describes the case of a patient with retrorenal colon who underwent percutaneous nephrolithotomy for management of pelvis/lower calyceal staghorn stone.

Case presentation

A 63‐year‐old female patient presented for the management of a staghorn pelvis‐lower calyceal stone. The patient had a preoperative computed tomography scan of the abdomen and pelvis that showed an incidental finding of left retrorenal colon. Under computed tomography scan guidance, a nephrostomy tube was successfully placed by an interventional radiologist, and then she underwent percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

Conclusion

This case report aims to stress on the importance of doing a computed tomography scan whenever a prior abdominal surgery is performed. We strongly believe that gastrointestinal injuries could be avoided by using computed tomography guided access in high risk patients.
Bioinformatic analysis of Cacybp‐associated proteins using human glioma databases
Authors: Xuan Chengmin , Gao Yong , Jin Mingwei , Xu Shumei , Wang Lei , Wang Yuan , Han Rui , Shi Kunpeng , Chen Xincheng , An Qi
Published: February 2019

The ubiquitin‐proteasome system is the primary cellular pathway for protein degradation, mediating 80% of intracellular protein degradation. Because of the widespread presence of ubiquitin‐modified protein substrates, ubiquitination can regulate a variety of cellular activities including cell proliferation, apoptosis, autophagy, endocytosis, DNA damage repair, and immune responses. With the continuous generation of genomics data in recent years it has become particularly important to analyze these data effectively and reasonably. Cacybp forms a complex with the E3 ubiquitinated ligase Siah1 to participate in ubiquitination. We analyzed Cacybp‐associated genes using the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and CGGA (Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas) databases and identified 121 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), of which 46 were downregulated and 75 were upregulated. The biological processes, molecular functions, and protein–protein interaction (PPI) network of differential genes were analyzed by Cytoscape software and STRING software. We found no difference in Cacybp expression among different grades of gliomas and there was no significant association between the expression level of Cacybp and the prognosis of patients with glioma in LGG and GBM. © 2019 IUBMB Life, 1–8, 2019
Gingipains impair attachment of epithelial cell to dental titanium abutment surfaces
Authors: Eick Sigrun , Gadzo Naida , Tacchi Manuel , Sculean Anton , Potempa Jan , Stavropoulos Andreas
Published: February 2019

The study investigated in vitro the effect of Porphyromonas gingivalis and its cysteine proteases (gingipains) on epithelial cell adhesion to titanium–zirconium alloy surfaces. Titanium–zirconium discs with a standard machined (M) or chemically modified hydrophilic surface (modM) were coated with lamin‐5 and incubated with telomerase‐inactivated gingival keratinocytes (TIGK). Three P. gingivalis strains or gingipains were either added simultaneously with TIGK or after TIGK cells were already attached to the disks. Adhered TIGK cells were counted at 24 h. All P. gingivalis strains clearly inhibited adhesion of TIGK cells to M and modM surfaces. Compared with bacteria/gingipain‐free TIGK cell cultures, the number of attached TIGK cells was reduced by about 80% and 60% when P. gingivalis was added simultaneously or after TIGK cells were already attached to the disks (each p < 0.01), respectively. Counts of attached cells were similarly reduced when only gingipains were used. Adhesion molecules of TIGK cells, in particular E‐cadherin, were cleaved by P. gingivalis. In conclusion, P. gingivalis and gingipains interfere with the adhesion of epithelial cells to titanium–zirconium alloy surfaces by cleaving adhesion molecules, while a chemically modified hydrophilic titanium–zirconium alloy surface did not yield any protection. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 107B:2549–2556, 2019.
Bioremediation of crude oil‐contaminated soil by hydrocarbon‐degrading microorganisms immobilized on humic acid‐modified biofuel ash
Authors: Wang Xiaoling , Zheng Jin , Han Zhantao , Chen Hongkun
Published: February 2019

Background

Soil contamination with petroleum has long been a major environmental problem. Many methods have been developed for its remediation, including bioremediation, one of the most applied procedures. The biodegradation rate of bioremediation depends on the soil environment and can be enhanced by microorganism immobilization. Here, a modified biofuel ash was proposed as a new highly efficient and inexpensive immobilization carrier and tested experimentally in soil systems.

Results

The degradation rate of petroleum hydrocarbon in soil by inoculated microorganisms immobilized on humic acid‐modified biofuel ash reached up to 47.8% during 60 days, which was twice as high as that by free microorganisms. In treatments with immobilized microbes, n‐alkanes with C28 and C31–34 were not detected and the degradation rates of C17–19 were 70.6% (unsterilized soil) and 54.2% (sterilized soil). The change in enzymatic activity reflected the basic respiration rate: it gradually increased in the pre‐remediation stage, then decreased, and finally stabilized. Microorganism immobilization carriers had no significant contribution to microbial diversity in unsterilized soil, but they increased in sterilized soil.

Conclusions

Humic acid‐modified biofuel ash inoculated with microorganisms improves the degradability of petroleum and biodiversity in soil without microbes and, through the application of biofuel ash, reuses power plant waste. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Macroporous hydrogels based on carbohydrates monomethacrylates and dimethacrylates: singular properties from carbohydrate‐based crosslinkers
Authors: Perin Giovanni Bortoloni , Fonseca Lucas Polo , Felisberti Maria Isabel
Published: February 2019

BACKGROUND

Readily available feedstock and biocompatibility make carbohydrate‐based hydrogels promising materials for biomedical applications. However, carbohydrate‐based crosslinkers are rather underexplored when compared with crosslinkers derived from fossil resources. In this study, novel fully bio‐based hydrogels derived from enzymatically produced d‐fructose and d‐glucose methacrylate monomers were synthesized with different amounts of d‐fructose dimethacrylate crosslinker.

RESULTS

The use of a carbohydrate‐based crosslinker endows hydrogels with high swelling coefficients, up to 2400%, and superior mechanical resistance (compressive modulus up to 9.5 kPa with a maximum stress up to 50 kPa) compared with conventional crosslinkers based on fossil resources. Hydrogels shape and crosslinking density influences hydrogel morphology, swelling behavior and mechanical resistance. Moreover, hydrogels presented cell viability, biodegradability and hydrolysis‐resistance over a wide range of pH.

CONCLUSION

The use of a highly hydrophilic crosslinker based on carbohydrate for hydrogels synthesis enables the use of high crosslinker concentration, which improves mechanical properties, however with minor loss of the water swelling capacity, compared with conventional fossil‐based crosslinkers. This is an important advantage over conventional crosslinkers based on fossil resources. Moreover, slab hydrogels hold higher stress under compression–decompression cycles, and present higher resistance to hydrolysis in basic medium due to the thicker pore walls than cylindrical ones. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Foliar epidermal anatomical characteristics of taxa of Iris subg. Scorpiris Spach (Iridaceae) from Turkey
Authors: Kandemir Nezahat , Çelik Ali , Ullah Fazal , Shah Syed Nasar , Zaman Wajid
Published: February 2019

Iris L. is one of the important genus of family Iridaceae, consist of 56 taxa naturally occurred in Turkey. The similarities and variations in the subgenus overlapping the taxonomic positions of the species in the subgenera and needs anatomical assessment especially by microscopic techniques. In this study, the taxonomic significance of leaf anatomical characters of 10 Iris subgenus Scorpiris taxa were studied in detail and the relationship among these taxa were evaluated using microscopy techniques. Fresh leaf samples of species were fixed in 70% alcohol solution for anatomical observation under microscope. Eleven different micromorphological features were statistically analyzed to delimit the species in subgenus. Based on morphological and anatomical similarities, we studied relationships among; (1) ssp. turcica, ssp. caucasica, I. nezahatiae and I. pseudocaucasica; (2) correlation between ssp. turcica and ssp. caucasica; (3) association of I. galatica, I. persica, ssp. margaretiae and ssp. stenophylla with each other; (4) relationship between ssp. stenophylla and ssp. margaretiae; and (5) relevance between I. aucheri and I. peshmeniana. Moreover, the taxonomy of subgenus Scorpiris has been discussed in detail with novel and diagnostic features based on micromorphological physiognomies. We found that four species in this study are endemic to Turkey, while seven are critically endangered geophytes in the country. The leaf anatomical characteristics of 10 taxa were divided into three groups. Main aim of this research was to study the taxonomy of the complex subgenus Scorpiris through microscopic techniques.
Convenient Synthesis of New Boric Acid Catalyzed 1,2,4‐Triazolopyridinone Derivatives and an Investigation of their Optical Properties
Authors: Darehkordi Ali , Hosseini Maryam , Rahmani Fariba
Published: February 2019

Syntheses of fused heterobicyclic systems containing 1,2,4‐triazolopyridinone moieties were accomplished by heterocyclization of 1,6‐diamino‐2‐oxo‐4‐phenyl‐1,2‐dihydropyridine‐3,5‐dicarbonitriles and ninhydrin in ethanol and in the presence of boric acid as a catalyst in 30 min at room temperature. All compounds have been screened for their photophysical properties. Results showed that all compounds exhibit near infrared emissions at 876 nm.
The role of CNS macrophages in streptococcal meningoencephalitis
Authors: Gres Vitka , Kolter Julia , Erny Daniel , Henneke Philipp
Published: February 2019

In the healthy brain, microglia and other CNS macrophages are the most abundant immune cell type. Thus, they form the natural immune cell interface with streptococci, which are the leading cause of bacterial meningitis and encephalitis in infants and young children. In homeostasis, the blood–brain barrier allows for very limited access of immune cells circulating in the periphery. During bacterial meningoencephalitis, however, origin and fate of CNS macrophages are massively altered. This review summarizes the emerging knowledge on the sequence of reciprocal events between streptococci and CNS macrophages leading to host resistance, acute inflammation, changes in resident innate immune cells of the brain, and long-term neuronal damage.
The cleavage program in the 2d cell lineage of Tubifex embryos
Authors: Yoshida Noriyuki , Arai Asuna , Aoki Momoe , Moriya Miho , Sekiguchi Kaho , Shimizu Takashi
Published: February 2019

Early development in clitellate annelids is characterized by a highly stereotyped sequence of unequal, spiral cleavages. Cell 2d (i.e., the second micromere of the D quadrant) in the oligochaete Tubifex tubifex also undergoes an evolutionarily conserved sequence of cell division to produce four bilateral pairs of ectodermal teloblasts that act as embryonic stem cells. This study was conducted to characterize each of the 15 rounds of cell division that occur in the 2d cell lineage in this clitellate. After its occurrence, cell 2d undergoes three rounds of highly unequal divisions, giving off the first smaller daughter cell toward the posterior right of the larger daughter cell, the second cell toward the posterior left, and the third cell toward the anterior side of the cell; the larger daughter cell that results from the third division (i.e., the great‐granddaughter cell of 2d) then divides equally into a bilateral pair of NOPQ proteloblasts. Cell NOPQ on either side of the embryo undergoes 11 rounds of cell division, during which ectoteloblasts N, Q, and O/P are produced in this order. After its appearance, NOPQ undergoes highly unequal divisions twice cutting off the smaller cells toward the anterior end of the embryo and then divides almost equally into ectoteloblast N and proteloblast OPQ. After its appearance, OPQ undergoes highly unequal divisions twice giving off the first smaller cell toward the anterior and the second smaller cell toward the posterior of the embryo and then divides almost equally into ectoteloblast Q and proteloblast OP. Finally, OP undergoes highly unequal division four times after its birth budding off the smaller cells toward the anterior and then cleaves equally into ectoteloblasts O and P. In the unequally dividing cells of the 2d cell lineage, the mitotic apparatus (MA), which forms at the cell's center, moves eccentrically toward the cortical site where the smaller cell will be given off. The moving MA is oriented perpendicular to the surface it approaches, and its peripheral pole becomes closely associated with the cell cortex. In contrast, the MA involved in the equal divisions remains in the cell center throughout mitosis. The key features of the cleavage program in the 2d cell lineage are discussed in light of the present observations. The mechanical aspects of unequal cleavage in the 2d cell lineage and the modes of specification of MA orientation are discussed. A comparison of the cleavage mode in the 2d cell lineage is also performed among six selected clitellate annelid species.
DNase and RNase activities of fresh cow milk lactoferrin
Authors: Soboleva Svetlana E. , Zakharova Ol'ga D. , Sedykh Sergey E. , Ivanisenko Nikita V. , Buneva Valentina N. , Nevinsky Georgy A.
Published: February 2019

Lactoferrin (LF) is an Fe3+‐binding glycoprotein first recognized in milk and then in other epithelial secretions and barrier body fluids to which many different functions have been attributed to LF, including protection from iron‐induced lipid peroxidation, immunomodulation, cell growth regulation, DNA and RNA binding, as well as transcriptional activation, еtс. The polyfunctional physiological role of LF is still unclear, but it has been suggested to be responsible for primary defense against microbial and viral infections. Here, we present the first evidence that LF preparations isolated from milk of 18 cows of different breeds possess various levels of metal‐dependent DNase and metal‐independent RNase activities. For univocal assignment of DNase and RNase activities to cow LF, it was subjected to SDS‐PAGE using gels with copolymerized calf thymus DNA or polymeric yeast RNA. In situ analysis was revealed DNase and RNase activities only in the gel zones corresponding to homogeneous LF. In contrast to human LF, cow LF possesses a relatively low cytotoxicity towards human tumor cells. The discovery that cow LF has these activities may contribute to understanding the multiple physiological functions of this extremely polyfunctional protein, including its protective role against microbial and viral infections. The computational spatial model of cow LF complex with DNA was obtained: according to the model positively charged residues of LF contact with DNA.
Autoregressive moving average modeling for hepatic iron quantification in the presence of fat
Authors: Tipirneni‐Sajja Aaryani , Krafft Axel J. , Loeffler Ralf B. , Song Ruitian , Bahrami Armita , Hankins Jane S. , Hillenbrand Claudia M.
Published: February 2019

Background

Measuring hepatic R2* by fitting a monoexponential model to the signal decay of a multigradient‐echo (mGRE) sequence noninvasively determines hepatic iron content (HIC). Concurrent hepatic steatosis introduces signal oscillations and confounds R2* quantification with standard monoexponential models.

Purpose

To evaluate an autoregressive moving average (ARMA) model for accurate quantification of HIC in the presence of fat using biopsy as the reference.

Study Type

Phantom study and in vivo cohort.

Population

Twenty iron–fat phantoms covering clinically relevant R2* (30–800 s‐1) and fat fraction (FF) ranges (0–40%), and 10 patients (four male, six female, mean age 18.8 years).

Field Strength/Sequence

2D mGRE acquisitions at 1.5 T and 3 T.

Assessment

Phantoms were scanned at both field strengths. In vivo data were analyzed using the ARMA model to determine R2* and FF values, and compared with biopsy results.

Statistical Tests

Linear regression analysis was used to compare ARMA R2* and FF results with those obtained using a conventional monoexponential model, complex‐domain nonlinear least squares (NLSQ) fat–water model, and biopsy.

Results

In phantoms and in vivo, all models produced R2* and FF values consistent with expected values in low iron and low/high fat conditions. For high iron and no fat phantoms, monoexponential and ARMA models performed excellently (slopes: 0.89–1.07), but NLSQ overestimated R2* (slopes: 1.14–1.36) and produced false FFs (12–17%) at 1.5 T; in high iron and fat phantoms, NLSQ (slopes: 1.02–1.16) outperformed monoexponential and ARMA models (slopes: 1.23–1.88). The results with NLSQ and ARMA improved in phantoms at 3 T (slopes: 0.96–1.04). In patients, mean R2*‐HIC estimates for monoexponential and ARMA models were close to biopsy‐HIC values (slopes: 0.90–0.95), whereas NLSQ substantially overestimated HIC (slope 1.4) and produced false FF values (4–28%) with very high SDs (15–222%) in patients with high iron overload and no steatosis.

Data Conclusion

ARMA is superior in quantifying R2* and FF under high iron and no fat conditions, whereas NLSQ is superior for high iron and concurrent fat at 1.5 T. Both models give improved R2* and FF results at 3 T.

Level of Evidence: 2

Technical Efficacy Stage: 2

J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019;50:1620–1632.
Prevalence and characteristics of acute respiratory virus infections in pediatric cancer patients
Authors: Soudani Nadia , Caniza Miguela A. , Assaf‐Casals Aia , Shaker Rouba , Lteif Mireille , Su Yin , Tang Li , Akel Imad , Muwakkit Samar , Chmaisse Ahmad , Homsi Maysam , Dbaibo Ghassan , Zaraket Hassan
Published: February 2019

Background

Patients with pediatric cancer have a higher risk of morbidity and mortality because of respiratory viral infections than other patient populations.

Objectives

To investigate the causative viruses of respiratory infections and their burden among patients with pediatric cancer in Lebanon.

Study design

Nasopharyngeal swabs along with clinical and demographic data were collected from patients with pediatric cancer presenting febrile episodes with upper respiratory tract symptoms. Total nucleic acid was extracted from specimens followed by the real‐time PCR analysis targeting 14 respiratory viruses to estimate the frequency of infections.

Results

We obtained 89 nasopharyngeal swabs from patients with pediatric cancer (mean age, 5.8 ± 4.2 years). Real‐time PCR confirmed viral infection in 77 swabs (86.5%). Among these, 151 respiratory viruses were detected. Several viruses cocirculated within the same period; respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) being the most common (45.45%), followed by parainfluenza virus (PIV; 26%), influenza type B (26%), human metapneumovirus (24.6%), and human coronavirus (HCoV; 24.6%). Coinfections were detected in 55% of the subjects, and most of them involved RSV with one or more other viruses. A strong correlation was found between PIV, Flu (influenza of any type), RSV, and HCoV with the incidence of coinfections. RSV was associated with lower respiratory tract infections, nasal congestion, bronchitis, and bacteremia. HCoV was associated with bronchiolitis; rhinovirus was associated with hospital admission.

Conclusion

Patients with pediatric cancer have a high burden of respiratory viral infections and a high incidence of coinfections. Molecular diagnostics can improve management of febrile episodes and reduce antibiotic use.
Application of a clean–up procedure using a ternary liquid phase system combined with pre‐concentration by microextraction in the analysis of seven pesticides from soya milk
Authors: Abbaspour Maryam , Farajzadeh Mir Ali , Sorouraddin Saeed Mohammad , Mohebbi Ali
Published: February 2019

BACKGROUND

A method has been developed based on a three–phase system, followed by dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction for the extraction of seven pesticides from soya milk prior to analysis by gas chromatography‐flame ionization detection. The base of this method is the different extraction capability of the components of soya milk according to each of the phases involved. In this procedure, a homogeneous solution consisting of soya milk and a water–miscible solvent (acetonitrile) is separated into two phases in the presence of Na2SO4 and the analytes are extracted into the produced acetonitrile droplets. The acetonitrile phase is mixed with a pre‐concentration solvent to perform the next microextraction procedure for further enrichment of the analytes.

RESULTS

Limits of detection and quantification were reached in the ranges of 0.11–0.35 and 0.35–1.20 µg L−1, respectively. Enrichment factors and extraction recoveries were in the ranges of 562–933 and 56–93%, respectively. Relative standard deviations were ≤7% for intra– (n = 6) and inter–day (n = 5) precisions at two concentrations of 10 and 50 µg L−1 of each analyte.

CONCLUSION

The proposed method was applied to the analysis of pesticides in soya milk samples at µg L−1 concentrations. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Alcohol dehydrogenases from Proteus mirabilis contribute to alcoholic flavor
Authors: Yu Fengchuan , Bai Yajun , Fan Tai‐ping , Zheng Xiaohui , Cai Yujie
Published: February 2019

BACKGROUND

Cheese ripening involves a complex series of metabolic reactions and numerous concomitant secondary transformations. Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) converts aldehydes into their corresponding alcohols, which enrich cheese aroma.

RESULTS

In this study, we identified five ADH genes in Proteus mirabilis JN458, and these genes were overexpressed and characterized in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). The optimum pH was 7.0 for the purified recombinant ADH‐1, ADH‐2, and ADH‐3 and 8.0 for ADH‐4 and ADH‐5. The optimum temperature was 40 °C for ADH‐1, ADH‐3, and ADH‐5 and 45 °C for ADH‐2 and ADH‐4. The Km value of ADH‐1, ADH‐2, and ADH‐3 was 34.45, 16.90, and 10.01 µmol L−1 for phenylacetaldehyde, respectively. The Km value of ADH‐4 and ADH‐5 was 14.81 and 24.62 µmol L−1 for 2‐methylbutanal, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Proteus species play important roles during cheese ripening. The results of our study are important for further research on cheese flavor and for quality control during cheese production. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Validating peritonsillar abscess drainage rates using the Pediatric hospital information system data
Authors: Chisholm Allison G. , Little Benjamin D. , Johnson Romaine F.
Published: February 2019

Objectives

To evaluate the accuracy of the Children's Hospital Association's Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) registry data in determining surgical drainage rates as compared to a chart review on the same cohort of children with diagnosis of peritonsillar abscess.

Study Design

Retrospective analysis.

Methods

Our analysis included 200 children, ages 2 to 17 years, treated for a peritonsillar abscess from 2011 to 2016. The primary outcome was to determine the sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, receiver operating characteristics (ROC), and likelihood ratios of surgical drainage rates comparing the PHIS database to manual chart review of the same patients.

Results

One hundred and fifteen (58%) children underwent drainage by chart review, whereas 87 (44%) had a drainage procedure by PHIS data. Age was a significant predictor of abscess drainage by chart review (age coefficient = 0.10; standard error = 0.04; 2 = 5.8; P = 0.02; odds ratio = 1.1; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.01–1.19). When using the chart review as the reference value for surgical drainage, the PHIS data had a sensitivity of 76% and 100% specificity. The positive and negative predictive values were 100% and 75%, respectively. The ROC area was 0.88 (95% CI, 84 to 92). Cases that lacked a clear procedure note composed the false negative cases in the PHIS.

Conclusion

At our institution, the PHIS Administrative data was adequate at predicting surgical drainage of the peritonsillar abscess when compared to chart review.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 130:238–241, 2020
The impact of cricothyroid involvement on adductor recovery in unilateral vocal fold paralysis
Authors: Fang Tuan‐Jen , Chuang Hsiu‐Feng , Chiang Hui‐Chen , Pei Yu‐Cheng
Published: February 2019

Objectives/Hypothesis

Wide variation in postinjury functional recovery is a hallmark of unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP), ranging from zero to full recovery. The present study examined the impact of cricothyroid (CT) muscle involvement on recovery using quantitative laryngeal electromyography (LEMG) of the thyroarytenoid–lateral cricoarytenoid (TA‐LCA) muscle complex at multiple times postinjury.

Study Design

Prospective cohort study in a medical center.

Methods

Eighty‐one patients with UVFP (37 males and 44 females) received an initial assessment of quantitative LEMG, stroboscope, acoustic voice analysis and 36‐Item Short Form Survey quality‐of‐life questionnaire at 3 to 6 months after UVFP onset and a follow‐up assessment at 12 months after UVFP onset.

Results

The initial and follow‐up assessments were performed at 4.3 ± 1.9 and 12.5 ± 1.3 months after UVFP onset, respectively. The peak turn frequency of the TA‐LCA muscle complex on the lesion side was improved at the follow‐up (470 ± 294 Hz) compared with the initial assessment (300 ± 204 Hz) (P < .001). Patients were also divided into two groups with (n = 27) and without (n = 54) CT involvement, respectively. TA‐LCA muscle complex turn frequency improved in patients without CT involvement (from 277 ± 198 to 511 ± 301 Hz; P < .001), but not in those with CT involvement (from 345 ± 211 to 386 ± 265 Hz; P = .46). Seventy‐one of all patients received early intervention with intracordal hyaluronate injection, showing similar therapeutic effects in those with and without CT involvement.

Conclusions

Acute UVFP with combined TA‐LCA muscle complex and CT muscle involvement has a poor prognosis, with poorer recovery of TA‐LCA muscle complex recruitment. Early interventions should be considered in patients with UVFP with CT involvement.

Level of Evidence

2 Laryngoscope, 130:139–145, 2020
Robust, Transparent, Thermally Healable Copolyacrylate Elastomer: The Effect of β‐Hydroxyethyl Acrylate on its Properties
Authors: Zhao Dan , Chen Hongxiang , Dai Qiaoli , Wang Jun , Zhou Yu , Zeng Danlin
Published: February 2019

The contradiction between mechanical properties, transparency, and healing effects for polyacrylate elastomers is not solved yet. The copolyacrylate elastomers are prepared based on the bulk copolymerization with methyl methacrylate (MMA) and butyl acrylate (BA), incorporating the β‐hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA) monomer. Compared with PMMA‐co‐PBA, with the incorporation of HEA, the copolymer elastomer decreases in tensile strength, while increasing in healing efficiency and visible‐light transmittance. Therefore, the high transparency and healing efficiency of the copolyacrylate elastomer are achieved under the condition of ensuring robust mechanical properties.
Visible Light Controlled Polymerization of Azide‐Derived Monomers: A Facile, Metal‐Free PET‐ATRP Route to Construct Azide Polymers
Authors: Ni Bangqing , Wang Danke , Zhang Hen , Li Pengqi , Niu Tengfei
Published: February 2019

Well‐defined azide polymers are successfully synthesized by visible‐light‐induced metal‐free electron transfer–atom transfer radical polymerization (PET‐ATRP) at room temperature. This technique uses Eosin Y/Et3N as the reductive quenching photocatalyst system, which can effectively prevent the destruction of the azide group in polymerization. Four kinds of azide‐derived monomers participate well in this reaction and obtain satisfactory results. The kinetic behavior, “ON/OFF” experiment, and chain‐extension experiment confirm the living feature of this visible light controlled polymerization. Moreover, random copolymers obtained by this protocol can be used as surface modifier which further demonstrates the utility and reliability of this method.
Semi‐analytical solution of MHD flow through boundary integrals on the pipe wall
Authors: Tezer‐Sezgin Münevver , Bozkaya Canan
Published: February 2019

A mathematical model is given for the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) pipe flow as an inner Dirichlet problem in a 2D circular cross section of the pipe, coupled with an outer Dirichlet or Neumann magnetic problem. Inner Dirichlet problem is given as the coupled convection‐diffusion equations for the velocity and the induced current of the fluid coupling also to the outer problem, which is defined with the Laplace equation for the induced magnetic field of the exterior region with either Dirichlet or Neumann boundary condition. Unique solution of inner Dirichlet problem is obtained theoretically reducing it into two boundary integral equations defined on the boundary by using the corresponding fundamental solutions. Exterior solution is also given theoretically on the pipe wall with Poisson integral, and it is unique with Dirichlet boundary condition but exists with an additive constant obtained through coupled boundary and solvability conditions in Neumann wall condition. The collocation method is used to discretize these boundary integrals on the pipe wall. Thus, the proposed procedure is an improved theoretical analysis for combining the solution methods for the interior and exterior regions, which are consolidated numerically showing the flow behavior. The solution is simulated for several values of problem parameters, and the well‐known MHD characteristics are observed inside the pipe for increasing values of Hartmann number maintaining the continuity of induced currents on the pipe wall.
Predicting continence decline in institutionalized older people: A longitudinal analysis
Authors: Jerez‐Roig Javier , Moreira Francisca Sueli Monte , da Câmara Saionara Maria Aires , Ferreira Lidiane Maria de Brito Macedo , Lima Kenio Costa
Published: February 2019

Aims

To verify the incidence of urinary continence decline and the probability of maintaining urinary continence, as well as identify the prognostic factors of urinary continence decline in institutionalized older people.

Methods

A 2‐year longitudinal study (with five 6‐month waves) was conducted with subjects ≥60 years old who lived in 10 nursing homes in the city of Natal‐RN (Brazil). Urinary incontinence was assessed by the Minimum Data Set version 3.0. Sociodemographic, institution‐related and health‐related variables were considered to establish the baseline. Time‐dependent variables included cognitive decline, functional decline, and incidences of falls, hospitalizations, and fractures during the period. The actuarial method, the log‐rank test, and Cox’s regression were applied as statistical methods.

Results

Among the cohort of 196 older adults, 105 (53.6%) individuals maintained the continence status during the period, 21 (10.7%) improved it at one or more assessments, and 76 (38.8%) subjects declined. The cumulative probability of maintaining continence status was 82.6% (confidence interval [CI], 95%: 76.5%‐87.3%), 74.7% (CI, 95%: 67.8%‐80.4%), 66.9% (CI, 95%: 59.4%‐73.2%), and 49.3% (CI, 95%: 40.1%‐57.9%) at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months, respectively. Predicting factors for continence decline were: disability (hazard ratio [HR] = 4.03; P < 0.001), functional decline (HR = 3.02;
P = 0.001) and potentially inappropriate medication (HR = 1.84;
P = 0.008).

Conclusions

The incidence of continence decline and the cumulative probability of maintaining continence status in institutionalized older adults was approximately 39% and 49%, respectively, at the 2‐year follow‐up. Disability and potentially inappropriate drugs at baseline and functional decline across the period predicted continence decline in this cohort.
A posteriori stochastic correction of reduced models in delayed‐acceptance MCMC, with application to multiphase subsurface inverse problems
Authors: Cui Tiangang , Fox Colin , O'Sullivan Michael J.
Published: February 2019

Sample‐based Bayesian inference provides a route to uncertainty quantification in the geosciences and inverse problems in general but is very computationally demanding in the naïve form, which requires simulating an accurate computer model at each iteration. We present a new approach that constructs a stochastic correction to the error induced by a reduced model, with the correction improving as the algorithm proceeds. This enables sampling from the correct target distribution at reduced computational cost per iteration, as in existing delayed‐acceptance schemes, while avoiding appreciable loss of statistical efficiency that necessarily occurs when using a reduced model. Use of the stochastic correction significantly reduces the computational cost of estimating quantities of interest within desired uncertainty bounds. In contrast, existing schemes that use a reduced model directly as a surrogate do not actually improve computational efficiency in our target applications. We build on recent simplified conditions for adaptive Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithms to give practical approximation schemes and algorithms with guaranteed convergence. The efficacy of this new approach is demonstrated in two computational examples, including calibration of a large‐scale numerical model of a real geothermal reservoir, that show good computational and statistical efficiencies on both synthetic and measured data sets.
Efficient modeling of internal cracks for Laplace problem by XFEM using Joukowski mapping
Authors: Nakasumi Shogo , Schweitzer Marc Alexander
Published: February 2019

In this study, the extended finite element method (XFEM) is applied to the two‐dimensional Laplace equation with an internal discontinuity. The real part of a complex velocity potential from potential flow theory is used to represent the enrichment function in this technique. The Joukowski mapping, which maps a circle to a line, is mainly used to obtain a solution around an airfoil in two‐dimensional potential flow; here, we extend that solution to model magnetic flux around an internal crack. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified using numerical examples of single and multiple cracks. The L2 error norm is used to evaluate the accuracy of the proposed method in comparison with XFEM using previously proposed enrichment functions (Heaviside and analytical forms for a single crack tip). The proposed method gives better results than those of the existing XFEM in the case of a coarse mesh.